Over 5 million actions for Write for Rights were collected world wide last year with Australians adding over 160,000 actions. 32,000 of these people were signing an Amnesty action for the very first time. Across our communities, more than 90 of our groups organised over 200 events and collected almost 14,000 actions and letters. All …
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Hands off our Charities
Your ability to raise your voice about issues you care about is under threat. The federal government has proposed new laws that will silence Australians and avoid accountability. The changes will tie charities up in red tape and make it difficult for us to use your crucial donations for the purpose they were given. Amnesty …
Ethiopian journalist Eskinder Nega released from prison
Journalist and prisoner of conscience Eskinder Nega was unconditionally released as part of a presidential pardon on the 14 February 2018. What happened? At an event to mark the Ethiopian New Year in 2011 Eskinder spoke about press freedom in the country. Shortly after, on the 14 September, Eskinder was arrested – for the ninth …
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Good news: Cambodian environmental activists released!
Two Cambodian environmental activists and prisoners of conscience Hun Vannak and Doem Kundy, were released on a seven-month suspended sentence on 13 February 2018. What happened? On 11 September 2017, two environmental activists – Hun Vannak and Doem Kundy – were arrested by police while filming two sand-bearing vessels anchored off the coast of Cambodia. They suspected the vessels …
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#ChangetheDate Australia Day – where to next
This year Amnesty joined the growing movement to #ChangetheDate of Australia Day so all Australians can join our national celebrations. You signed our petition, held stalls to raise awareness and stood in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at Survival Day events across the country. On 26 January, huge numbers of Australians turned …
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Good news: Teodora Vásquez is free
Teodora del Carmen Vásquez was released from prison in El Salvador on 15 February, after a court reduced her sentence. Teodora suffered a stillbirth and was sentenced to 30 years for ‘aggravated homicide’ under strict anti-abortion laws. She spent over a decade behind bars. What happened? Teodora was at work when she began to suffer …
Rohingya Crisis thank you for helping
Thank you for your ongoing support as an Amnesty Human Rights Defender. Your regular gifts and actions help expose the violence and abuse like that see in Myanmar and Bangladesh all over the world. The Amnesty Crisis Team has been on the ground in Bangladesh documenting and monitoring the situation from the beginning. We have gathered first-hand …
Let’s make Australia Day one we can all share
Australia Day should be for all Australians, but for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who mark the day as one of invasion, survival and mourning, it is an emotional day. 26 January is an important day in our history, but it is not a day for celebrations. We need to move to a date …
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5 ways you made a difference for refugees in 2017
Human rights campaigning is a long-game, and it can take years to see the results of our work – especially so for our refugee campaign. You may feel disheartened that the Australian Government has continued its harsh treatment of asylum seekers, but your work in 2017 has made a real difference for people in detention …
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30 times hope overcame fear this year
Change is possible, especially when people come together and take action. From writing letters of support and campaigning outside corporate headquarters, to welcoming refugees into our homes and changing laws for the better, hope overcame fear time and time again in 2017 – and it was all thanks to you. Here are 30 incredible moments …