More than 80,000 global supporters and activists have signed a petition calling on the international community to urgently stand up for women’s rights in Afghanistan and hold the Taliban accountable for their unrelenting suppression of women and girls’ rights, Amnesty International said today on International Women’s Day.  

The petition, which calls for states to prioritize, monitor and support women’s and girl’s rights in Afghanistan, has been delivered to governments across the globe.  

“Over the last six months, the Taliban have systematically discriminated against women and girls by introducing policies that have severely restricted women’s freedom of movement and expression and undermined girls’ access to education and employment. In the space of just half a year, they have eroded two decades of women’s contributions to the country,” said Yamini Mishra, Amnesty International’s South Asia Director. 

The Taliban have systematically discriminated against women and girls by introducing policies that have severely restricted women’s freedom of movement and expression and undermined girls’ access to education and employment

Yamini Mishra, Amnesty International’s South Asia Director

“The speed at which the Taliban are dismantling the hard-fought human rights gains of Afghan women should send a chilling reminder to the international community of their responsibility to safeguard the women and girls of Afghanistan, many of whom are being silenced through reprisal attacks, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and torture. As this petition makes clear, the Taliban must be held accountable for their actions.” 

The fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 led to significant improvements in women’s rights. Over the last two decades, around 3.3 million girls have gained access to education while women have been able to actively participate in the political, economic, and social life of the country. Afghan women have found work as lawyers, doctors, judges, teachers, engineers, athletes, activists, politicians, journalists, bureaucrats, business owners, police officers, and members of the military. 

But now, as the world celebrates International Women’s Day, Afghan women and girls are unable to fully exercise their human rights. Instead, they are facing unfettered oppression by the Taliban. Recently, they have suffered an unprecedented number of reprisal attacks, with the Taliban evading any form of accountability. Seven months after the Taliban takeover, the fears that Afghan women harboured for decades have turned into a grim daily reality. 

The Taliban must be held accountable for their actions

Yamini Mishra, Amnesty International’s South Asia Director

Since taking power, the Taliban have dismantled the Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA) and the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC). They have also blocked female employees of government institutions and NGOs from returning to work, prevented three million girls from accessing education and imposed severe restrictions on women’s and girls’ rights. These repressive actions break international human rights law.   

“There is a need for multi-level interventions, including local, regional and international efforts to ensure women and girls’ rights are protected. A UN-led monitoring mechanism, for instance, should be established to oversee women’s situation and hold the Taliban accountable,” said Shabnam Salehi, former Women’s Rights Commissioner at AIHRC.  

Mahbouba Seraj, Executive Director of Afghan Women Skills Development Center, said: “Do not forget the Afghan women. Be our voice and raise your voice with your own governments. The rest of the struggle is on us, and we will continue”.  

Background 

On 25 November 2021, which marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, Amnesty International launched a campaign to advocate for the rights of Afghan women. 

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Prisoners of war in the Russian invasion of Ukraine must have their rights respected under the Third Geneva Convention, Amnesty International said today.

In recent days, the Ukrainian authorities have brought Russian prisoners of war to press conferences to discuss their roles in the military invasion, and videos on social media have also shown captured soldiers contacting family members in Russia.

Videos of captured Ukrainian soldiers have also appeared on social media, though it is not yet clear if these have official sanction.

“As the conflict continues, it is essential that all parties to the conflict fully respect the rights of prisoners of war,” said Joanne Mariner, Director of Amnesty International’s Crisis Response Programme.

As the conflict continues, it is essential that all parties to the conflict fully respect the rights of prisoners of war.

Joanne Mariner, Director of Amnesty International’s Crisis Response Programme

“Any public appearances can put prisoners of war at risk when they are returned to their home country, and also prove problematic for their families whilst they are detained.

“Article 13 of the Third Geneva Convention explicitly states that prisoners of war must be protected at all times, particularly from public curiosity. It is duty of the detaining power to ensure these prisoners’ rights are properly respected from the moment they are captured.”

The Geneva Convention

Article 13 of the Third Geneva Convention states: “Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited, and will be regarded as a serious breach of the present Convention. In particular, no prisoner of war may be subjected to physical mutilation or to medical or scientific experiments of any kind which are not justified by the medical, dental or hospital treatment of the prisoner concerned and carried out in his interest. Likewise, prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity.”

The authoritative commentary by the International Committee of the Red Cross specifies that “any materials that enable individual prisoners to be identified must normally be regarded as subjecting them to public curiosity and, therefore, may not be transmitted, published or broadcast”.

