STANDING FOR HUMANITY Changing Amnesty to overcome the politics of “us vs them”

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 1 People attend a protest against police brutality and the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Nantes, France, June 8, 2020. © REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

2 STANDING FOR HUMANITY CHANGING AMNESTY TO OVERCOME THE POLITICS OF “US VS THEM” FOREWORD

We are one humanity. vision, how it offers nothing but chauvinism and misery. We have seen how demonizing and undermining the humanity of anyone The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed yet again the frailty and demeans us all. We have seen how questioning the rights of any inadequacy of government built on narratives of “us vs them”, of person because of who they are is a threat to the rights of all blame and fear. Demagoguery and truth twisting have no power over a of us. pandemic, which ruthlessly exploits the weaknesses in our politics and our societies. We also know that Amnesty International has not spoken out powerfully enough. We need to do more to persuade people that In recent years many leaders, supported by tech algorithms and human rights offer far more real, more compelling answers than media tycoons that stand to benefit from growing polarization, narratives of blame. have invested great energy in dividing us and offering this as the route to a better future. It is time to stand up to the politics of “us vs them”, to assert that we are one humanity. This paper is about how Amnesty Again and again, we have seen the hollowness of this political International can play its part in doing that. CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 05 SECTION I – UNDERSTANDING THE POLITICS OF DEMONIZATION 06 1. FERTILE GROUND FOR THE POLITICS OF DEMONIZATION 08 2. TARGETS OF DEMONIZATION 09 3. POLITICS OF DEMONIZATION TAKING ROOT 12 4. CONSEQUENCES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS 14 THE UNIVERSALITY CHALLENGE: SELECTIVE REJECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS 14 THE SOLIDARITY CHALLENGE: SUPREMACIST POLITICS SETTING THE AGENDA 16 THE PRIORITY CHALLENGE: HUMAN RIGHTS VS SECURITY AND THE ECONOMY 16 THE EFFECTIVENESS CHALLENGE: HUMAN RIGHTS DON’T RESONATE WITH MAJORITIES 17 SECTION II – RESPONDING TO THE POLITICS OF DEMONIZATION 19 APPROACH ONE: CHOOSING ISSUES THAT RESONATE WIDELY 20 APPROACH TWO: SPEAKING TO THE HEART 22 APPROACH THREE: BUILDING MOVEMENT DIVERSITY 23 APPROACH FOUR: FOCUSING ON COMMUNITY ORGANIZING 24 ENDNOTES 26

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 3 Letter writing event at Amnesty Korea’s offices in Seoul, South Korea 20 December, 2019. © Amnesty International

4 STANDING FOR HUMANITY CHANGING AMNESTY TO OVERCOME THE POLITICS OF “US VS THEM” INTRODUCTION

The advance of the politics that specifically focus on shifts in It is important to stress that, although of demonization in recent public opinion. this paper is critical of those who use the politics of demonization, it is not a years has posed a huge Second, we need to speak to people’s political manifesto. Amnesty International challenge to human rights. hearts as well as their minds and counter is politically non-partisan. Our role is the narratives of those who undermine to secure human rights for all – we do The cynical discourse of division is human rights through demonization. not take positions on issues outside of ideologically opposed to the core idea We need to foreground our positive that mandate. We advocate for changes of human rights that we are all equal message of how we all benefit when we to government conduct to ensure as members of the human family. move forward in unity rather than division, compliance with human rights law and The assault on human rights from those a message that challenges their cynicism. standards, but do not take a position on who espouse a politics of “us vs them” We need to communicate about human which particular political party or political has been strong and unrelenting, and it rights in a way that relates to people’s own leader should be in power, no matter how is vital that human rights organizations emotions, identity, values, beliefs and lived objectionable their conduct or political understand the nature of this challenge experiences, as well as to their reason. record is. and how we should respond to it. We have to spell out how threats to human rights are threats to society’s values. This paper describes bigotry and This is the second edition of a paper xenophobia deployed by a range of originally produced in 2017 for internal Third, we need to enhance our diversity political leaders. Amnesty International use only. When we shared the first edition and ensure that our movement and its opposes this conduct and seeks to with partners, they told us it was useful and workforce reflect the diversity of the convince them to end it and to encourage asked to share it further, so we decided to societies in which we operate and with their people to demand this. We do update it and make it available publicly. which we want to engage. not, however, endorse their political opponents. We seek to change political This is not a typical Amnesty International The fourth approach is to engage more culture, not individuals. Demonization report. It is not seeking to expose or with those seeking change at the local is a disease that afflicts centrists as well investigate a defined set of human rights level. To do this we need to demonstrate as radicals, the left as well as the right, violations and make recommendations to better the interconnection between the elitists as well as populists. Human those responsible for addressing them. international, national and local. rights are a cure that any and all of them Nor does it set out a formal and binding can, and should, deploy. That is what strategic framework; it sits alongside our We believe it is useful to share this societies must demand and the purpose current Strategic Goals and aims to inform paper with others in the human rights of this paper is to suggest how Amnesty our next Global Strategy. and social justice movement who are International can play its part in making confronting similar challenges. We hope this happen. Rather, it is a reflection on the context in it will contribute to the wider debate. which we find ourselves and an honest However, the recommendations in this Numerous people from all corners of reckoning of our limitations in dealing paper are addressed to ourselves; we the world, both within the Amnesty with this. It is a warning to ourselves and do not presume to advise the human International movement and beyond, a set of recommendations that we will rights movement as a whole. The have contributed to the analysis and take up. recommendations are designed to ideas expressed in this paper. We address challenges Amnesty International are grateful to each of them for their This paper recommends four approaches faces and the role that it can play in contributions. The first version of the for changing how Amnesty International supporting the aims of the wider human paper was the work of Osama Bhutta, works. First, we need to ensure that rights movement. We anticipate that David Griffiths, Gauri van Gulik and a significant part of our work in each other organizations and groups may adopt Ashfaq Khalfan. This second updated country is on human rights issues that very different strategies to achieve our version contains additional input from resonate widely and address the struggles shared goals, making the human rights Paola Roberta Gioffredi. and concerns of most people in society movement as a whole stronger, more and carry out long-term campaigns resilient and more innovative as a result.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 5 SECTION I – UNDERSTANDING THE POLITICS OF DEMONIZATION

Over the past several These narratives are not new. Political conflict is wrapped within or organized years, we have witnessed a leaders and opinion formers have always around one or more dimension of group- resorted to “othering” as a way to based difference. Othering undergirds global rise in the politics of cope with rapid social change.1 Today, territorial disputes, sectarian violence, demonization. divisive narratives of “us vs them” are military conflict, the spread of disease, poisoning public discourse and, aided hunger and food insecurity, and even From the USA to India, from Brazil to and abetted by technology, becoming climate change”.2 Hungary, and from Turkey to the Philippines, progressively normalized. They are not political leaders and opinion shapers are only intensifying polarization in societies The groups that political leaders skilfully peddling narratives of fear and – promoting ethnic, racial, religious and demonize vary according to context, division, successfully exploiting anxieties and gender discrimination – but increasingly but usually include those seen as easy blaming entire groups for social or economic they are setting the political agenda. targets – religious minorities; migrants, grievances. As the world tries to recover from refugees and asylum-seekers; women’s the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders taking In the words of John Powell and rights advocates; lesbian, gay, bisexual, advantage of the crisis to extend their powers Stephen Menendian, “in a world transgender and intersex (LGBTI) and suppress human rights could deepen beset by seemingly intractable and people; human rights defenders; and this trend and cause still more harm to the overwhelming challenges, virtually those challenging the status quo, such prospect of a just recovery. every global, national, and regional as protesters and climate activists.3

6 STANDING FOR HUMANITY CHANGING AMNESTY TO OVERCOME THE POLITICS OF “US VS THEM” This continued, systematic demonization brought into sharp relief the threats Yet this experience of crisis has also led has had alarming consequences on a faced by marginalized communities many to see the world anew and reassess spectrum from exacerbating inequality, and individuals4 and the potentially the possibilities for building just and discrimination and violence, to ethnic damaging impact of a lack of trust in equal societies. It is a moment for a fresh cleansing. The apartheid system that governments and institutions.5 It has vision to shape a sustainable recovery excluded Rohingya people in Myanmar, also created cover for leaders seeking that embraces solidarity and breaks down followed by violent attacks to drive them to entrench and expand their own power the moribund ideologies of “us vs them”. out of the country and China’s social at the expense of people’s rights. This is a time for bold action showing re-engineering efforts targeting Uyghurs The pandemic provided them with that human rights are indispensable and other predominantly Muslim ethnic a new platform to relaunch their for everyone. This unprecedented groups in Xinjiang, offer some of the scapegoating narratives and to deepen shared challenge can be turned into an bleakest warnings about the ultimate the polarization they have been opportunity to end the divisiveness of consequences of failures to address the fostering for years. the past and bring people closer together. long-term and systematic demonization of particular communities based on their identity. THE POLITICS OF DEMONIZATION: In a growing number of countries, WHAT IS IT? and often with public support, leaders and opinion formers are combining The politics of demonization is the deliberate and systematic scapegoating and discriminatory policies with undermining marginalizing of groups of people based on their identity or political beliefs by international cooperation and norms political leaders and other opinion formers. It is used to acquire, withhold or negotiate by criticizing or ignoring international power for political gain and to reinforce existing power structures. It often takes the institutions and expressing open hostility form of narratives of hate in the media targeting marginalized groups, creating a towards human rights. The rise in the dangerous self-reinforcing mechanism in moulding public opinion. politics of demonization represents a profound challenge – perhaps an Three key components of the politics of demonization are: existential threat – to human rights mechanisms and to the whole idea of Opportunism: capitalizing on irrational fears and stirring up social and economic human rights. frustrations.

In this context, the COVID-19 pandemic Divisiveness: simplifying complex societal problems and dividing society into an has starkly exposed flaws in social and “us” (those who deserve security and rights) and “them” (those who are less economic systems and the weaknesses deserving or represent a threat). of the international system. The “us vs them” approach adopted by many Victimhood: feeding a false sense of victimhood among, for example, ethnic and political leaders has both exacerbated religious majorities. harmful pre-existing inequalities and hampered effective and timely Many of those who engage in the politics of demonization have used populist responses to the crisis. COVID-19 has approaches, casting themselves as representing “the people” against a corrupt establishment. Their rhetoric often directs blame, either explicitly or implicitly, at an “other”. However, not all populists engage in demonization and not all who engage in demonization are populists. Populism is a style of politics based A Tibetan exile shouts slogan during a protest to support on anti-establishment approaches which involves challenging elites and may or Hong Kong pro-democracy may not involve demonizing marginalized groups. Amnesty International takes no protestors, in New Delhi, India, 30 August, 2019. position for or against populism. © REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 7 1. FERTILE GROUND pandemic, but politicians and parts political power and government failures of the media have long intentionally to fulfil their economic and social rights, FOR THE POLITICS OF tapped into people’s sense of fragility – including the rights to work, an adequate whether linked to shifting political standard of living, health and housing. DEMONIZATION power, global financial volatility, These underlying concerns may not be technological disruption, the climate new, but in some parts of the world crisis, or other issues. They have they have been accentuated by shifting Since 2015, the politics of demonization leveraged this to stoke feelings of cultural labour markets, austerity, automation has increased markedly and taken root in displacement and to undermine faith and, in some developed economies, different contexts. The particular forms in political institutions and the rule by deindustrialization. it takes and the conditions which allow of law, challenging their promise of it to proliferate vary widely from country guaranteeing long-lasting equality, The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed in to country and there is a significant risk stability and justice for all.6 a new way the scale of existing structural of over-generalization when trying to inequalities and the economic fallout describe this as a global phenomenon. One theme which has been exploited could well exacerbate these grievances. Nevertheless, its international dimensions extensively (especially but not exclusively We are already witnessing how it has are clear: partly because its enabling in majority white societies) is the become easier for politicians and others factors are comparable in different combination of economic grievances in power to instrumentalize or weaponize contexts and partly because those who and migration. In the past decade, it economic grievances. promote the politics of demonization has become increasingly mainstream emulate each other. for politicians to blame migrants, Politicians have long fomented and refugees and asylum-seekers for real or taken advantage of anxieties about Uncertainty, disenfranchisement and perceived economic hardships in order national security and terrorism, creating discontent in many countries has been to gain popularity. These grievances are stereotypes to justify restrictions of fostered and manipulated for electoral often rooted in people’s experiences human rights and generalized repression advantage. This may well increase in of inequality, corruption, economic of particular groups. Together with a world recovering from the COVID-19 stagnation, exclusion from economic and the media, they have generated and

A burnt Make America Great Again (MAGA) hat lies on the ground during a protest against racial injustice near the site of a rally by U.S. President Donald Trump in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S., 20 June, 2020. © REUTERS/Lawrence Bryant

