The organization documents the growing trend of repression of all dissent, with the first 100 days of Trump’s new term marking an even sharper global setback. The failure to address social inequality, the climate crisis and technological challenges deepens the threats to future generations.
Despite the gloomy climate, Amnesty International stresses that this path is not inevitable. Global resistance is coming to life, with citizens and societies fighting to defend equality and justice, pressuring governments to restore international legitimacy.
The report highlights that the Trump administration is undermining critical international institutions and rules, putting the security of billions of people at risk. The “Trump effect” has accelerated already existing authoritarian trends, leading to a new, violent era where authoritarianism and corporate greed coexist.
Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, emphasizes that the last 12 months have revealed, through events such as the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, how dangerous the world can become when powerful states turn their backs on international law.
2024 was marked by massive violations of the freedoms of expression, assembly, and association, while governments around the world deployed harsh measures to curb dissent and tighten control, using unfounded accusations of “extremism” to imprison dissidents.
At the same time, violence escalated on many fronts. From arbitrary executions in Bangladesh to a deadly crackdown in Mozambique, armed conflicts deepened the suffering of millions. In Gaza, Amnesty International documented the imposition of apartheid and genocide, while war crimes and crimes against humanity were documented in Ukraine and Sudan.
The massive cutback in US humanitarian aid – from Syria to Yemen to Myanmar – has left millions of people without basic medical care and support, increasing the exposure of the most vulnerable to risks of violence and death.
However, Amnesty International underlines that there is still hope: international civil society is not giving up. On the contrary, from South Korea to the West Bank, people continue to stand up, proving that the fight for human rights is not over.
At this critical crossroads, Amnesty International calls on governments and all citizens not to stand idly by, but to work in concert to restore dignity, freedom and justice globally.
The global decline of human rights under the microscope of Amnesty International
Amnesty International reminds us that, despite its weaknesses, the global human rights protection system must not be abandoned but strengthened and renewed. As Agnès Callamard points out, the ongoing undermining of the rule of law, from Gaza to Congo, has reached a dramatic peak in 2024.
Callamard accuses the international community of contributing to the current disintegration of international law by its passivity in the face of double standards. She stresses that the cost of this inaction is enormous: the loss of protective institutions created to protect humanity after the horrors of the Holocaust and World War II.
This year has seen even greater erosion, with the Trump administration actively seeking to dismantle any vestiges of international cooperation and promote a world built on cold self-interest and corporate dominance.
Abandoning the younger generations: a criminal mistake
Amnesty International’s report presents clear evidence: the world is sacrificing the future of future generations due to its failure to halt the climate crisis, reduce inequalities and limit the unchecked power of big business.
COP29 was a disastrous failure, with fossil fuel lobbyists blocking every meaningful step and powerful nations imposing travesty agreements on the poorest. Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and his “drill, baby drill” rhetoric sent the wrong signals globally.
With global warming moving towards an alarming +3°C, even the richest nations cannot ignore the enormous human cost, as the devastating fires in California and the torrential floods in Europe and South Asia have shown.
Escalation of social inequalities and attacks on fundamental rights
Poverty and inequality rose sharply in 2024, with governments using racist and xenophobic propaganda to mislead public opinion. While billionaires multiplied, the most vulnerable saw their rights threatened or eliminated.
Women, girls and LGBTQ+ people face increasing persecution worldwide, from tightening restrictions in Afghanistan and Iran, to escalating legislative repression in countries like Uganda and Bulgaria.
The abuse of technology and the era of uncontrolled misinformation
Technological advances, instead of serving human rights, are now being used to expand repression and discrimination. Trump and his allies in the tech elite have fostered the conditions for a new “golden age” of disinformation, manipulation, and corporate unconstitutionality.
International justice: A ray of light in dark times
Despite pressure and threats, organizations such as the International Criminal Court and states from the Global South continue to defend international law. Arrest warrants for war crimes, legal victories against apartheid, and initiatives for new protection conditions are proof that the resistance has not been silenced.
Agnès Callamard concludes with optimism: “History has shown that the forces of dignity and justice can overcome darkness. The fight for human rights continues – and we will win it.”
