Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
With the dust settling after Malcolm Turnbull’s successful leadership spill, Amnesty’s Karamzo Saccoh looks at the implications the change in leader could have for marriage equality. A change of heart Before becoming Prime Minister in September, Malcolm Turnbull was a staunch supporter of marriage Equality, even publicly expressing his support for a free vote (conscience …
Continue reading “Will Malcolm Turnbull stand up for marriage equality?”
The world’s system for protecting refugees is broken. It is obvious – from Australia to South Sudan’s vast camps, from Istanbul’s cold streets to the European Union’s heavily fortified walls. This has to change, now. Amnesty is putting forward eight solutions for how world leaders – in particular the richest countries – can start tackling …
Continue reading “Eight ways to solve the world refugee crisis”
Amnesty International is hopeful that a recent announcement by Nauru’s government will begin to reduce the stress and abuse imposed on asylum seekers detained at the Australian-run detention centre since the facility reopened in 2012. The Nauruan government has stated it is returning some freedom of movement to the people detained on the island, in …
Continue reading “Nauru’s ‘Open’ Australian-run Detention Centre”
A crucial resolution adopted at the UN Human Rights Council yesterday offered the victims of Sri Lanka’s armed conflict the prospect of finally getting the truth and justice they deserve. The resolution was adopted without a vote at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, following the publication earlier this month of a UN report …
Continue reading “Sri Lanka: UN war crimes resolution marks a turning point for victims”
Have you heard of the Deadly Sista Girlz program? Delivered by strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander role models, it helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls build their self-esteem and identity, and become leaders in their community. We ask Josie Janz about being a Deadly Sista Girlz mentor. Tell us about yourself I was …
Continue reading “Josie Janz: ‘We’re looking at the bigger picture’”
Amnesty’s Refugee Campaigner Graeme McGregor describes the work that goes on behind the scenes in our struggle to protect the rights of refugees. The power of a photo The tragic image of toddler Aylan Kurdi, who was washed ashore on a beach in Turkey this month, marked a tipping point in Syria’s refugee crisis. A …
Continue reading “Syrian refugee crisis: how we reached the tipping point”
From Greece to Germany, volunteers are joining forces to help newly-arrived refugees and migrants get food, clothes and medical attention – plugging glaring gaps in the European Union’s broken asylum system while Europe’s leaders still grapple for a common solution to the growing crisis. Treating refugees as people “There was this Syrian family: a father …
Continue reading “Volunteers help refugees while Europe’s leaders still search for solutions”
In July 2015, 29 intrepid travellers hiked the Larapinta Trail in Central Australia to raise funds for Amnesty. Hiker Sharon shares her experience. I have recently completed a goal that I started over a year ago – raising funds for Amnesty by hiking the Larapinta Trail in Central Australia. I am not a professional that …
In the lead up to World Press Freedom Day, the parents of Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste, who was recently released from prison in Egypt, remain concerned about his colleagues Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy. As we proudly watched our son Peter Greste finally speak outside the Tora fortress that had been his prison for …
Continue reading “Juris and Lois Greste ask: what about the others?”
Australia’s commitment to take 12,000 Syrians is significant and important, but is it enough? The short answer is no. Australia could and should resettle more. But the Syrian crisis is complex and our response must go beyond just resettlement. What’s life like for Syria’s refugees? I first visited Jordan’s Za’atri refugee camp, 30 kilometres from …
Continue reading “Is Australia doing enough for the people of Syria?”
