Amnesty International Report
Amnesty International Report
Amnesty International Report
First published in 2021 by Except where otherwise noted, This report documents Amnesty
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ICC PPE
International Criminal Court Personal protective equipment
UN UPR
United Nations UN Universal Periodic Review
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
New legislation to counter violence against women and girls passed in Kuwait, South Korea and
Sudan. Some countries, including Croatia, Denmark, the Netherlands and Spain, took steps to
improve their rape laws to make them consent-based. In several African countries there were
unprecedented judicial developments aimed at ending impunity for rape and other sexual
violence in peace and conflict. The African Union looked set to prepare a new regional treaty to
combat violence against women. However, implementation of the Istanbul Convention, the
Council of Europe’s equivalent, was obstructed in three member states.
In practice, gender-based violence, including “honour” killings and caste-based, domestic
and sexual violence, remained shockingly high worldwide and authorities generally failed to
take adequate action to prevent it, prosecute perpetrators and grant survivors access to
remedies. Some authorities themselves carried out violence by, for example, punishing women
for perceived transgressions of Islamic law or subjecting men to anal testing amounting to
torture.
Long-standing discrimination in law and practice underpinned the violence and manifested
itself in other ways. Amnesty International recorded allegations of LGBTI individuals being
REPRESSION OF DISSENT
Many governments repressed dissent and otherwise restricted civic space. In response to
protests against unaccountable rulers, the erosion of social and economic rights and structural
racism (such as those led by the Black Lives Matter movement), security forces misused
firearms and less lethal weapons including tear gas, unlawfully killing hundreds and injuring
many more. They also targeted human rights defenders, journalists and political opponents with
intimidation and arbitrary detention. Some had exposed corruption or human rights violations.
Some were pursued in the context of elections marred by credible allegations of fraud or
restrictions on basic freedoms. Women human rights defenders often faced additional risks due
to their gender.
In a few countries, particularly in Asia and the Middle East and North Africa, authorities
prosecuted and even imprisoned human rights defenders and journalists using vaguely worded
charges such as spreading misinformation, leaking state secrets and insulting authorities, or
labelled them as “terrorists”. Some governments invested in digital surveillance equipment to
target them. Some hamstrung the operations of human rights organizations, including Amnesty
International. In Latin America and the Caribbean, which remained the most violent region for
human rights defenders, scores were killed by criminal groups in actions linked to the state or
business interests.
Some authorities in the Americas and the Middle East and North Africa issued legislation
criminalizing commentary related to the pandemic and subsequently prosecuted people for
spreading false news or obstructing government decisions. Others in Europe conflated the
CLIMATE CRISIS
A range of climate-related impacts continued
to undermine human rights in the Americas.
Central America experienced unprecedented
back-to-back hurricanes in November,
WORKERS' RIGHTS
The Labour Code continued to restrict the ANGOLA
right to form trade unions by limiting trade
union federations and confederations to Republic of Angola
single occupational sectors; allowing only Head of state and government: João Lourenço
Algerian-born people or those who had held
Algerian nationality for at least 10 years to The security forces used excessive force to
create trade union organizations; and impose COVID-19 restrictions and dozens of
imposing restrictions on foreign funding for people, including children, were unlawfully
trade unions. killed. Human rights defenders were
The authorities continued to deny arrested for disseminating health
registration to the independent General information and distributing masks and
Autonomous Confederation for Algerian hand sanitizer to Indigenous communities.
Workers, which first filed its application in The rights to freedom of expression,
2013. assembly and association were restricted
and activists faced arbitrary arrests and
INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY detentions. Commercial farmers colluded
The new Constitution failed to end the with government officials to forcibly evict
executive’s control over the judiciary and agro-pastoral communities from their land,
uphold judicial independence. undermining their rights to food, water and
In February, the Justice Ministry ordered housing. The government failed to
the transfer of prosecutor Mohamed Sid guarantee the right to food for low-income
Ahmed Belhadi to El Oued, 600km south of families during the nine-month lockdown
Algiers, two days after he had urged an period.
