Amnesty International's State of the World’s Human Rights report, covering 155 countries, highlights civilians bearing the brunt of escalating conflict, a growing disregard for international law, and concerns over the treatment of civilians as expendable, alongside issues like gender justice, economic crises, climate change impacts, and threats from new technologies, despite world leaders' failure to stand up for human rights, with millions rising in protest for change and a hopeful future.
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00:00As an Amnesty International researcher, it has been overwhelming to analyze crackdowns
00:05on peaceful protests by authorities in Sri Lanka and across South Asia.
00:11This year was a year of earthquakes, starting from Syria and Turkey, then later Libya, but
00:16perhaps the biggest earthquake of all was what we've been witnessing in Gaza.
00:21Together with my colleagues, we have documented numerous human rights violations against civilians,
00:33including mass casualties, torture, rape, extrajudicial executions, and the suppression
00:38of freedom of expression.
00:39Here in Europe, it was one of the most dramatic years for migrants and refugees' rights.
00:44My team and I documented one of the most deadly tragedies to ever happen in the Mediterranean.
00:48There has been an incredible backlash against gender rights.
00:53And nowhere is that more clear in the United States than the example of the attacks on
00:57abortion rights.
00:58It was the deadliest year for protesters in Senegal.
01:02We met with the families of those who were killed, who shared with us their heartbreaking
01:06stories of grief and loss.
01:08There remained no accountability for the thousands upon thousands of people killed in the war
01:12on drugs in the Philippines.
01:14I was in Ukraine at the time we had to respond the way we can.
01:19So I was conducting dozens and dozens of interviews with people who were stuck there.
01:25As an advocacy advisor, my role has been to convince policymakers that people and our
01:30rights should be the absolute priority and be reflected in the final text of the world's
01:35first binding law on artificial intelligence.
01:39So while 2023 had indeed been a challenging year for human rights, it was also a time
01:44when we were able to show the world the veritable power of our collective action.
01:47Some of our evidence can be used to push for arms embargo, to push for accountability and
01:54justice.
01:55To ensure that civilians are better protected and to ensure that those who are responsible
01:59for crimes and conflicts across the world are brought to justice.
02:02For example, we were able to convince the Human Rights Council to investigate the ongoing
02:07violations in Sudan and preserve evidence for future accountability purposes.
02:12We need people to support our actions to make sure that we can put pressure on authorities,
02:16government and to ensure that they comply with their international obligations.
02:22Amnesty International is committed to empower racialized people who have been harmed by
02:26immigration policies and ensure that their voices are heard.
02:29My hope for the future is that people will support us to continue to hold public authorities
02:36and corporations accountable.
02:38We must continue to protect those who speak truth to power.
02:43Because we know that we can build a future of human rights and we know that together
02:48we can win.