LONDON –
The world is witnessing a near collapse of international law amid flagrant violations of norms in Gaza and Ukraine, the multiplication of armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and massive human rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty has warned. International on Wednesday when publishing its annual report.
The human rights organization said the most powerful governments, including the United States, Russia and China, have led a global disregard for international rules and values enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and civilians in conflicts pay the biggest price. high.
Agnes Callamard, secretary general of Amnesty, said the level of violation of international order witnessed last year was unprecedented.
“Israel’s blatant disregard for international law is compounded by its allies’ failure to stop the unspeakable civil bloodshed inflicted on Gaza,” he said. “Many of those allies were the very architects of that post-World War II legal system.”
The report highlighted the United States’ failure to denounce rights violations by Israel and its use of veto power to paralyze the UN Security Council over a Gaza ceasefire resolution, as well as Russia’s ongoing aggression. in Ukraine. He also pointed to China’s arming of military forces in Myanmar and the way Beijing has shielded itself from scrutiny over its treatment of the Uyghur minority.
“We have here three very large countries, superpowers in many ways, sitting on the Security Council that have emptied the Security Council of its potential and that have emptied international law of its ability to protect people,” he told The Associated Press. in London.
The report, which details Amnesty’s assessment of human rights in 155 countries, highlighted a growing backlash against women’s rights and gender equality in 2023.
She cited the brutal repression of women’s protests in Iran, Taliban decrees “aimed at erasing women from public life” in Afghanistan and legal restrictions on abortion in the United States and Poland, among others.
The human rights organization also warned of the threat of new technologies if left unchecked, saying rapid advances in artificial intelligence and mass surveillance tools could be used to fuel conflict, invade rights and freedoms and sow discord in an election year. historical.
Unregulated technological advances “can be used as weapons to discriminate, misinform and divide,” Callamard said.
——
Associated Press video journalist Kwiyeon Ha contributed to this report.