Amnesty International has previously called for international humanitarian and human rights law to be respected as the conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate.

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Responding to the news that Raif Badawi, a prominent blogger and human rights defender who has been arbitrarily detained solely for freely expressing his opinions, remains in detention despite completing an unjust 10-year prison sentence on 1 March, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Heba Morayef said:

“Raif Badawi has spent a decade behind bars solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression. The Saudi Arabian authorities must ensure his immediate and unconditional release and lift the unlawful travel ban imposed on him so he can finally reunite with his family.

“Raif Badawi’s ongoing detention reveals the Saudi Arabian authorities’ utter contempt for the right to liberty, freedom of expression and even their own laws. It also shows that their attempts to present a progressive image to the world serve as little more than a smokescreen to hide their repression.

“The Saudi Arabian authorities’ crackdown on civil society and freedom of expression must end. Raif Badawi and all prisoners of conscience detained solely for peacefully exercising their human rights must be released immediately and unconditionally.”

Raif Badawi’s ongoing detention reveals the Saudi Arabian authorities’ utter contempt for the right to liberty, freedom of expression and even their own laws.

Heba Morayef, Amnesty International

Background:

Raif Badawi was detained on 17 June 2012 and sentenced in 2014 to 10 years in prison, followed by a 10-year travel ban and a 1 million Saudi Arabian riyal (about USD 267,000) fine for creating an online forum for public debate and accusations that he insulted Islam. He was also sentenced to a cruel and inhuman punishment of 1,000 lashes, the first 50 of which were meted out in a public square in Jeddah on 9 January 2015. 

Over the last few years, the Saudi Arabian authorities have invested heavily in PR stunts to rebrand their image and attempt to deflect attention from their brutal crackdown on activists and human rights defenders. Although there was a brief lull in executions and prosecutions of activists during Saudi Arabia’s presidency of the G20 summit, that ended immediately after the event when the authorities ramped up their repression once again.

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Reacting to the Council of the European Union’s activation of the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD), which will grant immediate protection in EU countries to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, Eve Geddie, Director of Amnesty International’s EU office said:

“Everybody fleeing conflict must be provided with protection and help to establish themselves and we welcome that Ukrainians will be swiftly protected. But by restricting that assistance principally to Ukrainians fleeing conflict, the Council has also exposed the limitations of Europe’s solidarity.

“Today’s decision means that Ukrainians seeking safety in the EU will quickly get residence permits, be able to work, and be provided with suitable accommodation, welfare assistance, medical assistance, and education. It is now up to member states to decide if they will extend that to others fleeing Ukraine. We call on them to treat everyone fleeing this conflict equally.”

“The Council’s decision today is a reminder that Europe has long had the tools to protect people fleeing war and help new arrivals, and the usual ‘Fortress Europe’ approach is a politically motivated choice. That this is happening for the first time but principally for displaced Ukrainian nationals shows that the EU’s approach is riddled with double standards.”

Background

The TPD was created in 2001, in the aftermath of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, when, for the first time since the Second World War, Europe was confronted with mass displacements of people resulting from a conflict in Europe. However, it has never been activated.

Amnesty International has repeatedly called for its activation, most recently in the framework of the EU response to the crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:       

Alison Abrahams on alison.abrahams@amnesty.org or +32 483 680 812       

Out of hours contact details       

+44 20 7413 5566       

email: press@amnesty.org        

twitter: @amnestypress   

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3 March 2022 marks the first anniversary of spontaneous demonstrations in several cities around Senegal. One year on, the need for truth and justice remains urgent for the families of the 14 people who died, 12 of whom were shot by the defence and security forces, said Amnesty International, the Senegalese League for Human Rights (LSDH), and the African Meeting for the Defence of Human Rights (RADDHO) on the occasion of the launch of the campaign “Join us in demanding justice for the victims of Senegal’s violent repression of protests“.

There’s no more time to lose. The justice system must work quickly and independently […].

Seydi Gassama, Director of Amnesty International Senegal

The government had previously announced at a press conference in April 2021 that a commission of inquiry would be set up to establish the circumstances of these incidents and punish those responsible, if necessary. However, no further information was forthcoming in this regard and, in December 2021, the President of the Republic Macky Sall announced that a commission of inquiry was no longer on the agenda and that judicial proceedings were underway with investigations into these incidents.

“There’s no more time to lose. The justice system must work quickly and independently to establish the facts and responsibilities and bring those elements of the defence and security forces who are guilty of excessive use of force and unlawful killings to justice,” said Seydi Gassama, Director of Amnesty International Senegal.