8 STANDING FOR HUMANITY CHANGING AMNESTY TO OVERCOME THE POLITICS OF “US VS THEM” reinforced a causal link between 2. TARGETS OF opinion formers has created fertile increased migration flows and (real or ground for such episodes of racism and perceived) rising crime levels and terrorist DEMONIZATION xenophobia. The labelling of COVID-19 as threats. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor “the Chinese virus” by President Trump Orbán described immigration as a “Trojan In recent years, there has been a and members of his Administration, for horse of terrorism”.7 Immigration was at strengthening of ethnic or religious example, carried an insinuation of blame the core of Donald Trump’s toxic rhetoric supremacist narratives16 and that is hard to separate from heightened during the 2016 USA presidential discrimination across many of the anti-Chinese and anti-Asian sentiment campaign when he referred to Mexicans world’s most influential countries, in the USA.22 And in France, Germany, as “drug dealers, criminals and rapists”.8 from Brazil to China to India to the USA. Greece, Italy and Spain anti-immigrant This narrative went on to inform This is not accidental; it is systematically politicians turned to the old trope of President Trump’s introduction in 2018 stoked by politicians.17 Overt racism is ethnic minorities and migrants as of a “zero tolerance” immigration policy becoming increasingly normalized and carriers of diseases in order to justify under which undocumented migrants institutionalized in public discourse. their stance.23 crossing the USA-Mexico border were President Trump’s attacks on four jailed and their children put into Congresswomen of colour he accused of People on the move (migrants, refugees shelters or foster care.9 hating the USA and urged to go back to and people seeking asylum) have been a the “totally broken and crime infested consistent target of demonization across In the aftermath of violent attacks by places from which they came” was a the world, not just in Europe and the al-Qaida and ISIS in Belgium, France, particularly crude example of racist USA. From Australia to South Africa, Germany and Turkey between 2015 and and misogynistic rhetoric aimed at political figures present generalized 2017, politicians advocated for stricter legitimizing hatred and division.18 claims that migration will “swamp the asylum policies, criminalized certain acts majority”, dilute the country’s cultural of solidarity by human rights defenders The longstanding issue of systemic and religious identity, undermine and civil society organizations,10 and racism in the USA reached a new “national values”, weaken the welfare targeted Muslims. By conflating Muslim tipping point in the first half of 2020. state and create new security threats.24 migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees A string of acts of racist violence by with terrorists, politicians contributed to police forces against unarmed Black In addition to these racist narratives, reinforcing both the public perception Americans – Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna xenophobic and discriminatory policies that closing borders is the most viable Taylor and, more recently, George Floyd have also increasingly been adopted. way to guarantee national security11 – reignited the debate about structural Denmark’s so called “anti-ghetto laws” and fomented generalized prejudice discrimination in the country and the of 2018 are a case in point. By forcing against Muslims.12 issue of police reform in the USA and the assimilation of “non-Western” globally. People protesting in the streets migrants who live in low-income Those promoting the politics of have been met with the very same police neighbourhoods and by imposing demonization have also made successful repression and excessive force they were strict sanctions on those who do not appeals to cultural anxieties, fear of protesting against.19 President Trump and comply, these measures exacerbate identity and culture loss, as well as various members of his Administration marginalization and inequality.25 The disquiet over major demographic shifts.13 have denied the existence of systemic COVID-19 pandemic has facilitated this Some analysts argue that cultural problems in USA police departments trend. In various European countries, anxieties are at the heart of demonization and attributed the recent events to a few for example, the “lockdown” measures projects and that mainstream politicians “bad apples” in the police forces. Also, enforced have disproportionately and the media have shifted public in several occasions, President Trump impacted individuals and groups from attitudes by racializing economic resorted to antagonizing and violent ethnic minorities who were subjected to anxieties.14 For example, in the language to address the protesters.20 violence, discriminatory identity checks, 2018 Italian national elections, anti- His actions play to, and risk further forced quarantines and fines.26 establishment parties gained traction galvanizing white supremacists and from soaring anti-immigrant sentiments exacerbating the polarization around In recent years, levels of hate crime among large segments of Italian society, social justice issues that have been against ethnic and religious minorities fanned by the often alarmist media systemic in the country for years. have soared in countries such as India,27 coverage of boat arrivals across the Myanmar,28 the UK29 and the USA.30 Mediterranean.15 Economic grievances, At the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis, Similarly, levels of hate crime targeting security fears and negativity about anti-Chinese and anti-Asian racist people because of their gender identity migration were brought together in sentiments erupted globally.21 The and sexual orientation are increasing a narrative about losing national consistent use of scapegoating language in several countries, including Russia, identity and cultural homogeneity. and its normalization by leaders and Turkmenistan and Ukraine.31

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 9 Rohingya refugees are evacuated by locals at a coast of North Aceh, Indonesia, 25 June, 2020. © Antara Foto/Rahmad/Reuters

Hatred towards religious and ethnic Muslims and Christians.34 One of the most demonization project has set a shocking minorities and Indigenous Peoples recent examples was the targeting of and dangerous global precedent. has substantially increased in the past Muslims as responsible for the COVID-19 decade.32 By fabricating and feeding outbreak in the country.35 The 9/11 attacks in the USA in 2001 identity and security concerns, leaders and later the so-called “refugee crisis” often deliberately stoke this hostility. In China, in line with the struggle against of 2015-16 have been instrumentalized For example, in the latest Pew Research the so-called “three evils” – terrorism, by politicians and the media in ways Centre Index for Social Hostilities, India separatism and religious extremism that have led to anti-Muslim sentiment ranked as the country with the highest – the government has presented the becoming rampant in North America and level of social hostility towards religious mass detention of Uyghurs and other most of Europe and resurgent in various minorities.33 This can be attributed to Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang province countries in South and East Asia. the country’s longstanding structural as an innovative and effective way to As Aristotle Kallis puts it: issues, such as lack of adequate laws on counter an alleged terrorist threat.36 For hate crimes, historical impunity for such some years, Amnesty International and “the Islamophobic rhetoric of the crimes and the debilitating caste politics. other human rights organizations have radical right has become more and In recent years, the resurgence of the documented a systematic escalation more pervasive, more radical in content, Hindutva ideology which aims at building of human rights violations against more extreme in scope and more potent a Hindu nation, further exacerbated Xinjiang’s Muslim population, amounting in reach… But above all, Islamophobia, social hostilities towards religious to institutionalized persecution on a like interwar antisemitism, seems to minorities. In 2019, Narendra Modi of scale not seen in China for decades. have become so widely normalized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured China’s policy in Xinjiang is implemented because it has mined deeply held a second term as prime minister with an through internment in camps, where beliefs and activated fears located aggressive Hindu-first agenda. Under his torture and other ill-treatment are used well within the so-called political and premiership, inter-religious tensions have to “transform through education”; a tight societal mainstream. In this process, soared; 90% of the religious hate crimes surveillance regime; arbitrary detentions; the radical right has functioned as the in the last decade have occurred since he and restrictions on the right to freedom of taboo-breaker and arch-normalizer came to power in 2014, mainly targeting religion and belief.37 This industrial-scale of Islamophobia, straddling fractious

10 STANDING FOR HUMANITY CHANGING AMNESTY TO OVERCOME THE POLITICS OF “US VS THEM” boundaries between the extreme fringes in Hungary and Poland, have portrayed ideology” had been “encrypted” into it.58 of the political system and the heart of Jewish people as a cosmopolitan threat the supposedly liberal centre. When it to national identity.49 At the other end In Europe, anti-gender campaigns were comes to Islamophobia, the radical right of the political spectrum, some left-wing launched for public mobilization in Spain has been pushing at the mainstream’s politicians and groups associate Jewish (2004, against a same-sex marriage bill), half-open door”.38 people with the economic oligarchy or with Croatia (2006, against sex education), the conduct of the State of Israel. An anti- Italy (2007, against same-sex civil Again, it should be noted that racist Jewish rhetoric appears to be increasingly partnership), Slovenia (2009, against discourse occurs across the political adopted and normalized by mainstream marriage equality) and France (2012, spectrum. politicians on both sides of the political against same-sex marriage).59 Polish spectrum.50 Events such as the mass debates on “gender ideology” started in Fanning the flames of anti-Muslim shooting at the Pittsburgh synagogue in 2012 in opposition to the ratification sentiment has become an indispensable the USA in 2018, the vandalization of the of the Council of Europe Convention component in the toolkit of politicians Basateen Jewish cemetery in Cairo, Egypt, on preventing and combating violence harnessing the politics of demonization.39 in 2018 and the string of acts against against women and domestic violence Examples abound around the world: from Jewish communities in Paris in 2019, (Istanbul Convention).60 In 2018, Bulgaria the banning full of face veils for women as well as other, less visible, expressions did not ratify the Istanbul Convention in string of European countries, including of anti-Jewish sentiments,51 show how this after its Constitutional Court declared it Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France and normalization is emboldening those who unconstitutional because it contained the the Netherlands,40 to President Trump’s spread anti-Jewish hatred and causing term “gender”.61 Following this example, travel ban;41 from Italian politician Matteo Jewish communities to feel increasingly Slovakia’s Parliament voted against Salvini’s declaration that “if we do not targeted and unsafe.52 ratification in 2020.62 And in several take back control of our roots, Europe European countries those who embrace will become an Islamic caliphate”42 Discrimination, violence and systematic the politics of demonization are targeting to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s persecution targeting Christians has also academic and universities teaching gender discriminatory remarks about Muslim escalated in the Middle East and Africa in studies, representing them as a threat to women who wear full face veils, which countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, the “natural family” and a propaganda coincided with a spike in anti-Muslim Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, tool to indoctrinate young students.63 hate crime in the country;43 and from Morocco, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Sudan and Syria,53 and throughout Asia, Demonization of professionals such as Suu Kyi lamenting the growing Muslim for example in China, India, Indonesia, social workers, sexuality education teachers population,44 to Prime Minister Narendra Myanmar, North Korea and Sri Lanka.54 and abortion clinic workers, as well as Modi’s government introducing a law disinformation about sexual and reproductive restricting citizenship to migrants from In addition, many politicians and public health rights are also part of the offensive Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan figures are deploying toxic narratives against advances in gender equality taking to non-Muslims.45 The effects of these against advances in gender equality. place across Europe and the Americas. leaders’ toxic narratives about Muslims, as They portray advances in respect for the For example, in Bulgaria, non-governmental well as their overtly discriminatory policy rights of women and LGBTI people as organizations (NGOs) and social workers were measures, are the demonization of and threats to “traditional” values or religious accused of kidnapping children to give them discrimination against millions of people. identity. “Gender ideology” is a catch- away for adoption by gay couples in Norway.64 all term that has served as a basis for a In Spain, sexologists were threatened by A new wave of acts of violence and hate disturbingly effective narrative and rallying religious and anti-human rights groups for targeting Jews and/or Jewish community cry to attack human rights gains related to giving talks in community colleges65 and and religious institutions has affected gender and sexuality in recent decades – a Vox party deputy offered ultrasounds to multiple countries in Europe46 as well from access to abortion to gender equality women outside clinics to dissuade them as the USA47 in recent years. As Ruth to LGBTI rights and comprehensive from having abortions.66 In the context of Wodak states: “Anti-Muslim sentiments sexuality education.55 For example, the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-feminist have not been substituted for anti- in 2017, the Minister of Education in groups in the USA welcomed lockdowns Semitic beliefs; quite the contrary, in Paraguay removed all materials from the as an opportunity for women to “go back” fact, as they frequently occur together.”48 national curriculum related to “gender”56 to their “traditional” roles at home and According to experts, this resurgence and in 2019 a municipality in Paraguay around the world many politicians and of anti-Jewish sentiment is showing a banned a pro-LGBTI rights march on the activists celebrated the stalling of key convergence of views from both sides grounds that it was considered contrary debates on women’s rights caused by of the political spectrum, including in to “public morals”.57 In 2016, the Peace the COVID-19 emergency.67 the USA and Europe. Right wing and Agreement in Colombia was rejected in a national-conservatist parties, for example public vote after accusations that “gender

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 11 3. POLITICS OF introduce measures or laws that restrict messaging, mainstreaming less overtly human rights beyond what is permitted xenophobic elements of their calls. DEMONIZATION under international law and without any safeguards to ensure the protection of Leaders who employ exclusionary rhetoric TAKING ROOT human rights. and policies support and cite each other approvingly, mutually reinforcing each For example, in Hungary, the government other and their messages. Prime Minister Although the politics of demonization is stepped up its efforts to undermine the Orbán addressed Matteo Salvini as his nothing new, in recent years a growing rule of law by introducing an emergency “fellow combatant” in the fight for the number of political leaders have actively law that allows the Prime Minister to rule “preservation of European Christian and systematically propagated narratives by decree without any review or wtime heritage and against migration”.78 of demonization for political gain, limitations. The Orbán Administration has President Trump consistently expressed increasingly setting the agenda. They also used this as an opportunity to push his support for leaders such as Prime have used these narratives to boost its “anti-gender” agenda, submitting an Minister Modi, President Bolsonaro and their legitimacy, appeal and resonance omnibus bill to parliament to ban gender President Duterte and was himself praised among different demographic groups, recognition in law for transgender people. by them.79 Recently, attempts to build emboldening others to follow suit. In the context of a doubling of levels of transnational alliances have also been domestic violence during the COVID-19 made, although so far they have not “Strongmen” leaders – and it is mostly lockdown, the Hungarian parliament has proved successful.80 men – have made a comeback. Roger also declared it will not ratify the Istanbul Eatwell has identified four characteristics Convention.71 In this context, state authorities have of so called “charismatic leaders” that often chosen to suppress dissenting contribute to their electoral success and Poland sought to rush through two highly voices, thereby causing a culture of fear to popularity: radical mission (presenting controversial bills banning abortion and take root. Increasingly they have silenced themselves as embodiments of a special criminalizing sex education under the or created negative consequences for mission), personal presence (confidence cover of the COVID-19 crisis.72 In the those who challenge the repression of and attention to their image), symbiotic Philippines, President Duterte gave police demonized groups. Attacks on human hierarchy (portraying themselves as and military officials orders to “shoot rights defenders and civil society ordinary people) and binary narratives of to kill” what he called “troublemakers” organizations are escalating globally.81 demonization (targeting either internal or protesting during the quarantine.73 In State control over the media is growing, external “enemies”).68 These traits can be Cambodia, the recently proposed State of even in countries with a relatively free seen among many of today’s “strongmen” Emergency Law is a blatant power grab media, such as India and the USA.82 The leaders. Whether convinced ideologues, that seeks to manipulate the COVID-19 authorities in many countries, from Egypt fervent nationalists or opportunists, they crisis in order to severely undercut human to Iran to Venezuela, have a long track are peddling simplistic and extreme rights.74 Additionally, some governments record of quashing protests violently in solutions to complex societal problems. are introducing disproportionate digital order to muzzle critical voices. Now this Many such politicians are undermining surveillance measures under the guise of playbook is being adopted more widely, checks and balances, like the tracking the spread of the virus, without including in Chile and Hong Kong.83 independence of the judiciary and other adequate safeguards or sunset clauses, safeguards to protect marginalized groups which leaves open the possibility for abuse Oversimplification and the increasingly from discrimination and other violations of of rights in the future.75 binary nature of complex societal debates their rights. around migration has generally favoured In recent years, leaders have become more those who propagate anti-immigration and Authoritarian tendencies and ideas are strategic in their rhetoric, playing off rights overtly racist or xenophobic messages. emerging across and within different and communities against each other. In various European countries, including countries.69 In countries such as Hungary For example, Matteo Salvini, leader of Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, and Turkey, the balance of power has Italy’s League party, has targeted Muslim Spain and Switzerland,84 as well as tilted strongly towards the executive, communities in the name of gender Australia85 and the USA,86 people seeking allowing the rule and the cult of the equality. In some cases, racist groups have to protect the rights of refugees and “strongman” to flourish.70 This trend moderated their image to appear more migrants are increasingly criminalized. appears to be on the rise. The COVID-19 “acceptable”, built networks of activists The few voices attempting to present a pandemic provided leaders around the and think-tanks76 and developed news compelling positive vision for migration world with a pretext for grabbing more outlets or a strong social media profile to and refugee protection, including in the power. In the name of a greater good, “market” their views.77 They have created human rights movement or among political namely protecting public health, they an environment in which more mainstream leaders, have been highly stigmatized and are using emergency legislation to politicians employ parts of their political often met with repression.

