It may seem that the last year has shown more of the same abuses of human rights. Authoritarian practices have intensified worldwide. Anti-rights rhetoric and discrimination against disadvantaged groups are on the rise. Will existing protections for human rights be further pushed aside?
The 2026 edition of Amnesty International’s annual report, The State of the World’s Human Rights, assesses national, regional and global developments across a wide range of human rights themes.
It highlights how states have undermined the international rules-based system, hindering the resolution of problems that affect the lives of millions. It also identifies trends regarding armed conflicts, repression of dissent, discrimination, economic and climate injustice, the abrupt halt of humanitarian aid, and the misuse of technology. Many of these trends represent setbacks that risk continuing beyond 2026.
This report documents human rights concerns during 2025 in 144 countries, connecting global and regional issues and looking to the future.
It includes calls for action by governments and others to improve people’s lives. It is essential reading for government leaders, policymakers, advocates, activists and anyone interested in human rights.
Download “The State of the World’s Human Rights: April 2026.”