Algiers court to acquit 16 people arrested for
their peaceful participation in Hirak in BACKGROUND
January. The National Union of Algerian In February, international media disclosed
Magistrates described the transfer as the “Luanda Leaks” which revealed how
“political punishment and retaliation”. former President dos Santos’ daughter
Lawyers organized a national strike on 30 embezzled state funds in offshore bank
September and 1 October to demand respect accounts. In October, President Lourenço
for the rights of defence and fair trial. said that his predecessor’s administration
illegally withdrew US$24 billion from the
DEATH PENALTY country through fraudulent contracts with
The Justice Minister announced on 11 state oil and diamond companies. Also in
October that a new law to prevent kidnapping October, the Public Prosecutor confiscated
would include capital punishment for child assets worth billions of dollars which had
abduction resulting in the victim’s death. been acquired fraudulently by the former
Courts continued to hand down death President’s military generals and his Vice-
sentences. No executions have been carried President.
out since 1993. Economic and social conditions worsened
amid the groundswell of pressure from youth
who demanded that the President fulfil his
1. Algeria: End repression against Hirak activists and journalists amid
COVID-19 (Press release, 27 April) promise, made during the 2017 electoral
Republic of Austria
RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS
Head of state: Alexander Van der Bellen Following the March lockdown, domestic
Head of government: Sebastian Kurz (replaced Brigitte violence helplines reported a 38% increase in
Bierlein in January) calls from women seeking support and safety.
According to media reports, there were 24
There was an increase in calls to helplines femicides in 2020.
from victims of domestic violence during In December, the Constitutional Court
the COVID-19 lockdown. Afghan nationals overturned a law prohibiting primary school
continued to be deported to Afghanistan. children from wearing religious head
The Federal Government continued to coverings, finding that it breached the rights
refuse child asylum-seekers. There was a of Muslim girls who wear the headscarf,
rise in online abuse against Black people, including their right to freedom of religion
Muslims and refugees. and non-discrimination, and could lead to
their marginalization.
FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
In March, a nationwide lockdown due to
COVID-19 was imposed and being in public
FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY
The right to freedom of assembly remained
severely restricted while protesters continued
BAHRAIN
to be penalized simply for participating
Kingdom of Bahrain
peacefully in public gatherings.
Head of state: Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
On 11 and 16 February, police violently Head of government: Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa
broke up and dispersed protests against (replaced Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa in November)
electoral fraud in parliamentary elections in
front of the Central Election Commission in
Baku, beating and arresting protesters. Unfair trials of protesters, online critics of
On 15 July, police used excessive force to the government and relatives of these
break up a demonstration begun the previous individuals continued, as did other
day, when thousands had gathered suppression of freedom of expression.
RIGHT TO HEALTH
BURUNDI Government representatives initially claimed
that the country’s “special pact with God”
Republic of Burundi had spared it from being impacted by
Head of state: Evariste Ndayishimiye (replaced Pierre COVID-19. In late March, a government
Nkurunziza in June) spokesperson threatened sanctions against
Head of government: Alain Guillaume Bunyoni schools and other institutions for taking
(assumed office in June) proactive containment measures ahead of
the government, and for seeking “to
Unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests, enforced manipulate or disorientate public opinion”.
disappearances and sexual violence were Initial measures taken by government
carried out, mainly against perceived included quarantine for travellers, and advice
political opponents. Freedoms of on hand washing and avoiding physical
expression, association and peaceful greetings. The international airport was
assembly remained restricted; journalists closed from late March to early November.
