First published / Full article: here | 12 December 2025
Despite the stark challenges currently facing humanity, Amnesty International continues to witness how people from all over the world are demonstrating the importance of activism and the life-changing power of solidarity.
From holding governments to account and pursuing justice for survivors of gender-based violence, to freeing human rights defenders, here are some inspiring stories of hope and humanity from the past six months to take you into the new year.
July
Global
Two landmark Advisory Opinions this year significantly contributed to clarifying the states’ human rights obligations in the face of the climate emergency, bolstering the fight for climate justice and accountability. In July, the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) made clear that the full enjoyment of human rights cannot be ensured without protection of the climate system and other parts of the environment. The world’s highest court stressed that states have a duty to act now, including to regulate the activities of private actors, and cooperate to protect current and future generations and ecosystems from the worsening impacts of human induced climate change. Earlier in the month, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued its Advisory Opinion setting transnational standards that could also shape legal jurisprudence in courts across the world.
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November
[…]Americas
The commitment to develop a Just Transition mechanism was the most prominent win at the annual UN Climate Summit COP30 held in Brazil this year. A hard-won victory from civil society pressure and organizations including Amnesty International, once established, it will streamline and coordinate ongoing and future efforts to protect the rights of workers, other individuals and communities affected by fossil fuel phase out. The new Gender Action Plan also included important protections for women environmental defenders.
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December
Global
This year, Write for Rights is calling on millions of people to come together to change the lives of individuals whose rights have been violated around the world. By taking just a few minutes to write a letter, post on social media or sign a petition, anyone can help change the world and even save a life.
“Together we will prove that, even in the most adverse of circumstances, humanity can, must and will win out,” said Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnes Callamard.
You can also read Amnesty’s human rights wins from January to June 2025.