Good Vibes Only weekly update

Australia’s Human Rights Commission is urging immediate reforms following the tragic death of 37-year-old Aboriginal man Kumanjayi White in police custody in Alice Springs. Hugh de Kretser, President of the Commission, has called for independent investigations into all deaths in custody, warning that continued police-led inquiries "breed mistrust" and fail to deliver justice.

White was found unresponsive in a cell at Alice Springs police station in May 2025. His death has sparked renewed scrutiny over the role of police in investigating their own conduct—especially in cases involving Aboriginal Australians, who continue to die in custody at disproportionately high rates.

In a powerful public statement, de Kretser emphasized that “no institution should investigate itself when lives are lost.” He called for legally mandated, independent, and culturally appropriate investigations into all deaths in custody, stressing that only such reforms could begin to restore public confidence and respect for human rights.

The call has received growing support from Indigenous leaders, civil liberties advocates, and legal experts who argue that the current system lacks both transparency and accountability. Critics note that police-led inquiries often result in minimal consequences and rarely lead to systemic change.

The Australian government has yet to formally respond to the Commission’s recommendation, though momentum is building around calls for legislative reform. The case of Kumanjayi White has become a symbol of the broader struggle for justice in a system many believe continues to fail Indigenous Australians.

As public pressure mounts, the Commission’s statement highlights a critical opportunity for national reflection—and for concrete steps toward dismantling structural racism within Australia's criminal justice system.

The European Union is facing mounting pressure to respond to Hungary’s recent legislation banning LGBTQ+ public events, including the 30th anniversary of Budapest Pride scheduled for 28 June. A coalition of 20 EU member states—including France, Germany, and Spain—has issued a joint statement condemning the laws as violations of fundamental EU values and calling on Hungary to repeal them or face potential sanctions.

The controversial legislation, passed in March 2025, prohibits events that "portray" or "promote" gender identities different from one's birth sex. It also authorizes the use of facial recognition technology to identify and prosecute participants and organizers, raising significant human rights concerns. Critics argue that these measures infringe upon freedoms of expression, assembly, and privacy, contravening Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union.

Despite the ban, Budapest Pride organizers have vowed to proceed with the event, emphasizing its importance as a symbol of resistance and solidarity. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have filed legal challenges against the legislation, asserting that it violates fundamental rights and freedoms.
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While the European Commission has been urged to utilize its rule-of-law mechanisms against Hungary, achieving consensus among all 27 member states remains a challenge. Nonetheless, the widespread condemnation underscores the EU's commitment to upholding human rights and democratic principles within its member states.

The European Union will review the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which relates to its political and economic ties with Israel. The review will focus on whether Israel is complying with a human rights clause in the agreement.

Under the agreement, which came into force in 2000, the EU and Israel agreed that their relationship “shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal and international policy”.

Diplomats shared that an overwhelming 17 of the 27 EU members backed the review. The Dutch minister Veldkamp called the review "a very important and powerful signal". Similar sentiments were shared by officials from Ireland and France.

In recent weeks, international pressure on Israel has intensified, amid concerns over humanitarian aid failing to reach Gaza.

Eve Geddie, the Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office, said:

“There is no time to lose, every delay costs human lives in Gaza. The EU and its member states must ban trade and investment that could contribute to the commission of genocide and other grave violations of international law.”

Whilst the review is welcomed, it comes devastatingly late. People in Gaza have faced unimaginable suffering for the past 19 months. Israel continues to commit genocide with chilling impunity.

Amnesty International has long called for EU leaders to review the Association Agreement. EU member states have an obligation to prevent trade and investment that helps Israel to continue its unlawful occupation of the OPT, and an obligation not to provide aid or assistance to states committing crimes under international law.

In a groundbreaking legal win, a group of Swiss women won a climate justice case in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) — the court's first-ever ruling on global warming.

The KlimaSeniorinnen, a group of 2,400 Swiss women mostly in their 70s, argued that their age and gender made them especially vulnerable to heatwaves caused by climate change. The court agreed, ruling that Switzerland’s failure to reduce emissions violated their right to family life.

