Reacting to the news that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire deal, which reportedly includes the immediate opening of five crossings to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, the rapid release of all living Israeli and other nationals held hostage in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and the partial withdrawal of the Israeli military from the occupied Gaza Strip, Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said:  

“For more than 2 million Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip who have faced two years of agonizing suffering, relentless bombardment and systematic starvation amidst Israel’s ongoing genocide, for those held hostage by Palestinian armed groups, and for those arbitrarily detained by Israel, a deal that could a put a stop to the horrors of the past two years is cruelly overdue. However, it will not erase all they have endured. Many will now be watching closely for proof that this is not just another brief respite. 

“A temporary pause or reduction in the scale of attacks and allowing a trickle of humanitarian aid into Gaza is not enough. There must be a full cessation of hostilities and a total lifting of the blockade. Israel must allow the unhindered flow of basic supplies, including food, medicine, fuel and reconstruction material, into all parts of the occupied Gaza Strip, as well as the restoration of essential services, to ensure the survival of a population reeling from starvation, repeated waves of mass forced displacement and a campaign of annihilation. This should be coupled with the withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza, and urgent action to rebuild and repair critical infrastructure across the Gaza Strip.  

“All Palestinians who have been internally displaced—most of them multiple times—must be able to return to their land without Israel dictating who can and cannot return. 

“Hamas and other armed groups must release the hostages to finally end the ordeal they have suffered for two years. Israel must release all arbitrarily detained Palestinians, including those held without charge or trial as administrative detainees or unlawful combatants, particularly healthcare workers unjustly detained for caring for their patients.  

After two years of shameful double standards and vetoes that strangled the UN Security Council as a livestreamed genocide is broadcast to the world, it is time to seize the opportunity to end this horror, mend what can be mended and salvage what is left of our shared humanity.

Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General

“For any lasting ceasefire agreement to succeed it must be firmly rooted in respect for human rights and international law and must include an immediate stop to Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, as well as concrete steps to end its unlawful occupation of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to dismantle the system of apartheid. 

“The current plan—the so-called ‘Trump peace plan’—falls woefully short in this. It fails to demand justice and reparations for victims of atrocity crimes or accountability for perpetrators. Stopping the cycle of suffering and atrocities requires an end to longstanding impunity at the heart of recurring violations in Israel and the OPT. States must uphold their obligations under international law to bring to justice those responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.  

“Israel’s plans to impose a ‘security perimeter’ (buffer zone) on Gaza’s most fertile lands would further entrench apartheid and occupation and compound injustice. Any scheme to outsource the occupation of Gaza without ensuring freedom of movement with the rest of the occupied territory will only deepen the territorial fragmentation that underpins Israel’s system of apartheid. In the same vein, any measures altering the geography and demographic composition of other parts of the occupied territory, namely the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, must be immediately reversed.  

“The proposed plan fails to ensure that Palestinians fully and meaningfully participate in all decisions about the future of the OPT, its governance, and the exercise of their rights. A plan that repeats the mistakes and failures of past initiatives that ignored human rights and the root causes of injustice will fail to secure a just and sustainable future for all those living in Israel and the OPT.  

“After two years of shameful double standards and vetoes that strangled the UN Security Council as a livestreamed genocide is broadcast to the world, it is time to seize the opportunity to end this horror, mend what can be mended and salvage what is left of our shared humanity.”  

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Amnesty International is concerned about the continued deterioration of the human rights situation in Ecuador, under the administration of President Daniel Noboa.

The seriousness of the situation has worsened in recent days, against a backdrop of protests linked to the National Strike called by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), with multiple complaints of excessive use of force against protesters by the security forces, possible arbitrary arrests, as well as the opening of abusive criminal proceedings and freezing of bank accounts belonging to social leaders and protesters.

Added to this are the executive’s attacks on the Constitutional Court, which put judicial independence at risk, and the lack of cooperation by the armed forces in investigations being carried out by the Public Prosecutor’s Office into dozens of enforced disappearances that occurred in 2024.

