Kategorie: Humans

ASEAN member states must put human rights at the centre of regional discussions and decision-making, Amnesty International said as Southeast Asian leaders gather for the bloc’s 47^th Summit in Malaysia this weekend.

“It is long past time for member states to act decisively to address the continually deteriorating crisis in Myanmar. Nearly five years since Myanmar’s military seized power, the situation in the country is an ever-worsening human rights nightmare,” said Montse Ferrer, Amnesty International’s Regional Research Director.

“People in Myanmar face multiple threats, including the armed conflict fueling internal displacement, and the junta’s ongoing campaign of repression, including unlawful air strikes on civilians. The military, and in some cases armed groups fighting against it, have carried out forced recruitment, arbitrary detention, torture and extrajudicial executions. Crumbling economic standards are also affecting rights to health, education and livelihoods.

“Though the vast majority of human rights violations are committed by the military, Amnesty International and others have also documented abuses by armed groups, such as the Arakan Army that has taken control of large parts of Rakhine State, leaving civilians, including Rakhine, Rohingya and other ethnic minorities trapped in a seemingly endless cycle of suffering.

“ASEAN’s approach to the situation in Myanmar has failed to prevent grave human rights violations let alone hold perpetrators accountable, with the humanitarian crisis in the country worse than ever, compounded by a devastating earthquake in March that killed thousands. ASEAN must urgently intensify efforts to exert maximum influence on the military and other armed groups to comply with international humanitarian law and free all arbitrarily detained prisoners.

“As the Myanmar junta prepares to hold elections, it is increasingly relying on repressive tactics and arresting anyone critical of the poll. ASEAN must take a clearer stand against these abuses or they will only increase. It must also revisit the failed five-point consensus that among other aims was intended to stop the violence in the country but has clearly fallen short.”

Amnesty International also remains deeply concerned about the ongoing scamming compound crisis in Southeast Asia – especially Cambodia, where thousands have been victims of human trafficking, forced labour and torture. Although organized criminal groups are running these compounds, the Cambodian state has failed to take adequate steps to stop the widespread human rights abuses despite being made aware of them for years.

“While ASEAN governments have previously acknowledged the seriousness of scamming compounds, they must put words into action by working to dismantle these criminal networks, protect victims, prosecute those responsible and ensure that host states like Cambodia take decisive action,” Montse Ferrer said.

In Indonesia and the Philippines, excessive use of force and arbitrary arrests by police to quell recent protests must also be effectively investigated.

“ASEAN governments should not rely on authoritarian tactics to silence dissent. They must instead respect the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, as well as international standards on the use of force.

“Failing to address serious human rights violations undermines regional stability and weakens ASEAN’s reputation. If it wishes to have any credibility on the international stage, ASEAN must put people before politics, take decisive action to address crises in the region and strengthen the regional bloc’s system of promotion and protection of human rights,” Montse Ferrer said.

Background

The ASEAN Summit is a semi-annual meeting of the leaders of the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to discuss issues of mutual interest.

The 47^th ASEAN summit will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 26 to 28 of October. Timor-Leste will join as the 11^th member state of ASEAN on 26 October.

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In light of the prolonged arbitrary detention of Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán, Indigenous representatives of the 48 cantons of Totonicapán, who will today have been deprived of their liberty for six months, Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International, said: 

“Today marks six months since Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán were unjustly deprived of their liberty. For six months, the justice system has repeatedly violated their rights. Their detention is arbitrary, and they must therefore be released immediately. We will insist as many times as is necessary: organizing a peaceful protest is a right, not a crime. The misuse of terrorism charges to silence dissenting voices does, however, violate human rights and puts the entire Guatemalan society at risk.”

Today marks six months since Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán were unjustly deprived of their liberty. For six months, the justice system has repeatedly violated their rights. 

Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International

Both men were detained on 23 April 2025 and subsequently charged with crimes of terrorism and obstruction of justice, with a judge ordering their pre-trial detention. Amnesty International believes that these criminal proceedings are unfounded and that they are part of a pattern of politically motivated persecution previously reported by the organization,  the UN and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. 

Information compiled by Amnesty International shows that the authorities are seeking to punish Luis Pacheco and Hector Chaclán for participating in the peaceful protests of October 2023 in defence of the rule of law. At the time, they were president and treasurer, respectively, of the Maya K’iche Council of Community Mayors of the 48 cantons of Totonicapán.

The proceedings have been marked by irregularities and delays on the part of the authorities, which have directly impacted the defendants’ right to a fair trial. Legal proceedings have been stalled since 25 June due to the absence of a judge to preside over them. The judiciary still needs to appoint a judge to conduct an intermediate hearing. Furthermore, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has kept the proceedings under reserve for several months, hindering their right to a defence and to be tried without unreasonable delay. 

“These delays unjustifiably prolong the arbitrary detention of Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán and add to the long list of human rights violations committed against them. We demand an immediate end to the criminalization of human rights defenders by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the judiciary,” added Ana Piquer. 

