Amnesty International’s global human rights report for 2024, published on Tuesday 28 April 2025, portrays an alarming escalation in human rights violations worldwide, emphasising critical concerns over climate change, digital surveillance, and rising authoritarianism.
The comprehensive report scrutinises human rights conditions in more than 150 countries, drawing attention to the widening inequalities exacerbated by inadequate responses to climate change. Amnesty International underscored that richer nations continue failing to deliver sufficient financial support to the most vulnerable countries, particularly in Africa, leading to massive forced displacements and humanitarian crises.
Climate-induced displacement emerged prominently in the report, with millions forced to flee their homes due to extreme weather events and environmental degradation, particularly across Africa and Asia. The report highlights that wealthier nations’ broken promises regarding climate finance have compounded the struggles faced by poorer countries, intensifying social and economic instabilities.
Digital rights violations also marked a significant concern in the Amnesty report. Increasingly sophisticated surveillance technologies are being exploited globally, often under the guise of national security or public safety. Amnesty highlighted India’s digitisation of welfare services as a case where digital tools led to exclusionary practices and privacy infringements affecting marginalised communities significantly.
Europe’s Digital Services Act, intended to protect users online, was also examined, with Amnesty calling for more robust enforcement to counteract online harassment and safeguard digital rights. Moreover, a probe by the European Commission into platforms like TikTok sought to enhance the protection of younger users, illustrating ongoing struggles in regulating digital spaces effectively.
The report further addressed the widespread persecution faced by human rights activists and journalists. Amnesty International indicated that three out of every five young activists faced online harassment globally for advocating human rights, a situation exacerbated by inadequate platform regulations.
Amnesty also highlighted the continued suppression of dissent and erosion of democratic freedoms in many regions. Countries like Turkey, Iran, and Russia were specifically criticised for intensifying crackdowns on civil liberties, targeting journalists, opposition figures, and human rights defenders.
The humanitarian crises stemming from ongoing conflicts received significant attention. The report spotlighted the devastating human rights situations in Yemen, Syria, and Ukraine, where ongoing violence and political instability continued to result in severe civilian suffering and widespread displacement.
Additionally, the report condemned European nations for insufficiently addressing colonial legacies and systemic racism, emphasising the urgent need for accountability and reparative actions towards African nations and people of African descent.
Amnesty International urged global leaders and policymakers to prioritise human rights at the core of their agendas. The organisation called for renewed commitment and immediate actions to tackle climate change, enforce stricter digital protections, and defend human rights advocates from increasing threats and harassment.
Amnesty International’s Secretary-General, Agnès Callamard, concluded by stressing the importance of collective action, stating, “Organised resistance against those forces is not merely essential; it is our only legitimate recourse. As they have always done when states fail to uphold human rights, community organisers and human rights defenders are standing up. They are resisting these regimes of power and profit that recklessly imperil our community dignity.”