12 STANDING FOR HUMANITY CHANGING AMNESTY TO OVERCOME THE POLITICS OF “US VS THEM” Policemen wearing face shields inspect motorists at a quarantine checkpoint on 2 April, 2020 in Marikina, Metro Manila, Philippines. © Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 13 are no accident. They are in part a consequence of the way algorithms filter users’ online experiences.93 The major social media platforms recommend and promote new content based on opaque algorithmic processes to determine what will best engage users. Because people are more likely to click on sensationalist or incendiary material, the so-called “recommendation engines” of these platforms can send their users down what has been called a “rabbit hole” of toxic content.94 In addition to the role played by algorithms in heightening the levels of prejudice and hatred, technology companies have often failed to address the issue of hate speech on their platforms.95

During the COVID-19 crisis, many confusion in response to the state of Sensationalism in the mass media is, leaders have chosen to exploit emergency”.89 From India to Turkey, of course, not a new phenomenon and people’s sense of uncertainty and from China to Venezuela, and from it is not limited to the internet. But the fear. Some are instrumentalizing the Singapore to Tunisia, journalists, “recommendation engines” of social emergency provisions introduced to bloggers and watchdogs are being media go well beyond the adage “if it prevent the spread of disinformation targeted, intimidated and arrested for bleeds, it leads”. They can systematically or misinformation about the pandemic allegedly spreading “fake news”.90 privilege demonizing content, including to muzzle real critics and dissenting conspiracy theories, misogyny and voices, restrict freedom of expression and Demonization has benefitted from bigotry racism, to keep people on their platforms hamper people’s access to timely and promoted by the mass media going back for as long as possible and create echo accurate information, a core feature of several decades. Such media outlets have chambers that give the appearance of the right to health. In March 2020, for helped create narratives that make it momentum to toxic ideas. For example, example, the Russian authorities passed easier for politicians to target particular a study into the spread of anti-refugee amendments to the Criminal Code and groups and limit the scope for manoeuvre sentiment on Facebook found that to the Code of Administrative Offences for their opponents. For example, Rupert “anti-refugee hate crimes increase that introduced criminal penalties for Murdoch-owned outlets in Australia, disproportionally in areas with higher the “public dissemination of knowingly the UK and the USA have consistently Facebook usage during periods of high false information” in the context of spread fear of refugees, migrants and anti-refugee sentiment online”.96 emergencies and administrative Muslims.91 The role of social media A UN fact-finding mission on Myanmar penalties for media outlets that platforms in mobilizing hate rests upon a highlighted that before and during the publish such information.87 bedrock built by traditional broadcast and Rohingya crisis, “Facebook has been print outlets over decades. Technology a useful instrument for those seeking Hungary’s emergency law provides corporations are also playing a key role to spread hate, in a context where, for for up to five years’ imprisonment in exacerbating political and ideological most users, Facebook is the Internet”.97 for those convicted of causing public polarization, providing an ideal space for Similarly, the algorithms behind Google’s alarm or hindering government efforts the politics of demonization to thrive. YouTube platform have been shown in to control the pandemic by spreading The global dominance and reach of multiple studies to privilege false and false information.88 Cambodia’s draft online platforms like Facebook and incendiary content.98 emergency law envisages unprecedented Google mean they form a crucial part of disproportionate powers, including the system that amplifies demonizing The Facebook-Cambridge Analytica provisions for conducting surveillance on narratives and enables them to reach scandal, in which data from 87 million all telecommunications mediums “using mainstream audiences. people’s Facebook profiles were any means necessary” and the power harvested and used to micro-target to ban or restrict the “distribution of Growing political segregation and and manipulate people for political information that could scare the public, the surge in prejudice and hatred on campaigning purposes, drew attention cause unrest, or that can negatively social media against marginalized and to the capabilities of the largest tech impact national security, or cause oppressed groups and against women92 platforms to influence people at scale

14 STANDING FOR HUMANITY CHANGING AMNESTY TO OVERCOME THE POLITICS OF “US VS THEM” – and the risk that these could be The use of digital platforms to spread an internationalist elite, or a globalized abused. Although shocking, this was false information is intensifying worldview which is undesirable or even only the tip of the iceberg, a logical ideological polarization and incentivizing dangerous. Such narratives are on the extension of the very same model of the advocacy of hatred, violence rise in most regions and increasingly in data extraction and analysis inherent to and discrimination.104 Yet, despite countries that have traditionally seen both Facebook and Google’s business. consistent calls from international themselves as protectors of human rights. This raises important questions about human rights mechanisms and civil For example, Denmark, one of the original the human rights responsibilities of society organizations, these corporations initiators of the Refugee Convention, has technology companies around the continue to fail in their responsibility to challenged the very concept of such a development of these algorithms, as respect human rights.105 convention and questioned whether the well as their harvesting and analysis full spectrum of rights applies to refugees of users’ data.99 and migrants.106 Human rights are now 4. CONSEQUENCES FOR frequently portrayed as a mechanism Linked to this is the phenomenon of to frustrate national interests or protect online disinformation. Digital platforms HUMAN RIGHTS criminals or terrorists. Strikingly, in the are used tactically to disseminate false Philippines, human rights defenders information with the sole purpose of have been vilified as “protectors manipulating opinions, behaviours and The politics of demonization creates of demons”.107 choices on a vast scale.100 many threats to human rights around the world, in multiple and complex ways. Controversial proposals to review and In recent months, President Bolsonaro’s The following highlights four particular reform the whole concept of human denialist stance regarding COVID-19 has challenges that arise. rights in both public policy and academia been sustained by spreading false and have emerged as a new challenge. In misleading information online regarding THE UNIVERSALITY CHALLENGE: July 2019, the USA State Department the virus’ symptoms, risks and cures, as SELECTIVE REJECTION OF HUMAN launched a Commission on Unalienable well as by encouraging risky behaviours. RIGHTS Rights tasked with providing “fresh A Parliamentary Commission is currently thinking about human rights” and conducting an investigation into online Few leaders directly criticize the proposing “reforms of human rights profiles spreading misinformation related human rights framework in its entirety, discourse where it has departed from to the pandemic which is likely being but many do criticize the idea of our nation’s founding principles of coordinated by a structure linked to the particular rights for particular groups natural law and natural rights”.108 Office of the President.101 Bolsonaro’s of people and attack the institutions Members of the Commission had approach has resulted not only in a designed to protect rights. previously spoken out against established patchy response to the health crisis, sets of rights such as reproductive, but has also led to increased polarization Human rights actors have long been LGBTI and women’s rights.109 and heightened levels of social unrest associated by their detractors with foreign and mistrust which are pushing the values or agendas, or manifestations of The COVID-19 crisis represents a perfect country to the edge of a political crisis.102

The instant messaging application WhatsApp is also widely used to circulate false news and incendiary content with the potential to exacerbate divisions and swing people’s political choices. This was the case in both Brazil’s presidential election campaign in 2018 and India’s general election campaign in 2019.103

Solidarity action by Lahore based NGO Amnesty International Justajoo’s food Spain, Madrid, July 2017. distribution operations © Xavier Gil Dalmau in the city, providing essential food relief supplies to communities in need, May 2020. © Ema Anis

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 15 storm for those political leaders who political project in which the general to global crises. No one can afford to have been sowing hatred and divisions public is a passive participant. On the look after “our own first” if we are to in recent years. A moment of global contrary, leaders who deploy the politics recover sustainably. emergency and widespread uncertainty, of demonization and argue that it is when people feel vulnerable and in need necessary to look after “our own first” Since the outbreak of COVID-19 we of protection and clear answers, can be enjoy significant popular support. have also seen how human rights can exploited to frame human rights and be part of the solution, if countries public health as an either/or choice. Yet Across the world, many politicians who deepen and expand on their human COVID-19 has shown how economic and have traditionally been supportive of rights obligations of international social rights – such as the right to health, human rights have shown a lack of cooperation and assistance.118 While job security, safety in the workplace and leadership and vision in their responses some countries have imposed trade fair working conditions – are crucial to to the rise of the politics of demonization. restrictions on the import and export human security and resilience. They have lacked the courage of their of essential commodities, which have convictions and this has contributed included personal protective equipment Another common feature of the to a perceived lack of alternatives to and other crucial goods to address the politics of demonization is attempting to narratives of demonization that claim to effects of the pandemic, several states delegitimize national and international be “in the name of the people”. Some have worked to provide materials and institutions designed to safeguard potential opponents have either retreated resources to others.119 Development human rights – such as the European (willingly or otherwise) into a defensive banks and international financial Court of Human Rights, the Inter- posture, allowing demonizing narratives institutions, including multilateral American Commission on Human to set the agenda. Others have absorbed institutions, have also responded to Rights, the Inter-American Court of parts of those narratives – from loosening the challenges presented by the Human Rights,110 the African Court hate speech protections in Australia COVID-19 pandemic.120 But they and on Human and Peoples’ Rights,111 the to tightening immigration controls the most economically powerful nations International Criminal Court (ICC)112 in Europe,115 and negotiating highly must do far more to meet the challenge, and the World Health Organization.113 problematic international agreements, including cancelling the debt of the A common line of attack is to claim that such as the European Union’s refugee world’s poorest countries, scaling these institutions represent the agendas deal with Turkey116 and Italy’s deal up investments in health and social of other countries or of elites and to with Libya.117 protections and phasing out fossil fuels, invoke nationalist defences based to ensure a just and sustainable recovery on sovereignty.114 Supremacist views may experience a from the pandemic.121 revival in the post-COVID-19 world, THE SOLIDARITY CHALLENGE: but the crisis has clearly exposed THE PRIORITY CHALLENGE: HUMAN SUPREMACIST POLITICS SETTING their limits. It has shown how the fate RIGHTS VS SECURITY AND THE ECONOMY THE AGENDA of countries is deeply interconnected and international cooperation and Demonizing narratives and actions often The demonization agenda is not a solidarity are crucial when responding rest on the argument that the demands of security and development – and perhaps, in the post-COVID world, public health – require human rights to be restricted. Often politicians take it as a given that security and economic concerns, which are often legitimate and enjoy popular support, require limiting human rights and take primacy over human rights considerations in a zero-sum game. More than anyone, it is groups and

Wasanii Sanaa Youth Organization in Kibera, Kenya, the largest slum in Africa, this group of young activists are spreading the importance of hope and human rights through action-packed theatre, poetry and dance. 8 May, 2018. © Amnesty International

