site.btaAmnesty International Europe Director: Very Bad Year for Human Rights

Amnesty International Regional Director for Europe Nils Muiznieks said that the past year has been very bad for human rights. He was speaking in Sofia Wednesday, commenting the Amnesty annual report for 2022/23 that was released a couple of days earlier.

Among the major factors for the worsening human rights picture he listed the war in Ukraine that has started a migrant wave; the pressure of the Taliban against women; the lawsuits against journalists for their work. There is a growing pressure by corporations against environmental activists, he said.

He also expressed concern over attacks against the LGBTI community.

Muiznieks said that racism and xenophobia are on the rise and added that this is visible in the UK and Germany.

Talking about women's rights, he mentioned the ban on abortions, including that in Poland, and the inadequate protection against violence. He pointed out that Bulgaria has no yet ratified the Istanbul Convention.