“During our recent visit to Ecuador, we received worrying information about actions promoted by the executive that seek to silence dissent and promote impunity. The repression of protests, attacks on the Constitutional Court and the persistence of a militarized security strategy, despite serious human rights violations, place Ecuador on the list of countries in the region that are experiencing a worrying rise in authoritarian practices,” said Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

The repression of protests, attacks on the Constitutional Court and the persistence of a militarized security strategy, despite serious human rights violations, place Ecuador on the list of countries in the region that are experiencing a worrying rise in authoritarian practices. 

Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

Repression of social protest

In recent days, thousands of people have taken to the streets to voice their discontent with many things, including the increase in the price of diesel announced by the executive in September. Various social movements called for a national strike, which led to protests and roadblocks in various provinces of the country. In this context, Amnesty International received information from civil society organisations about a possible excessive use of force against demonstrators by the national police and the armed forces, and dozens of possible arbitrary arrests.

As of 28 September, the Alliance for Human Rights of Ecuador recorded more than 60 people detained and more than 40 injured. On the same day, the death of Efraín Fuerez was reported in the province of Imbabura. According to the INREDH (Regional Human Rights Advisory Foundation), Fuerez reportedly died after being hit by a firearm, allegedly discharged by the armed forces. The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to peaceful assembly and of association noted that the actions of the armed forces in these contexts contradicted international standards and called on the state to establish a safe environment for activism.

In parallel, Amnesty International received information on the opening of allegedly abusive criminal investigations by the Public Prosecutor’s Office against protesters and social leaders, and on the freezing of bank accounts belonging to social leaders and their legal representatives. Of particular concern is the arrest of 12 people in the city of Otavalo, Imbabura province, including 10 Kiwcha Indigenous people, who were charged with terrorism. The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues expressed concern at this situation.

Faced with continuing protests, Amnesty International strongly calls on the Ecuadorian authorities to guarantee the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and to strictly adhere to the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality in the use of force. Amnesty International also calls for prompt and impartial investigations into possible human rights violations in this context. Finally, the organization urges the authorities to guarantee due process for those detained and to respect the rights of Indigenous people, with whom it should engage in dialogue to address their legitimate demands.

Retaliation against the Constitutional Court

For several months, the Constitutional Court of Ecuador has faced a campaign by the executive and its cabinet that seeks to delegitimize the judges who make up this court and position them as “enemies of the people”. In August, the court announced the temporary suspension of certain articles of three laws promoted by President Noboa on security and transparency, while ruling on their constitutionality. As a result of this development, the judges of the court have been subjected to harassment, attacks and public stigmatization.

In August, giant banners were installed showing the faces of the judges and accusing them of “stealing peace” from the country. The president called for a march against the court and ordered the deployment of the armed forces around its premises. In September, a bomb threat was received at the court’s premises, forcing the judges and their team to leave the site. Likewise, members of the court have reported receiving threats about criminal proceedings against them, in retaliation for their work, and having their communications hacked.

These attacks have been widely condemned by the international community, including the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Amnesty International warns that these actions represent a serious threat to judicial independence in Ecuador. We call on the state to ensure that judges, as well as all justice personnel, can exercise their functions free of political pressure and in safety.

Enforced disappearances remain unpunished

In the report “It was the military. I saw them”, released on 23 September, Amnesty International concluded that the armed forces have committed enforced disappearances in the context of President Noboa’s militarized security strategy, known as the “Plan Fénix”. The organization documented the enforced disappearance of 10 people, including six children, which occurred in five security operations carried out by the armed forces during 2024 in the provinces of Esmeraldas, Guayas, and Los Rios, on the Ecuadorian coast. These are not isolated cases. According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, since the beginning of President Noboa’s administration at the end of 2023, there have been reports of 43 possible enforced disappearances.

Despite the fact that these disappearances occurred months ago, the victims’ families are still calling for justice, since the cases continue to go unpunished. Only in the case of the four children from the Falklands, who disappeared and were later found dead in December 2024, have the possible perpetrators been arrested – 17 soldiers who are in pretrial detention. The main obstacle to the progress of the investigations has been the lack of cooperation from the armed forces, which have repeatedly refused to provide information requested by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, claiming “confidentiality”.