16 STANDING FOR HUMANITY CHANGING AMNESTY TO OVERCOME THE POLITICS OF “US VS THEM” people who face discrimination who been exploited by sitting governments to important by much of the human bear the brunt of these limitations. justify repressive policies which demonize rights movement and therefore became Human rights are often marginalized in and target particular groups of people more clearly established. There are, debates about security or development, based on their identity.128 The COVID-19 of course, important exceptions to or portrayed as an inconvenience, an crisis and the new economic and security these statements and the human indulgence to be overcome. threats that arise in its wake are likely to rights movement as a whole has made intensify and exacerbate this challenge. substantial changes in recent years, In some countries, the security agenda but this organizational self-reflection – whether framed as protecting national THE EFFECTIVENESS CHALLENGE: is important to continue and deepen security or preventing crime – is based HUMAN RIGHTS DON’T RESONATE such changes. on the implied idea that populations WITH MAJORITIES need to be protected against whole It was not until 2001 that Amnesty segments of people based on their Human rights organizations, including International decided to work on ESCR identity. Counter-terrorism has become Amnesty International, have not been issues. Subsequently, in many countries, a highly effective cover for limiting effective in convincing the majority of its campaigns on ESCR drew attention human rights, including the rights to people around the world that human to the discrimination faced by women, freedom of expression, association and rights are for everyone and speak to particular minority ethnic groups, peaceful assembly. For example, Egypt their aspirations. migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers. launched a crackdown on the rights of Only in some countries did our work people identified as linked to the Muslim In a number of countries, notably the USA, include violations facing a wider range Brotherhood and portrayed them as a human rights are often seen by people as of groups in society, such as the forced threat to national security.122 In France, something for “other people” and therefore evictions of people living in informal the long-term state of emergency after less relevant to present political debates settlements and those denied sexual the violent attacks of 2015 imposed about “us”. In much of Africa and Asia, and reproductive rights. It was not until disproportionate restrictions on the right with the exception of social movements 2018 that Amnesty International issued to peaceful assembly, many elements of and grassroots groups that base their its first reports on the systematic effects which were made permanent in 2017.123 work on human rights ideals, the term of austerity.130 In the Philippines, thousands of people, “human rights” is too often identified most of them poor, have been killed since with secular or elite groups that are seen These choices, by Amnesty International President Duterte launched a “war on as “westernized” and divorced from the and others, may have contributed to drugs” in 2016 vowing to wipe out crime religious and cultural values of society. In three outcomes. First, we have missed within six months and announcing a parts of Europe, human rights are viewed an opportunity to draw attention to the policy that would target those using and as a liberal, cosmopolitan concern and full range of different ways in which selling drugs.124 appear remote to many less privileged people are denied their rights. Second, groups. And for many people around the we have missed the opportunity to Human rights are also subordinated world, human rights campaigns have often identify commonalities between groups or presented as obstacles to achieving been too complicated or technical facing different forms of discrimination economic development or protecting the to resonate widely. and who are often cynically set against welfare state. In India, human rights and each other by politicians. This has environmental groups are demonized for In part, this is a legacy of the fact that made it harder to show how politicians opposing controversial projects.125 many human rights NGOs, including the are deliberately seeking to divide groups Across Latin America, land and larger organizations both globally and facing disadvantage and block potential environmental defenders are threatened, nationally, have focused on certain areas alliances between them to push for more arrested or killed for opposing of human rights – primarily civil and equal societies. Third, our approach has governments or companies seeking political rights and non-discrimination perhaps contributed to a prevalent view to profit from their land and natural – and paid much less attention to in some countries that human rights resources.126 In several European economic, social and cultural rights are for “the other”. We have struggled countries, refugees, asylum-seekers (ESCR).129 Most organizations have to create understanding of human rights and migrants are presented by the press focused more on overt discrimination, issues through continued awareness raising and politicians alike as a threat to the such as clear racial discrimination, and and education efforts and our effectiveness sustainability of the welfare state.127 less on other forms of discrimination, in engaging people at community level has such as exclusion from public resources been, at best, patchy. Such narratives have been propagated on the basis of socio-economic by a broad array of actors, whether status or poverty. These choices political figures, corporations or media reflect the fact that civil and political organizations. In many cases they have rights were historically deemed more

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 17 Hashim, an essential worker in the healthcare industry, greets his daughter through the closed door as he maintains social distance from his family as he works amid the coronavirus outbreak in New Rochelle, New York, U.S., 11 April, 2020. Picture taken April 11, 2020. © REUTERS/Joy Malone

18 STANDING FOR HUMANITY CHANGING AMNESTY TO OVERCOME THE POLITICS OF “US VS THEM” SECTION II – RESPONDING TO THE POLITICS OF DEMONIZATION

How should human rights The COVID-19 crisis, like any watershed are universal, they need the consent of a organizations respond to moment, presents important opportunities critical mass to be effective. Those who are where choices can be made. For those actively and ideologically antagonistic to a these challenges? Amnesty who embrace the politics of demonization, human rights agenda (such as those with International is adopting it is an opportunity to continue to divide, overt and deep-seated xenophobic, racist, polarize, sow hatred and gain more power. sexist or homophobic views) may not be four approaches, relevant For the human rights movement, it is a won over in the short to medium term. to our role, which we would moment to project a vision of a more equitable, But there are always groups of people in like to share. These are not sustainable and just world. It is in this the middle – people who are sympathetic context that Amnesty International should to the objectives of human rights, but mutually exclusive and can mobilize people in response to a widespread may have competing concerns about be combined and adapted, desire for societal change and to combat their country’s security, their economic widespread narratives of demonization. prospects or a loss of culture. These are the depending on the context. groups we must identify and connect with, There is a sizeable and committed set of whom we can call “unpersuaded” (see box It is no longer sufficient to assume the people in most regions and countries who below). These groups will vary in size from moral and legal high ground and expect provide a ready source of support for the country to country (and from issue to issue) to win people over. Far too many world human rights movement – those who are and comprise many different segments. leaders have successfully positioned ideologically committed or who use human They are likely to cross political and other human rights as subordinate to people’s rights as the vehicle to advance their spectrums, including people on the left and real or projected anxieties about security, struggle. At a time when human rights are right, nationalists and internationalists and welfare, development and identity. under attack, human rights organizations secular and religious people. Political narratives of naked self-interest in can be effective in rallying them and a globalized zero-sum game have become strengthening their advocacy. Amnesty International should proactively more persuasive to many than the narrative try to connect with these groups in the of international cooperation and assistance, This is important but in the long term it middle. Our proposed four approaches can universal standards and shared humanity. is not enough. Although human rights enable us to do this.

WHO ARE THE “UNPERSUADED”?

Audience research by Amnesty International and others in a range of countries around the world shows that only a minority of the population are either unquestioningly committed to or actively hostile to human rights for others. Large segments of society can be described as groups that “support human rights, but…” Such groups appear to believe in human rights in principle but have concerns that prevent them from fully subscribing to a human rights agenda, for example supporting rights for non-nationals. They are open to the ideals of human rights but not yet convinced. A survey carried out for Amnesty International UK showed that 67% of respondents agreed that, “universal human rights are an important basic foundation for a fair and just world”. However, only 33% agreed that we should uphold the human rights of “those that wish us harm” and 43% agreed that “sometimes human rights have to be relaxed to protect national security”. Amnesty International Australia reports that on the issue of refugees, a broad middle section of people (about 50%-60% of the adult population) reluctantly tolerate the Australian government’s inhumane and abusive policies towards people seeking asylum and refugees because they have not been not offered alternative policies that are more humane and still address their security concerns. They are not fully on board with human rights-centred arguments on refugees, nor completely set against them.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 19 APPROACH ONE: For example, our work on refugees and Many politicians advocating xenophobia migrants in Greece will have limited traction are seeking to build their support base CHOOSING ISSUES THAT if we do not also address the catastrophic to include those motivated by economic impacts of austerity on health and other rights concerns. They shrewdly portray themselves RESONATE WIDELY of the host population.132 as guarantors of social welfare, while seeking to blame “the establishment” Amnesty International should have a or foreigners for worsening standards of Connecting with these groups in the balanced approach – some work that living. These narratives have not been middle means addressing the struggles better resonates with majorities in adequately challenged by many parts of and concerns of a majority in society society and some work on the rights of the human rights movement, including (by which we mean a majority of people in marginalized groups, irrespective of public Amnesty International. We have not society from different groups, including, support. The need to connect with the focused sufficiently on the socio-economic but not limited to, ethnic majorities). It broad middle section should not be used realities and alienation felt by communities. is not enough to rely on those who are as an excuse to avoid less popular issues – Less privileged groups or lower-income committed to human rights “for others”. indeed, by working on human rights issues communities are no more likely than other At a time when human rights are that affect majorities, we think we will be groups to support demonizing narratives. increasingly seen, in many societies, as in a stronger position to work on these Indeed, many less privileged communities elitist or as favouring only minorities rather issues and to encourage alliances have a long and proud history of leading than as a tool to improve everyone’s lives,131 between groups facing different forms and championing rights-based organizing we need to focus our energies on building of oppression. and campaigns. However, human rights wide and sustained support for human groups, particularly those like Amnesty rights as something that benefits everyone. We will keep defending everyone’s human International whose original base in many rights, including the rights of those who countries comprised lawyers, academics This will have implications for the issues themselves oppose human rights. And we and journalists, do not naturally speak to we choose to focus on in any given country will continue to advance human issues such constituencies – at least in the global – and these choices have a critical impact that are controversial. But our objective North. Where individuals from marginalized on how we and the human rights movement is to bring a critical mass of people to the communities feel unrepresented by or more generally are perceived. Amnesty frontier, not to stand alone at the frontier. alienated from human rights arguments or International has a choice in each country Amnesty International as a membership are supportive of demonizing narratives, it operates in. We can focus on a narrow based organization is very well placed to we believe this partly reflects the failure set of human rights issues and affected achieve this and it would be a dereliction of the human rights movement to engage groups and we may potentially win short- of duty if we did not aim to widen support sufficiently with and address their human term victories but have little impact on the for human rights. This does not mean rights concerns. broader struggle for human rights in the taking a “middle-of-the-road” approach country. Or we can tackle human rights that aims to please everybody. It means Second, in order to demonstrate that issues that affect both a broad swathe of effective persuasion that inspires and human rights benefit all people and offer society as well as the most marginalized convinces rather than alienates large answers to people’s social, cultural and groups, with a view to winning over society groups. We must project a vision that economic grievances, we need to better at large. This second option may yield less benefits everyone. understand and address the root causes short-term impact but is essential in the of those grievances. In particular, we know medium and longer term. To do so, we envisage three possible the human rights concerns of a majority ways forward. of people in many countries relate to We also need long-term campaigns that ESCR134 and we believe that we therefore specifically focus on shifts in public opinion to First, we should be fully conscious of our need to focus more on ESCR issues than make it easier to achieve change, as opposed overall portfolio of work in a given country. we have done so far, especially in light to campaigning solely for legal or policy We should also ensure that some of our of the COVID-19 crisis. Civil and political change. To be clear, we are not advocating work in each country addresses the most rights predominate in most of Amnesty any dilution of our core principles. In fact, we prominent human rights concerns faced by International’s work; in future we need are advocating a more principled approach a majority of the population. We know that a more balanced approach that reflects over favouring short-term successes. Amnesty people become more positive about human the full spectrum of human rights and International should speak out on the most rights when they see their relevance to the interconnectedness between civil important human rights violations in the their everyday lives.133 In particular, we and political rights and ESCR, both for countries where we operate. We need to need to ensure that our work reflects the majority as well as minority communities. ensure we address all forms of discrimination needs of communities who are alienated The COVID-19 crisis shows that the most and recognize they can interact to affect from or ignored by establishment or elite marginalized groups, denied their economic different groups in multiple ways. decision makers. and social rights, often bear the brunt of

20 STANDING FOR HUMANITY CHANGING AMNESTY TO OVERCOME THE POLITICS OF “US VS THEM” violations such as punitive policing in the 21st century and making the case that significant investment in focus group and restrictions on their rights to protest. human rights can play a key role in tackling research and audience analysis. Such work Lack access to resources also means social and economic inequality. While we are will help us gauge what kind of human rights that they are less able to challenge these impartial on political ideologies, we can and concerns people have in a specific context. violations. We must push countries to should challenge economic practices that It can also help us develop a more nuanced guarantee all rights for everyone so that no clearly undermine human rights, such as understanding of factors behind public one in society is left behind.This should taxation levels and practices that starve the support of or tolerance for the politics of include paying more attention to the right state of the resources it needs to fulfil human demonization, including concerns that to work and rights at work (in the face rights, the appalling use of public resources might be harder to address, such as fears of automation, informal economies and to heat the planet in the case of fossil fuel of cultural displacement. deindustrialization), housing rights, subsidies and practices that permit private healthcare rights, social security, the climate companies to have undue influence over Finally, as part of our ongoing strategic crisis and austerity, and doing so in a way policymaking at the cost of the human rights thinking and planning, we should be that addresses discrimination and exclusion of the wider population. consulting broadly with people across the on a variety of grounds including gender, political spectrum who are open to persuasion race, age and class. For example, we cannot Such work is necessary as a matter but as yet unconvinced, inclusive of all ignore the fact that, because of entrenched of principle as well as strategy – we genders, classes and other demographics, in or imposed gender-based discrimination, need to ensure that our work no longer order to better understand their human rights women do not enjoy full access to ESCR and disproportionately addresses only one half of aspirations and concerns, and the best ways make up the majority in society affected by the International Bill of Rights, namely civil to fulfil and address them. discrimination, exclusion from public services and political rights, but rather tackles civil, and resources, conflicts, natural disasters cultural, economic, political and social rights and climate-related harms.135 in an integrated way.

