Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
In response to President Trump’s new Executive Order to reinstate the suspension of the USA’s refugee resettlement programme and establish a temporary travel ban on people from six majority-Muslim countries, Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said: “President Trump’s determined efforts to slam the door on those fleeing the very terror he claims to be fighting …
Continue reading “Trump’s revised travel ban will stir hatred and division”
Recommendations by the European Commission to detain almost all irregular migrants before returning them to their home countries, with no limitations on where they can be apprehended, have laid bare the cruelty and hypocrisy of European Union (EU) Commissioners’ migration policies. “Detention of irregular migrants, some of the most vulnerable people in Europe, should be …
Continue reading “Cruel migration detention regime exposes hypocrisy of European Commission”
The Australian Government has failed to commit to reforms that would prevent a future Bali-Nine situation. Today Australia handed down its response to the report of the Parliamentary inquiry into the role Australia can play to abolish the death penalty worldwide. “It is extremely disappointing that the Government did not take this opportunity to ensure …
Continue reading “Door left open to future Bali Nine-type executions”
Russia and China have again abused their veto power at the United Nations Security Council today, following a vote on a draft resolution that would have helped ensure accountability for the use and production of chemical weapons by all parties to the conflict in Syria, said Amnesty International. “By vetoing this resolution Russia and China …
At a time when racist attacks and hateful speech are on the rise around the world, Amnesty International strongly welcomes the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights’ decision not to water down the Racial Discrimination Act. Late last year, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had announced that the Federal Government had set up a parliamentary inquiry to determine …
New evidence has emerged of how the Huthi armed group is actively recruiting boys as young as 15 to fight as child soldiers on the front lines of the conflict in Yemen. Amnesty International has spoken to the families of three boys targeted this month by the appalling practice which violates international law. The families also …
Continue reading “Yemen: Huthi forces recruiting child soldiers for front-line combat”
In the early afternoon on Thursday 24 February, the Oceti Sakowin camp in North Dakota was officially shut down, with dozens arrested in a final stand against the Dakota Access Pipeline project. Many protesters left peacefully on the evacuation deadline of Wednesday afternoon, some lighting ‘ceremonial’ fires in their wake. Those who stood their ground …
A bomb attack in Lahore that killed eight people is the latest in a wave of violence that shows a horrific disregard for human life. Over the past fortnight, a series of bomb attacks claimed by a slew of armed groups has claimed the lives of more than 120 people and injured several more, raising …
Continue reading “Pakistan: Wave of violence shows a horrific disregard for human life”
In a blow to the rights of LGBTQI students in the US, President Trump has revoked landmark guidance from the former Obama administration, which allowed transgender students to use the bathroom matching the gender they identify with. “Reversing this guidance tells trans kids that it’s OK with the Trump administration and the Department of Education …
Continue reading “LGBTQI youth in schools: What more needs to be done for students?”
The Queensland Government must encourage transparency in youth detention centres and police watchhouses, when it establishes the new independent inspectorate of correctional services. In a positive move, Queensland last week agreed to establish an independent inspectorate for adult prisons, but has not committed to giving the inspector access to all places of detention …
Continue reading “Queensland must shine light into youth detention to stop abuse of children”