These delays unjustifiably prolong the arbitrary detention of Luis Pacheco and Héctor Chaclán and add to the long list of human rights violations committed against them. We demand an immediate end to the criminalization of human rights defenders by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the judiciary. 

Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International

Amnesty International reiterates that using antiterrorism laws to punish peaceful assembly is contrary to international human rights law, and once again calls on the Guatemalan authorities to guarantee the right to peaceful protest and to put an end to the criminal prosecution of human rights defenders.

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact press@amnesty.org 

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Reacting to news that Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has petitioned the Supreme Court to designate the Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF) founded by the late prisoner of conscience Aleksei Navalny a “terrorist organization,” Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said:

“The Kremlin has been relentless in its persecution of Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny and his supporters. Its campaign of repression led to Navalny’s death in custody in February 2024, the banning of organizations he founded, and the exile and criminal prosecution of their activists and staff. Still unsatisfied, the Kremlin is now determined to deliver a final, fatal blow. This move is not just about dismantling Navalny’s legacy but crushing any pockets of dissent left in the country.

“The “terrorist” designation would expose anyone associated with ACF (FBK in Russian) or Aleksei Navalny to criminal prosecution with the harshest penalties, including up to life in prison. FBK once stood at the very centre of civic life in Russia, supported by tens of thousands country-wide; this decision could unleash a floodgate of mass reprisals.

The “terrorist” designation would expose anyone associated with ACF or Aleksei Navalny to criminal prosecution with the harshest penalties, including up to life in prison

Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

“The Prosecutor General must immediately withdraw its unlawful petition and end the misuse of anti-“terrorism,” and other legislation to crush dissent. The Russian authorities must also lift the ban on ACF, stop persecuting people for alleged association with it, and ensure a transparent and effective investigation into the death of Aleksei Navalny conducted by independent and impartial international experts.”

Background

On 22 October 2025, the Prosecutor General’s Office petitioned the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation to recognize the US-registered ACF Inc. (Anti-Corruption Foundation, the legal successor of the banned Russia-based FBK) as a “terrorist organization” under Russia’s broad anti-“terrorism” laws. The hearing is scheduled for 27 November and will take place behind closed doors. It will be presided by the same judge who previously banned the non-existent “international LGBT movement” and “international satanism movement” on the grounds of “extremism.”

Just last week members of the Anti-War Committee, established by exiled opposition activists, were charged with “terrorism”-related offences.

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Responding to the arbitrary inclusion of 32 individuals, including Baloch activists, as “proscribed persons” under section 11-EE of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, which places severe limits and undue restrictions on their human rights, Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia, said:

“The arbitrary manner in which these individuals, including peaceful Baloch activists, have been put on a terrorist watchlist without being given an opportunity to challenge the decision is an affront to due process and their rights to liberty, privacy and freedom of movement.

“Amnesty International has long raised concerns about the anti-terrorism law in Pakistan as it doesn’t comply with international human rights standards, grants broad powers to detain and proscribe individuals who are merely exercising their human rights, and fails to ensure fair trial guarantees. The law has systematically been weaponized and used to target dissent inside the country and crack down on critical voices.”

“This designation comes at a time when worrying reports of unlawful killings are emerging from parts of Balochistan province. Of particular concern is the strict lockdown in Zehri, Khuzdar district, where all movement in and out of the area has been barred since 25 September and an internet shutdown has been in place for the past few months in total disregard of the right to freedom of expression.

The decision is an affront to due process and their rights to liberty, privacy and freedom of movement

Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia

“We urge the government to remove all activists from both this list and other arbitrary designations such as the Exit Control List and Passport Control List, which also place undue restrictions on their freedoms. The authorities must follow due process and ensure they are able to challenge the designation before an independent and impartial court and take larger steps to bring anti-terror laws in line with international human rights law. Further, the Pakistani authorities must conduct an immediate, impartial and transparent investigation into the loss of life in Zehri during military operations, immediately lift the internet shutdown and all security forces abide by international law.”

Background

The Balochistan authorities, through notifications issued on 2 and 16 October, have designated 32 individuals from Khuzdar, Kech and Chagai districts in Balochistan province under the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act as “proscribed individuals”. These include women activists such as Dr. Sabiha Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch, Naz Gul and Syed Babi Sharif and Shalee Assa.

The designation places the individuals under heavy surveillance and severely restricts their freedom of movement and ability to take part in public life. Proscribed individuals cannot travel outside designated areas without express permission from their local police station. It also grants powers to the authorities to investigate and freeze financial assets of the person or their immediate family members.

There have been reports of several deaths, including children, during military operations in Zehri, Khuzdar district in Balochistan.

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The Guinean authorities must immediately guarantee the human rights of Soguipah workers and smallholder planters affiliated with the state-owned company, and investigate widespread abuses particularly regarding workers’ right to decent work, said Amnesty International in a new report.

