The announcement made at MDA’s ‘Regions of Welcome – Regional Settlement Conference’ in Toowoomba, flags the first major resettlement service provider in Australia to join Amnesty International’s ‘My New Neighbour’ campaign, which calls on the Australian Government to expand and improve the current refugee community sponsorship program. “Every day communities around Australia welcome new neighbours …
Author Archives: Anita Harvey
Sri Lanka: The death penalty is a cruel and irreversible punishment
Sri Lanka must pull back from any plans to implement the death penalty and preserve its longstanding positive record on shunning this cruel and irreversible punishment, Amnesty International said. The Sri Lankan President, Maithripala Srisena, is reportedly pressing ahead with plans to execute 19 death row prisoners convicted of drug-related offences. “By resuming executions after …
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Amnesty International and the Western Bulldogs join forces to be there for refugees
Amnesty International and the Western Bulldogs AFL team have partnered to stand up and be there for refugees in our communities.
ADF ‘war crimes’: Amnesty International has grave concerns over Afghanistan allegations
Responding to media reports that a Defence inquiry uncovered allegations within the Australian Defence Force of war crimes committed by special forces personnel in Afghanistan, Amnesty International Australia’s Campaigns Manager Tim O’Connor said: “Amnesty International is extremely concerned about these reports. The reports, as well as Amnesty’s own research, highlight the urgent need for transparency …
Russia: The bravest World Cup team you’ve never heard of
As Russia prepares for the opening game of the FIFA World Cup 2018, Amnesty International is shining a spotlight on 11 Russian human rights champions who routinely put their lives on the line to defend human rights in Russia. A new campaign, Team Brave, will profile a human rights defender from each of the 11 …
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Nigeria: Starving women raped by soldiers and militia who claim to be rescuing them
Thousands of women and girls who survived the brutal rule of the Boko Haram armed group have since been further abused by the Nigerian security forces who claim to be rescuing them, said Amnesty International in a new report released today. ‘“They betrayed us” reveals how the Nigerian military and Civilian Joint Task Force (Civilian JTF) …
USA: Routine separation of asylum-seeking families violates international law
The US government must stop separating asylum-seeking parents from their children and denying them access to asylum procedures through prolonged detention, said Amnesty International today in response to reports of the US Department of Homeland Security’s adoption of a draconian family separation policy that will apply to anyone who presents themselves at the U.S.-Mexico border. …
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Papua New Guinea: Refugee health crisis looming as Australia withdraws support
On Monday 30 April the Australian government is expected to end its contract with International Health and Medical Services (IHMS), which provides healthcare for the refugees and asylum seekers Australia has sent to Papua New Guinea (PNG). Graham Thom, Refugee Coordinator at Amnesty International Australia said: “Ever since the Australian government began shipping refugees out …
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Turkey: Government crackdown suffocating civil society through deliberate climate of fear
A sustained and escalating crackdown curtailed the vital work of human rights defenders in Turkey and left swathes of society in a state of constant fear, a new report from Amnesty International has revealed. The report, Weathering The Storm: Defending human rights in a climate of fear, reveals how few areas of Turkey’s once vibrant …
Minister Wakefield must not let children under 14 bear the cost of the failed justice system for another 3 years
Amnesty International has today called on the Northern Territory Government to fast-track raising the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14, saying that it is an unprecedented opportunity to divert children out of prison into therapeutic prevention and diversion programs. As part of releasing Safe, Thriving and Connected, an implementation plan for the Northern …