and human rights defenders faced reprisals Mass gatherings continued during and after
for their work. Hate speech along ethnic the election campaigns. In May, some
doctors told the media that testing was
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL 6. Cambodia: Drop discriminatory ‘pornography’ charges against
Facebook seller (News story, 21 February)
RIGHTS
7. Cambodia: Substance abuses: the human cost of Cambodia’s anti-
The economic impact of the COVID-19 drug campaign (ASA 23/2220/2020)
pandemic, combined with the partial
8. Cambodian authorities must follow through with release of prisoners
revocation of EBA trade preferences, amid COVID-19 (ASA 23/2768/2020)
adversely affected the country’s crucial 9. Cambodia: Probe into Thai exile's enforced disappearance moving at
garment sector, leaving tens of thousands of snail’s pace, has glaring gaps (News story, 8 December)
workers, the majority of whom were women,
out of work. Workers’ socio-economic
insecurity was exacerbated by ballooning
levels of microfinance debt, which many were
CAMEROON
unable to repay as a result of the loss of Republic of Cameroon
income. NGOs and unions criticized the Head of state: Paul Biya
government for a failure to protect those at Head of government: Joseph Dion Ngute
risk of homelessness and destitution because
of the widespread practice of microfinance
institutions using land titles as collateral for Security forces and armed groups continued
loans. These developments put at risk the to commit human rights violations and
right to an adequate standard of living for abuses. Hundreds of thousands of people
millions of workers and their dependents. were displaced due to violence; and gender-
People dependent on fishing and small-scale based violence against women was
agriculture also saw their livelihoods seriously widespread. The government continued to
threatened by the increasing impacts of crack down on peaceful dissent and on
climate change combined with development critics. There were reports of torture and
projects, including hydroelectric dams. other ill-treatment in detention.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
The authorities violated the right to freedom
of expression, including access to
information, in the context of the COVID-19
pandemic. In May, the government stopped
publishing the numbers of COVID-19 cases,
WOMEN’S RIGHTS 4. Indonesia: End wave of digital attacks on students, journalists and
activists (ASA 21/2536/2020)
Data from the National Commission on
5. Indonesia: Financial punishment against human rights defender
Violence against Women indicated that, as of shows no respect for freedom of expression (Press release, 14
July, there was a 75% increase in reports of August)
sexual violence against women during the 6. Indonesia: Investigate killing of priest in Papua (Press release, 23
pandemic. September)
There was no comprehensive legal 7. Indonesia: Civil and political rights violations in Papua and West
umbrella covering all forms of sexual Papua (ASA 21/2445/2020)
violence. The Indonesian Criminal Code 8. Indonesia: Men accused of holding ‘gay party’ face 15 years in jail
narrowly defines sexual violence as including (Press release, 3 September)
rape and “adultery” (in contravention of
international law), and provides for limited
protection of survivors. On 2 July, the House
of Representatives officially dropped the
IRAN
Sexual Violence Eradication Bill from the Islamic Republic of Iran
priority list of the national legislation Head of state: Ali Khamenei (Supreme Leader)
programme. This undermined the adoption of Head of government: Hassan Rouhani (President)
a comprehensive legal framework that can
guarantee prosecution of perpetrators and The authorities heavily suppressed the
offer appropriate protection to survivors of rights to freedom of expression, association
sexual violence. and assembly. Security forces used unlawful
force to crush protests. The authorities
RIGHTS OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, continued to arbitrarily detain hundreds of
TRANSGENDER AND INTERSEX (LGBTI) protesters, dissidents and human rights
PEOPLE defenders, and sentenced many to
Harassment, intimidation, attacks and imprisonment and flogging. Women, as well
discrimination against LGBTI people as ethnic and religious minorities, faced
continued. The media reported inflammatory, entrenched discrimination as well as
inaccurate and misleading statements made violence. Enforced disappearances, torture
by public officials on the grounds of and other ill-treatment were committed with
defending the country’s public morality. Both impunity on a widespread and systematic
state and non-state actors were responsible basis. Judicial corporal punishments
for acts of violence as well as issuing threats, amounting to torture, including floggings
intimidation and other types of harassment of and amputations, were imposed. Fair trial
LGBTI individuals. rights were systematically violated. The
On 1 September, police in the capital, death penalty was used as a weapon of
Jakarta, raided a private gathering of men in political repression. Executions were carried
an apartment in South Jakarta. Nine people out, one in public and some others in
were arrested and charged with “facilitating secret. Those executed included people
obscene acts” under the pornography law, aged under 18 at the time of the crime. The
which carries a sentence of up to 15 years’ authorities continued to commit crimes
imprisonment.8 against humanity by systematically
concealing the fate and whereabouts of
several thousand political dissidents
1. Indonesia: COVID-19 and its human rights impact in Indonesia (ASA
21/2238/2020) forcibly disappeared and extrajudicially
executed in secret in 1988. Mass graves
WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Although the government increased
investment to address violence against
refugee agency, and, according to the 7. Lebanon: Abandoned migrant domestic workers must be protected
(Press release, 3 June)
government, around 550,000 who were
unregistered, after a 2015 government 8. Lebanon: Blow to migrant domestic worker rights (Press release, 30
October)
decision to bar the agency from registering
new Syrians arriving.
