Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
Amnesty International has lodged a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters Inquiry into the draft Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform) Bill 2017. Read our submission here Amnesty is concerned at the likely negative impacts on the work of various civil society organisations by virtue of the proposed definitions of …
Continue reading “Submission: Inquiry into Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform Bill 2017”
The Syrian government’s use of internationally banned chemical weapons was laid bare once again on 4 February when a chlorine gas attack on the town of Saraqeb left 11 people in need of emergency treatment, according to testimony gathered by Amnesty International. The Syria Civil Defence said that barrel bombs containing chlorine gas had …
Continue reading “Syria: Witness testimony reveals details of illegal chemical attack on Saraqeb”
New research by Amnesty International has revealed the alarming impact that abuse and harassment on social media are having on women in Australia, with women reporting stress, anxiety, or panic attacks as a result of these harmful online experiences. The organisation commissioned an Ipsos MORI online poll which looked at the experiences of 502 women …
Continue reading “Australia: Poll reveals alarming impact of online abuse against women”
Responding to the attacks in the media and online of Tarneen Onus-Williams, Amnesty International’s Director of Communications and External Affairs Claire O’Rourke said: “Amnesty International is concerned that the nature of the abuse levelled at young Yigar Gunditjmara and Bindal woman Tarneen Onus-Williams, regarding a phrase in her speech on 26 January, has been of …
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New centres offer less protection than previous camp New centres do not meet refugees’ basic needs Refugees live with constant fear of violence Australia must end policy of cruelty and neglect The Australian government’s abandonment of hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea is a form of prolonged punishment, Amnesty International said …
Continue reading “Manus Island: Australia abandons refugees to a life of danger”
The Thai military government must end its far-reaching crackdown on peaceful demonstrations, Amnesty International said as nine activists – including the first person arrested for protesting after the military coup in 2014 – are facing criminal proceedings. They join hundreds of people who have been harassed or jailed simply for speaking out peacefully against military …
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In reaction to reports that the former Immigration Minister Scott Morrison deliberately obstructed the processing of visas for refugees in 2013, Amnesty International Australia’s Refugees Coordinator Graham Thom said, “This is another example of Australia’s cruel and punitive approach to people arriving by boat to seek our protection. This is despite the recommendation from the Minister’s …
Continue reading “Government, ASIO need to explain interference in refugee visas process”
Responding to reports that the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said that he wants Australia to become one of the world’s top 10 arms exporters to target markets including the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific region, Amnesty International Australia’s Crisis Campaigns Coordinator Diana Sayed said: “When the Government talks about expanding arms exports to the …
Continue reading “Arms sales expansion plan exposes Australia to profiting from human rights abuses”
Responding to news that an asylum-seeker being treated at a hospital in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG), for a serious medical condition, has been restrained for three days and is being force-fed by hospital staff after he went on hunger strike for 20 days, Kate Schuetze, Amnesty International’s Pacific Researcher said: “Forcing medical treatment …
Continue reading “PNG: Sick asylum-seeker restrained and force-fed”
In response to today’s attack on Save the Children’s offices in Jalalabad, which has left several people dead and a number of others injured, Biraj Patnaik, Amnesty International’s South Asia Director said: “We stand in solidarity with our colleagues at Save the Children following this dreadful news, which comes after a wave of violence against civilians …