Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
Senate Committee opens inquiry into the allegations in our By Hook or By Crook report. Find out how it happened. In October 2015 we released a report, By Hook or by Crook: Australia’s abuse of asylum seekers at sea, which revealed damning evidence that Australian officials paid USD $32,000 to the six crew members on …
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From film screenings and panel discussions, to rallies and community festivals, Amnesty activists have been busy celebrating the vast contributions of refugees to our communities in events across the country. With this year’s theme – with courage let us all combine – echoing the resilience of people seeking asylum and the culture of solidarity we …
The attack in Orlando demonstrated utter contempt for human life, and the US government is obligated to protect people from gun violence. “Last night’s shooting in Orlando demonstrated utter contempt for human life, and our thoughts are with the victims of these attacks and the city of Orlando. But thoughts must be backed up with …
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The UN Human Rights Committee’s ground-breaking decision that Ireland’s law prohibiting and criminalizing abortion violated the human rights of a woman who had a diagnosis of fatal foetal impairment will advance women’s rights in Ireland and beyond. Denied abortion despite fatal diagnosis The UN Committee’s ruling today said Ireland’s laws prohibiting abortion violated the rights …
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A judge’s decision to acquit mother of two Yecenia Armenta Graciano and release her from prison on 7 June 2016 in northern Mexico brings an end to four long years of injustice. What happened? Yecenia Armenta Graciano was arbitrarily detained by Sinaloa state investigative police in July 2012. She was beaten, near-asphyxiated and raped during …
Continue reading “Woman tortured by police is released from prison after four years”
Vietnamese human rights defender and Catholic priest, Father Nguyen Van Ly, has been released from prison – months ahead of his expected release date. What happened? In March 2007, pro-democracy activist Father Nguyen Van Ly was sentenced to eight years in prison for “conducting propaganda” against the state. Accusations against Father Ly included his involvement …
The shooting of students peacefully protesting in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, is a disgraceful attack on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression. Amnesty International has received information that there are 38 people injured, including four in critical condition. Three people are still being assessed in emergency. “The shooting …
Continue reading “Papua New Guinea: Disgraceful shootings of students must be promptly investigated”
A surge in killings of people with albinism, whose body parts are used in ritual practices, has exposed a systematic failure of policing in Malawi and left this vulnerable group living in fear. The report, “We are not animals to be hunted or sold”: Violence and discrimination against people with albinism in Malawi”, exposes how …
An Egyptian military court has sentenced eight individuals, all civilians, to death and another 18 to lengthy prison terms, after a grossly unfair military trial that relied on “confessions” extracted under horrific torture including defendants being whipped with a burning cloth. Affront to justice “This verdict is an affront to justice and must be quashed …
Continue reading “Egypt: Death sentences handed down after ‘confessions’ under torture”
The sentencing of a former Argentinean military leader for his role in hundreds of enforced disappearances in the context of a region-wide intelligence operation must open the door to further investigations to bring all those responsible to justice. Former de facto President Reynaldo Bignone was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a court in …
