Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
It is with regret that Amnesty International can confirm that following medical advice, Kumi Naidoo, the organization’s Secretary General, has made the decision to step down from his position due to health-related reasons. His resignation has been accepted by the International Board and he will hand over his responsibilities on today, 5th December. “I have long …
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Responding to reports that a woman and a man lost consciousness as they were whipped during separate public punishments handed by authorities in Aceh today, Amnesty International Indonesia’s Executive Director, Usman Hamid, said: “The fact that two people were beaten unconscious today, in two separate incidents, is a damning indictment of the authorities who let …
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Shaminda Kanapathi, a refugee who has spent more than six years in offshore detention said he is fearful of the consequences of this repeal of the Medevac legislation in Parliament today. The decision of the Australian Government to repeal the Medevac Bill is devastating for all of us in Nauru and Papua New Guinea. Shaminda …
Continue reading “‘More people will die’: Medevac repeal a shameful day”
Millions of people with disabilities in Yemen have not only endured years of armed conflict but are also among those most excluded amid what the United Nations has called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, Amnesty International said today. Excluded: Living with disabilities in Yemen’s armed conflict is being published on the International Day of Persons with …
Continue reading “Yemen: War and exclusion leave millions of people with disabilities in the lurch”
The number of people believed to have been killed during the Iranian authorities’ crackdown on recent demonstrations has risen to at least 208, after assessing the latest reports Amnesty International has received. The real figure is likely to be higher. Amnesty compiled the death toll from reports whose credibility it ascertained by interviewing a range …
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At its annual Council of Attorneys-General (CAG) meeting last week, Australian lawmakers extended a review into raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to at least 14. Now, Amnesty International Australia is calling on the nation’s police to effect a moratorium on arresting and detaining children younger than 14 until the recommendations of …
Responding to the Communique from the Council of Attorneys-General today in Adelaide which progressed the review of raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility of 14, Amnesty International Australia Indigenous Rights Manager Tammy Solonec said: “We know there is the will to raise the age in Australia, but it’s disappointing that the Communique hasn’t noted …
Continue reading “The will is there to raise the age, now we need action”
Lebanese armed forces must end the arbitrary arrests, torture and other ill-treatment of peaceful protesters, Amnesty International said today as nationwide protests entered their seventh week. The past weeks have seen scores of protesters arrested by both military and security forces across Lebanon. The organization interviewed eight protesters recently arrested and detained and a lawyer representing …
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Governments are failing to protect women human rights defenders (WHRDs) who routinely face a wide range of gender specific attacks, including rape, because of their work promoting rights relating to women, gender equality and sexuality, Amnesty International said in a new report on International Women Human Rights Defenders Day. “Challenging power, fighting discrimination: A call …
In response to an announcement by Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie that she will not support the repeal of the Medevac Bill unless a certain, unknown condition is met, Amnesty International Australia Refugee Advisor Graham Thom said: “We welcome Senator Lambie’s recognition of the efforts of all the groups including Amnesty International and our supporters and …
Continue reading “Amnesty welcomes Senator Lambie’s statement on Medevac”