While two other climate cases were dismissed, this verdict sets a major precedent. “This ruling will influence climate action and litigation across Europe and beyond,” said Joie Chowdhury of the Centre for International Environmental Law.

She called it a historic win that affirms the climate crisis is a human rights crisis — and that states have a legal obligation to act urgently, based on science, to prevent further harm.

On 2nd May 2025, the Court of Appeal ruled that anti-protest regulations, which gave the police ‘almost unlimited powers’ to restrict protests, were made unlawfully.

In June 2023, a new law lowered the threshold for when the police can impose conditions on protests. Previously, this was anything that caused ‘serious disruption’, but after the law change, this became anything that caused ‘more than minor’ disruption.

Suella Braverman used secondary legislation, which requires less parliamentary scrutiny, to bring the laws into effect after they had been democratically voted down, just a few months earlier.

Hundreds of protesters have been arrested under these measures since they were created, including climate activist Greta Thunberg.

Human rights organisation Liberty initially challenged the law change and is now calling for all arrests and prosecutions under the law to be urgently reviewed.

Amnesty International has also been calling for these laws to be scrapped, and calls on governments to remove any unnecessary barriers and restrictions to peaceful protest.

The CEO of Public Law Project, Shameem Ahmad, who intervened in the case, said:

‘PLP believes the public deserves better than backdoor law-making that allows their fundamental rights to be diminished by ministerial decree. The public deserves assurance that legislation impacting their daily lives has undergone Parliamentary debate and thorough scrutiny.’

In April 2025, new analysis highlighted Africa as a global example of how investing in climate adaptation not only strengthens resilience against extreme weather but is profitable. From early warning systems to heat-resilient infrastructure and drought-resistant crops, African-led climate solutions are showing that adaptation is not only possible—it’s profitable.

Despite receiving only a fraction of global climate finance, several African nations have taken bold steps to protect communities and economies from the worsening effects of climate change. Across the continent, local and national initiatives have demonstrated that even limited investment can achieve high-impact results, safeguarding food systems, stabilising markets, and reducing disaster-related losses.

In countries such as Kenya, Senegal, and Nigeria, small-scale farmers and businesses are partnering with governments and international donors. These collaborations are helping to create more resilience, strengthen health systems, and unlock private-sector innovation.

Pedro Conceição, head of the UN Development Programme’s Human Development Report Office, said:
“Africa is showing the world that climate adaptation is not a cost—it’s an opportunity. These are investments that pay off in saved lives, stronger economies, and long-term stability.”

Conceição also emphasized that many of Africa’s most effective adaptation efforts have come from homegrown leadership, driven by local knowledge and regional cooperation. Yet, he warned that Africa cannot be expected to go it alone: adaptation financing still falls dramatically short of the scale needed to meet growing climate threats.

He added, “The global community must not only recognize Africa’s success in adaptation, but also rally behind it—with real, sustained funding and support.”

While adaptation continues to receive less than 10% of total climate finance, the African experience proves that with the right investments, the outcomes can be transformative. The report urges governments, investors, and businesses worldwide to follow Africa’s lead—seeing adaptation not as charity, but as a smart, forward-thinking business strategy.

 In October 2015, Ahmad Manasra was arrested in relation to a stabbing incident in occupied East Jerusalem. He was aged 13 at the time and evidence suggested he did not participate in the stabbings. Despite this, he was still subjected to harsh interrogation without legal representation or the presence of his parents.

In 2016, Ahmad was convicted of attempted murder. The proceedings raised serious concerns about due process and his rights as a child. He was initially sentenced to 12 years in prison, although this was later reduced to nine-and-a-half years in prison. His request for early release on medical grounds were rejected in 2022.

On Wednesday 9th April 2025, after nine and a half years in prison, Ahmad was released.

Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said:

"Ahmad Manasra’s release today is a huge relief for him and for his family, but nothing can undo the years of injustice, abuse, trauma and ill-treatment he endured behind bars.”

