Field Stories

Shining a light on human rights abuses

We send crisis investigators and campaigners into the field to find out exactly what is happening on the ground and to surface human rights crisis for the world to see. We go where many don’t dare. Here is what we see.

Featured Field Story

We recently documented crimes against humanity waged by the Myanmar military against the oppressed Rohingya population in Rakhine State, including the setting of land mines near the border of Bangladesh where the Rohingya were fleeing to safety. Our researchers spoke with survivors and documented killings, rapes, burnings and other atrocities.

Learn more about some of their stories.

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"I Won't Forget This Carnage": Civilians Trapped in the Battle for Raqqa

Thousands of civilians trapped in Raqqa, northern Syria, are coming under fire from all sides as the battle for control of the city enters its final stage, Amnesty International said following an in-depth investigation on the ground. The warring parties must prioritize protecting them from hostilities and creating safe ways for them to flee the frontline.

Human slaughterhouse: Mass hangings and extermination at Saydnaya prison, Syria

Between 2011 and 2015, as many as 13,000 people were hanged in secret in Syria’s Saydnaya Prison. Most of them were civilians believed to be opposed to the government. This report documents the evidence and the stories of survivors and families of victims.

Maze of Injustice report on sexual violence against Indigenous women

Native American and Alaska Native women are more than 2.5 times more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than other women in the U.S. In interviews with Indigenous women, Amnesty International reports on the obstacles they encounter in getting justice.

You Killed My Son: Killings by Military Police in Rio de Janeiro

Military police in Rio de Janeiro who seem to follow a “shoot first, ask questions later” strategy are contributing to a soaring homicide rate but are rarely investigated and brought to justice. Amnesty International published this report and analysis ahead of the 2016 Olympics.

Island of Despair

Based on months of research, including interviews with more than 100 people in Nauru and Australia, Amnesty International exposes the government of Australia’s policy of “processing” refugees and asylum-seekers on Nauru for what it is: a deliberate and systematic regime of neglect and cruelty.

Escape from Hell - Torture, Sexual Slavery in Islamic State Captivity in Iraq

This report provides an insight into the horrifying abuse suffered by hundreds and possibly thousands of Yezidi women and girls who have been forcibly married, “sold” or given as “gifts” to Islamic State fighters or their supporters.

Rohingya: Persecuted in Myanmar, Abandoned in Bangladesh

This report, based on extensive interviews with Rohingyas in both Myanmar and Bangladesh, as well as analysis of satellite imagery and photos and videos, documents a campaign of violence against Rohingya people by Myanmar security forces.

Stars on their Shoulders. Blood on their Hands: War crimes Committed by the Nigerian Military

Based on years of research and analysis of evidence – including leaked military reports and correspondence, as well as interviews with more than 400 victims, eyewitnesses and senior members of the Nigerian security forces – this report outlines a range of war crimes and possible crimes against humanity committed by the Nigerian military in the course of the fight against Boko Haram.

“This is what we die for:” Human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo power the global trade in cobalt

Based on interviews with current and former cobalt miners – including children – this report traces the supply chain of minerals from the dangerous and back-breaking work of the mines to the wealthy corporations that use the materials to make luxury items.

On the Brink of Death: Violence against women and the abortion ban in El Salvador

Every year, thousands of women and girls are denied their rights and choices by El Salvador’s total ban on abortion and its criminalization. This report details the pervading cultural and institutional barriers that women and girls in El Salvador face in exercising their human rights, particularly those barriers that obstruct the realization of their sexual and reproductive rights.

“Where are We Going to Live?” Migration and Statelessness in Haiti and the Dominican Republic

This report reveals the reckless way in which the Haiti and Dominican Republic governments are handling the deportation, expulsion and “spontaneous” return of tens of thousands of Dominicans of Haitian descent left suddenly stateless by discriminatory citizenship rules.

People Impacted By the Muslim Ban

When President Trump issued his Muslim Ban, families around the world were torn apart or thrown into chaos and confusion. Spouses were separated. Students and professors were blocked from coming back to their universities. Some children even went without health care. Amnesty International’s crisis teams swung into action, fanning out across the globe to identify people who were affected and share their stories with the courts and Congress.