We must speak truth to power for just and responsive states

Amnesty International-Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

Yesterday was International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace. Given the state of Planet Earth captured in Amnesty International's World Human Rights 2026 report released this week, what has changed in a year, and what can be done to raise the world's grades?

Eight years ago, the United Nations proclaimed the International Day to affirm that peace, human rights, and sustainable development were best achieved through multilateral cooperation and diplomatic dialogue, not unilateralism or military might. Equally sovereign, smaller and weaker states are better protected from power politics without rules.

International and regional conventions and courts matter. All states bear a collective responsibility for atrocity prevention, climate change, global public health, forced displacement, and illicit transnational financial flows. No country secures its future by standing alone.

The release of the Amnesty International report two days before Multilateralism Day was timely. Compared to last year's report, this year's is both depressing and didactic.