Thousands of civilians trapped in Raqqa, northern Syria, are coming under fire from all sides as the battle for control of the city enters its final stage, Amnesty International said following an in-depth investigation on the ground. In a report released today, the organisation documents how hundreds of civilians have been killed and injured since …
Author Archives: Amnesty International
Palestine: Dangerous escalation in attacks on press freedom
The Palestinian authorities in the West Bank and their rivals, the de-facto Hamas administration in Gaza, have both tightened the noose on freedom of expression, Amnesty International said. In recent months, both authorities have launched a repressive clampdown on dissent that has seen journalists from opposition media outlets interrogated and detained in a bid to …
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Marriage Equality: Media disruption signals youth vote is vital
In support of the planned self-disruption this evening of youth media sites Vice, Broadsheet, Junkee, The Feed and Pedestrian TV to signal to young Australians to check the electoral roll in preparation for the marriage equality postal plebiscite, Amnesty International Australia Campaigns Manager Michael Hayworth said: “We are proud supporters of this innovative, collaborative initiative …
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USA: Florida about to resume executions
Amnesty International has issued a briefing on recent developments relating to the death penalty in Florida, ahead of a planned resumption of executions in the state on Thursday 24 August – 18 months after the last one. “Death in Florida” outlines the state’s divided response to the January 2016 US Supreme Court decision that Florida’s …
Pauline Hanson burqa stunt ‘revolting act of intolerance’
In reaction to Senator Pauline Hanson’s wearing of a burqa on the floor of the Senate yesterday, in a call for the garment to be banned in Australia, Amnesty International Australia’s Campaigns Manager Michael Hayworth said: “Senator Hanson’s burqa stunt is a revolting act of intolerance. Women of all faiths and backgrounds should be free …
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Philippines: 32 killed in a day as Duterte’s ‘war on drugs’ hits new levels of barbarity
After Philippine police killed 32 people in what is believed to be the highest death toll in a single day in President Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called “war on drugs”, Amnesty International’s Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, James Gomez, said: “These shocking deaths are a reminder that President Duterte’s lawless ‘war on drugs’ continues unabated …
Indonesia: At least 60 killed as police shootings of drug suspects skyrocket
The number of police killings of suspected drug dealers has skyrocketed in Indonesia this year, an alarming rise which signals that authorities could be looking to emulate the murderous “war on drugs” in neighbouring Philippines, Amnesty International said. At least 60 suspected drug dealers have been killed by police – some of whom have been …
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Update on Constitutional Reform
For a number of years we have been keeping supporters informed as to the progress of amending the Constitution for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. There have been many discussions and consultations about this since then Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced a referendum with bipartisan support back in 2010, including ‘You, …
Egypt: Rabaa massacre four years on: rampant impunity for security forces illustrates dark legacy
Four years since security forces violently dispersed two sit-ins at Rabaa al Adawiya and al-Nahda squares in Greater Cairo, leaving at least 900 people dead and thousands more injured, Egypt is experiencing an unprecedented human rights crisis, said Amnesty International. Not a single person has been held to account for the events on 14 August …
Trump must condemn racial and ethnic hatred
In response to the weekend’s events in Charlottesville, Virginia, Amnesty International USA Deputy Executive Director of Campaigns and Membership, Njambi Good, issued the following statement: “The authorities must act to de-escalate tensions in Charlottesville and take immediate steps to counter hate against people of color, immigrants, refugees, Jews, Muslims and others. “Every time the Trump …
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