Amnesty International should be at the In order to choose issues that resonate, we Women pay tribute to human rights activist and councilwoman Marielle Franco, to mark the forefront of calling for social and economic need to better understand the audiences second year of her murder, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, security measures which are fit for purpose we are seeking to engage. This requires 14 March, 2020. © REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 21 APPROACH TWO: in a way that relates to people’s own Indonesia’s historic experience. In the emotions, identity, values, beliefs and aftermath of the Christchurch terrorist SPEAKING TO THE HEART lived experiences, as well as to their attacks of March 2019, New Zealand reason.136 We have to spell out how Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern focused threats to human rights are threats to her attention solely on finding those Persuasive communication is key to society’s values. We need to understand responsible of the attacks, without the struggle for human rights. Many the anxieties people may have about engaging in a “war on terror” rhetoric. of those who undermine human rights national security, welfare or identity and She stressed the country’s multi- through demonization are able to connect shape messages that better take account ethnicity and welcoming attitude towards well with people; we must take up the of such anxieties. In short, we need to newcomers, and called on everyone to challenge to counter their cynicism communicate better than those who prevent hate speech and discrimination with our positive message of how we all resort to the politics of demonization. against Muslim people.137 benefit when we move forward in unity rather than division. One approach is to highlight the The “Together for Yes” campaign to connections between human rights abolish the abortion ban in Ireland The advocates of demonization gain and national or community values or appealed to the idea of Ireland as “a traction when they speak to people’s aspirations. Amnesty International as compassionate country, which needs laws emotions. We need to learn from that. a global movement does have to speak that reflect the reality of people’s lives”. Working on the right issues, having good with a voice that is universal and does A broad and diverse range of civil society evidence of human rights violations not identify with any particular country. groups, including Catholics, joined forces and showing the impact of violations on But we can and should refer to universal under the campaign’s umbrella.138 people’s lives is essential but it is not values in terms that resonate with a enough. While it will help us mobilize society’s self-perception. For example, The Scottish government expressly people who are likely to agree with us, the Executive Director of Amnesty interweaves Scottish nationalism and a it will not motivate many of those who International Indonesia has highlighted multiculturalism and is one of the few have yet to be convinced. We need in many public events how respect governments in Europe that would run to communicate about human rights for transgender people is rooted in a campaign like “One Scotland, many

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hugs a mosque-goer at the Kilbirnie Mosque on 17 March, 2019 in Wellington, New Zealand. © Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

22 STANDING FOR HUMANITY CHANGING AMNESTY TO OVERCOME THE POLITICS OF “US VS THEM” cultures”. Notably, Scottish flags are they appeal to the basest aspects of APPROACH THREE: flown proudly on anti-racism marches. human nature. But humans are a social species that built the modern world BUILDING MOVEMENT Secondly, there is much talk in the thanks to cooperation. This is why NGO sector and beyond about creating Amnesty International developed a new DIVERSITY counter-narratives. But in fact, we should brand platform in 2019 of “Humanity”: come up with our own narrative, not one trying to rebut the other side. Something • Within everyone is the power of Globally, human rights movements are that can excite and galvanize people, humanity. This power lifts us all. With becoming ever more diverse. They are most probably by presenting solutions it, we can change society for the better. creating new partnerships and alliances which benefit people rather than solely that embrace people from across the criticizing the world as it is. • Together, we act in solidarity and economic spectrum. They are also compassion with people everywhere, adopting approaches that recognize There is a huge appetite among the public connected in our shared humanity. people’s different experiences of to consider bold ideas, especially in a world oppression based on their identities and recovering from COVID-19. Organizations • Amnesty International offers a global how different forms of discrimination like Amnesty International have a movement which mobilizes the interact and shape their exposure to responsibility to put forward such ideas and humanity in everyone so that we human rights violations and their ability argue for them. Merely calling out the worst can all live with care and respect to seek redress for them. It is paramount aspects of demonization and complaining for each other. that we learn from this and invest in the about shrinking civic space is defensive. diversity of our movement. Instead, we need to present incisive Our platform is built on four pillars – to solutions. Organizing predominantly around show that change is possible, to appeal to To live up to Amnesty International’s what the other side is doing bolsters them, the moral courage in everyone, to display vision of global solidarity we need to focuses public discourse on their demands strength in unity and to make human ensure our movement is made up of and does not build the large movement rights relatable. and defends people across the divides that we want for our cause. which the politics of demonization create This brings us to the fourth point in this and foster. As a matter of principle, the For our messages to cut through, they section – we should reject jargon in our composition of the Amnesty International need to be innovative and courageous. public-facing work in favour of plain, movement and its workforce should They should be ambitious and expand accessible language. We cannot ignore reflect the diversity of the societies in the possible. They need to command the fact that demonizing leaders are which we operate and with which we want attention in a noisy world. able to connect with people at a deep to engage. Our analysis indicates that a emotional level. If we are to share our broad membership base also strengthens Thirdly, our messages need to project messages effectively, we need to present our position to stand up to the politics of confidence. Advocates of demonization what we have to say in a way that will demonization effectively. often benefit from being perceived as be heard by most people. This does not having the safety of the people at heart. mean weakening what we are calling for, Human rights are increasingly stereotyped They paradoxically do this by raising a set rather it is about strengthening the way as the concern of educated, global- of real or perceived fears, disempowering we call for it. minded and middle-class people. As a people and then making them feel membership organization, who we are stronger by promising to ensure the safety Lastly, we cannot simply produce smart influences what we do. Many parts of of the nation. Human rights work cannot materials and then sit back. They have Amnesty International do not consistently and should not follow this pattern, but to reach people. The social media appeal to, engage with or mobilize groups we need to deal with how people feel. propaganda war has been a huge leveller; facing disadvantage, for example on the Research has shown that racist attitudes anyone can participate directly and to basis of gender, class or ethnicity. lessen when people feel strong and potentially devastating effect. To have confident.139 By campaigning on our an impact requires not only good data Our International Executive Committee bold policy proposals and a vision of a and strong and accessible content, but recognized in 2011 that: “The majority better future, we can come together as a crucially it needs the ability to deliver it of people in the organization are middle courageous movement, strong thanks to on a scale that will make sure it is seen class, with relatively easy access to our joint action and able together to by those who need to see it. academic education, and from the global solve problems. North. Thus, there is a stark contrast between our membership and the people Those advocating for bigotry are often whose cases we campaign on”.140 Since seen as having an advantage because 2011, this situation has changed,

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 23 Youth activists in Salvador, Brazil, 14 December 2018. © Shona Hamilton/Amnesty International

particularly with our significant growth We suggest three avenues that could measures such as reviewing our hiring in the global South and East, but with lead to a more diverse Amnesty practices or making it easier for students the exception of a few national Sections, International. and young people from minority and we remain a predominantly middle class disadvantaged backgrounds to access organization. This limits our ability to First, we need to diversify our mobilization professional opportunities. We should speak to and mobilize the majority of and engagement strategies. We need to partner with schools and universities people we need to effect change. focus our efforts on engaging people from from disadvantaged areas with a view to In 2017, our International Council a wider range of socio-economic, class establishing fellowship schemes, training adopted a plan aimed at continuing and educational backgrounds, listening to and career programmes for students. to improve Amnesty International’s them and building dynamic partnerships practices, culture and outcomes with with them. respect to gender and diversity.141 APPROACH FOUR: This needs to be fully implemented. Second, we need to invest in human rights education to equip new generations FOCUSING ON COMMUNITY In each country, Amnesty International to stand up for themselves and their needs to be an organization whose rights in the face of those promoting ORGANIZING membership cuts across class, ethnicity demonization. This involves promoting a and other identities. If our movement better understanding of what human rights does not reflect the diverse composition are, how they work and how they affect In order to connect with those who of our societies, we will not be in touch everyone’s life. Human rights education are as yet unpersuaded, Amnesty with the concerns of key groups. We will initiatives can bring people together and International needs to engage more with lose legitimacy and therefore undermine provide spaces to learn about realizing those seeking change at the local level. our effectiveness. Amnesty International human rights together. To this end, we need to demonstrate needs not only to partner and work with better the interconnection between people from disadvantaged groups, but to Third, as an organization we need to the international, national and local. encourage them to be part of the organization diversify the composition of our staff International human rights organizations and help them achieve their objectives. and volunteer roles. This should include are in danger of appearing ineffectual

24 STANDING FOR HUMANITY CHANGING AMNESTY TO OVERCOME THE POLITICS OF “US VS THEM” and irrelevant where they do not connect idea of human rights being for “us” and of the global South where community with local struggles. our communities, as well as for others organization is at the heart of activism. far away. This will take different forms Demonizing narratives often play to in different contexts and it merits bold Secondly, we should enable more local people’s anxieties about the dilution of experimentation. We suggest two possible forms of activism for human rights, their common identity and the loss of a approaches, noting that parts of the encouraging and supporting activist sense of community or belonging. Leaders movement are already working in leaders to engage their own local and promote these narratives by attacking a these ways.142 national authorities and enabling supposed “transnational elite” that poses activists to find and test their own a threat to national identity. The human Firstly, we should focus on equipping ideas for campaigning and exerting rights movement, with its internationalist people to take action within the public pressure. connotations, is often linked to this communities and networks where they are purportedly harmful “elite”, in opposition already active, such as political parties This means that there should be a to national interests. or faith communities. This will require good balance between activism focused us to share power and support others locally and nationally, on the one hand, However, as a movement of people, to build power – a top-down approach and international activism, on the other. Amnesty International has the potential to activism cannot enable the kind of Activists who are well engaged in local to play a key role within communities, local relevance which we need to foster. struggles have greater legitimacy to be promoting both global and local It will also require us to focus more on part of a global community that links solidarity. We can help to provide a sense organizing, namely helping identify and together local struggles. of belonging if we get the mechanisms empower those who would like to step right, with the necessary blend of up and take a more active or responsible activity, anger, approachability and ability role in leading campaigning and activism to make change. We need to use our locally. In this respect, the human convening power smartly – on a local as rights movement in the global North well as a global stage – projecting the should learn lessons from many parts

STRENGTHEN EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS AND BUILD NEW ONES

Providing an alternative to narratives of demonization requires a collective effort.

For these four approaches to work, Amnesty International needs to invest in partnerships with both traditional and non- traditional actors at the global, national and local levels.

We need to recognize and be open to the human rights movement’s diversity. We should break down the barriers that still exist within the NGO sector. We should instead open ourselves up to better and more fruitful cooperation and develop stronger connections with other institutions and informal networks – big and small – working for and with communities. We should think of this in terms of a spectrum diverse enough to cover communities which cohere around shared values, beliefs and practices, and technology platforms which bring people across the world into communication with each other.

Amnesty International should be open to partnerships with groups that rely on values which have commonalities with human rights but may resonate better with particular parts of society. We often work with groups that advance social justice and environmental protection and these are often based on values and goals that are clearly linked to the human rights framework. We need to focus on deepening such partnerships.

Where there is common ground there is also scope for more collaboration with faith-based groups that speak the language of faith on human rights issues.143

Amnesty International is independent from any religion and would not use religion as the basis for its work. And we should not presume to teach religion to religious people. However, we should work with and provide a platform to partners who support human rights from a faith perspective. For example, our human rights education efforts have involved Imams opposing female genital mutilation. In addition, individual Amnesty International members who are members of faith groups should be encouraged to promote human rights and Amnesty International’s work within those communities.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 25 Strang, ‘Public opinion and trust in government 12 Ben Doherty, The Guardian, ‘Stripping people of during a public health crisis’, King’s College citizenship makes the world less safe, not more’, London, 22 April 2020, https://www.kcl.ac.uk/ 12 October 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/ ENDNOTES news/public-opinion-and-trust-in-government- commentisfree/2019/oct/12/stripping-people-of- during-a-public-health-crisis citizenship-makes-the-world-less-safe-not-more

1 “Othering” is the process of “treating people 6 Sean Coughlan, BBC News, ‘Dissatisfaction 13 On fear of demographic changes and its from another group as essentially different from with democracy “at record high”’, 29 impact on decision-making and voting and generally inferior to the group you belong January 2020, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ behaviours in the USA, see Vox, Brian to”, Macmillan Dictionary. See also: John Powell education-51281722?SThisFB&fbclid=IwAR0 Resnick, ‘White fear of demographic change and Stephen Menendian, The Problem of GyeNgfl7vcsEQEzv5tTabPPsbKSgKegQxZva7- is a powerful psychological force’, 28 January Othering: Towards Inclusiveness and Belonging, 7STns2Mq4ySXamcDoA 2017, https://www.vox.com/science-and- http://www.otheringandbelonging.org/the- health/2017/1/26/14340542/white-fear-trump- problem-of-othering/ and The Guardian, ‘Us 7 Sarantis Michalopoulos, Euractiv, ‘Orban psychologyminority-majority vs them: the sinister techniques of “Othering” attacks the European Court of Human Rights’, – and how to avoid them’, 8 November 2017, 30 March 2017, https://www.euractiv.com/ 14 Social Europe Podcast, How to deal with the far- https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2017/ section/global-europe/news/orban-attacks- right? (Cas Mudde), 23 September 2019, https:// nov/08/us-vs-them-the-sinister-techniques-of- the-european-court-of-human-rights-at-epp- www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRUYNU4iq3A othering-and-how-to-avoid-them congress/ and Spencer P. Boyer, Foreign Policy, ‘It’s Time for the United States and Europe to Face the 2 The Problem of Othering: Towards Inclusiveness 8 Time, ‘Here’s Donald Trump’s Presidential Politics of Cultural Displacement’, July 2018, and Belonging, op. cit. Announcement Speech’, 16 June 2015, https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/07/30/its-time- https://time.com/3923128/donald-trump- for-the-united-states-and-europe-to-face-the- announcement-speech/= politics-of-cultural-displacement/ 3 Amnesty International, ‘Protests around the world explained’, 25 October 2019, https://www. 9 In June 2018, President Trump signed an 15 For a comprehensive study on Italian attitudes amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/10/protests- executive order reversing the policy and a towards migration, see Ipsos Mori and Social around-the-world-explained/ court order established that families should Change Institute, More in Common, ‘Attitudes be reunited. However, hundreds of children towards National Identity, Immigration and 4 People who are the targets of systematic and remained in shelters and it has been reported Refugees in Italy’, July 2018, https://www. long-term demonization – including refugees that a further 700 families were separated in moreincommon.com/our-work/publications/ and migrants, members of particular ethnic the following year because of “loopholes” in or religious groups, women and people the court order. See Michelle Goldberg, The 16 Tamir Bar-On, ‘The radical right and who are homeless – are the least protected New York Times, ‘The Terrible Things Trump nationalism’, in The Oxford Handbook of the and worst affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Is Doing in Our Name’, 21 June 2019, https:// radical right, ed Jens Rydgren, Oxford University Government responses to the pandemic have www.nytimes.com/2019/06/21/opinion/family- Press, 2018, pp. 18-41. increased their marginalization and exposure separation-trump-migrants.html. to inequality, discrimination, racism and 17 Amnesty International has repeatedly warned scapegoating. See, for example: Amnesty 10 In recent years, human rights defenders and about how this phenomenon is being International, ‘USA: Trump administration using civil society organizations that help refugees and exacerbated. See, for instance: Amnesty coronavirus pandemic to justify discriminatory migrants have been subjected to unfounded International, ‘Brazil: Toxic speech must not ban on asylum-seekers at southern border’, criminal proceedings, undue restrictions of their become government policy’, 28 October 18 March 2020, https://www.amnesty.org/en/ activities, intimidation, harassment, and smear 2018, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ latest/news/2020/03/usa-trump-coronavirus- campaigns in several European countries. See news/2018/10/brazil-toxic-speech-must-not- pandemic-discriminatory-ban-asylum-seekers/ Amnesty International, Punishing compassion: become-government-policy/ ; ‘India: Hate crimes ; ‘Land seizures and COVID-19: the twin Solidarity on Trial in Fortress Europe, March against Muslims and rising Islamophobia must threats to Brazil’s Indigenous Peoples’, 6 April 2020, https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ be condemned’, 28 June 2017, https://www. 2020, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ eur01/1827/2020/en/ amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/06/india-hate- news/2020/04/land-seizures-and-covid-19- crimes-against-muslims-and-rising-islamophobia- the-twin-threats-to-brazils-indigenous-peoples/ 11 Ipsos Mori, ‘Global study shows many around must-be-condemned/ ; and “Where are they?”: ; ‘Libya: Historic discrimination threatens the world uncomfortable with levels of Time for answers about mass detentions in right to health of minorities in the south amid immigration’, 11 August 2015, https://www. the Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region, 24 COVID-19’, 20 April 2020, https://www. ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/global-study-shows- September 2018, https://www.amnesty.org/en/ amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/04/libya- many-around-world-uncomfortable-levels- documents/asa17/9113/2018/en/ historic-discrimination-threatens-right-to-health- immigration; Pew Research Center, Richard of-minorities-in-the-south-amid-covid19/ ; and Wike, Bruce Stokes and Katie Simmons, 18 For example, see Amnesty International, ‘Philippines: Duterte advisor’s threat of “body ‘Europeans Fear Wave of Refugees Will Mean ‘Trump’s racist slurs translates into degrading, bags” shows authorities’ dangerous COVID-19 More Terrorism, Fewer Jobs Sharp ideological dehumanizing policies’ (16 July 2019), https:// response’, 13 April 2020, https://www.amnesty. divides across EU on views about minorities, www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2019/07/usa- org/en/latest/news/2020/04/philippines-duterte- diversity and national identity’, 11 July 2016, trumps-racist-slurs-translates-into-degrading- advisor-threat-body-bags-dangerous-covid19- https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2016/07/11/ dehumanizing-policies/ response/ europeans-fear-wave-of-refugees-will-mean- 5 For some early reflections on this issue, more-terrorism-fewer-jobs/ ; and Gallup, Steve 19 Amnesty international, ‘USA: End unlawful see: Sevasti Chatzopoulou, ‘Social trust and Crabtree and Sofia Kluch, ‘Terrorism, Migration police violence against Black Lives Matter government responses to Covid-19’, Social Trouble Many in Europe’, 15 June 2017, https:// protests’ ,23 June 2020, https://www.amnesty. Europe, 4 May 2020, https://www.socialeurope. news.gallup.com/poll/212405/terrorism- org/en/latest/news/2020/06/usa-end-unlawful- eu/social-trust-and-government-responses-to- migration-trouble-europe.aspx police-violence-against-black-lives-matter- covid-19 and Vivienne Moxham-Hall and Lucy protests/

