24 of your biggest moments in 2014
3 January 2015
It’s been an incredible year for human rights. Here are just a few of our biggest moments – none of them would have been possible without the tireless work of Amnesty campaigners like you.
1. Together, we changed the rape law in Morocco
The Moroccan parliament voted unanimously to change its rape law, so that rapists can no longer escape punishment by forcing their victims to marry them. It followed tireless campaigning for the family of Amina Filali (pictured), who killed herself in March 2012 after being forced by law to marry a man she said had raped her. Similar laws still exist in Tunisia and Algeria, and we continue our fight to change them through our My Body My Rights campaign.
2. We defended human rights before the Sochi Winter Olympics
In the lead-up to the Winter Olympics in Sochi on 7 February, more than 336,000 Amnesty supporters from 112 countries stood up for human rights in Russia. Together, we called on President Vladimir Putin to stop the crackdown on freedom of speech and expression in the country
3. We said ‘No’ to Uganda’s anti-homosexuality bill
Amnesty supporters took part in a global day of action to protest Uganda’s discriminatory Anti-Homosexuality Bill. Over 86,000 people signed a petition calling on President Yoweri Museveni to veto the bill. It was declared null and void in August – a significant victory for activists. We hope this step forward translates into real improvements for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in Uganda. For too long, they have been trapped in a vicious circle of discrimination, threats, abuse and injustice.
4. We were all #WithSyria
Thousands of activists gathered in more than 40 countries to mark the third anniversary of the conflict in Syria. We lit candles, released red balloons (pictured) and demanded aid for all Syrians in need. In April, Amnesty presented UN Security Council members with over 140,000 petition signatures calling for an immediate end to the suffering of besieged people in Syria.
5. We got closer to the truth in Sri Lanka
The UN voted for an independent investigation into crimes committed by state forces and armed groups at the end of the war in Sri Lanka. It followed years of campaigning by Amnesty supporters, including through our #TellTheTruth campaign. The UN investigation brings new hope to thousands of survivors of torture, abduction and other abuses.
6. Hakamada Iwao was released after 45 years in prison
Hakamada Iwao, 78, was released from prison in Japan following intense campaigning by Amnesty International and other organizations. He had spent most of his life waiting to be executed after being convicted of murder in 1968. In March, the court revoked his death sentence and ordered a retrial, suggesting that evidence against Iwao had been falsified. His case is a vivid reminder of the urgent need for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide.
7. We all said “it’s My Body My Rights”
In April, an incredible 280,000 people worldwide called on their governments to protect young people’s sexual and reproductive rights, as part of our new My Body My Rights campaign. Amnesty Secretary General Salil Shetty handed your signatures to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, ahead of a UN session in New York.
8. We gave Brazil a yellow card
More than 100,000 Amnesty supporters gave Brazil a yellow card ahead of the football World Cup in July, to remind its government that protest is not a crime. It followed huge public demonstrations against the cost of hosting the tournament, which had been met by police with excessive force, tear gas and rubber bullets.
9. We kept up the pressure in the Central African Republic
More than 67,000 people signed our petition to protect civilians in the Central African Republic. We were standing up for the family of Constant Yaonomo (pictured in a photo held by his father), who was killed in a grenade attack. We delivered all your signatures to the US authorities in May, urging them to support a strong UN peacekeeping mission. Throughout the year, we focused on the country’s human rights crisis, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.
10. Activist Ales Bialiatski was released in Belarus
Ales Bialiatski, a Belarusian human rights activist featured in our 2013 Write for Rights campaign, was released in June after almost three years in prison. Ales said the support of Amnesty campaigners led to his release: “The thing that made a real difference were the letters I got from ordinary people, and I want to say a special thank you to your activists for that.”