Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
Bucking the trend of rising racial hatred around the world, the Australian Senate tonight took a stand against racism in Australia by voting down proposed harmful changes to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. “This vote shows that Australia is ready to move on from this divisive debate. It follows last month’s decision by …
Continue reading “Senate stands against racial hatred – now PM Turnbull must do the same”
Hundreds of civilians have been killed by airstrikes inside their homes or in places where they sought refuge after following Iraqi government advice not to leave during the offensive to recapture the city of Mosul from the armed group calling itself Islamic State (IS). Survivors and eyewitnesses in East Mosul said they did not try …
In one of the deadliest strikes in Iraq in years, hundreds of civilians have been killed by airstrikes in Mosul after following Iraqi government advice to stay put. Survivors of the attack in East Mosul said they did not try to flee as they received repeated instructions from the Iraqi authorities to remain in their …
Continue reading “Families killed by airstrikes in their homes after being told not to flee”
The Senate must stand firm against racism and vote down proposed changes to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act when it meets today, said Amnesty International, and Prime Minister Turnbull should definitively put the harmful debate to rest. “The overwhelming message from eight out of 10 Australian voters and from the bipartisan Freedom of …
Continue reading “Senate must stand firm against racism and vote down 18C changes”
The Fijian authorities must immediately drop politically-motivated sedition charges against The Fiji Times newspaper group. “By charging the Fiji Times with sedition, the Fijian authorities are using a crude tactic to intimidate and silence one of the few independent media outlets left in the country,” said Josef Benedict, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southeast Asia …
The Turnbull Government is silencing the freedom of speech of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, said Amnesty International, as the organisation made a submission to the Senate Committee inquiry into a Bill to change section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. In an affront to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, no Indigenous …
Continue reading “Turnbull Government denies Indigenous people’s freedom of speech over section 18C”
Today the Government, who say they are committed to freedom of speech, have gagged the Aboriginal Legal Services and have failed to hear from any Indigenous people about a bill to change the Racial Discrimination Act. In response Tammy Solonec, Indigenous Rights Manager at Amnesty International said: “This flies in the face of Prime Minister …
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews must end the abuse of children and young people, including children being held in solitary confinement in cells with no toilets. The abuse was revealed this morning in a report by the Commission for Children and Young People into the use of isolation, separation and lock downs of children in Victoria’s …
21 March marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Harmony Day here in Australia. On this day committed to building a world of equality and dignity, Amnesty International Australia chats with star of Effie – The Virgin Bride, Mary Coustas to discuss Australia’s damaged global reputation. Since British colonisation, Australia …
Continue reading “Is Australia’s international reputation as racist justified?”
Prime Minister Turnbull must demonstrate to the United Nations his commitment to Indigenous peoples’ rights, said Amnesty International, as the watchful eye of the UN falls on Australia’s dismal Indigenous rights record – just seven months before the vote on whether Australia secures a Human Rights Council seat. The UN Special Rapporteur on the …
