Anistia Internacional Warns of Dangerous Era Amid Global Multilateralism Crisis and Predatory Leadership

Amnesty International has accused Portugal of violating international humanitarian law in its handling of migrant rescue operations at sea, according to a report by Portuguese public broadcaster RTP. The organization alleges that Portuguese authorities have failed to fulfill their legal obligations to assist people in distress in the Mediterranean, contributing to preventable suffering and loss of life.

The accusation comes amid broader warnings from Amnesty International about a global retreat from multilateral cooperation and the erosion of international legal norms. Secretary General Agnès Callamard has repeatedly warned that attacks on international law are being driven by what she describes as “predatory” behavior from powerful states, undermining the post-World War II rules-based order.

In statements made during her attendance at the Munich Security Conference in February 2026, Callamard criticized the Trump administration’s foreign policy approach, citing its actions against Venezuela, threats of military intervention in Colombia, Greenland, Iran, and Mexico, and its broader disregard for international legal frameworks. She emphasized that such behavior, combined with ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, is pushing the multilateral system to its breaking point.

Amnesty International’s 2025 annual report further elaborated on these concerns, describing a “Trump effect” that has accelerated authoritarian practices and weakened human rights protections worldwide. The report warned that the erosion of international law is not inevitable but results from political choices that prioritize power over principle, endangering billions of people.

The organization maintains that resistance to these trends is both possible and necessary, insisting that governments and civil society must work collectively to defend human rights and uphold international justice. It continues to call on world leaders to use forums like the Munich Security Conference to reaffirm their commitment to the rules-based order and to take concrete action against violations of international law.