Morayef went on to express “deepest hope for Ahmad's recovery from the profound trauma he has suffered.” It is crucial that he is granted adequate access to the healthcare he needs without discrimination, and he and his family must be protected from any form of intimidation or abuse.

On Saturday 5th April, hundreds of thousands of protestors gathered in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Washington DC, and many other cities across the US.

The "Hands Off!" protests opposed the Trump administration’s handling of social, economic and human rights issues. Protesters denounced Trump’s policies on immigration raids and deportation, import tariffs and US foreign policy, among others.

It was the largest show of opposition in the country since the president took office in January. 1,200 demonstrations were planned, across all 50 US states.

Protest plays a vital role in ensuring human rights are acknowledged and protected by those in power. Amnesty International works to support movements demanding positive change and expose when the right to protest is being violated.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested by authorities. This follows an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), for the crime against humanity of murder.

From 2016 to 2022, when Duterte was in power, thousands of people were unlawfully killed by the police – or by armed individuals suspected to have links to the police - during the government’s so-called “war on drugs”. Those killed were mostly from poor and marginalised communities.

Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, said:

“Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest is a long-awaited and monumental step for justice for the thousands of victims and survivors of his administration’s ‘war on drugs’, which turned much of the Philippines into a nation of mourning.”

The arrest is a sign of hope for victims in the Philippines and beyond. It shows that perpetrators of the worst crimes, including government leaders, will face justice.

Amnesty International has published major investigations detailing extrajudicial executions and other human rights violations by police and their superiors. These investigations determined that the acts committed amounted to crimes against humanity. Your support helps investigations like these to continue.

On International Women's Day 2025, women across the globe took to the streets to demand gender equality, justice, and an end to violence. In Istanbul, Turkey, women protested government efforts to restrict their roles, holding banners like "Family will not bind us to life." This slogan is a powerful rejection of traditional gender roles that seek to confine women to domestic life, emphasizing the desire for autonomy and equality.

Similar protests unfolded throughout Europe, including in Belgrade, Rome, Paris, and Warsaw, where women rallied for equal pay, better healthcare, and stronger protections against gender-based violence. In Poland, activists defied restrictive abortion laws by opening a center near parliament to challenge the government's policies and provide support to those in need.

Across South America, women in Ecuador and Bolivia marched in solidarity to denounce femicides and demand justice for victims of gender-based violence. Protests in cities such as Lagos, Paris, and Berlin amplified calls for societal and legislative change, reflecting the growing global movement for women's rights.

These demonstrations carried a unified message: the fight for gender equality is a global struggle that transcends borders. Women worldwide are determined to shape a future where justice, safety, and equality are fundamental rights for all.

Fatou Baldeh, a survivor of female genital mutilation (FGM) and the founder of Women in Liberation & Leadership (WILL), has emerged as a powerful advocate for ending FGM in Gambia. Despite the country’s 2015 ban on the practice, FGM persists, with around 75% of women and girls aged 15 to 49 having been cut, according to the United Nations Population Fund. Deeply rooted in culture and often dismissed by law enforcement, FGM continues to harm. "When we report it to the police, they often say, ‘This is our culture, our tradition,’ and don’t see it as a crime,” Baldeh says.

In 2024, Gambia's parliament considered overturning the ban, threatening the hard-fought rights of women and girls. Baldeh, along with WILL and other organizations fought back. They united survivors, engaged religious leaders, and presented evidence of FGM's damaging health effects to lawmakers.

In July 2024, their efforts paid off as Gambia’s parliament rejected the bill, preserving the ban. However, Baldeh remains resolute: “The fight isn’t over. We must keep speaking out.” Her activism has drawn international attention to FGM, sparking a renewed global movement to challenge harmful cultural practices and protect women’s rights.

 Alaa Abd el-Fattah is a pro-democracy activist. For "liking" a Facebook post describing torture in Egyptian prisons, Egyptian authorities sentenced him to five years in prison. Since taking part in the 2011 uprising in Egypt, he has been repeatedly arrested and imprisoned.