26 STANDING FOR HUMANITY CHANGING AMNESTY TO OVERCOME THE POLITICS OF “US VS THEM” 20 BBC News, ‘Twitter hides Trump tweet for and Halt the Hate, https://amnesty.org.in/ 36 Lucy Hornby, Financial Times, ‘China defends “glorifying violence”’, 29 May 2020, https:// wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Halt-The-Hate- Uighur internment camps as part of global www.bbc.com/news/technology-52846679 KeyFindings-Amnesty-International-India-1.pdf terrorism fight‘, 24 February 2019, t https:// www.ft.com/content/67c29f1a-3812-11e9- 21 Associated Press, Hyung-Jin Kim, ‘Fears 28 Al-Jazeera, ‘In Myanmar, “pervasive hate b72b-2c7f526ca5d0 and Steven Lee Myers, The of new virus trigger anti-China sentiment speech and shrinking freedom”‘, 5 March 2019, New York Times, ‘China Defends Crackdown worldwide’, 2 February 2020, https://apnews. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/ on Muslims, and Criticizes Times Article‘, com/04f18aafe1074a1c06b4203edcbdc661 myanmar-pervasive-hate-speech-shrinking- 18 November 2019, https://www.nytimes. freedom-190305201420729.html com/2019/11/18/world/asia/china-xinjiang- 22 See NBC News, Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil, ‘Asian muslims-leak.html?login=email&auth=login-email Americans report over 650 racist acts over last 29 Home Office, Hate Crime, England and Wales, week, new data says’, 26 March 2020, https:// 2017/18, Statistical Bulletin 20/18, 16 October 37 See, for example: Amnesty International, ‘Mesut www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/asian- 2018, https://assets.publishing.service.gov. Ozil’s Uyghur post: 10 things you need to know americans-report-nearly-500-racist-acts-over- uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ about China’s Xinjiang crisis’, 18 December last-week-n1169821 and Eren Orbey, The New attachment_data/file/748598/hate-crime-1718- 2019, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ Yorker, ‘Trump’s “Chinese Virus” and What’s hosb2018.pdf news/2019/12/ozils-uyghur-post10-things-you- at Stake in the Coronavirus’s Name‘, 25 March need-to-know-about-chinas-xinjiang-crisis/ 2020, https://www.newyorker.com/culture/ 30 Sam Levin, The Guardian, ‘Violent hate crimes and Human Rights Watch, China’s Algorithms cultural-comment/whats-at-stake-in-a-viruss- in US reach highest levels in 16 years, FBI of Repression, Reverse Engineering a Xinjiang name reports’, 12 November 2019, https://www. Police Mass Surveillance App, 1 May 2019, theguardian.com/society/2019/nov/12/hate- https://www.hrw.org/report/2019/05/02/chinas- 23 Daniel Trilling, The Guardian, ‘Migrants crimes-2018-latinos-transgender-fbi algorithms-repression/reverse-engineering- aren’t spreading coronavirus but nationalists xinjiang-police-mass are blaming them anyway’, 28 February 31 Organization for Security and Co-operation in 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/ Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions 38 Aristotle Kallis, ‘The radical right and commentisfree/2020/feb/28/coronavirus- and Human Rights, Hate crime reporting: Bias Islamophobia’, in The Oxford Handbook of the outbreak-migrants-blamed-italy-matteo-salvini- against other groups – Sex, https://hatecrime. radical right, op. cit., pp.55. marine-le-pen osce.org/what-hate-crime/bias-against-other-

groups-%E2%80%93-sex 39 Edward Luce, Financial Times, ‘The world’s Dating back centuries, the myth that migrants indifference to Muslims’ woes’, 2 January 2020, bring infectious diseases has been one of the See also: Amnesty International, Russian https://www.ft.com/content/22a265ce-2d0c- many expressions of “othering” in Western Federation: LGBTI and women’s rights activist 11ea-bc77-65e4aa615551 societies. Recently, scientific studies have under arrest: Yulia Tsvetkova, 13 February debunked this old trope. See, for instance: 40 Amnesty International, ‘Denmark: Face veil ban 2020, https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ World Health Organization, Report on the health a discriminatory violation of women’s rights’, eur46/1752/2020/en/ ; Turkmenistan: Gay of refugees and migrants in the WHO European 1 August 2018, https://www.amnesty.org/en/ man summoned by police and disappeared: Region: no public health without refugee and latest/news/2018/08/denmark-face-veil-ban- Kasymberdi Garaev, 6 November 2019, migrant health (2018), http://www.euro.who.int/ a-discriminatory-violation-of-womens-rights/ https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ en/publications/abstracts/report-on-the-health- ; ‘France votes to ban full-face veils’, 13 July eur61/1363/2019/en/ ; and Ukraine: First ever of-refugees-and-migrants-in-the-who-european- 2010, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ pride march in Kharkic marred by violence, region-no-public-health-without-refugee-and- news/2010/07/francia-vota-prohibir-velo- underscores multiple failures by the authorities, migrant-health-2018 integral/ ; and ‘Belgium votes to ban full-face 23 September 2019, https://www.amnesty.org/ veils’, 30 April 2010, https://www.amnesty.org/ 24 For example: Jane Norman, ABC News, ‘Pauline en/documents/eur50/1077/2019/en/ en/latest/news/2010/04/belgium-votes-ban-full- Hanson calls for Muslim immigration ban in face-veils/ maiden speech to Senate’, 14 September 2016, 32 Pew Research Centre, A Closer Look at How https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-14/ Religious Restrictions Have Risen Around the 41 Vahin Niayesh, Quarts, ‘Statistics show that one-nation-senator-pauline-hanson-makes-first- World (2017-2017), 15 July 2019, https://www. Trump’s “travel ban” was always a Muslim ban’, speech-to-senate/7845150 pewforum.org/2019/07/15/a-closer-look-at-how- 28 October 2019, https://qz.com/1736809/ religious-restrictions-have-risen-around-the- statistics-show-that-trumps-travel-ban-was- 25 Ellen Barry and Martin Selsoe Sorensen, The world/ always-a-muslim-ban/ New York Times, ‘In Denmark, harsh new laws for immigrant “ghettos”’, 1 July 2018, https:// 33 A Closer Look at How Religious Restrictions 42 Lillo Montalto Monella and Sandrine Amiel, Euro www.nytimes.com/2018/07/01/world/europe/ Have Risen Around the World (2017-2017), op. News, ‘Salvini claims he is saving Europe from denmark-immigrant-ghettos.html cit., ‘Appendix B: Social Hostilities Index’. Islam, what are the facts?’, 6 May 2019, https:// www.euronews.com/2019/05/03/europe-will- 26 Amnesty International, Europe: Policing the 34 Data quoted by Rana Ayyub, Time, ‘What a become-an-islamic-caliphate-if-we-don-t-take- pandemic: human rights violations in the Rising Tide of Violence Against Muslims in India back-control-salvini-tells-hunga enforcement of COVID-19 measures in Europe, Says About Modi’s Second Term’, 28 June 24 June 2020, https://www.amnesty.org/en/ 2019, https://time.com/5617161/india-religious- 43 Tell MAMA, Tell MAMA Annual report 2018: documents/eur01/2511/2020/en/ hate-crimes-modi/ Normalising Hatred, https://tellmamauk.org/tell- mama-annual-report-2018-_-normalising-hate/ 27 See, for example, Amnesty International India, 35 CNN, Helen Regan, Priyali Sur and Vedika ‘Violence Fuelled By Hate Speeches Needs Sud, ‘India’s Muslims feel targeted by rumors 44 Alex Ward, Vox, ‘Aung San Suu Kyi meets with Immediate Action By The Government’, 25 they’re spreading Covid-19’, 24 April 2020, Hungary’s Orbán to lament their “growing February 2020, https://amnesty.org.in/news- https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/23/asia/india- Muslim populations”‘, 7 June 2019, https:// update/violence-fuelled-by-hate-speeches- coronavirus-muslim-targeted-intl-hnk/index.html www.vox.com/2019/6/7/18656603/aung-san- needs-immediate-action-by-the-government/ suu-kyi-viktor-orban-muslims

