A very engaging conversation with @ec.europa.eu & @europarl.europa.eu trainees at Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office. We discussed @amnestyeu.bsky.social’s advocacy work and exchanged views on how to advance and strengthen human rights in the EU.

Happy Friday! ICYMI, Spain approved a plan to grant legal status to thousands of migrants this week. This smart, workable & humane initiative is a rare silver lining in today's toxic politics on migration. Other EU member states should take note!

Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in the illegally occupied Gaza Strip is continuing, including through the protracted obstruction of humanitarian aid, now further compounded by Israel’s new registration rules for international NGOs.🧵#FAC

🌍 Non-profits should be able to operate across borders. 250+ civil society organisations from across Europe are calling on the Commission to allow cross-border collaboration in the EU. Learn more and read our open letter here: bit.ly/4radFEw #SaveECBA #EUCivilSociety

As EU Foreign Ministers discuss the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) tomorrow, they must act with urgency matching the seriousness of this devastating conflict. Quiet diplomacy is not enough. Congolese need to see you act. (1/4)

With the EU-India Summit starting tomorrow, @amnestyeu.bsky.social Director @evegeddie.bsky.social says "it’s a crucial moment for two key global players to get their own houses in order on human rights and to prioritize them across all areas of their relations".

Unfortunately, the EU's anti-racism strategy "is a product of the current political environment. "Its lack of ambition & softly-softly approach betray the grim reality faced by many racialized people in Europe," says @evegeddie.bsky.social www.dw.com/en/new-eu-an...

After almost 8 years in legal limbo, Seán Binder and 23 co-defendants were finally cleared of all charges. @evegeddie.bsky.social tells @euronews.com the EU must "introduce stronger safeguards against the criminalization of humanitarian assistance under EU law." www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...

At what cost? The EU border agency @frontex.bsky.social reports a 26% decrease in irregular border crossings last year. These numbers say nothing about the human suffering behind the EU’s shift from asylum to deterrence🧵

People in Iran daring to express their anger at decades of repression and demand fundamental change are being met with unlawful use of force and firearms and mass arbitrary arrests, in scenes reminiscent of the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising of 2022. www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...

New year, new EU council presidency. Cyprus has assumed the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU & set out 5 priorities - autonomy, security, defence, migration & support for Ukraine. President Christodoulides must put human rights at the centre of Cyprus' mandate 🧵

As we witness fresh assaults on human rights & the rise of authoritarian practices, our resistance must grow even stronger. @amnestyeu.bsky.social's Aureja took part in the Human Rights Education Forum in Budapest & shares why HRE is key to shaping our future👇

EU: New rules on asylum and ‘safe countries’ undermine the foundation of refugee protection Sidestepping international legal obligations & further shifting responsibility for refugee protection to non-EU countries is an affront to human dignity 👇 www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...

Today, the 27 EU Heads of States meet in Brussels & will discuss the ‘Middle East’. Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza continues unabated despite the ‘ceasefire’, as Israel continues to restrict the entry of medical & reconstruction supplies and electricity.

Good news! Today, the European Parliament voted in favour of the My Voice, My Choice EU-wide abortion access initiative. This scheme would be a significant step in addressing inequalities in access to abortion care. Now, the @ec.europa.eu must turn this momentum into concrete action.

BREAKING: Today’s @europarl.europa.eu vote on the EU’s sustainability regulations package (Omnibus I) rolls back hard-won climate & human rights protections. Now, all eyes are on EU Member States to ensure vital protections in national laws. More details here 👇 www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...

This week, the European Parliament votes on the My Voice My Choice European Citizens’ Initiative. We encourage all MEPs to support this voluntary - opt-in, and non-binding mechanism to address persistent inequalities in access to abortion care across the EU.

Next Monday EU Foreign Ministers discuss DRC as violence escalates. This week Uvira, 2nd largest town in South Kivu, fell to M23. Civilians are being killed, injured, displaced. The EU & member states must act with an urgency to match the seriousness of this ongoing conflict.

Benham Satah, friend of @amnesty.org & survivor of Australia's inhumane offshore detention system came to Brussels to speak to EU politicians and civil society about why the EU must not follow suit with similar cruel & unlawful offshoring plans.

This week in Brussels, with @ilgaeurope.bsky.social we are joining Géza Buzás-Hábel - the organizer of Pécs Pride, for meetings with EU institutions. As the organizer of Pécs Pride, he now faces up to 1 year in prison for enabling a peaceful LGBTIQ+ march.

BREAKING: EU Ministers propose unprecedented detention, sanctions, and stripping of rights based on migration status. Mirroring the US, EU proposals will tear families apart & devastate communities. They must be reversed immediately, says @oliviasundberg.bsky.social www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...

“It’s appalling that international diplomats including from the US, European Union and African Union, are shirking their moral and international obligations by not applying direct & consistent pressure on Rwandan & DRC leaders to stop supporting abusive armed groups" @amnesty.org's Tigere Chagutah

A new @amnesty.org report documents how Rapid Support Forces attacked Zamzam camp in Darfur, Sudan in April. RSF killed civilians, took hostages, pillaged & destroyed civilian structures including a mosque, school & clinic. These violations must be investigated as war crimes. (1/4)

As Seán Binder goes on trial in Lesvos tomorrow for helping people in distress, @amnestyvl.bsky.social's director Wies de Graeve reflects on why people who save lives should be supported, not criminalized #HumanityMustWin www.politico.eu/article/sean...

Abortion is a human right. At today’s @europarl.europa.eu hearing on the My Voice, My Choice European Citizens’ Initiative, there was resounding political support for guaranteeing safe and accessible abortion across the EU.