The organized returns of Syrians to Syria
continued until March, without their being LESOTHO
given the right to challenge their deportation
due to protection concerns. On 14 July, the Kingdom of Lesotho
government adopted another general policy Head of state: Letsie III
paper that would enable the continuation of Head of government: Moeketsi Majoro (replaced
its policy to push for the return of refugees to Thomas Motsoahae Thabane in May)
Syria, putting many refugees at risk of
refoulement. However, the Ministry of Social Prime Minister Thomas Thabane faced
Affairs suspended implementation of the plan charges related to his alleged complicity in
following the explosion in Beirut. murder and attempted murder, although no
BACKGROUND
LIBYA Libya remained divided between two entities
competing for legitimacy and territorial
State of Libya control: the UN-backed GNA led by Prime
Head of state and government: Fayez al-Sarraj Minister Fayez al-Sarraj based in Tripoli; and
(disputed) the Interim Government based in eastern
Libya supported by the LAAF, also referred to
Militias, armed groups and third states, as the Libyan National Army, led by Khalifa
backing warring parties, committed Haftar, and the House of Representatives,
violations of international humanitarian law, headed by Ajila Saleh.
including possible war crimes, with By June, the GNA, openly backed militarily
impunity. Fighting in and around the by Turkey, regained full control of the capital
capital, Tripoli, and other cities in western and other cities in western Libya, pushing
Libya between forces loyal to the UAE-backed LAAF forces eastward towards
Government of National Accord (GNA) and Sirte and effectively reversing the April 2019
the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) led to military offensive launched by the LAAF on
the killing and wounding of civilians, mass western Libya. In October, parties to the
displacement, and damage to civilian conflict signed a permanent ceasefire
infrastructure, including hospitals. In agreement.
violation of the UN arms embargo, Turkey, In response to the COVID-19 pandemic,
Russia and the United Arab Emirates national and de facto local authorities across
(UAE), among other countries, continued to Libya closed borders and introduced other
supply their allies with arms and military movement restrictions between March and
equipment, including banned anti- September. The health care system,
personnel mines. Thousands of people were weakened by years of conflict and insecurity,
one of 11 men charged for “attempted sexual 4. Malaysia: Hundreds of Rohingya seeking safety by boat at acute risk
from coronavirus (News story, 8 April)
intercourse against the order of nature” in
2019 filed a judicial review against the law 5. Malaysia must not return to climate of fear for activists and critics
(Public statement by Amnesty International Malaysia 12 June)
which criminalizes same-sex sexual conduct.
The case was ongoing at year end. 6. Malaysia: Government must end persecution of transgender people
(Public statement by Amnesty International Malaysia, 11 July)
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 7. Malaysia: Proposed IPCC bill a shameful step backwards in ensuring
police accountability (Public statement by Amnesty International
Indigenous Peoples across the country Malaysia, 28 August)
remained under threat of losing land to 8. Malaysia: Government must be accountable for deaths in detention
development and logging. In February, a centres (Public statement by Amnesty International Malaysia, 7
proposal to remove official protection from a August)
Mongolia
TORTURE AND OTHER ILL-TREATMENT
Head of state: Khaltmaa Battulga There were credible allegations of torture and
Head of government: Ukhnaa Khurelsukh other ill-treatment by law enforcement
officials but the government showed
Measures to prevent the spread of unwillingness to conduct investigations.
COVID-19 contributed to an increase in Between January and October, 54 cases of
domestic violence and affected children’s torture were reported, but only three of them
rights to education and health. Prior to were investigated and brought to court.
elections in June, there was a rise in cases
of arbitrary detention of individuals FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
speaking out against the government. The In January, an amendment to the Criminal
authorities failed to investigate most Code which criminalized the dissemination of
reported cases of torture. “false information” came into effect. A
access to a lawyer. 4. Moroccan journalist targeted with network injection attacks using
NSO group’s tools (Blog, 22 June)
Women
NORWAY
Employers failed to implement COVID-19- Kingdom of Norway
related measures to assist working parents, Head of state: Harald V
disproportionately affecting women, some of Head of government: Erna Solberg
whom had their wages unlawfully reduced if
they took time off. In the textile industry, The government suspended its invasive
women were threatened with lay-offs, non- COVID-19 tracing mobile application which
renewal of contracts, or – as in Štip, in June – risked the right to privacy. Violence against
required to work through a weekend curfew. women remained a serious concern. A
The government failed to fully implement consultation took place on a draft law on
recommendations from NGOs to protect human rights in business and supply
women and children fleeing domestic chains.
violence.