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 27 45 Amnesty International India, ‘Citizenship years/ and Amnesty International UK, ‘Egypt: 59 Roman Kuhar and David Paternotte (eds), Anti- (Amendment) Bill: a bigoted law that must be Government must protect Coptic Christians gender campaigns in Europe. Mobilizing against immediately repealed’, 12 December 2019, targeted in string of deadly attacks in North equality, (2017), London: Rowman & Littlefield. https://amnesty.org.in/news-update/citizenship- Sinai’, 1 March 2017, https://www.amnesty. 60 Agnieszka Graff, ‘Report from the gender amendment-bill-a-bigoted-law-that-must-be- org.uk/press-releases/egypt-government-must- trenches: War against “genderism” in Poland’, immediately-repealed/ protect-coptic-christians-targeted-string-deadly- attacks-north European Journal of Women’s Studies, 2014, 21(4), pp. 431–442. 46 Andrea Mammone, The Independent, See also: Open Doors, World Watch List, https:// ‘Antisemitism is on the rise in Europe, riding 61 Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, ‘NGOs in www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/world- a wave of nationalism. How did we forget Bulgaria Condemn Constitutional Court Decision watch-list/ ; Patrick Wintour, The Guardian, the horrors of history so fast?’, 16 November Rejecting Istanbul Convention’, 30 July 2018, ‘Persecution of Christians “coming close to 2019, https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/ https://www.bghelsinki.org/en/news/press/ genocide” in Middle East – report’, 2 May 2019, antisemitism-europe-far-right-nationalism- single/20180730-press-istanbul-convention_ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/ jewish-racism-a9205406.html and John EN/ Henley, The Guardian, ‘Antisemitism rising may/02/persecution-driving-christians-out-of- sharply across Europe, latest figures show’, 15 middle-east-report 62 Novinite.com, The Slovak Parliament Rejected February 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/ 54 Open Doors, World Watch List, https://www. the Istanbul Convention, 26 February 2020, news/2019/feb/15/antisemitism-rising-sharply- opendoorsuk.org/persecution/world-watch-list/ ; https://www.novinite.com/articles/203342/ across-europe-latest-figures-show Harriet Sherwood, The Guardian, ‘Christians flee The+Slovak+Parliament+Rejected+the+I growing persecution in Africa and Middle East’, stanbul+Convention 47 Ian Lovett, Wall Street Journal, ‘Rise in Anti- 13 January 2016, https://www.theguardian. Semitic Incidents Goes Beyond Recent Violent com/world/2016/jan/13/christians-flee-growing- 63 The Atlantic, Eliza Apperly, ‘Why Europe’s Far Attacks’, 17 December 2019, https://www.wsj. persecution-africa-middle-east ; and ‘One Right Is Targeting Gender Studies’, 15 June com/articles/rise-in-anti-semitic-incidents-goes- in three Christians face persecution in Asia, 2019, https://www.theatlantic.com/international/ beyond-recent-violent-attacks-11576611407 report finds’, 16 January 2019, https://www. archive/2019/06/europe-far-right-target-gender- and Doug Criss and Mallory Simon, CNN, ‘Anti- theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/16/one-in- studies/591208/ Semitic incidents remained at historically high three-christians-face-persecution-in-asia-report- levels in 2018’, 14 May 2019, https://edition. finds 64 BBC News, ‘Panic in Bulgaria’, 6 February cnn.com/2019/04/30/us/antisemitic-incidents- 2020, https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/ 2018-adl-trnd/index.html p082gwn8 55 Lucille Griffon, Charlotte Pruth and Maria 48 Ruth Wodak, ‘The radical right and Johansson, EuroMed Rights and The Kvinna 65 Europa Press, ‘Las sexólogas amenazadas en antisemitism’, in The Oxford Handbook of the till Kvinna Foundation, The Fierce and the La Rioja por charlas en colegios emprenden radical right, op. cit., p. 81. furious: Feminist insights into the anti-gender acciones legales “por campaña de acoso narratives and movement, November 2019, y odio”‘, 21 January 2020, https://www. 49 Report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom https://kvinnatillkvinna.org/wp-content/ europapress.es/la-rioja/noticia-sexologas- of religion or belief, 2019, UN Doc. A/74/358, uploads/2019/12/The_fierce_and_the_furious. amenazadas-rioja-charlas-colegios- para. 20 and 21, https://undocs.org/A/74/358 pdf and Cas Mudde, New Statesman, ‘Why the emprenden-acciones-legales-campana-acoso- far right is obsessed with “gender ideology”’, 20 50 Ibid., para. 17 odio-20200121132044.html September 2019, https://www.newstatesman. com/world/europe/2019/09/why-far-right- 51 For example: Jason Howowitz, The New York obsessed-gender-ideology 66 Isabel Valdés, El País, ‘Una diputada Times, ‘Holocaust Survivor Is Swept Up in Italy’s de Vox hace ecografías a embarazadas Storm of Vitriol’, 8 November 2019, https://www. en una furgoneta’, 16 November 2019, 56 ABC, ‘MEC prohíbe materiales sobre “ideología nytimes.com/2019/11/08/world/europe/liliana- https://elpais.com/ccaa/2019/11/15/ de género”‘, 10 October 2017, https://www.abc. segre-holocaust-survivor.html and The Atlantic, madrid/1573816616_363785.html com.py/nacionales/mec-prohibe-materiales- Rachel Donadio, ‘Italy Has an Intolerance sobre-ideologia-de-genero-1639373.html Problem. Does It Still Have a Moderate Right?’, 67 Claire Provost, Open Democracy, ‘Who’s 10 November 2019, https://www.theatlantic. 57 Amnesty International, ‘Paraguay: Amnesty happy about coronavirus?’, 31 March com/international/archive/2019/11/attacks- International brings unconstitutionality 2020, https://www.opendemocracy.net/ liliana-segre-illustrate-italys-intolerance- proceedings against resolutions that en/5050/whos-happy-about-coronavirus problem/601690/ discriminate against LGBTI people’, 14 /?fbclid=IwAR38DR35gT5VUwMis8sqfw- October 2019, https://www.amnesty.org/en/ 1dUif8vy9WtoBPZowMXshaLYpuu1iGqOy_ 52 European Union agency for fundamental rights, latest/news/2019/10/paraguay-resoluciones- ichttps://www.opendemocracy.net/ Experiences and perceptions of antisemitism discriminatorias-contra-personas-lgbti/ en/5050/whos-happy-about-coronavirus - Second survey on discrimination and hate /?fbclid=IwAR38DR35gT5VUwMis8sqfw- crime against Jews in the EU, December 2018, 1dUif8vy9WtoBPZowMXshaLYpuu1iGqOy_ic 58 The Washington Post, ‘Here’s how attention to https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2018/2nd- gender affected Colombia’s peace process’, survey-discrimination-hate-crime-against-jews 68 Roger Eatwell, ‘Charisma and the radical right’, 9 October 2016 https://www.washingtonpost. and 74th Session of the UN General Assembly, in The Oxford Handbook of the radical right, op. com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/10/09/ Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance, cit., p.256. heres-how-attention-to-gender-affected- 20 September 2019 (UN Doc. A/74/358). colombias-peace-process/ and Semana, 69 Pippa Norris, Cultural Backlash: Trump, 53 Amnesty International, ‘Egypt: Bring to justice ‘Ideología de género, el caballo de batalla del Brexit and Authoritarian-Populism, Cambridge those behind deadliest church attack in years’, No al plebiscito’, 9 September 2016, https:// University Press, 2019 and Amanda Taub, Vox, 11 December 2016, https://www.amnesty.org/ www.semana.com/nacion/articulo/ideologia- ‘The rise of American authoritarianism’, 1 May en/latest/news/2016/12/egypt-bring-to-justice- de-genero-el-caballo-de-batalla-del-no-al- 2016, https://www.vox.com/2016/3/1/11127424/ those-behind-deadliest-church-attack-in- plebiscito/493093 trump-authoritarianism

28 STANDING FOR HUMANITY CHANGING AMNESTY TO OVERCOME THE POLITICS OF “US VS THEM” 70 See, for example, Amnesty International, com/2018/10/28/us/gab-robert-bowers- and Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison Purged beyond return? No remedy for Turkey’s pittsburgh-synagogue-shootings.html treating environmental groups as threats to dismissed public sector workers, October economic prosperity; and the UK government 2018, https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ listing the climate crisis group Extinction 78 Euractiv, ‘Orbán commiserates with “fellow eur44/9210/2018/en/ and Hungary: New laws Rebellion as an extremist group. combatant”’ Salvini, 30 August 2019, https:// that violate human rights, threaten civil society www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/ and undermine rule of law should be shelved, 84 Amnesty International, Punishing compassion: orban-commiserates-with-fellow-combatant- June 2018, https://www.amnesty.org/en/ Solidarity on Trial in Fortress Europe, March salvini documents/eur27/8633/2018/en/ 2020, https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ eur01/1827/2020/en/ 71 Amnesty International, ‘Hungary: Government 79 See, for example, BBC News, ‘Trump-Duterte: must not be granted unlimited powers by new US president hails “great relationship”, 13 85 Amnesty International, ‘The bravery of those Covid19 law’, 27 March 2020, https://www. November 2017, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ who speak out from Manus Island will go down amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/03/hungary- world-asia-41964930 in history’, 21 November 2018, https://www. government-must-not-be-granted-unlimited- amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/11/the- 80 For example, see Politico, Maïa De La Baume powers-by-new-covid19-law/ ; ‘Hungary: bravery-of-those-who-speak-out-from-manus- and Silvia Sciorilli Borrelli, ‘Steve Bannon’s government must revoke prohibition of gender island-will-go-down-in-history/ legal recognition’, 3 April 2020, https://www. stuttering European adventure’, 5 March amnesty.org/en/documents/eur27/2085/2020/ 2019, https://www.politico.eu/article/steve- 86 Amnesty International, USA: “Saving lives is not en/ ; and Hungary: ‘Blocking of domestic bannon-european-parliament-the-movement- a crime”: Politically motivated legal harassment violence treaty further exposes women during stuttering-european-adventure/ Anti-feminist against migrant human rights defenders by the COVID-19 crisis’, 5 May 2020, https://www. and anti-LGBTI transnational alliances have had USA, July 2019, https://www.amnesty.org/en/ amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/05/hungary- more impact. See, for example, Sian Norris, documents/amr51/0583/2019/en/ blocking-of-domestic-violence-treaty-further- Open Democracy, ‘International anti-feminist exposes-women/ network organises rally in Spain’, 9 March 2019, 87 Amnesty International, Russian Federation: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/ “Fake news” bill prompted by COVID-19 72 Amnesty International, ‘Poland: Abortion international-anti-feminist-network-organises- threatens freedom of expression, 3 April 2020, ban and regressive sexuality education laws rally-spain/ must not be rushed through under cover of https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ COVID-19’, 14 April 2020, https://www.amnesty. eur46/2093/2020/en/ 81 Amnesty International, Human rights defenders org/en/latest/news/2020/04/poland/ under threat – a shrinking space for civil society 88 Amnesty International, Hungary: Government (https://www.amnesty-international.be/sites/ 73 Amnesty International, ‘Philippines: President must not use extraordinary power to roll back default/files/bijlagen/act3060112017english. Duterte gives “shoot to kill” order amid human rights amid COVID-19 emergency, 31 pdf ; Deadly but preventable attacks: killings pandemic response’, 2 April 2020, https:// March 2020, https://www.amnesty.org/en/ and enforced disappearances of those who www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/04/ documents/eur27/2046/2020/en/ defend human rights https://www.amnesty.org/ philippines-president-duterte-shoot-to-kill-order- en/documents/act30/7270/2017/en/ ; Laws pandemic/ 89 Amnesty International, ‘Cambodia: Proposed Designed to Silence: The Global Crackdown on emergency powers would obliterate human Civil Society Organizations https://www.amnesty. rights’, 2 April 2020, https://www.amnesty.org/ 74 Amnesty International, ‘Cambodia: Proposed org/en/documents/act30/9647/2019/en/ ; and en/latest/news/2020/04/cambodia-proposed- emergency powers would obliterate human Challenging power, fighting discrimination: a emergency-power-obliterate-human-rights/ rights’, 2 April 2020, https://www.amnesty.org/ call to action to recognise and protect women en/latest/news/2020/04/cambodia-proposed- human rights defenders https://www.amnesty. 90 Amnesty International, ‘Crackdown on emergency-power-obliterate-human-rights/ org/en/documents/act30/1139/2019/en/ journalists weakens efforts to tackle COVID-19’, 1 May 2020, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ 75 Many countries are using cell phone data to 82 Reporters Without Borders, 2019 World Press news/2020/05/global-crackdown-on-journalists- track people’s movements without protections of Freedom Index – A cycle of fear, https://rsf.org/ weakens-efforts-to-tackle-covid19/ anonymization or aggregation. See, for example, en/2019-world-press-freedom-index-cycle-fear Amnesty International, ‘COVID-19, surveillance 83 See, for example, Amnesty International, Hong 91 See, for example, Mohammed Cherkaoui, and the threat to your rights’, 3 April 2020, https:// Kong: Harassment and arrest of monitors The Mediatized Islamophobia in America: www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/04/covid- hamper monitoring of human rights violations Ideological Precursors and Identity Politics, 19-surveillance-threat-to-your-rights/ and ’How at protests, 6 December 2019 https://www. Al Jazeera Centre for Studies, 9 November China used technology to combat COVID-19 – and amnesty.org/en/documents/asa17/1495/2019/en/ 2016, https://studies.aljazeera.net/sites/ tighten its grip on citizens’, 17 April 2020, https:// and ’Chile: Deliberate policy to injure protesters default/files/articles/reports/documents/ www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/04/how- points to responsibility of those in command’, 21 be2b92f99b1642348bea3c82a298b424_ china-used-technology-to-combat-covid-19-and- November 2019, https://www.amnesty.org/en/ 100.pdf tighten-its-grip-on-citizens/ latest/news/2019/11/chile-responsable-politica- deliberada-para-danar-manifestantes/ 76 For example, Hope not Hate, The International 92 See, for example: Amnesty International, Toxic Other forms of demonization, of treating human Alternative Right: An explainer, https:// Twitter - a toxic place for women, https://www. rights defenders as “enemies of development” www.hopenothate.org.uk/wp-content/ amnesty.org/en/latest/research/2018/03/online- have a longer history, deployed for example in uploads/2019/07/Alt-Right-report-SHORT- violence-against-women-chapter-1/ Kenya in the 1980s and 1990s by President 2019-v1.pdf Daniel Arap Moi, among many others. More 93 Robert Elliott Smith, USA Today, My social recent manifestations include President 77 For example, see Kevin Roose, The New York media feeds look different from yours and it’s Bolsonaro presenting Indigenous communities Times, ‘On Gab, an Extremist-Friendly Site, driving political polarization, 2 September 2019, as the antithesis of Brazil’s industrial Pittsburgh Shooting Suspect Aired His Hatred https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/headlines/2019/ development; India’s Prime Minister Modi in Full’, 28 October 2018, https://www.nytimes. sep/social-media-driving-political-polarization