Amnesty International reminds the Ecuadorian authorities that the enforced disappearance of people is an international crime that entails the obligation to promptly and thoroughly investigate the facts, and to search for the victims, allowing the participation of their families. In this regard, we reiterate our call for the armed forces to collaborate with the investigations and for all authorities to guarantee the protection of the victims’ families. We also call on President Noboa to completely reverse the militarized approach to public security that has facilitated the commission of these serious human rights violations.

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The issue Alieta’s story

Discriminatory migration system

Over recent years, as climate change and disasters deepen social inequalities and economic hardship across the Pacific, many have felt their best option is to migrate. For many Tuvaluans and I-Kiribati, Aotearoa New Zealand is the most viable destination given the countries’ close historic and cultural ties.

However, the country’s migration pathways do not take into account the effects of climate change and disasters. This includes the Pacific Access Category Resident Visa (PAC), which provides permanent residency to a limited number of nationals of Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tonga and Fiji.

The PAC scheme is only available to people between 18 and 45 years of age, who can secure a job offer and prove they have an “acceptable standard of health”. This excludes anyone with impairments that are associated with a disability, as well as anyone living with certain medical conditions perceived to represent a cost for Aotearoa New Zealand.

“For many people in Tuvalu and Kiribati, staying or leaving is not a matter of choice but survival,” Agnès Callamard said. “Pacific Island communities have shown extraordinary resilience in pursuing adaptation and mitigation strategies to enable people to remain on their lands, but the Aotearoa New Zealand government needs to do more to support them, without discrimination.” 

It is simply unacceptable for a high emitting country like Aotearoa New Zealand to claim it cannot take people apparently due to the cost they could generate, especially knowing that people with disabilities face increased risks during climate-induced extreme weather events.

Agnès Callamard

Amnesty International met with several individuals with disabilities and their families, who were separated as a result of the visa requirements.

Alieta, a teacher and mother from Tuvalu with a visual impairment, had to remove her name from her family’s PAC application to enable her six-year-old daughter and husband to go to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2016. She has been separated from them ever since.

Talking about the impact of climate change, Alieta explained: “When the high tide came, the whole road and the house flooded… that’s why I want to move away from the sea.” She said that she agreed to her daughter going to New Zealand because she wants a better life for her, even though she finds it very hard to be apart.   

“In the beginning I was not angry at New Zealand. I kept on asking for a visa… But I am sad for my daughter. I didn’t want to be separated from my daughter. It is hard on children.”

Agnès Callamard said: “It is simply unacceptable for a high emitting country like Aotearoa New Zealand to claim it cannot take people apparently due to the cost they could generate, especially knowing that people with disabilities face increased risks during climate-induced extreme weather events.”

© Amnesty International

© Amnesty International

Deteriorating conditions in Tuvalu and Kiribati

Tuvalu and Kiribati – on average two metres above sea level – are particularly exposed to the effects of sea level rise. Coastal erosion, floods and droughts, as well as water and soil contamination and salinisation, dramatically limit the availability of drinking water and land to grow food and build homes. This is having a particularly severe impact on people’s health, particularly older people and those living with disabilities.

Aleki, who lives with her husband, her four children and her sister’s family in Funafuti, Tuvalu’s capital, told Amnesty International that obtaining clean drinking water has become a challenge: “We take buckets and go to the government building for filtered water every day for drinking.”

There are heat waves, droughts and king tides and they have destroyed all these plants.

A 56-year-old I-Kiribati woman

Soil contamination from salty water, which renders it unusable for growing most crops, is such an issue in Kiribati that the island is now nearly entirely dependent on imported food, which is often limited in variety and prohibitively expensive. 

A 56-year-old I-Kiribati woman told Amnesty International: “In Kiribati you hardly find good food. You can find only rice and canned stuff. You don’t have vegetables or stuff like that. We don’t grow our food at home. There are heat waves, droughts and king tides and they have destroyed all these plants.” 