MASS SURVEILLANCE
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS In April, the government rolled out the mobile
During the pandemic, state clinics could not application Smittestopp (“infection stop”) to
provide routine sexual health and track possible COVID-19 infections. The
reproductive services; the NGO HERA contact tracing app put the right to privacy
prioritized services for Roma and other and security of hundreds of thousands of
vulnerable women. people at risk. After heavy criticism, the app
In March, the CEDAW Committee ordered was suspended and all collected data deleted
North Macedonia to provide reparation to six in June.1
pregnant Roma women unlawfully evicted
from their homes in the capital, Skopje, in DISCRIMINATION
August 2016. Sex-workers’ rights
According to the NGO European Roma Public health restrictions introduced on 12
Rights Centre, a Roma woman died in March March to limit the spread of the COVID-19
during a procedure to remove her dead baby. virus curtailed people’s freedom of movement
She was twice refused admittance at Ohrid and assembly, including that of sex workers
hospital, despite presenting with pain, then (80% of whom are women). Despite being
an infection and fever. When she was finally temporarily prohibited from selling sex from
RIGHT TO HEALTH 1. Pacific countries must not use COVID-19 to regress on human rights
As part of the COVID-19 response, the (Public statement, 15 April)
government offered little assistance to those
There were concerns over the protection of 7. Philippines: Cold-blooded murder of another activist and peace
advocate must be investigated (Public statement, 10 August)
health workers during the pandemic. A ban
on their deployment overseas was partially 8. Philippines: Another human rights defender murdered; cycle of
bloodshed must end (Press release, 18 August)
lifted in November.
9. Philippines: Quash conviction of Rappler journalists Maria Ressa and
Rey Santos (Press release, 15 June)
ABUSES BY ARMED GROUPS
10. Philippines: Denial of ABS-CBN franchise another nail in the coffin of
Clashes between government forces and the
press freedom (Public statement, 10 July)
communist New People’s Army continued. In
August, two young members of the Manobo
tribe died amid escalating violence in Surigao
del Sur. POLAND
DEATH PENALTY Republic of Poland
In his State of the Nation Address in July, Head of state: Andrzej Duda
Head of government: Mateusz Morawiecki
President Duterte renewed his call on
Congress to reinstate the death penalty,
EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE 1. Americas: Authorities must protect people from COVID-19 instead of
During the island-wide lockdown resorting to repressive measures (News, 15 May)
implemented in an effort to mitigate the
impact of COVID-19, there were reports of
excessive use of force by the police enforcing
lockdown measures, including a verified
QATAR
video in which police appeared to stop an
State of Qatar
individual on his way to get food and other
Head of state: Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
basic items.1 Head of government: Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz
By October, the police had received more Al Thani (replaced Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al
than 3,300 complaints related to alleged Thani in January)
violations of Executive Orders issued since
the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic New laws were passed offering migrant
and had arrested more than 1,000 people for workers better legal protections. Despite
alleged breaches. government measures to control the spread
of COVID-19, migrant workers bore the
FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY brunt of the pandemic’s impact. The
The day before the annual 1 May protests, authorities further tightened restrictions on
the police announced that protests were freedom of expression. Women continued to
prohibited by Executive Order. Following face discrimination in law and practice.
criticism by civil society organizations who Executions resumed after a 20-year hiatus.
alleged this was unconstitutional, the protests
went ahead. BACKGROUND
The Gulf crisis that started in 2017
RIGHTS OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, continued, with ties severed between Qatar
TRANSGENDER AND INTERSEX and Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the
(LGBTI) PEOPLE United Arab Emirates.
Among the 60 femicides during the year, six In January, the Emir appointed Sheikh
of those killed were transgender people, four Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani as
more than in the previous year, according to Prime Minister and formed a new cabinet.
the Observatory of Gender Equality of Puerto In March, the government introduced a
Rico. series of measures to control the spread of
In February, the violent killing of Alexa COVID-19, including access to free health
Luciano Ruiz, a transgender woman, care, and provided financial support to
provoked a public outcry. According to news businesses. The Emir also amended the
reports, the day before her killing the police Prevention of Infectious Diseases Law to
had intervened after a complaint was made increase fines and prison sentences for
against her for using the women’s bathroom anyone violating its provisions and
in a fast-food restaurant, photos of which established a Health Prosecution Unit
went viral on social media. dedicated to such prosecutions.
disadvantaging them economically if they 7. Qatar: Repressive new law further curbs freedom of expression (Press
release, 20 January)
sought a divorce or their husband left them.