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 29 of antisocial hatred’, 23 April 2019, https:// International, ‘Americas: Inter-American system 94 Kevin Roose, The New York Times, ‘The Making theconversation.com/in-india-whatsapp-is- is crucial for guaranteeing human rights in the of a YouTube Radical’, June 2019, https:// a-weapon-of-antisocial-hatred-115673 ; and region’, 24 April 2019, https://www.amnesty. www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/08/ Madhumita Murgia, Stephanie Findlay and org/en/latest/news/2019/04/americas-sistema- technology/youtube-radical.html Andres Schipani, The Financial Times, ‘India: interamericano-fundamental-para-derechos- the WhatsApp election’, 5 May 2019, https:// humanos/ 95 Amnesty International, Toxic Twitter - a toxic www.ft.com/content/9fe88fba-6c0d-11e9- place for women, op.cit. 111 Oliver Winridge, ‘Under Attack? Under the a9a5-351eeaef6d84 Radar? Under-Appreciated? All of the Above? A Time of Reckoning for the African Court on 96 Karsten Müller and Carlo Schwarz, Fanning 104 Dominic Spohr, ‘Fake news and ideological Human and Peoples’ Rights’, OpinioJuris, 7 May the Flames of Hate: Social Media and Hate polarization: Filter bubbles and selective 2020, https://opiniojuris.org/2020/05/07/under- Crime, University of Warwick, May 2018, https:// exposure on social media’, Business Information attack-under-the-radar-under-appreciated- warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/ Review, Volume: 34 issue: 3, pp. 150-160, Sage all-of-the-above-a-time-of-reckoning-for-the- centres/cage/manage/publications/373-2018_ Publications (2017), https://journals.sagepub. african-court-on-human-and-peoples-rights/ schwarz.pdf and Amanda Taub and Max com/doi/abs/10.1177/0266382117722446; and Nicole De Silva, ‘A Court in Crisis: African Fisher, New York Times, ‘Facebook Fuelled and Council on Foreign Relations, Hate Speech States’ Increasing Resistance to Africa’s Human Anti-Refugee Attacks in Germany, New on Social Media: Global Comparisons, 7 Rights Court’, OpinioJuris, 19 May 2020, http:// Research Suggests’, 21 August 2018, https:// June 2019, available at https://www.cfr.org/ opiniojuris.org/2020/05/19/a-court-in-crisis- www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/world/europe/ backgrounder/hate-speech-social-media-global- african-states-increasing-resistance-to-africas- facebook-refugee-attacks-germany.html comparisons. human-rights-court/ 97 Report of the independent international fact- 105 Kate Jones, Chatham House, Online finding mission on Myanmar (A/HRC/39/64), Disinformation and Political Discourse: Applying 112 Amnesty International, ‘Philippines: Duterte’s 12 September 2018, https://www.ohchr. a Human Rights Framework, November 2019, misguided ICC withdrawal comes too late to org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/FFM- https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/ stop wheels of justice’, 14 March 2018, https:// Myanmar/A_HRC_39_64.pdf files/2019-11-05-Online-Disinformation- www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/03/ Human-Rights.pdf philippines-duterte-misguided-icc-withdrawal- 98 See: Amnesty International, Surveillance comes-too-late-to-stop-wheels-of-justice/ giants: how the business model of Google and 106 In 2015, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Facebook threatens human rights https://www. Rasmussen called for changes to the UN 113 Amnesty International, ‘USA: Congress must amnesty.org/en/documents/pol30/1404/2019/ Refugee Convention. See Reuters, ‘Denmark halt administration’s plan to suspend critical en/ pp. 35-36. wants Geneva Convention debate if Europe funding to WHO’, 15 April 2020, https:// cannot curb refugee influx’, 28 December 2015, www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/04/ 99 Amnesty International, Surveillance giants: how https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe- us-congress-must-halt-plan-suspend-critical- the business model of Google and Facebook migrants-denmark/denmark-wants-geneva- funding-who/ threatens human rights, op. cit. convention-debate-if-europe-cannot-curb- refugee-influx-idUSKBN0UB10020151228 100 Samantha Bradshaw, Philip N. Howard, 114 For example, the USA first questioned the

‘The Global disinformation order. 2019 legitimacy of the UN Human Rights Council and In January 2016 the Danish Parliament adopted Global inventory of organised social media its impartiality, and, a year later, withdrew from several measures aimed at reducing the number manipulation’, Oxford Internet Institute, the institution altogether. See: Nick Cumming- of asylum-seekers arriving in the country. See University of Oxford, 26 September 2019, Bruce and Somini Sengupta, The New York Amnesty International, ‘Parliament should reject https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/news/releases/use- Times, ‘In Geneva Speeches, Nikki Haley Casts cruel and regressive changes to refugee law’, of-social-media-to-manipulate-public-opinion- U.S. as Rights Champion’, 6 June 2017, https:// 21 January 2016, https://www.amnesty.org/en/ now-a-global-problem-says-new-report/. www.nytimes.com/2017/06/06/world/europe/ latest/news/2016/01/danish-parliament-should- united-nations-trump-human-rights.html and reject-changes-to-refugee-law/ Gardinier Harris, The New York Times, ‘Trump 101 Julie Ricard and Juliano Medeiros, ‘Using Administration Withdraws U.S. From U.N. Misinformation as a political weapon: COVID-19 107 Amnesty International, Human rights defenders Human Rights Council’, 19 June 2018, https:// and Bolsonaro in Brazil’, Misinformation Review, under threat – a shrinking space for civil society, www.nytimes.com/2018/06/19/us/politics/ Harvard Kennedy School, 17 April 2020, https:// op. cit., and Deadly but preventable attacks: trump-israel-palestinians-human-rights.html misinforeview.hks.harvard.edu/article/using- killings and enforced disappearances of those misinformation-as-a-political-weapon-covid-19- who defend human rights, op. cit. and-bolsonaro-in-brazil/ 115 Amnesty International, ‘A radical change is 108 Federal Register, Vol. 84, No,104, 30 May 2019, needed to failing EU migration policy’, 22 June 2017, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ 102 Jihan Abdalla, Al-Jazeera, ‘Brazil’s Bolsonaro https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019- news/2017/06/a-radical-change-is-needed-to- facing “crisis moment” as coronavirus 05-30/pdf/2019-11300.pdf failing-eu-migration-policy/ spreads’, 6 May 2020, https://www. 109 Samuel Moyn, The American Prospect, ‘Can aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/brazils- Pompeo Redefine Human Rights for the Trump 116 Amnesty International, ‘EU: Human rights bolsonaro-facing-crisis-moment-coronavirus- Era?’, 12 July 2019, https://prospect.org/power/ cost of refugee deal with Turkey too high to be spreads-200504193650707.html can-pompeo-redefine-human-rights-trump-era/ replicated elsewhere’, 14 February 2017, https:// www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/02/eu- 103 Council on Foreign Relations, ‘WhatsApp’s 110 For example, on April 2019 five South American human-rights-cost-of-refugee-deal-with-turkey- Influence in the Brazilian Election and How countries (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile too-high-to-be-replicated-elsewhere/ It Helped Jair Bolsonaro Win’, 13 November and Paraguay) issued a “Inter-American System 2018, https://www.cfr.org/blog/whatsapps- declaration” seeking to impose constraints 117 Amnesty International, ‘Libya: Renewal of influence-brazilian-election-and-how-it- on the actions of the regional Inter-American migration deal confirms Italy’s complicity in helped-jair-bolsonaro-win ; Rohit Chopra, The mechanism in their own interests and so put torture of migrants and refugees’, 30 January Conversation, ‘In India, WhatsApp is a weapon the rights of victims at risk. See Amnesty

30 STANDING FOR HUMANITY CHANGING AMNESTY TO OVERCOME THE POLITICS OF “US VS THEM” 2020, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ 126 Global Witness, Enemies of the state? How Sara E. Davies, Sophie Harman and, Jacqui news/2020/01/libya-renewal-of-migration- governments and businesses silence land True, Clare Wenham, The Interpreter, ‘Why deal-confirms-italys-complicity-in-torture-of- and environmental defenders, 30 July 2019, gender matters in the impact and recovery migrants-and-refugees/ https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/ from Covid-19’, 20 March 2020, https://www. environmental-activists/enemies-state/ lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/why-gender- 118 Amnesty International’s policy position on matters-impact-and-recovery-covid-19 human rights obligations of international 127 See, for example: Mike Berry, Inaki Garcia- cooperation and assistance and COVID-19 Blanco, Kerry Moore, Press coverage of the 136 See Heartwired: Human Behavior, Strategic (Index: POL 30/2337/2020). refugee and migrant crisis in the EU: a content Opinion Research and the Audacious Pursuit analysis of five European countries, United of Social Change: A Strategy Guide for Change- 119 Amnesty International, Exposed, silenced, Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 2016, Makers, https://oe.packard.org/resource/ attacked: failures to protect health and essential http://www.unhcr.org/56bb369c9.html heartwired-human-behavior-strategic-opinion- workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, July research-audacious-pursuit-social-change/ 2020, https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ 128 Amnesty International, Laws Designed to pol40/2572/2020/en/ Silence: The Global Crackdown on Civil Society 137 New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade, Prime Organizations, https://www.amnesty.org/en/ 120 International Monetary Fund, ‘The IMF’s Minister Jacinda Ardern’s House Statement on documents/act30/9647/2019/en/ Response to COVID-19’, 29 June 2020, https:// Christchurch mosques terror attack, 18 March www.imf.org/en/About/FAQ/imf-response- 2019, https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/media-and- 129 Samuel Moyn, Not Enough: Human Rights in to-covid-19#Q1 and The World Bank, ‘The resources/ministry-statements-and-speeches/ an Unequal World, Harvard University Press World Bank Group Moves Quickly to Help prime-minister-jacinda-arderns-house-statement- (2018). Countries Respond to COVID-19’, 2 April on-christchurch-mosques-terror-attack/ 2020, https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/ 130 See Amnesty International, Spain: Wrong feature/2020/04/02/the-world-bank-group- prescription: The impact of austerity measures 138 Together for Yes, https://www.togetherforyes.ie/ moves-quickly-to-help-countries-respond-to- on the right to health in Spain, 24 April 2018, about-us/campaign-platform-members/ covid-19 https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ eur41/8136/2018/en/ and Chad: Strangled 121 Amnesty International, ‘G20: Rich, powerful budgets, silenced dissent: The human cost 139 John Bargh, Before You Know It, Penguin states must ensure COVID-19 recovery of austerity measures in Chad, 16 July 2018, Random House, 2017. measures tackle global poverty, inequality, and https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ the climate crisis’, 17 July 2020, https://www. afr20/8203/2018/en/ 140 ‘Changing ourselves to change the world’: amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/07/g20-rich- Amnesty International’s Road Map for Diversity powerful-states-must-ensure-covid19-recovery- 131 Amnesty international, Beyond the bubble and Gender Action Plan 2011, (Index: POL measures-tackle-global-poverty-inequality-and- 2. Audience insights 2018 (Index: ORG 30/009/2011), p. 9. the-climate-crisis/ 10/9839/2019). 132 It is partly for this reason that Amnesty 141 33rd International Council Meeting Circular 19: 122 See, for example: Al-Jazeera, ‘Egypt puts 13 International has investigated the impact 2017 International Council Meeting Decisions people including Zyad Elelaimy on “terrorism” of austerity on the right to health in Greece Report (Index: ORG 50/6931/2017). list’, 18 April 2020, https://www.aljazeera.com/ and recently released a report, Greece: 142 Some of these have been surveyed in the news/2020/04/egypt-puts-13-people-including- Resuscitation required - The Greek health “activism models” project which analyses zyad-elelaimy-terrorism-list-200418200113754. system after a decade of austerity, April 2020, various forms of activism across the movement html and Amnesty International, ‘Egypt: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ and the strengths and weaknesses of each Politician and human rights lawyer sentenced eur25/2176/2020/en/ form. See Amnesty International, Activism to year in prison for BBC interview’, 10 March Models Learning Project, May 2017, (Index: ACT 2020, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ 133 Counterpoint and the Public Interest Research 10/6220/2017). news/2020/03/egypt-politician-and-human- Centre (PIRC), Building Bridges: Connecting rights-lawyer-sentenced-to-year-in-prison-for- with values to reframe and build support for bbc-interview/ 143 David Griffiths, Centre on Religion and human rights, 2016 http://counterpoint.uk.com/ Global Affairs, Faith and Human Rights: publications/building-bridges-connecting- Time To Restore Diplomatic Relations, http:// 123 Amnesty International, ‘France’s permanent with-values-to-reframe-and-build-support-for- www.centreonreligionandglobalaffairs.org/ state of emergency’, 26 September human-rights/?_sm_au_=iVVT4PkMsfR6MSZR commentary/2018/3/28/faith-and-human- 2017, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ rights-time-to-restore-diplomatic-relations news/2017/09/a-permanent-state-of- 134 Amnesty International, Beyond the bubble, 11 emergency-in-france/ audience insights from the communications programme, p.17, (Index: ORG 10/7476/2017), 124 Amnesty International, “If you are poor, you citing surveys by Amnesty International, the are killed”: Extrajudicial executions in the World Economic Forum and the PEW Research Philippines’ ‘war on drugs’, 31 January 2017, Centre. https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ asa35/5517/2017/en/ 135 Women’s UN Report Network, Human Rights 125 Greenpeace India, ‘Government crackdown for All – International Covenant on Economic, forces Greenpeace India to cut back work on Social & Cultural Rights: A Handbook – climate change’, 20 December 2018, https:// Women’s ESCR, 23 February 2016, https:// www.greenpeace.org/india/en/press/3283/ wunrn.com/2016/02/handbook-human-rights- government-crackdown-forces-greenpeace- for-all-international-covenant-on-economic- india-to-cut-back-work-on-climate-change/ social-cultural-rights-escr-womens-escr/ and

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 31 (Cover) A demonstrator offers a People take part in a Gay Pride flower to a police officer as teachers event which has been down- and students take part in a protest scaled amid coronavirus disease demanding immediate political (COVID-19) fears, in Jerusalem 28 change in Algiers, Algeria March 13, June, 2020. © REUTERS/Ronen 2019. © REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina Zvulun

Amnesty International is a Our vision is for every We are independent of global movement of more person to enjoy all the rights any government, political than 7 million people who enshrined in the Universal ideology, economic interest campaign for a world Declaration of Human Rights or religion and are funded where human rights and other international mainly by our membership are enjoyed by all. human rights standards. and public donations.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL e: [email protected] Peter Benenson House, 1 Easton INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT t: +44-20-74135500 Street, London, WC1X 0DW, f: +44-20-79561157 United Kingdom www.amnesty.org Index: POL50/2762/2020, English, updated November 2020