Women's human rights

Research

Online abuse of women widespread in UK

Online abuse of women is widespread in the UK according to our new research. One in five women say they've been abused online, often resulting in real psychological harm. Read more and download our full report.
The background

Why we work on women's human rights

Human rights apply to all humans, right?
So why do we focus some of our work specifically on women's rights?

Global: People defending abortion rights are being 'stigmatised, abused, discriminated against, even killed' - major new report

Estimated 35 million unsafe abortions every year

USA: 'Victory' for abortion rights in Ohio must lead to meaningful access

No-one should ever be forced to carry a pregnancy against their will.

France: Basketball rules excluding Muslim women players from competitions are 'discriminatory'

Excluding Muslim women basketball players who wear religious headgear from competitive matches is discriminatory
Action

32,300 people called on the UK government to support women in Afghanistan

Many thanks to the tens of thousands of you who took action calling on the UK to safeguard the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.
Explainer

Women in Afghanistan: The Back Story

It hasn't always been this way. Women in Afghanistan used to work, wear what they want, play sports. They had the vote before women in the US. But decades of conflict and violence, particularly under the Taliban, saw women and girls confined to their homes, unseen and unheard.

Switzerland: 'History victory' as law amended to recognise that sex without consent is rape

Today’s vote is an important step to combatting widespread sexual violence in Switzerland

Uzbekistan: Government finally passes law criminalising domestic violence

Domestic violence a grave concern in the country with thousands of cases reported

Hong Kong: Women’s Day march first authorised protest since 2020 comes amid worsening crackdown

'Sunday’s demonstration should be allowed to take place without interference from the police – a right that has rarely been afforded peaceful protesters in Hong Kong in recent times' - Hana Young

Afghanistan: UN Security Council must take concrete steps to end the 'systemic decimation' of women and girls' rights in the country

Taliban’s ban on women and girls from accessing work, education, sports and public spaces is a ‘humanitarian disaster’

Poland: Prosecuting activist accused of aiding abortion 'sets a dangerous precedent'

Justyna Wydrzyńska faces up to three years in prison for supporting a pregnant woman who needed a safe abortion

Iran: authorities 'passing the buck' on compulsory veiling laws

Abusive, discriminatory and degrading forced veiling laws enables the harassment and assault of women and girls on a daily basis

UK: Istanbul Convention finally comes into force - but the Government stops short of protecting all women

The Government has reserved article 59 of the treaty opting out of protecting migrant women 

Northern Ireland: Secretary of State’s abortion announcement a late but welcome step towards ending the denial of healthcare

‘Today is a critical step towards ending the denial of abortion healthcare’ – Grainne Teggart
Open letter

Open letter to Northern Ireland Secretary of State

Read our open letter to the Secretary of State, signed by Olivia Colemanm various artists, health professionals and grassroots campaigners calling to establish abortion healthcare without delay in the region.

Iran: leaders gathered at UN must act over Mahsa Amini's death and anti-protest violence

Amnesty International has called on world leaders gathered at the UN General Assembly in New York to support international action against Iran amid an ongoing crackdown against largely peaceful protests in the country following the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last week.
Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: Leeds student's 'outrageous' 34-year sentence for Twitter use must be quashed

Amnesty International has denounced an “outrageous” 34-year prison sentence against a Leeds student jailed solely for her peaceful Twitter activity, calling for her to be immediately and unconditionally released.
Report

Death In Slow Motion: Women And Girls Under Taliban Report 2022

Amnesty International's new comprehensive investigation on women and girls in Afghanistan since the Taliban took over.

Afghanistan: 'Suffocating crackdown' on rights of women and girls over past year under Taliban

Detained protesters beaten on breasts and between legs ‘so they cannot show world’