Urgent reading for all those who care about human rights in DRC 👇

www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...

"World leaders are aware of killings and rapes committed by warring parties in DRC and choose to disregard them.

US, EU & AU officials must prioritize stopping human rights abuses.

Until diplomats impose consequences on the backers of M23 & Wazalendo, Congolese civilians will continue to suffer."

Time to
👉Release Zhang Zhan immediately & unconditionally, and ensure her convictions are quashed
👉Pending release, ensure she has regular unrestricted access to family, lawyers & adequate medical care
👉Stop threatening rights defenders including her family, lawyer & others supporting this case.

For a brief period her whereabouts were unknown, until on 18 November her family received confirmation that she is being held at Shanghai Women’s Prison.

Neither they nor her lawyer have yet secured permission to visit her, and there are ongoing concerns for her well-being.

👉Ensure the UN Human Rights Council's Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan has the necessary resources & support to document, report & preserve evidence of crimes under international law
👉Exercise universal jurisdiction over crimes under international law committed in Sudan
(4/4)

👉Protect & support people fleeing Sudan
👉Call all countries-including UAE-to respect the UN Security Council arms embargo on Darfur & refrain from transferring weapons & ammunition to Sudanese Armed Forces, RSF & others
👉Work to expand the UNSC arms embargo to all Sudan
(3/4)

What can the EU do?

👉Call all conflict parties to end all attacks on civilians & civilian infrastructure now, and ensure unrestricted & immediate humanitarian access
👉Increase emergency funding for humanitarian response in Sudan & refugee camps in neighbouring countries
(2/4)

And speaks out on

"other opposition leaders and critics... arbitrarily arrested or targeted, in a sustained purge involving abductions and disappearances, including that of Humphrey Polepole"

#Eplenary calls for prompt, thorough, independent & impartial investigation into all alleged killings, enforced disappearances, torture & other violations.

Condemns the arbitrary & politically motivated detention of Tundu Lissu, calling for his immediate & unconditional release.

Tanzania: @europarl.europa.eu urges the authorities to

👉Immediately cease crackdowns & arbitrary arrests of opposition members, protesters, journalists & rights defenders
👉Release all those arbitrarily detained & lift all internet & media restrictions

europarl.europa.eu/doceo/docume...

The EU has long championed human rights in Cuba.
It's time for the EU to demand concrete protection measures & urge Cuba to:
👉End harassment, arbitrary detention & violence against women rights defenders
👉Urgently work toward a comprehensive law against gender-based violence

“Women defenders are punished not only for speaking out, but also for being mothers, journalists & community leaders” says @anaamancay.bsky.social.

“The state wields gender-based violence as a tool of repression, seeking to break their dignity, their families & their collective strength"

Drawing on exchanges between 20 civil society experts, our paper points to the potential of the EU and the AU to positively shape human rights agendas, policies & practices in Europe & Africa

And to effectively protect human rights and all those who defend human rights.

@amnestyeu.bsky.social

In Europe & Africa, civil society is witnessing
➡️Cuts in funding to civil society & human rights institutions
➡️Mis- & disinformation about civil society & its work
➡️Active undermining of norms & institutions including international human rights law
➡️Authoritarian practices

👉Uphold the rights of refugees & migrants
👉Champion justice for rights violations, supporting the work of the ICC & regional courts
👉Defend the international human rights system with its crucial norms & safeguards that protect people on both continents

The AU & EU should deliver on their shared human rights commitments, working together toward principled positions & consistent action:
👉Respond to conflict & crisis in line w/int'l human rights standards
👉Protect rights defenders, activists, civil society & their important work

And as European and African leaders meet at next week's EU-AU summit, the human rights and humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC must be high on the agenda.

The time to act is now! www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...

@amnesty.org documented gang rapes, summary executions, torture & attacks on health facilities by #M23, Wazalendo & the Congolese army.

100,000s of lives are at stake.

The EU must demand accountability for abuses & ensure all armed groups prioritize protection of civilians.