Annual Report 2025
06

Crises Response

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Across 2025, human rights crises deepened in multiple regions, driven by escalating violence, entrenched authoritarianism, and the systematic erosion of civic space. States of emergency, armed conflict, and repression of dissent were increasingly accompanied by torture, arbitrary detention, and attacks on human rights defenders, with women and civil society actors facing particular risk. In this volatile global context, OMCT intensified its crisis response, supporting partners on the ground and in exile, mobilising international and regional accountability mechanisms, and advocating for protection, justice, and an end to impunity.

As the state of emergency continued in El Salvador, restrictions on civic liberties intensified. In this context, OMCT supported its local partners and human rights defenders who were forced into exile due to the rapidly shrinking civic space. In July, OMCT addressed the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), at a dedicated hearing, to raise concerns regarding repressive legislation placing excessive burden on NGOs and criminalising human rights defenders.

In the image: Detainees stand in formation before being escorted to their cells at a high-security facility in El Salvador.

OMCT continued to work with local organisations in Venezuela amid an ever-deepening human rights crisis. OMCT addressed the UN Human Rights Council to denounce the systemic use of torture as a form of repression and the IACHR to highlight widespread repression of human rights defenders, including enforced disappearance, transnational repression and harassment.

In 2025, Iran intensified repression of dissent amid a deepening economic and political crisis. OMCT highlighted the disproportionate targeting of women human rights defenders as part of a deliberate effort to criminalise women’s rights advocacy and suppress demands for equality and accountability. The government also expanded punitive practices within its detention system and OMCT published an analytical brief documenting the mass transfer of detainees, including many human rights defenders, to facilities with known abusive conditions following an Israeli airstrike on Evin Prison in June. In late December, nationwide protests erupted in response to the collapse of the national currency and soaring inflation. The authorities responded with lethal force, mass arbitrary arrests and widespread ill-treatment of detainees, marking one of the deadliest periods of repression in decades.

OMCT reacted to the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and collaborated with partners to protect civilians and human rights defenders. Sustained advocacy at the UN Human Rights Council, including in the framework of the United Against Torture Consortium, contributed to the establishment of a Fact-Finding Mission and Commission of Inquiry, while 10 threatened human rights defenders fleeing M23 (March 23 Movement) /AFC (Alliance Fleuve Congo) violence were assisted with relocation to safe areas.

Democratic backsliding in Georgia continued in 2025, leading to an acute human rights crisis. OMCT denounced the excessive use of force against peaceful protesters, as well as the widespread harassment of civil society organisations. OMCT issued reports exposing patterns of systematic extra-custodial torture, and organised crackdown of civil society, as well as held events on the margins of Human Rights Council and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) meetings contributing to the establishment of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism on Georgia.

After more than two years of devastating conflict and escalating human rights crisis in Sudan, OMCT deepened its collaboration with Sudanese partners to protect civilians and advance accountability. Together with Sudanese organisation AWAFY and the Sudanese Human Rights Hub, OMCT organised high-level advocacy meetings to urge the UN and African Union to address acts of torture and abuses against civilians. OMCT also supported 11 organisations and 10 exiled HRDs with internet equipment, psychological care, and legal assistance.

"The Burundi crisis has been forgotten"; interview with a Burundian lawyer in exile

Armel Niyongere, exiled Burundian lawyer and Secretary General of SOS-Torture Burundi, a member of our SOS-Torture network, continues to denounce human rights violations in his home country. Despite 10 years of threats and intimidation from the authorities, Mr. Niyongere continues his fight to promote and protect human rights. In this interview he talks about the difficulties of exile, the challenges facing those who defend human rights, and the role of the international community.

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