Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
Police arrested nine people involved in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement on Thursday morning, April 27. They are reported to face charges of public disorder and unlawful assembly for their involvement in a largely peaceful protest last November against a central government ruling on Hong Kong’s Basic Law. “The repeated use of vague charges against prominent …
Continue reading “Hong Kong pro-democracy activists arrested”
An independent investigation into Queensland’s youth justice system has recommended an overhaul of the old, broken approach of punishing vulnerable children, and instead working with communities to help young people. The Queensland Independent Review of Youth Detention was announced last August, the day after Amnesty International exposed images and allegations of abuse in detention on …
Continue reading “Independent Review must usher in new era for Queensland kids”
With mounting evidence of government involvement in thousands of extrajudicial executions in Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘war on drugs’, Amnesty International is calling on regional leaders to take a stand against possible crimes against humanity as they meet at the 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Manila this week. “While they meet …
Continue reading “ASEAN Summit: Leaders must take a stand against Philippines bloodshed”
“These first 100 days show how dangerous Trump’s agenda is, and they’re also a roadmap for how to stop it and protect human rights in the U.S. and around the world.” As the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s administration come to a close, Amnesty International has compiled a list of 100 ways the …
Continue reading “100 ways Trump has threatened human rights in first 100 days”
Reports Saudi Arabia-led coalition is gearing up for major military offensive Key port city of Hodeidah is a major entry point for humanitarian aid UN donor conference under way in Geneva Fears are growing for the safety of civilians in the strategic western port city of Hodeidah amid reports that a major offensive by …
Continue reading “Yemen: Mounting fears for civilian safety as Hodeidah offensive looms”
The Australian Government’s decision not to slash $55 million from the community legal sector over three years, including $16.7 million for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services, is a welcome last minute reprieve. However, legal services will still be chronically underfunded, exposing, in particular, Indigenous women, children and men to inadequate legal support. “Our …
Continue reading “Relief that legal funding for Indigenous people will not be further slashed”
The state of Arkansas has executed Ledell Lee, the first of four prisoners scheduled to be executed before the state’s supply of lethal injections expires at the end of the month. This was the first execution in the state since 2005. Lee’s final appeals had requested DNA testing that could potentially prove his innocence, but …
Continue reading “Arkansas Kills Prisoner in First of Horrific Spate of Executions”
A Senate Committee report released overnight lays bare the horrific abuses committed against refugees and people seeking asylum on Nauru and Manus Island, further demonstrating the urgency of getting people to a place of safety. Amnesty International gave evidence at the Senate Inquiry last month. The report highlights a failure by the Australian Government to …
New draconian amendments in the name of counter-terrorism are another nail in the coffin of fair trial standards in Egypt. A set of legislative amendments approved by the Egyptian parliament will give the authorities sweeping powers to carry out mass arbitrary arrests, enable indefinite detention without charge or trial and will severely undermine due process …
Continue reading “Egypt: Counter-terrorism moves undermine fair trial”
Amnesty International calls for refugees and asylum seekers trapped on Manus Island to be brought to safety in the wake of Friday’s shocking shooting incident at the Manus Island detention centre. Reacting to Friday’s shooting incident in the Australian Government-run refugee detention centre on Manus Island, Anna Neistat, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, said: “Today’s shooting …
