Iraq: Women with perceived ties to Islamic State being sexually exploited in displacement camps

The Australian Government, as a leading member of the US-led coalition during the operations, must do everything in its power to commit to protecting the rights of all Iraqis, particularly women and children in displacement camps. The Government must also use its influence to urge the Iraqi government to protect all women and children in …

Strikes must minimise further harm to civilians in Syria

In response to reports that the United States, the United Kingdom, and France have launched strikes against targets in Syria, Diana Sayed, Crisis Campaigner at Amnesty International Australia, said: “The Australian Government has given its support to these strikes: now it must call on its allies carrying out these attacks to make the protection of …

Israeli forces must end excessive force at protests

The Israeli authorities must put an immediate end to the excessive and lethal force being used to suppress Palestinian demonstrations in Gaza, Amnesty International said as fresh protests started yesterday. Following the deaths of 26 Palestinians, including three children and a photojournalist, Yasser Murtaja, and the injuring of around 3,078 others during protests on the …

We are not afraid – Amnesty International Hungary’s reaction to blacklisting NGO workers

A pro-government Weekly in Hungary, Figyelő, has published an article entitled ‘The man of the speculator’ [Soros] which lists board members and staff of NGOs such as Amnesty International Hungary, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, Civil Liberties Union, Transparency International Hungary and many other civil organisations. The list also features the journalists of Direkt36, an investigative …

Bangladesh: Rohingya refugees returns must be safe, voluntary and dignified

Call comes as Amnesty Secretary General meets Bangladesh Prime Minister Looming monsoon season will put Rohingya lives at risk in Cox’s Bazar camps Amnesty International called on the government of Bangladesh to uphold its commitment that Rohingya refugees are only returned in conditions that are safe, voluntary and dignified. In a meeting with Bangladesh’s Prime …

Myanmar: New president must do more to hold perpetrators to account

Responding to the appointment of Win Myint as the new President of Myanmar, James Gomez, Amnesty International’s Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said:“The Myanmar authorities should use the appointment of a new President as an opportunity to step back from the brink. We’ve seen a dramatic deterioration in the human rights situation in …

Beyond the ‘refugee’ label: welcoming new people to our neighbourhoods

As a journalist in Zimbabwe throughout the 2000s, I reported on the brutal killing sprees and human rights abuses of Robert Mugabe’s henchmen and widespread corruption. It was never going to be a walk in the park. An informed people is a powerful people and that’s why the dictatorship did everything to gag the media. …

Yemen: Huthi missile attack on Saudi Arabian cities is a possible war crime

Responding to reports that the Huthi armed group in Yemen fired seven ballistic missiles at airports in Riyadh and other Saudi Arabian cities overnight on Sunday, killing one civilian, Samah Hadid, Middle East Deputy Director for Campaigns at Amnesty International, said: “Launching indiscriminate attacks is prohibited by international humanitarian law and can constitute a war …