Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
Governments who were lauded for releasing prisoners in response to COVID-19 outbreaks have excluded human rights defenders from the measures and continue to make new arrests of activists, journalists and critics, Amnesty International said today. In a new briefing, “Daring to Stand up for Human Rights in a Pandemic”, which documents attacks on human rights …
Continue reading “Virus-hit prisons still full of human rights defenders, as attacks continue”
The release today of the Australian Government’s Close the Gap justice targets shows a disappointing lack of leadership in addressing the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in Australian prisons. Amnesty International Australia Indigenous Rights Advisor, Rodney Dillon, said: “These targets along with the failure to show leadership by committing to raise the age of criminal responsibility …
Continue reading “Justice targets show lack of commitment to real reform”
Amnesty International Australia welcomes the decision by New Zealand to offer refugee Behrouz Boochani permanent protection, and asks Scott Morrison to finally bring to safety hundreds of other refugees stuck offshore for the past seven years. Responding to today’s announcement, Amnesty International Australia’s refugee coordinator, Dr Graham Thom, said: “I first started speaking with Behrouz …
Continue reading “New Zealand offers writer Behrouz Boochani permanent protection”
The Malaysian authorities must immediately abandon plans to whip at least 20 Rohingya men who are being punished simply for trying to seek safety. The government should release all other jailed Rohingya refugees – including women and children – who have been unlawfully singled out, convicted and imprisoned for alleged “immigration offences,” which are contrary …
Amnesty International Australia has again called on Police services in New South Wales and Victoria to immediately and urgently release guidelines for policing infringements as tighter lockdown restrictions are applied to both states. NSW Police internal guidelines – published today in media reports today following a freedom of information request – show that police were …
Amnesty International Australia is seriously concerned for the health of refugees held in so-called alternative places of detention (APODs), after the news that an employee of the Mantra Bell Preston in Melbourne has been diagnosed with COVID-19. “Months ago, Amnesty, medical experts such as Professor David Isaacs and other civil society organisations warned that keeping …
Continue reading “Concerns for detainees as Mantra employee tests positive for COVID-19”
Responding to the launch of the Queensland LNP’s “tough on crime” youth justice platform, Amnesty International Australia campaigner Joel Clark said: “The proposal from the LNP for a three-strikes mandatory detention approach to youth justice is completely contrary to all the evidence that shows locking kids up simply does not work. “Sadly, the Queensland opposition …
Continue reading “LNP platform a disaster for youth justice reform”
Amnesty International has collected new evidence showing that indiscriminate airstrikes by the Myanmar military have killed civilians, including children, amid worsening armed conflict in the country’s Rakhine and Chin States. These attacks and other serious human rights violations by the Myanmar military, also known as the Tatmadaw, are taking place in townships where internet has …
Continue reading “Myanmar: Indiscriminate airstrikes kill civilians as Rakhine conflict worsens”
Changes in Malaysia’s government must spur, not stall, human rights reforms, including efforts to establish an independent police commission, Amnesty International said today. In a new briefing published today ahead of the July parliament session, the organization is calling on Malaysia to seize this historic opportunity to implement much-needed police reforms and at last establish …
Australia should offer safe haven visas to Hongkongers currently based in Australia, and those fleeing persecution under new repressive national security laws passed by Chinese authorities. “We welcome Prime Minister Scott Morrison mooting offering people from Hong Kong safe haven visas, just as the UK government is intending,” Amnesty International Australia campaigner, Nikita White said. …
Continue reading “Australia should offer safe haven visas for those fleeing Hong Kong crackdown”
