Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
Amnesty International has received credible reports that at least 14 people could be executed this week, who consist of four Indonesian and ten foreign nationals, including a Pakistani, an Indian, a Zimbabwean, a Senegalese, a South African, and five Nigerians. “President Widodo’s era was supposed to represent a new start for human rights in Indonesia. …
Continue reading “Indonesia: Executions will put Jokowi on the wrong side of history”
Prime Minister Turnbull’s announcement of a Royal Commission into the conditions in Northern Territory youth detention is welcome, following last night’s shocking Four Corners program depicting the torture and abuse of incarcerated children. In setting the terms of reference the Prime Minister should consult with Indigenous and youth organisations in the Northern Territory. However, Mr …
Restrictions on the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to civilians in Yemen are exacerbating the country’s humanitarian crisis and endangering lives. All parties to the conflict must allow full and unfettered access to organizations providing crucial supplies. A delegation from the organization visited Huthi-controlled parts of Yemen in May 2016 and spoke to 11 local and …
Continue reading “Yemen: Peace talks must prioritize getting aid to desperate civilians”
The Thai authorities must immediately drop the criminal investigation against three of the country’s most prominent human rights activists, including the chair of Amnesty International Thailand, who could be charged tomorrow for documenting and publishing a report about torture by Thai security forces. Somchai Homla-or, Anchana Heemmina, and Porpen Khongkaconkiet, who was appointed Chair of …
The abuses carried out against children shown in last night’s Four Corners program are a shocking violation of both the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention against Torture. The Australian Government must immediately launch an investigation into the NT youth detention system, and take action to prevent the abuse of …
Continue reading “Australian Government must end systemic abuse of children in youth detention”
According to the Saudi Press Agency, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior announced that an execution was carried out in Riyadh today bringing the total number of executions carried out so far in 2016 to 100. In response to this news, Philip Luther Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme said: “With its …
Continue reading “Saudi Arabia’s execution toll reaches 100”
With just under a week to go, a group of unlikely bedfellows including Australia, China, Egypt, India, Russia, Pakistan and the UK, among others, risk bulldozing through the only worldwide effort under way to provide concrete action to deal with the global refugee crisis affecting 20 million people. By the end of July, United Nations …
Continue reading “UN: National self-interest must not scupper initiative to end refugee crisis”
Amnesty International has gathered credible evidence that detainees in Turkey are being subjected to beatings and torture, including rape, in official and unofficial detention centres in the country. The organization is calling for independent monitors to be given immediate access to detainees in all facilities in the wake of the coup attempt, which include police …
Continue reading “Turkey: Monitors must be allowed to access detainees amid torture allegations”
Amnesty International welcomes the opportunity to provide this submission to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security’s Inquiry into the Australian Citizenship Amendment (Allegiance to Australia) Bill 2015. The legislation raises significant questions relating to human rights, statelessness, citizenship, and the limits of executive power. Australia is party to numerous international legal conventions which …
The African Union has dedicated 2016 as the “Year of Human Rights, with particular focus on the rights of Women.” In making this pledge, the AU signalled that the time had come to prioritise the need for real improvements in women and girls’ daily lives. At the core, this requires urgent recognition of the importance …
Continue reading “Time to focus on African women and girls’ rights”
