Amnesty International Warns of a Dangerous New Era for Global Human Rights

Amnesty International has issued a stark warning about the global state of human rights, declaring that the world stands on the brink of a perilous new era driven by predatory state actions and the erosion of international law. The organization’s annual report, released on April 21, 2026, documents widespread violations across 144 countries during 2025, with many patterns continuing into 2026 as the rules-based international order faces sustained pressure.

The report highlights how political leaders are accelerating destructive trends through authoritarian practices, vicious crackdowns on dissent, and open disregard for multilateral institutions. Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, stated that world leaders have been “far too submissive in the face of attacks on international law and the multilateral system,” calling their silence and inaction “inexcusable.” She emphasized that the vast majority of states have failed to consistently denounce predatory actions by major powers or pursue diplomatic solutions.

Amnesty International warns that the current trajectory risks establishing a racist, patriarchal, unequal, and anti-rights global order unless governments collectively resist what it describes as a coordinated assault on civil society and international legal norms. The organization urges states, including Australia, to reject the politics of appeasement and take decisive action to defend multilateralism before this emerging order becomes entrenched.

The assessment draws on monitoring in 150 countries and identifies the “Trump effect” as a compounding factor that has intensified pre-existing global regressions. Amnesty International asserts that while the rise of authoritarianism and the undermining of international law are not inevitable, reversing these trends requires urgent action from governments and civil society to uphold human rights and deliver international justice.