The Specialized Criminal Court in Riyadh has upheld Saudi Arabian human rights defender Issa al-Hamid’s 11-year prison sentence. It is feared that he could be detained at any time to start serving his sentence. If detained he will be a prisoner of conscience.

Following international pressure, the Myanmar Army announced that two missing Kachin pastors, Dumdaw Nawng Lat and Langjaw Gam Seng, are now in police custody and face what Amnesty International believes to be politically motivated charges. If convicted they would face up to 6 years in prison. There are concerns for their health in detention.

The 21 families of the Asháninka Meantari Indigenous community, in the Central Peruvian rainforest, remain displaced from their land due to fear that armed individuals will return and act on the death threats they previously made.

Sudanese national and political activist Alaa Aldin al-Difana is currently being held incommunicado without charge, following his arrest on 26 December 2016, raising fears he could be at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. He requires access to a lawyer and medical care.

On International Women’s Day 2017, we won’t wait whilst women are kept silent, we won’t wait for women to be liberated from abuse - and we won’t wait for women to be free - everywhere. Take action with us.

Hiroji Yamashiro remains in detention following the denial of his Special Appeal for bail by the Supreme Court on 20 February 2017. Arrested for his role in protests against new U.S. military construction projects in Okinawa, Hiroji Yamashiro has not been able to see his family since 17 October 2016. His next court hearing is scheduled for 17 March 2017.

Kuwa Shumal A. Zumam was set free by the court on 2 January after the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to sustain the charges against him. Petr Jezek was sentenced to life imprisonment on 29 January, while Hassan A. Kodi and Abdulmonem Abdumawla were sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment.

Hiskia Meage, Emanuel Ukago, Panus Hesegem and William Wim, detained for peaceful political demonstrations on 19 December 2016 in Manado, North Sulawesi, have been released by the police. They are still being charged with rebellion (makar) and could face life imprisonment.

Fashion designer and LGBTI activist Barbaros Şansal remains in pre-trial detention since 3 January for allegedly ‘inciting the public to hatred or hostility’, despite a court rejecting the indictment drawn up in his case. He must be freed immediately and unconditionally.