World leaders deny human rights and citizens pay the price. This is stated by Amnesty International, which believes that the actions of many powerful states against the background of a growing number of conflicts further undermine and undermine the credibility of the international legal order established after 1945. Amnesty International reported this today in its annual report. For Belgium, the human rights organization denounces the reception crisis of asylum seekers and the disastrous situation in prisons.
“Many leaders of powerful countries no longer seem to care about the fundamental values of humanity and universality, as laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” says Wies De Graeve, director of Amnesty International Flanders. “For example, it is astonishing to see how the international community is failing to prevent the deaths of thousands of civilians in the occupied Gaza Strip, including vast numbers of children. This makes it once again clear that the institutions established to protect citizens and uphold human rights are no longer able to meet their obligations.”
Shameless use of veto power in UN Security Council
Amnesty’s annual report highlights the “blatant use of the US veto in the UN Security Council, which delayed a crucial ceasefire resolution for months”. Meanwhile, the US continues to arm Israel with munitions used to commit possible war crimes. The report also highlights the double standards of European countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany. “They rightly protest against war crimes by Russia and Hamas, but at the same time support the actions of the Israeli and American governments in Gaza,” it said.
The report also describes how Russian forces in Ukraine “blatantly violate international rules, including indiscriminate attacks on densely populated civilian areas and on energy and grain export infrastructure, and by torturing and abusing prisoners of war.”
The breakdown of the rule of law threatens to be accelerated by AI
Amnesty International further warns that major developments in artificial intelligence (AI) threaten to accelerate the breakdown of the rule of law. “This is a huge threat to human rights. Regulations surrounding AI are therefore essential,” it said.
“There is a large gap between the risks of the uncontrolled development of technologies on the one hand and regulation and protection on the other,” says De Graeve. “The future will only become more threatening if the unlimited spread of unregulated technology is not curbed. Lawlessness, discrimination and impunity are made possible by the uncontrolled use of new and existing technologies, which are routinely weaponized by militaries, politicians and corporations.”
Belgian reception crisis
Belgium is also scrutinized by Amnesty International in the annual report. The organization points in particular to the reception crisis of asylum seekers and the disastrous situation in prisons in our country.
“The shelter crisis created by our government itself has been going on for two and a half years now and forces thousands of people to survive on the streets for months, a situation that seriously affects their dignity and human rights,” says De Graeve.
Furthermore, the overcrowding and deterioration of prisons are of great concern to Amnesty International. “This has disastrous consequences for the human rights of detainees, such as insufficient access to basic services – especially medical care and sanitation,” it said.
“Urgent measures needed”
Amnesty International is calling for urgent action, “given the grim situation in the world”, to revitalize the international institutions designed to protect humanity. “Steps must be taken to reform the UN Security Council so that permanent members cannot use their veto powers unchecked to prevent the protection of civilians and strengthen their geopolitical alliances,” De Graeve concluded. “Governments must also take strong legislative and regulatory action to address the risks and harm caused by AI technologies and rein in Big Tech.”
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