What's Going on in Human Rights: February 2022

This week, our What’s Going On in Human Rights update covers a variety of news from across the globe - from an update on vaccine equality to a success story in Tanzania.

Firstly, we give an update on Amnesty International's campaign for greater vaccine equality in the continuing fight against COVID-19. The latest AI report found that pharmaceutical companies have played a significant role in preventing a more equal distribution of vaccines by monopolising technology, blocking and lobbying against the sharing of intellectual property, charging high prices for vaccines and prioritising supplies to wealthy countries. The World Health Organization have coordinated initiatives for the sharing of technology and intellectual property in order to enable fairer vaccine access. AI demands that pharmaceutical companies engage in these initiatives, for the good of the global population.

Amnesty has committed to continuing its work in upholding international human rights law in Thailand, amid a government investigation and calls for its expulsion from the country. The government is advocating an anti-non profit organisation campaign with suggestions that NPOs such as AI threaten national security and privacy. However, Amnesty continues to be transparent about its work in the country, as it commits to providing support and constructive recommendations which aid the authorities in fulfilling their human rights obligations.

In New York, new research shows that facial recognition technology is supporting racist stop-and-frisk policing. As part of the Ban The Scan campaign, Amnesty have revealed that minority communities, already disproportionately targeted in NYPD policing, face further discrimination with the use of this invasive surveillance. Amnesty oppose the use of this new tech and have recently launched a new website allowing users to see how much of their potential route may be exposed to FRT surveillance.

Amnesty International has reported the killing of at least 20 human rights defenders and 4 journalists in Latin America in the first month of 2022 - this paints a frightening picture of the silencing of human rights defenders in the region. AI demand that states investigate these killings and work quickly to establish a safer culture for activists, showing that such acts of violence against them will not be tolerated.

To end on a success story - Tanzania has come closer to freedom of the press with the lifting of a ban on four national newspapers. The papers were shut down under a 2016 act, following their publication of stories exposing alleged corruption and human rights abuses. Amnesty International are pleased to see the papers allowed to resume publication, but demand the Tanzanian authorities continue to do more to guarantee further media freedom, which plays an essential part in a positive culture of human rights.

Back in Birmingham, Amnesty International Society @ UoB are continuing with our #LetsTalkAboutYes campaign. If you haven't already, please take a minute to complete our survey about student awareness of university and Guild services for survivors of sexual harassment and abuse. To get more involved, come along to our meetings every Thursday, 6pm - 7pm in the Guild. And don't forget about our Jamnesty night at the Indie Lounge on Friday 25th February - we are really excited to host some amazing local bands and fundraise for AI!