A new @amnesty.org report reveals how the Cuban state systematically targets women activists, journalists & rights defenders. Arbitrary detention, unlawful surveillance, enforced disappearance & other institutional violence - amid impunity & a lack of judicial safeguards.

New testimony from Sudan: survivors say Rapid Support Forces executed scores of unarmed men & raped dozens of women & girls as they captured El Fasher. This persistent, widespread violence against civilians constitutes war crimes. All those responsible must be held accountable.

When will the EU take action over Hungary's persistent breaches of EU law? Today another EU Parliament report has found that the situation has gone from bad to worse in Hungary despite the EU formally launching Article 7 proceedings in 2018. www.amnesty.eu/news/hungary...

🚨So much at stake as #EPlenary discusses human rights in Tanzania this week Former ambassador & gov't critic Humphrey Polepole was abducted 6 Oct by unidentified security forces Authorities must disclose his whereabouts & if he is in their custody, release him now. www.amnesty.org/en/documents...

Sex without consent is #rape. Yet, this is still not ensured all over the EU. Thanks to MEPs Scheuring-Wielgus & Incir and all others who continue the fight for a consent-based definition across the EU. #LetsTalkAboutYes #OnlyYesMeansYes #EndVAW euobserver.com/health-and-s...

Conflict & crises. Authoritarian practices & closing civic space. Attacks on the international human rights system. At 25 years of their partnership, leaders at the EU-AU summit must rise to challenges in both regions & worldwide.

Hungary: Drop the investigation against organizer of Pécs Pride - Géza Buzás-Hábel. Buzás-Hábel could face up to 1 year in prison for planning a peaceful LGBTIQ+ rights march in Hungary. 📢 Take action now: www.amnesty.org/en/documents...

EU inaction in DRC kills! Today activists from LUCHA RDC & @amnesty.org gathered outside the European Council to demand EU act to end horrific abuses in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A huge blow for people & the planet. Today, @europarl.europa.eu voted in favour of deregulating corporations. This backsliding will have devastating consequences for workers & the climate. #CSDDD #OmnibusI #EPlenary

At a time when civic space across Europe is under attack, @amnesty.org welcomes the @ec.europa.eu’s first-ever #EUCivilSocietyStrategy, a long-awaited step to recognize and support those who stand up for #HumanRights every day.

Greece: Authorities must ‘drop baseless charges’ against rescue volunteer Seán Binder On 4 December, Seán will stand trial for helping people in distress and at risk of drowning at sea. www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...

EU & Latin American leaders meeting at the #EU-#CELAC summit must not forget their citizens who have been arbitrarily detained & forcibly disappeared in #Venezuela. Along with 800+ Venezuelans targeted in a systematic & widespread attack on dissent. 1/9

Latin American and European leaders meet in the coming days amid mounting crises & pushback against human rights. The EU-CELAC summit will be a crucial opportunity to promote and protect human rights in both regions and worldwide. www.amnesty.eu/news/europe-...

🚨 @amnesty.org’s new report warns of the EU’s risk of complicity in refugee & migrant rights violations in Tunisia where the migration system is built on racist violence, reckless sea interceptions, arbitrary detention & unlawful collective expulsions.

🎉Good news! @europarl.europa.eu FEMM Committee supports @myvoicemychoice.bsky.social initiative on providing safe & accessible abortion for all. The real test will be the final vote in the European Parliament. We call on all MEPs to add their support in the plenary vote later this month.

🎂The European Convention on Human Rights is 75 today! #ECHR75 Hard-won rights fought for over generations, the Convention has done so much for free press, LGBTI+ people, minorities, women, people with disabilities & the environment. Here are 5 wins for human rights 👇

🚨The Latvian parliament will vote today on a proposal to leave the Istanbul Convention, a landmark treaty protecting women & girls from violence. Such a move would put safety & lives risk. @amnesty.org calls on Latvia to uphold the convention & work towards its full implementation.

📢 Amid reports of Rapid Support Forces attacks on civilians in El Fasher, Sudan, the EU and international actors must act swiftly to prevent further civilian suffering. All those responsible for ongoing atrocities must be held individually accountable.

@amnesty.org is appalled at Austria’s deportation of a man to Afghanistan, a country which is not safe for anyone to be forcibly returned to. International law is clear: no one can be returned to a place where their life will be in danger. Human rights apply to everyone.

‼️It has been 10 years since Gui Minhai disappeared from Thailand. EU leaders must use all tools at their disposal to press the Chinese authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally, and allow him to travel home. #FreeGuiMinhai #China www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...

A ceasefire doesn’t mean the end of genocide, unlawful occupation or apartheid. The EU must not backtrack on suspending the 🇪🇺🇮🇱 agreement. Diplomatic & economic pressure on Israel is needed as much as ever. Now is not the time to let up 🧵

New: China's PR offensive in Europe rings hollow China’s aggressive posturing in the region, especially re: Taiwan, “stands in stark contradiction to the peaceful rhetoric China promotes in Europe,” says @eelingchiu.bsky.social, Director of Amnesty International Taiwan. We ignore it at our peril 👇

José Daniel Ferrer has left Cuba & is now in forced exile We @amnesty.org celebrate that he can reunite with his family & regain part of his freedom His situation is not an isolated incident but part of the Cuban government's systematic strategy to silence those who dissent x.com/CilanoJohann...

At a time when LGBTIQ+ rights are under severe threat, @amnesty.org welcomes @ec.europa.eu's new LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy and its renewed commitment to protect and promote LGBTIQ+ rights across Europe. commission.europa.eu/strategy-and...

@amnesty.org welcomes the @coe.int decision toward torture- & death penalty-free trade. After a review of CM/Rec(2021)2 on measures against trade in goods used for the death penalty & torture, @coe.int committed to further efforts to control this trade worldwide. search.coe.int/cm/eng?i=091...