Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
The Laos authorities must establish an independent commission to uncover the truth about the fate of civil society activist Sombath Somphone, on what is now the third anniversary of his disappearance. In an open letter to the Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, 49 Directors of Amnesty International national offices around the world are highlighting the …
Continue reading “Laos: No progress on case of Sombath Somphone’s disappearance”
Hi. My name is Peter. I manage fundraising here at Amnesty International Australia. Along with some other charities, Amnesty has been criticised recently for our work with particular fundraising agencies. These agencies have been accused (in one case, rightly) of exploiting their workers. Let me be clear that this is absolutely not okay. My colleagues and I …
Continue reading “Face-to-face fundraising and Amnesty International Australia”
The Egyptian authorities’ continued detention of photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid, widely known as Shawkan, exposes the rank hypocrisy behind their claim to uphold press freedom ahead of the start of the photojournalist’s mass trial with 738 others on 12 December. In an open letter addressed to the Egyptian Public Prosecutor, Amnesty International has called for …
Continue reading “Egypt: Continued detention of photojournalist an affront to press freedom”
The Australian Citizenship (Allegiance to Australia) Amendment Bill 2015, expected to pass the Senate tomorrow, is a flawed Bill that threatens the very human rights and freedoms Australians hold dear. Under the proposed legislation Australian dual-citizens can lose their citizenship for alleged activities committed overseas, without undergoing a trial or being convicted of any offence. …
Continue reading “New counter-terrorism legislation will undermine rights Australians hold dear”
Southeast Asian leaders meeting this week in Malaysia must urgently prioritize a coordinated plan to help the thousands of asylum seekers and migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh who are forced to risk abuse and death at sea. Looming refugee crisis can’t go ignored Governments meeting at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in …
Continue reading “Refugee crisis and freedom of expression must be tackled at ASEAN Summit”
An armed raid on a journalism NGO in Cairo yesterday marks a dangerous escalation in the Egyptian authorities’ crackdown on freedom of expression and association. Members of the security forces carrying guns and wearing masks stormed the office of the Mada Foundation for Media Development yesterday morning and arrested all staff members present. The reasons …
Continue reading “Egypt: Journalism NGO raid is assault on independent media”
Decades of poorly regulated arms flows into Iraq as well lax controls on the ground have provided the armed group calling itself Islamic State (IS) with a large and lethal arsenal that is being used to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity on a massive scale in Iraq and Syria. Unprecendented access to firepower …
Continue reading “‘Islamic State’ atrocities fuelled by decades of reckless arms trading”
An 11-year-old girl who became pregnant after she was repeatedly raped, allegedly by her stepfather, and denied an abortion by Paraguayan authorities, has given birth. Pregnant 10-year-old refused abortion An 11-year-old girl who became pregnant after she was repeatedly raped, allegedly by her stepfather, and denied an abortion by Paraguayan authorities, has given birth. It …
Continue reading “Lucky to be alive after rape and childhood pregnancy”
A Nigerian torture victim wrongfully sentenced to death for a crime committed when he was 16 years old has been pardoned following intensive campaigning from Amnesty International supporters across the world. Moses Akatugba, who was on death row following his conviction for stealing three mobile phones 10 years ago and was repeatedly tortured into signing …
Continue reading “Good news: Nigerian torture survivor Moses Akatugba is free”
A group of leading Australian and international human rights organisations are calling for an overhaul to the way the Australian government campaigns to end the death penalty, today launching a new strategy document: ‘Australian Government and the Death Penalty: A Way Forward’. NGOs united to develop blueprint Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Human Rights …
