NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (HRNW) — Amnesty International is using the 81st United Nations General Assembly to call for stronger international leadership on human rights, accountability and international law.
Amnesty Secretary General Agnès Callamard is in New York from September 22 to 26 for meetings with senior UN officials and discussions surrounding the future direction of the organization.
Amnesty said the next UN secretary-general should place international law and human-rights protection at the centre of the United Nations’ work.
The organization is highlighting the need to protect international institutions responsible for investigating abuses and supporting accountability for serious crimes.
Amnesty said the UN faces mounting challenges involving armed conflicts, attacks on international institutions, displacement and restrictions on civic freedoms.
The organization is urging governments to strengthen cooperation with international human-rights mechanisms rather than weaken them.
Amnesty also plans to raise concerns concerning civilian protection, accountability for international crimes and the need for effective multilateral responses to human-rights crises.
The General Assembly’s 2026 session brings together representatives of all 193 UN member states and provides a major international platform for governments and civil-society organizations to address global issues.
Amnesty said the future leadership of the United Nations will be particularly important in maintaining international cooperation around human rights and international law.
The organization is also emphasizing the importance of supporting victims and survivors of serious violations and ensuring that evidence of alleged crimes is preserved.
Its advocacy forms part of a wider civil-society effort to keep human rights and international justice high on the UN agenda during the General Assembly.
Amnesty said the United Nations should remain capable of responding effectively to serious rights violations while maintaining independence from political pressure.
The organization’s campaign is expected to continue throughout the General Assembly’s high-level meetings in New York.
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Disclaimer
This article is based on Amnesty International’s public advocacy surrounding the 81st UN General Assembly and the organization’s September 2026 activities in New York. The recommendations and assessments concerning UN leadership and international institutions are attributed to Amnesty International and are not independent HRNW conclusions.
