Amnesty International Bournemouth Poole Christchurch Group

This month, we bring you news from Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia and Chile.

Highlights are:

• Colombia: There is an Urgent Action regarding the need for stronger protection for members of the Inter-Church Commission for Justice and Peace following death threats against a human rights defender in northern Colombia.
• Ecuador: There is an update regarding efforts to end toxic gas flaring in the Amazon, as activists delivered nearly 500,000 signatures to the government.
• Argentina: A new Amnesty report warns that cuts to sexual and reproductive health programmes are creating growing barriers to accessing legal abortion across the country.
• Brazil: A planned reform to strengthen independent investigations into police killings has been delayed by one year, despite ongoing concerns over record levels of police violence.
• Venezuela: Human Rights Watch says the new amnesty law excludes many arbitrarily detained people, with at least 457 political prisoners still held.
• Bolivia: Congress has lifted limits on emergency presidential powers to deploy the army and restrict freedoms amid economic crisis protests, raising human rights concerns.
• Chile: The UN and human rights groups urge stronger action on enforced disappearances under the National Search Plan, amid concerns over Indigenous land rights and threats to community leaders.

COLOMBIA

URGENT ACTION: In late March, human rights defender Juan Carlos Gaona, a member of the Inter-Church Commission for Justice and Peace in northern Colombia, received a text message stating that an operation to murder him had been frustrated by chance – but that he would not be so lucky next time. This death threat highlights the urgent need for stronger protection for members of this organization across the country. Amnesty is calling on Colombian authorities to comply with international measures ordering it to protect the organization. Please click here to take action! [Read more…]

Dear Friends,

This month, we bring you news from Colombia, Paraguay,  Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile

Highlights are:

• Regional : Amnesty International has released its annual report on the State of the World’s Human Rights
• Colombia: There is an Urgent Action regarding the threat to the lives and territorial rights of the Aseinpome Indigenous community.
• Paraguay : There is an Urgent Action calling for an investigation into an armed attack on Rubén Irala Galeano, a human rights defender, and to provide him with protection.
• Venezuela: There is an Urgent Action calling on the Venezuelan government to release all those arbitrarily detained for political reasons.
• Argentina: Amnesty Argentina has just published a report (in Spanish) arguing that press freedom in Argentina has deteriorated sharply.
• Brazil: Amnesty International’s annual report states that land invasions and acts of violence against Indigenous communities continue to be prevalent in Brazil.
• Chile: the director of Amnesty International Chile criticised plans to pardon state agents convicted of very serious crimes in the context of the social uprising.

REGIONAL

Amnesty International has released its annual report on the State of the World’s Human Rights.  The report assesses national, regional and global developments across a wide range of human rights themes, and documents human rights concerns during 2025 in 144 countries, connecting global and regional issues and looking to the future.  Individual country chapters can be found here, or via our website country pages.

COLOMBIA

URGENT ACTION: A billboard installed by the Aseinpome Indigenous community to mark the existence of its recognised reserve was violently destroyed on the same day that armed men carrying long guns intimidated one of the community’s settlements. Both acts represent a threat to the lives and territorial rights of the Indigenous community. Amnesty International is urging the National Lands Agency (ANT) to visit the area and guarantee the territorial rights and safety of the Aseinpome Indigenous community of El Porvenir, in the municipality of Puerto Gaitán, Meta department.  Please click here to take action.

PARAGUAY

Amnesty has issued an URGENT ACTION asking us to write to the Paraguayan authorities calling on them to investigate the motive behind an armed attack on Rubén Irala Galeano, a human rights defender and co-ordinator of the Diocesan Social Pastoral Ministry of Guairá, and to provide adequate protection measures for him and his family.  The attack took place on 20 March at the December 23 Settlement, Caazapá Department.  In view of previous threats, the aggression is highly likely to be linked to his work protecting the environment and communities affected by environmental degradation. [Read more…]