‘Salaries that make you cry: abuses of workers’ rights linked to Soguipah’s activities in Guinea’ reveals how workers at the plantations and the factory of the Guinean Oil Palm and Rubber Tree Company (Société guinéenne de palmiers à huile et d’hévéas – Soguipah) in Diécké and its surroundings, in Nzérékoré region, were paid significantly below the national minimum wage and lacked adequate protective equipment. The report also documents how Soguipah bought rubber from smallholder planters affiliated with the company at below market prices.

“With the president promising since 2021 to make the exploitation of natural resources a lever for development and the improvement of living conditions, the authorities should act immediately to guarantee the human rights of these workers and planters, in conformity with the Guinean Labour Code, the new Constitution and their international human rights obligations,” said Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa.  

‘When you see some people’s payslips, it makes you want to cry…’

In 2024, the 100% state-owned Soguipah employed more than 4,000 people and had 6,801 affiliated planters, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Several Soguipah workers interviewed by Amnesty International were paid below the legal minimum wage of 550,000 Guinean franc (approximately 55 euro) per month. Among the pay slips of 30 people dated from 2022 to 2025 analysed by the organization, 29 had received a basic salary below the legal minimum wage. In September 2025, the lowest basic salary paid by Soguipah among 24 pay slips was 69,783 Guinean franc (approximately 7 euro) for 170 hours worked during the month.

“When you see some people’s payslips, it makes you want to cry… [The worker] will spend his life paying off his debts and taking on even more debt,” said one worker.

From left to right: a rubber tree tapper and a load of freshly harvested latex. December 2024
© Amnesty International

Many people interviewed struggle to meet their essential needs, including food, housing, schooling for their children and healthcare. This precarious situation is exacerbated by the Diécké area’s isolation, which causes higher prices for basic necessities, particularly during the rainy season when roads become impassable.

Workers also described difficult working conditions, with a lack of personal protective equipment despite regular exposure to potentially harmful chemicals, both on plantations and in the factory.

Amnesty International didn’t receive information from the company but in view of the continuity over time of the abuses of workers’ rights and Soguipah’s awareness of repeated claims from workers, the report concludes that the company has not effectively implemented its duty of vigilance. The Guinean authorities, for their part, failed in their obligations to ensure that these rights were respected by the company, even though they could not have been unaware of the abuses of workers’ rights.

Soguipah took everything, there is nowhere left to farm, so we are forced to work for Soguipah.

A woman living in Diécké area

Planters plunged into precariousness

Workers on family plantations and union representatives told Amnesty that they do not have access to the agreement and contract signed in the 1990s defining their contractual relationship with Soguipah. One of the representatives said: “I have never seen this agreement. Soguipah refuses to make it available to the communities.”  

These planters are presumably obliged to sell their produce exclusively to Soguipah, often below market prices. The company also deducts sums from these sales for assistance which it no longer provides in full. A union leader said: “Before, Soguipah deducted money from us because it maintained the tracks [..] and assisted planters with agricultural techniques. This is no longer done, but Soguipah continues to deduct money from us.”

In addition, dozens of families have had their land taken away by the state for the benefit of Soguipah without fair and equitable compensation. They now depend on low-yielding monocultures that have spread at the expense of local food crops. One woman said: “Soguipah took everything, there is nowhere left to farm, so we are forced to work for Soguipah.”

Abuses widely known but ignored by the authorities

Since 2019, Soguipah workers have held protests in Diécké and in the capital Conakry over their working conditions, and the planters’ unions issued several strike notices, most recently in January 2025.

The transitional authorities must keep their repeated promises to protect the economic and social rights of everyone in the country.

Fabien Offner, Senior Researcher at Amnesty International

However, instead of taking the necessary measures to guarantee their rights, the authorities  allowed a climate of fear and self-censorship to take hold. In 2024, a manager was allegedly dismissed for publicly denouncing the working conditions of female employees. Several people described a climate of fear fuelled by the threat of sanctions. One of them said: “If I write against Soguipah today on my Facebook page, tomorrow I will be punished. One of my friends has already been through this. He was almost sacked.”

“The transitional authorities must keep their repeated promises to protect the economic and social rights of everyone in the country, including the right to a fair and equitable wage, which is a prerequisite for a decent life,” said Fabien Offner, Senior Researcher at Amnesty International.

“They must guarantee the protection of the human rights of Soguipah workers and of those who depend on the company, in accordance with the country’s obligations under the Guinean Labour Code, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the nine fundamental instruments of the International Labour Organization ratified by Guinea.”

Background

This report is based on research conducted in 2024 and 2025, for which 90 people were interviewed. Its findings were sent on 3 October to the Guinean authorities and the Soguipah management to provide them with an opportunity to respond to our findings. At the time of publication, Amnesty International has not received a response to either.

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