“The Senegalese authorities must be transparent about progress in the ongoing investigation, follow up on the complaints filed by some of the victims’ families, and allow the victims and their families to participate in the judicial process. Impunity for the excessive use of force in Senegal, including the illegal use of firearms, must end,” said Sadikh Niass, Secretary-General of RADDHO.

One of the victims, Cheikh Wade, a 32-year-old tailor, was shot and killed in Parcelles Assainies, a Dakar neighbourhood, by the police. The video of his death was widely circulated on social networks and media in Senegal and around the world. In the video, authenticated by Amnesty International, a police officer can be seen aiming and shooting at Cheikh Wade. A police car then drives up to the body and passes it by, without helping him. Cheikh’s family filed a complaint with the Dakar Court of Appeal but the case has not been followed up to date. His family is still awaiting justice.

The Senegalese authorities must be transparent about progress in the ongoing investigation […].

Sadikh Niass, Secretary-General of RADDHO

“All we want are answers to the cause of my brother’s death. We want justice for him and the other victims, and to know why the police shot him,” said Abdoulaye Wade, brother of Cheikh Wade.

Cheikh Massiré Coly, whose son Cheikh Coly (20 years old) was the first person to be killed during these demonstrations, on 3 March 2021, in Bignona (Ziguinchor region) agrees: “The special investigations brigade [of the gendarmerie] came to my house following the death of my son; they spoke with me in March 2021 and since then there has been no follow-up. The political authorities brought us to Dakar in May 2021 to talk about these incidents with other victims’ families, but all I want is justice for my son’s death. That’s all.”

All we want are answers to the cause of my brother’s death […] AND TO KNOW WHY THE POLICE SHOT HIM.

Abdoulaye Wade, brother of Cheikh Wade who was killed on 8 March 2021

A trend of impunity

Judicial proceedings for excessive use of force or unlawful killings by the police force rarely reach a successful conclusion in Senegal. There has still been no explanation for the death of Fallou Sène, a student shot dead by the police on 15 May 2018 during a demonstration at the Gaston Berger University of Saint-Louis, despite the opening of an investigation. Impunity for excessive use of force against demonstrators will continue to flourish if accountability for the March 2021 demonstrations is not established and reparations to victims and guarantees of non-repetition are not provided.

The security and defence forces must respect and facilitate the exercise of this right [Freedom of peaceful assembly] ON THE PART OF THE POPULATION.

Samira Daoud, Amnesty International's Director for West and Central Africa

The Senegalese authorities must ensure that the defence and security forces respect and protect the Senegalese people’s right to life and to peaceful assembly, in accordance with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Guidelines for the Policing of Meetings by Law Enforcement Officials in Africa. During demonstrations, they must only use force in an exceptional and proportionate manner and, in particular, must only resort to the use of firearms when there is imminent danger to their own lives or the lives of others. Any violation by a member of the defence or security forces must be investigated, prosecuted, and punished.

“Freedom of peaceful assembly is clearly guaranteed by the constitution and international law. The security and defence forces must respect and facilitate the exercise of this right on the part of the population,” said Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s Director for West and Central Africa.

“The judicial authorities must expedite the investigation into violations committed by the defence or security forces during the demonstrations so that it can be completed as quickly as possible, responsibilities can be clearly established, and reparations envisaged for the grieving families,” said Alassane Seck, President of the LSDH.

Further information:

The March 2021 protests followed the gendarmerie’s arrest of political opponent Ousmane Sonko on his way to a court summons in connection with a rape complaint. The arrest took place after a month of tensions, in the context of the removal of his parliamentary immunity and the arbitrary arrest of several members of his party, Pastef-Les Patriotes, and civil society.

Fourteen people were killed during the five days of demonstrations and nearly 600 more were injured, according to the Senegalese Red Cross. Individuals in civilian clothes armed with sticks, clubs, and firearms were also observed at several sites, beating demonstrators while the security forces looked on, and even using firearms in some locations around the capital.

Internet access was also restricted and the National Audiovisual Regulatory Council (CNRA) cut off the signals of WALF TV and SEN TV for 72 hours, having previously issued a statement warning these two local channels and another, 2STV, that they had seen “repeated calls for the popular uprising” in their programming “via the broadcasting of images of the insurgency on a loop”, and calling on them to “stop this irresponsible coverage”.

In a speech on 5 March 2021, the Minister of the Interior described the demonstrations as “acts of terrorism and banditry” and denounced the presence of “hidden forces” behind them.

On 8 March 2021, Ousmane Sonko was provisionally released by the Senegalese justice system and placed under judicial supervision.

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