"A gloomy picture"

Amnesty sees international law largely suspended

Call for an immediate ceasefire from NGOs such as Amnesty International, Oxfam and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).(Bild: Ian LANGSDON / AFP)

The world is facing the frightening consequences of escalating conflicts and almost completely paralyzed international legal institutions. This is the conclusion drawn by Amnesty International (AI) on the publication of its 2023/24 annual report on the global human rights situation, which analyzes the human rights situation in 155 countries. 

"The repression of human rights and the widespread violation of international law are alarming, especially in the face of increasing global inequality, the vying for supremacy of superpowers and an escalating climate crisis," says Executive Director Shoura Hashemi. "A bleak picture," she adds.

Reform of the UN Security Council necessary
She calls for "urgent measures to revitalize and renew international institutions" such as a reform of the UN Security Council "so that the permanent members cannot exercise their veto power unchecked in order to prevent the protection of civilians and consolidate their geopolitical alliances."

Vote in the UN Security Council(Bild: AP)

The international community's failure to save thousands of civilians, including many children, from death in Gaza shows that the institutions created to protect civilians and uphold human rights are no longer fulfilling their purpose.

What we have seen in 2023 confirms that many powerful states are turning their backs on the fundamental principles of humanity and universality enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Shoura Hashemi

Indiscriminate attacks on civilians
Amnesty documents indiscriminate attacks on densely populated civilian areas and on infrastructure for energy production and grain exports, as well as torture and other ill-treatment of prisoners of war.

"What we have seen in 2023 confirms that many powerful states are turning their backs on the basic principles of humanity and universality enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," Hashemi said.