Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
Despite the Anti-Torture Act, the use of torture persists in the Philippines. As a major aid donor, Australia is in a strong position to say this is unacceptable, writes Ellecer Carlos. Sickening torture “I was held on either arm by two men and the third man sat on my lap. The blindfold was removed and …
Continue reading “We can help stop torture in the Philippines”
Over a quarter of the world’s countries still retain capital punishment and its use is growing increasingly arbitrary. Ever wondered what it’s like to be condemned to death? In this guide to capital punishment, our intern Ryan Ong takes a look at five ways to land a seat on death row. 1. Come out of …
Governments use torture for all kinds of reasons, from obtaining information to silencing opposition or as a cruel punishment. Often it is simply the standard way to investigate crimes. Torture is barbaric and inhumane, and can never, ever be justified. Here we take a look at the physical and emotional consequences of torture. Punishment The …
The Government of Western Australia plans to flatten the Aboriginal homelands community of Oombulgurri within days. Amnesty International is calling on the WA Government to stop the demolitions and the forced closure of Aboriginal communities. Here we explain why. What are the Oombulgurri homelands? Oombulgurri is an Aboriginal community in the eastern Kimberley, with a population …
Continue reading “Oombulgurri demolitions: your questions answered”
How do people cope when a family member is locked up and tortured? “When your brother is detained and tortured you have two options: fight, or abandon him.” Farida Aarrass decided to fight. Farida is an impressive woman: a mother of seven who works with a local organisation for homeless people in Brussels, Belgium. She …
Continue reading “How do you cope when your brother is being tortured?”
Amnesty Australia takes a look at the origins of the Israel-Palestine conflict, the current violence in Gaza, and what needs to happen next. First things first, where are Israel and Palestine? Israel is a country in the Middle East and Palestine consists of two separate territories that run alongside Israel: Gaza and the West Bank. …
Getting hitched? We take a look at ways you can celebrate your love without compromising your values. 1. Don’t accidentally buy blood diamonds Adopt a zero tolerance policy to blood diamonds, like Tiffany and Zoara. Save the environment (and money) by shopping in antique stories or (gasp!) on eBay. Buy from Do Amore — for every ring sold, two people in the …
Holocaust denial and racial abuse on public transport could be considered okay under proposed changes to Australia’s Racial Discrimination Act. As public discussion around the proposals intensifies we explain what the RDA is and how the proposed changes might affect Australia. What is the Racial Discrimination Act? It’s pretty simple, really. The RDA is a …
Could the results of Afghanistan’s presidential election see the return of the Taliban? And what would that mean for the future of Afghan women? As 8 candidates battle it out in the Afghanistan presidential election*, women in the country are growing increasingly worried. Combine an early withdrawal of international forces with the fact that many …
Continue reading “Is 2014 a make-or-break year for Afghan women?”
Proud and ancient, Egypt is a country rich with history and culture, but standing at a crossroads between a free and bright future or repeating the mistakes of its past. Here we shed light on what is happening in Egypt and why. Location, location, location Okay, it’s slightly complicated. Type ‘Where is Egypt?’ into Google’s …
