All around the world, including in Australia, women suffer human rights abuses because of their gender. But wherever authorities try to break women’s spirits, they find instead an unstoppable force for change.
Through rigorous investigation and documentation, Amnesty International continues to expose an alarming worldwide regression of women’s rights. When authorities try to hide their crimes against women, we ensure the world bears witness.
In Afghanistan, the Taliban have effectively criminalised being a woman – banning education, work, and even speaking in public or praying in groups. But women continue to educate themselves, to protest, in the face of horrific persecution.
In Iran, authorities are waging a systematic campaign against women, confiscating cars for defying veiling laws and forcing attendance at “morality” classes. Yet the ‘Women, Life, Freedom movement’ grows stronger every day.
Even here in Australia, despite growing awareness, rates of gender-based violence continue to spike – and amidst a cost-of-living crisis overwhelmed support services have to turn away women seeking help.
As human rights defenders, we must stand in solidarity by amplifying the voices of peaceful advocates on the frontlines, people like Manahel al-Otaibi, Narges Mohammadi, Pakhshan Azizi, Maryia Kalesnikava, Manun Wongmasoh and Justyna Wydrzyńska.
With one click, you can take action for all six women who should be celebrated, not imprisoned.
Manahel al-Otaibi
Manahel faces an 11-year prison sentence in Saudi Arabia just for writing tweets supporting women’s rights and posting pictures of herself enjoying a day at a shopping mall. In the pictures, she is not wearing the abaya, a traditional robe. These things alone were enough for the authorities to target her.
Just a few months ago, we learned that Manahel had been brutally stabbed in the face while in prison, leaving her with two deep wounds. Her situation is dire, and we must act now.
Narges Mohammadi
Narges is an Iranian rights defender, and her health is failing. Iran’s authorities convicted Narges of several trumped-up offences in connection with her human rights work and sentenced her to 16 years in prison in 2016. She was finally released in 2020 but in April 2022 was once again sentenced to over 10 years in prison and 154 lashes, charged with “spreading propaganda against the system”.
She has suffered several heart attacks and yet is being denied the health care she desperately needs. We must act now.
Pakhshan Azizi
Pakhshan Azizi is an Iranian humanitarian aid worker, at risk of imminent execution. She was detained and forcibly disappeared solely in relation to her peaceful human rights activities, including providing support to women and children in northeast Syria who were displaced following attacks by the Islamic State armed group.
On February 5th, her lawyer said he was notified the Court has rejected the request for a review of the conviction and that her execution could now be carried out at any moment. Urgent global action is needed.
Maryia Kalesnikava
Maryia Kalesnikava is a brave political activist who dared to speak out against the repressive Belarus government ahead of the 2020 presidential election. On 7 September 2020, she was abducted by the Belarus authorities and later sentenced to 11 years in prison on false charges. Her family haven’t heard from her for over a year.
Maryia is imprisoned in terrible conditions. She has limited access to the healthcare she needs and is isolated from other inmates inside the prison. We can help bring her home.
Manun Wongmasoh
Manun Wongmasoh is a transgender woman facing online abuse and violence for speaking up for human rights. Born into a religious family, her experiences of anti-trans discrimination within her community inspired her to become an independent advocate for the protection of Muslim LGBTI people in Thailand. But her brave work has been met with online backlash by internet users including messages with threats of violence or sexual harassment.
The Thailand government must put a stop to digital violence against women and LGBTI activists. The online space is crucial for their right to freedom of expression, especially in countries like Thailand, where speaking out against the government is criminalised.
Justyna Wydrzyńska
Justyna Wydrzyńska is an activist whose work is critical in advocating against Poland’s restrictive abortion laws. In 2021, the public prosecutor brought charges against Justyna for “helping with an abortion” after she supported a pregnant woman in an abusive relationship to access abortion pills.
Whilst the court has since found that Justyna did not have a fair trial and has agreed to a retrial, her fight isn’t over. It is critical we continue to demand the prosecutor general take all necessary measures to ensure that Justyna’s unjust conviction, and its alarming precedent, is overturned. Access to safe abortion is a human right.
With one click, you can take action for all six women who should be celebrated, not imprisoned.
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who take injustice personally. We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all – and we can only do it with your support.
Act now or learn more about our women’s rights campaign.
