Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
Amnesty supporters worldwide wrote thousands of letters on behalf of Filep Karma who was released from prison in November 2015. Today, he shares why he won’t stop fighting for freedom of expression in Indonesia. I was born in Jayapura, Papua, the easternmost region of Indonesia. Since my childhood, I witnessed numerous human rights violations. Under …
Continue reading “Indonesia – An activist’s account of his dedication to peaceful protest”
The Indonesian central government should allow dozens of Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers, including a pregnant woman and nine children, who have reached the coast of Lhoknga, Aceh, to disembark and meet UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) officials. Pushback fears “These people have endured a long and difficult journey already. Now that they have reached land …
Continue reading “Indonesia: Allow stranded Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers to disembark”
The Thai authorities must reverse their decision to charge three prominent human rights defenders with criminal defamation and computer crimes for documenting and publishing details of human rights violations in the country. “Instead of using broad and vague laws to target human rights defenders, the Thai authorities should be following up on the reports of …
Continue reading “Thailand: Withdraw charges against human rights defenders”
The European Union (EU) must immediately halt plans to return asylum-seekers to Turkey on the false pretence that it is a “safe country” for refugees. No safe refuge Amnesty International’s briefing on the issue, No safe refuge: Asylum-seekers and refugees denied effective protection in Turkey, details the short-comings in Turkey’s asylum system and the hardships …
Continue reading “EU’s reckless refugee returns to Turkey illegal”
The Darwin community has gathered at Don Dale to show their support for young people abused in detention. (Re)building a network SA/NT Community Organiser Nicole Donnelly has spent time recently in Darwin, working to re-build the Darwin Amnesty Action group. Once an enthusiastic group of new activists were recruited and trained up, the group hit …
Continue reading “New Darwin group hold vigil at Don Dale detention centre”
Footage released by Amnesty International today shows the remarkable journey of two refugees, Alan Mohammad (30) and his sister Gyan (28), who travelled from Syria to a refugee camp in Greece to escape the armed group that calls itself Islamic State (IS). Alan and Gyan, who have both suffered from muscular dystrophy since birth, fled …
Continue reading “Remarkable escape from IS of two refugees with severe disabilities”
Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience Irom Chanu Sharmila ended her 16-year-long hunger strike against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) today. Amnesty International India calls on authorities to drop all charges against her, and take steps to repeal the AFSPA. At a hearing in a local court, Irom Sharmila said, “I have been fasting …
Continue reading “India: End of Irom Sharmila’s hunger strike an opportunity to repeal AFSPA”
Syrian refugee M.K., who has been arbitrarily detained at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen airport since November 2015, was finally released on 29 March, 2016. He will await the decision on his international protection application in the province of Aksaray. What happened? In 2012 the Syrian crisis forced M.K. to flee his homeland and seek refuge in …
Continue reading “Syrian refugee M.K. released from airport detention in Turkey”
Reacting to threats by Uganda’s Minister of Ethics and Integrity Simon Lokodo that he will suppress the activities of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights activists and “rehabilitate” LGBTI people, Amnesty International said: “The minister’s remarks coming only a few days after police assaulted peaceful attendees at a private LGBTI Pride event in …
Continue reading “Uganda: Minister’s remarks against LGBTI people amount to advocacy of hatred”
Following strong activism led by our Tasmanian action groups, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announces that youth detention will be discussed at the next COAG (Council of Australian Governments) meeting. Find out what it took. Tassie’s determined activists Sylvie Merope, co-convenor of the Southern Tasmanian action group, wouldn’t have believed that this would happen if you …
