Celebrating National Reconciliation Week 2019!

National Reconciliation Week runs annually from 27 May – 3 June, book-ended by the anniversaries of the 1967 Referendum and the Mabo decision. This year’s theme is “Grounded in Truth, Walk Together with Courage”. National Reconciliation Week is a time for all people to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore …

Watchhouses: The Palaszczuk Government cares more about political points than children’s lives

Amnesty International have condemned the Palaszczuk Government for actively avoiding taking action on the issue of Queensland children in adult watchhouses. Today they have used all the parliamentary tricks of the trade to avoid finding a solution to the watchhouse crisis including: Delaying and shortening question time Avoiding answering questions on watch houses Attempting to …

Investigations and 72 hour caps are not the solution to watchhouse issues

The Queensland Opposition today announced that they will introduce a bill to cap the time children are held in police watch houses at 72 hours. In response, Rodney Dillon, Amnesty International Australia Indigenous Rights Adviser, said: “While any action on the traumatising use of watchhouses is to be welcomed, three days of detention is still …

Venezuela: Crimes against humanity require a vigorous response from the international justice system

Selective extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detentions, and deaths and injuries caused by the excessive use of force by Nicolás Maduro’s government as part of a systematic and widespread policy of repression since at least 2017 may constitute crimes against humanity, said Amnesty International today in its new report on the events in Venezuela in late January …

Officials admit QLD Watchhouses ‘a bit of a messy situation’

Just a day after the shocking Four Corners investigation into watch houses, Amnesty International Australia has uncovered documents from 2018 that show officials have been aware of the issues for some time, with a key member of the Watchhouse Response Team calling circumstances in the watch houses in Queensland  “a bit of a messy situation”. …

Julian Assange: Rape allegations must be treated with utmost seriousness

Reacting to the news that the Swedish Prosecution Authority has re-opened its investigation into a rape allegation against Julian Assange, and will issue a formal extradition request to the UK by 14 June 2019, Massimo Moratti, Amnesty’s Deputy Director for Research for Europe said:   “Rape allegations should always be treated with utmost seriousness. It is …

Next government must enshrine human rights in Federal Act: Amnesty

Amnesty International Australia has called on the party that forms government after next Saturday’s election to protect all Australians’ human rights by enshrining them in a Federal Act of Parliament. “Human rights should be at the heart of policy decisions no matter who holds government.” “Human rights should be at the heart of policy decisions …

Myanmar: Genuine press freedom must follow release of Reuters journalists

Responding to news of the amnesty and release of Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, Nicholas Bequelin, Amnesty International’s East and Southeast Asia Director said: Today marks an important victory for press freedom in Myanmar. The case against Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo was a travesty of justice from start to finish …

Political leaders must act on demands of striking students

Political Leaders Must Act on Demands of Striking Students Amnesty International Australia is in full support of the action by students right across Australia on their #ClimateElection Day of Action on Friday May 3. Extreme weather-related disasters and rising seas will destroy homes and ruin people’s ability to earn a living. And unless emissions are …

Media freedom muzzled as journalists are targeted for telling the truth

Southern Africa: Media freedom muzzled as journalists are targeted for telling the truth Mozambique becoming increasingly hostile towards journalists Zambia and Zimbabwe among countries where media space continues to shrink Amnesty calls for states to stop treating journalists with contempt Media freedom remains under threat in several countries in southern Africa with journalists put in …