Accountability and an immediate plan to guarantee the safety of refugees trapped on Nauru and Manus Island are needed urgently as the evidence stacks up on the danger, deliberate abuse and suffering the Australian Government’s offshore detention regime is causing. The clear message being delivered ahead of the Immigration Department’s appearance at Budget Estimates on …
Author Archives: Amnesty International
Human Rights Council bid glosses over refugee, asylum seeker, Indigenous rights
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has this week launched Australia’s bid for a Human Rights Council seat at the United Nations. But, back at home, the Government continues its inherently abusive offshore detention regime, and oversees astronomical rates of Indigenous incarceration. “It’s not enough to talk the talk in New York – this government must …
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Australia must step up for Indigenous kids as Julie Bishop talks up Human Rights Council bid.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has today begun her US visit to officially launch Australia’s Human Rights Council candidacy. In response, Julian Cleary, Indigenous Rights Campaigner at Amnesty International Australia, said: “While Ms Bishop is overseas talking up Australia’s human rights record, back at home one of Australia’s most serious human rights abuses needs …
Digital verification of Manus Island shooting released
Amnesty International experts have digitally verified images and footage from the shooting and found bullets were fired directly into the centre. Calls for accountability renewed one month on from incident Australian government deliberately fails to take responsibility for people’s lives Digital verification of images and videos establishes that bullets were fired directly into the Manus …
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Indigenous Mums you need to know about
In 2016, #IndigenousDads and their children took to Twitter to combat racism against Indigenous fathers, and to share fond memories of their childhood. This Mother’s Day, Amnesty is handing the spotlight over to the much-deserving, hardworking #IndigenousMums. We chat to 10 inspiring Indigenous women – who are achieving amazing things in their communities while simultaneously …
China: Human rights lawyer released on bail amid relentless crackdown
The release of human rights lawyer Xie Yang on bail does not represent a break in China’s relentless crackdown against human rights lawyers. Xie Yang was tried in Changsha City Intermediate People’s Court in southern China on 8 May for “inciting subversion of state power” and “disrupting court order” and apparently released on bail even …
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Indonesia: Ahok blasphemy conviction is an injustice
The conviction and imprisonment of Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as “Ahok”, will tarnish Indonesia’s reputation for tolerance. “This verdict demonstrates the inherent injustice of Indonesia’s blasphemy law, which should be repealed immediately,” said Champa Patel, Amnesty International’s Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. “Despite protests of his innocence and evidence that …
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Syria: Refugees risk mass returns to war following Astana ‘de-escalation’ proposal
In response to news of a Russian-brokered proposal for “de-escalation zones” in Syria signed by Turkey and Iran and welcomed by the Syrian government, Amnesty International’s Lynn Maalouf, Director of Research at the Beirut regional office said: “Countries hosting Syrian refugees must not mistake this proposal for an opportunity to return those seeking refuge on …
Bangladesh: Dissenting voices trapped between fear and repression
The Bangladeshi government has not only failed to protect dissenting voices or hold accountable the armed groups that threaten them, it has also stifled freedom of expression through a slew of repressive tactics and new laws, according to a new Amnesty International report. The report, Caught between fear and repression: Attacks on freedom of expression …
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Turkey: 250,000 demand release of jailed journalists on World Press Freedom Day
On World Press Freedom Day, top journalists including Australian Peter Greste, cartoonists and world-renowned artists are calling for the release of more than 120 journalists jailed in Turkey as part of a ruthless crackdown on freedom of the press. The #FreeTurkeyMedia campaign has attracted 250,000 supporters since February. As part of the campaign today Amnesty …
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