Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
Rights are hard won and easily lost. Fortunately, the world is full of determined people ready to stand up, organise, and take collective action. Here’s nine people-powered social change movements that are sure to fill you with hope. 1. Black Lives Matter With the killing of George Floyd by a US police officer in May 2020, …
Continue reading “9 powerful social change movements you need to know about”
After thousands of human rights supporters spoke out, the Queensland Parliament has now reformed the Youth Justice Act to ensure that children spend as little time as possible in detention centres and harmful police watch houses. On 22 August Queensland’s Parliament debated and passed Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019. In passing the …
Continue reading “Good News: Queensland to better protect kids in the justice system”
Amnesty International will divest from fossil fuel companies in acknowledgement that investment in an industry whose products are the primary source of the climate crisis is at odds with the organization’s mission of protecting and championing human rights. The decision was taken at Amnesty’s highest decision-making forum – the Global Assembly – which is formed …
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Think signing petitions, attending rallies, and bugging your members of parliament doesn’t do anything? Here’s proof that it does – and this is just a teaser. Every day we hear incredible stories of hope overcoming adversity, and people just like you leading positive change, all around the world. Thank you for defending human rights! 1. …
Ramadan is here. Across the world, Muslims will begin fasting during daylight hours as part of this month-long observance. But in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang), Chinese authorities see fasting as a “sign of extremism”. Open or even private displays of religious affiliation – including growing an “abnormal” beard, wearing a veil or headscarf, …
Continue reading ““Forgive my children for not fasting” – Ramadan in Xinjiang”
Iranian lawyer and women’s rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh’s heartbreaking letters from prison reveal the trauma inflicted on families by the government that claims to protect them. Nasrin Sotoudeh is a lawyer who has never shied away from doing what’s right in Iran. In her long and impressive career, she has exposed the injustices of the …
Continue reading ““I miss you my dearest” – Nasrin Sotoudeh’s letters to her children from prison”
As powerful as the national outpouring of solidarity has been following the Christchurch attacks, it’s not enough on its own. Tony Blackett of Amnesty International NZ offers some ways you can take further action against racism. If the last couple weeks have shown us anything, it’s that now, more than ever, we need the human …
Continue reading “Six ways to call out racism and bigotry when you see it”
Does the death penalty stop crime? Does it give victims justice? Is there a humane way to execute? Get your facts straight about the death penalty with Amnesty’s top 10 FAQs on capital punishment. 1. Why does Amnesty International oppose the death penalty? The death penalty violates the most fundamental human right – the right to …
Continue reading “10 frequently asked questions about the death penalty”
Last weekend the world tuned into Bahrain’s International Circuit and watched one of the glitziest events on the sporting calendar: Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix. But step away from the high-powered cars and the spectacular circuit, you’ll see that Bahrain’s human rights record is not so shiny. Australian footballer Hakeem al-Araibi fled persecution and torture in Bahrain. …
Continue reading “Bahrain: What lies behind the scenes of the Formula One Grand Prix?”
During 2018 a class of animation students from RMIT University in Melbourne put their minds together to visually communicate why Australia must change its laws so that children younger than 14 are no longer locked up. Top submissions 1. Rowena Lloyd, Akmal Azman, Fanny Yifan Shi and Will Thomasz: © Private 2. Jasmine Elrick: © …
Continue reading “Visual solutions for a complex issue: animating the ‘raise the age’ campaign”