In its report following its visit to Qatar, the 8. Qatar: Arbitrary executive action puts lives on hold (MDE
22/2772/2020)
UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
noted that women under the age of 25 must 9. Qatar: Contact tracing app security flaw exposed sensitive personal
details of more than one million (Press release, 26 May)
obtain the permission of their male guardians
10. Bahrain, Kuwait and Norway contact tracing apps among most
to engage in daily activities such as signing
dangerous for privacy (Press release, 16 June)
contracts and leaving the country. As a result,
it said, “women were prevented from leaving
their family homes without the permission of
their legal guardians, resulting in de facto
deprivation of liberty by their families.”
On 2 October, the Qatari authorities took a
number of women off planes when they were
travelling out of Doha’s airport in the capital
Prison conditions
United Republic of Tanzania
In April, the President pardoned 3,717
Head of state and government: John Pombe Magufuli
prisoners in line with WHO recommendations
to decongest prisons to limit the spread of
The government restricted the rights to COVID-19. However, prisons remained
freedom of expression, association and overcrowded, putting prisoners’ health at risk.
peaceful assembly in the run-up to the There were 32,438 prisoners, of which
October elections. The President declared 17,974 were on remand; the prison
Tanzania to be COVID-19-free in June. The population was 9% over capacity.
authorities severely restricted media
freedom, claiming they were curbing the DISCRIMINATION – WOMEN AND GIRLS
“spread of false news” on the pandemic. Pregnant girls and young mothers were
Media outlets were shut down for reporting discriminated against in the education sector.
on political events. Pregnant schoolgirls The government continued to ban them from
were banned from mainstream schools and schools and used a World Bank loan –
segregated in alternative education centres. intended for the improvement of girls’
secondary school education – to maintain
BACKGROUND their segregation in alternative learning
On 28 October, Tanzania held its sixth centres, where the four-year lower secondary
general election since the reintroduction of school curriculum was compressed into two
the multi-party system in 1992. In November, years.
the President began his second term in office
following a controversial election. In the run- REPRESSION OF DISSENT
up to, during and after elections, opposition The authorities used legislation to silence
politicians and hundreds of their supporters peaceful dissent and severely restricted the
were arbitrarily arrested and beaten by the right to freedom of expression and media
police, and others were killed. Several freedom, particularly in the run-up to the
politicians, including Tundu Lissu, the elections.
presidential candidate for Chadema, the In April, the Tanzania Communication
main opposition party, and opposition Regulatory Authority (TCRA) fined Star Media
politicians, Lazaro Nyalandu and Godbless Tanzania Limited, Multichoice Tanzania
Lema and his family fled the country after the Limited and Azam Digital Broadcast Limited
elections, fearing persecution. TZS5 million (US$2,150), and ordered them
to apologize for “spreading false and
conducted the third UPR of the USA’s human 4. USA: ‘We are adrift, about to sink’: The looming COVID-19 disaster in
US immigration detention facilities (AMR 51/2095/2020)
rights record.
Since January 2018, the USA has not 5. Explainer on US deportations and expulsions during the COVID-19
pandemic (Explainer, 21 May)
responded to communications from Special
Procedures or accepted their requests for 6. COVID-19 And gun violence: Top ten ways the pandemic intersects
with the crisis of gun violence in the US (Article by Amnesty
invitations to carry out official visits.9 International USA, May)
Following announcements that the ICC
7. USA: Joint submission on reproductive health, rights, and justice to
would investigate violations of international third Universal Periodic Review of United States (Joint submission,
humanitarian law and crimes against June)
humanity committed on the territory of 8. USA: Defense department undercounts civilian casualties in new
Afghanistan since 1 May 2003, the Trump reporting (Article by Amnesty International USA, 6 May)
administration issued an Executive Order on 9. USA: Rolling back of human rights obligations: Amnesty International
11 June which declared a “national Submission for the UN Universal Periodic Review, 36th session of the
UPR Working Group, November 2020 (Updated August 2020) (AMR
emergency” and authorized asset freezes 51/1407/2019)
and family entry bans against certain ICC
officials. The action undermined redress for