Responding to a decision postpone Julian Assange’s extradition hearing today, Amnesty’s, Massimo Moratti Deputy Director of the Europe Office, said: “The decision to postpone Julian Assange’s extradition hearings is the right one. There is immense pressure on judicial systems everywhere due to the COVID-19 crisis, and it is imperative that courts still provide people with a fair …
Tag Archives: COVID-19
5 concerns with Australia’s policing during COVID-19
First things first: restrictions on our movement during the COVID-19 health crisis are an essential measure to protect our community. It’s vital that we stay at home as much as possible, and our success in slowing the spread is in large part thanks to people like you, changing your lives for the sake of fellow …
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COVID-19 contact tracing app needs robust rights protection guarantees
Amnesty International Australia is calling on the Australian Government to ensure seven key principles are followed to safeguard the right to privacy for users of its new contact tracing app. While many of the steps taken by Australia’s Governments to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have been welcome, the launch today of an app to …
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How to stay safe online during the COVID-19 crisis
With much of the world on lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, many of us are relying on our phones, laptops and other devices to stay connected. While cyber-surveillance is a longstanding threat to human rights defenders and others, this new normal means options for using physical security alternatives (like simply communicating sensitive information in …
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COVID-19, surveillance and the threat to your rights
People across the world are currently facing an unprecedented global health emergency due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Technology can and should play an important role during this effort to save lives, including by spreading public health messages and increasing access to health care. However, in the name of combatting the disease, some governments are …
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Senate Select Committee a waste of time unless it has human rights framework
Responding to the announcement Labor has an agreement with the Government to establish a cross-party Senate Select Committee into the Government’s response to COVID-19, Amnesty International Australia campaigner Joel Clark said: “We welcome the Senate Select Committee, but it will be an exercise in wasted time unless a human rights framework is included in its …
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Bangladesh: COVID-19 response flaws put older Rohingya refugees in imminent danger
Older Rohingya refugees in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh are being left behind in the humanitarian response to COVID-19, which could have devastating consequences given the high risks older people everywhere face from this deadly pandemic, Amnesty International said today. Bangladesh, together with the UN and other humanitarian partners, has made efforts to reduce the risk of COVID-19 …
Amnesty backs calls from doctors to release refugees immediately
Amnesty International Australia is calling on the Australian government to heed the urgent advice of thousands of medical professionals and release detainees held in so-called alternative places of detention (APODs). “The people being held in places like the Mantra hotel in Preston Victoria, were brought to Australia because they needed urgent medical help. To leave …
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Digital surveillance to fight COVID-19 can only be justified if it respects human rights
With governments across the world rapidly expanding the use of digital surveillance in an attempt to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Amnesty International and other leading NGOs have set out strict conditions that must be met to safeguard human rights and prevent surveillance overreach. More than 100 civil society groups joined Amnesty in signing the statement, including …
COVID-19: Prisoners of conscience from Papua must be urgently released
Amnesty Indonesia and Amnesty Australia welcome the decision of Indonesian authorities to release 30,000 prisoners to minimise the risk of infection with COVID-19. Overcrowding and unsanitary facilities have been posing a health threat to Indonesia’s prison population of more than 250.000 prisoners. While the move is welcomed, it must be extended to all prisoners of …
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