Aboriginal and human rights organisations today welcomed the Australian Medical Association’s call for all states and territories to raise the age when children can be held criminally responsible to at least 14 years. All Australian states and territories currently have laws that allow children as young as ten years to be charged, brought before the …
Author Archives: Jenny Stopher
Open letter to politicians re Christchurch
An Australian white-supremacist and terrorist stands charged with murdering at least 50 people in Christchurch New Zealand last Friday. This tragedy has highlighted that white-extremism and associated divisive far-right ideology is becoming normalised in Australia and has enormous and tragic consequences. Whilst this catastrophic tragedy has saddened and angered our community, it is not entirely …
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Women must play an active role in shaping Syria’s future
Syrian women must have an official and active role in shaping the country’s future Amnesty International said today, as it launched a new campaign highlighting the gender-based violations women have experienced during the conflict and the failure to include them in discussions and decision-making about the future. The campaign Unheard No More: Syrian women shaping Syria’s future illustrates how since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011, women have …
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Securing Amnesty’s future in challenging times
In recent times Amnesty has experienced increased challenges to our regular giving income. The cost of fundraising has steadily increased over the past few years and more significantly in 2018. As a result, Amnesty International Australia been looking at the best ways to withstand these challenges and ensure we can continue to defend human rights …
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Laws designed to silence: The global crackdown on civil society organizations
Australia’s crackdown on civil society: keeping company with repressive regimes like Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Egypt, Hungary, Pakistan and Russia Controversial legislation restricting the activities of charities and advocacy groups passed by the Australian Parliament last year has drawn strong criticism in a new report from Amnesty International. The report, ‘Laws designed to silence: the global …
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Amnesty calls on WA Government to focus on keeping kids from behind bars
The Western Australian Government today announced the Premier’s Priorities. One of the targets announced is to: Reduce the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in custody: By 2028-29, reduce the number of Aboriginal adults in prison by 23 percent from 2017-18 numbers. And with regards to children: Reduce youth reoffending: By 2022-23, have no more than 50 per cent …
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Medivac Bill a welcome step towards humanity for refugees
Medivac Bill a welcome step towards humanity for refugees In response to the Medivac Bill passing the senate and the Prime Minister’s announcement that Christmas Island will be reopening Amnesty International Australia Refugee Coordinator Graham Thom said: “The passing of the Medivac Bill is a welcome step towards humanity for the refugees on Manus and …
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PM must intervene in Hakeem al-Araibi case
Responding to reports that Bahrain has submitted extradition papers for Hakeem al-Araibi with the Thai courts, Claire Mallinson, National Director of Amnesty International said: “Official extradition papers being submitted over the weekend show that Bahrain are ramping up their efforts to extradite Hakeem despite ongoing global condemnation. If the extradition request is successful Thailand is …
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AFC must take action to #FreeHakeem
Bahrain and Thailand will meet today as part of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. But while the two countries vie for supremacy on the field, their collusion off the field means that the future of Hakeem al-Araibi, the Melbourne soccer player who fled Bahrain and was granted refugee status in Australia, remains perilous. Dr Graham …
Children in police watchhouses over Christmas: a disaster waiting to unfold
As Christmas approaches, Amnesty International Australia is calling on Premier Palaszczuk and Ministers Farmer and Ryan to remember the children trapped in watchouses across the state. While the Premier and Ministers sit down to enjoy their Christmas lunch, the situation in Queensland continues to head towards a human rights crisis. Brisbane Youth Detention Centre and …
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