© Amnesty International

© Amnesty International

Risking deportation from Aotearoa New Zealand

The situation is also precarious for people who manage to reach Aotearoa New Zealand and fall into irregular status after their visas expire. With no access to dedicated protection mechanisms, those in this situation live with the constant fear of deportation, and are unable to access public services, including healthcare and education.

Under international human rights law, everyone has the right to be protected against forcible removal to a place where they would be at real risk of serious human rights violations, including due to climate change and disasters.

“Amnesty International is calling on Aotearoa New Zealand to urgently reform its immigration policies to align with a rights-based approach to climate displacement. In doing so, the government must develop and implement policies consistent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Indigenous Peoples’ rights,” Agnès Callamard said.

The Pacific is sounding the alarm. If the world fails to act here, it will fail everywhere.

Agnès Callamard

This would include offering dedicated humanitarian visas that prioritize those who are unable to meet the existing immigration requirements, to ensure the rights, including family unit, of those migrating. Dedicated protection mechanisms against deportation are also needed, including suspension of deportations for nationals of Tuvalu and Kiribati.

“Aotearoa New Zealand – and the international community at large – must act now to protect, respect and promote the rights and dignity of Pacific People in the face of the climate crisis, both at home and in their country of destination. Anything less is a betrayal of our shared responsibility to uphold human rights and ensure climate justice,” Agnès Callamard said.

“Taking action on climate change and displacement is no longer a political choice but a legal obligation. The Pacific is sounding the alarm. If the world fails to act here, it will fail everywhere.”

© Amnesty International

Alieta: “I am scared of climate change” 

Alieta, 55, is a teacher and mother from Tuvalu with a visual impairment. In 2016, she was left with no choice but to remove her name from her family’s PAC visa application to enable her husband and six-year-old daughter to go to Aotearoa New Zealand. She has never been able to visit her daughter in Aotearoa New Zealand after all her visitor visa applications got rejected.

 “In 2015 we applied for the PAC visa and in 2016 my husband left with our daughter. We went to Fiji, but I got stuck there waiting. I stayed there to try and re-apply for my own visa. The first time, with the PAC application, I was not accepted because of my disability. I have low visibility; I can only see short distances.

The first form [registration to the ballot] does not mention disabilities. It is only at the second stage that the forms say that people with disability cannot apply. I was sad during the application process. I would not have applied for the family to go in the first place if I had known that they would not accept people with disability. I did not want our family to be separated.

I have a disability, but I wanted my daughter to be proud of me. I was thinking if I went to New Zealand, I would try my best to find a good job there, so that she would be proud of me, of what I would be doing for her. 

When the high tide came, the whole road and the house flooded

I wanted [my husband] to have a good job for schooling our daughter and I think of climate change here. I am scared of climate change.

Climate change and people with disabilities… It’s very difficult for us. I was staying in a place very near to the sea, between the ocean and the lagoon. When the high tide came, the whole road and the house flooded. The rain came into the house. In these situations, it is difficult for us as people with disabilities to move around, but [staying in] the house is not safe either. During bad weather, we just stay inside… that’s why I want to move away from the sea.

I was trying to be strong for my daughter

When my daughter said goodbye, at boarding time, she was crying and said: ‘Oh mum, I don’t want to go, I want you to come!’ I was trying to be strong for my daughter, I wanted my daughter to go so to give her an education. I wanted a good life for her future. [As a teacher], I had followed early childhood education courses, so I knew how hard it would be for my child. I was not showing her how weak I was feeling.

After they left in 2015, I met them only once, in Fiji, in 2017 for a one-month visit. I call my daughter and talk to her, but since then, we never met again. I speak to my daughter, but my husband has blocked me… The first time, with the PAC application, I could not go. I went to the people’s lawyer here in Tuvalu, and he said to reapply again for a visa. I applied for a visitor visa from Fiji in 2017 and was still rejected. I applied 2-3 times, and it was always declined. I paid AU$200-300 for each application.

In the beginning I was not angry at New Zealand. I kept on asking for a visa… But I am sad for my daughter. I didn’t want to be separated from my daughter. It is hard on children.”

© Amnesty International

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