Alaa’s release date was last September, but when it arrived, Egyptian authorities ordered him to remain imprisoned until January 2027. Amnesty International has been campaigning for his immediate and unconditional release.

Alaa Abd el-Fattah is a British-Egyptian dual national. His mother, Laila Soueif, has been on hunger strike for 140 days, since the day her son was supposed to be released. She has lost around 25 kilogrammes.

In December, to continue the campaign for her son’s release and ensure the government take immediate action, she began a daily sit-in outside 10 Downing Street.

Following Kier Starmer’s vow to prioritise Alaa’s release, Laila has said: “For the moment I will stop my daily visits to Downing Street.  I’m very glad that at this stage in my hunger strike I won’t have to be standing outside in the cold for an hour each day”.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Laila that he will do "all that I can" to secure the release of her son.

"We will continue to raise his case at the highest levels of the Egyptian government and press for his release," Starmer said.

Laila added: “When I met Mr Starmer he promised me that he is personally committed to continue working for the release of Alaa until he is reunited with his son in Brighton.

“He asked me to relay this message to Alaa, which I will do. He also repeated that securing the release of my son is a top priority for the British Government.”

Key ministers in Spain's government are pushing for a universal child benefit in the 2025 budget. It aims to tackle the country’s high child poverty rate and bring the right to an adequate standard of living to the forefront of the government's budget planning.

Minister Pablo Bustinduy, supported by Spain's labour and children’s ministers, proposed a €200 monthly grant for children under 18, available to all households filing taxes as residents of Spain. High earners would be taxed on the grant.

With 34.5% of children at risk of poverty, Spain has the second highest child poverty rate in the EU. The new initiative aims to address gaps in existing programs, which many eligible families do not access.

Evidence suggests universal child benefits reduce poverty. Researchers showed that the proposed benefit could reduce extreme child poverty from 14% to 8%. It is crucial that the government prioritises children’s rights.

On the 23rd January, Thailand’s long-awaited marriage equality bill came into effect.

This is an historic step. It means married LGBTI couples receive full financial, legal and medical rights, including inheritance and adoption rights.

Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise marriage for LGBTI couples, and only the third country across the whole of Asia to do so. Only Nepal and Taiwan also recognise marriage equality in Asia.

Hundreds of LGBTI couples wedded on the first day that the bill came into effect, with a mass LGBTI wedding taking place, organised by the campaign group “Bangkok Pride”.

For decades LGBTI human rights defenders have been advocating for marriage equality legislation, often at a huge cost. Amnesty International has investigated and found evidence of digital surveillance and online harassment targeting LGBTI human rights activists in an effort to stop their activism.

Whilst the legalisation of marriage for LGBTI couples is a key milestone, much more must be done to guarantee full protection of LGBTI people in Thailand. LGBTI people in Thailand continue to face violence and discrimination. Amnesty International is campaigning for Thai authorities to take further steps to protect the rights of LGBTI people.

Nahid Taghavi is a German-Iranian women’s rights activist. She was arbitrarily detained in Iran for more than four years and has now returned to Germany.

Taghavi’s daughter, human rights activist Mariam Claren, has shared:

“My mother has finally come home. We don’t have the words to describe how happy we are.

“At the same time, we are grieving the four years that were taken from us and the horrors she had to endure at Evin prison.

“There are many more prisoners of conscience like my mother who are still imprisoned in Iran. Hundreds are at risk of being executed.

“The Iranian authorities must no longer enjoy impunity for their actions.”

Nahid Taghavi has been politically active for many years, since her student days. She was arrested during a visit to Tehran in October 2020. Following an unfair trial, she was sentenced to ten years and eight months in prison on fabricated charges. She was accused of belonging to an “illegal group” and conducting “propaganda activities against the state”. In reality, she was detained solely because she peacefully exercised her rights to freedom of expression.

Between the time of her arrest and her sentencing, she was held in solitary confinement for more than seven months.

Amnesty International campaigned for her release, as well as for access to health care, a lawyer, and her family. Her release must mark the first of many in Iran.