Author: Amnesty Maastricht

AUTHOR: Antía Kornführer Romay 15,700 politically-motivated arbitrary detentions were documented in Venezuela between 2014 and 2023.Around 300 individuals remain deprived of their liberty for political reasons. The politically-motivated arbitrary detentions carried out by Nicolás Maduro’s government are part of a systematic policy of repression, targeting political oppositions or critics of the authorities. Amnesty International indicates that these systematic attacks on Venezuelans may amount to …

Women’s Resilience in the Face of Violence  AUTHOR: Tanaaz Shahariyar  History is littered with stories of women, and their centuries of oppression and marginalization. From the witch hunts of the Middle Ages to the brutalities of slavery, to the current day, women have faced systemic violence and discrimination. Statistics paint a grim picture: an estimated one in three women worldwide …

The Use of Sexual Violence against Protestors in Iran AUTHOR: Annika Kannen Summary: In response to the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, Iranian authorities used extensive force, including sexual violence to intimidate protestors and extract confessions. The article outlines the systematic use of sexual violence against protestors by telling the story of Fatemeh, who survived sexual abuse following her detention at …

Bulldozer (In)Justice—A look at systemic discrimination in India AUTHOR: Tanaaz Shahariyar  During the period from April to June 2022, Amnesty International recorded the deliberate demolition of a minimum of 128 properties, encompassing residences, businesses, and places of worship, with the vast majority owned by Muslims. These incidents took place in various states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), namely …

Criminalizing homelessness: A short history of vagrancy laws AUTHOR: Annika Kannen Summary: This article is about the historical roots and discriminatory impact of vagrancy laws targeting people living in homelessness and poverty. It talks about ongoing struggles for reform and delves into why these vague, outdated laws undermine justice and perpetuate harm. Photo by hdabed on Freeimages.com First of all, …

Human Rights of Women in Afghanistan AUTHOR: Thirsa Rzepka The Alliance for Human Rights in Afghanistan made a joint statement on August 15, 2023. Hereby they condemned the ongoing and increasing human rights violations by the Taliban that particularly affect women and girls since the Taliban’s seizure of power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021. Over the past two years, …

Climate Change and Human Rights AUTHOR: Thirsa Rzepka Currently, millions of people are suffering the effects of extreme disasters due to climate change. Examples include prolonged droughts in countries in Africa and tropical storms in Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Climate change is inextricably linked to human rights, because climate change has a devastating effect on people’s environment and …

An overview of Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis: A Call for International Action AUTHOR: Tanaaz Shahariyar  Sudan is a country steeped in a complex history, fraught with tensions and is currently grappling with a dire humanitarian crisis that demands global attention. From political instability to severe human rights violations, the Sudanese people are facing unprecedented challenges. Historical and Geopolitical background Sudan’s history …