Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
Saudi Arabia’s decision to allow women to drive is welcome but must now be followed by more reforms to women’s rights, Amnesty International said today. This weekend (Sunday 24 June) women will be allowed to drive in the country as the controversial driving ban is lifted. However, leading women’s rights activists and campaigners against the …
Continue reading “Saudi Arabia: Women now allowed to drive, but more reforms must follow”
Ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary and presidential elections in Turkey, Amnesty International has published a media briefing documenting some of the most egregious human rights abuses that have followed the failed coup attempt in July 2016. The briefing highlights the vast swathe of people impacted by the crackdown, including journalists, public sector workers, the LGBTI community …
Continue reading “Turkey: Elections come after two years of human rights crackdown”
Responding to the sentencing to death of Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) leader Aman Abdurrahman for terrorism-related offences in the country, Amnesty International Indonesia’s Executive Director Usman Hamid said: “Lethal attacks on people going about their daily lives are horrifying and Indonesia has every right to pursue perpetrators and prosecute them. At the same time, it has …
Continue reading “Indonesia: Death sentence for IS cleric no solution to tackling terrorism”
Member states need to reform asylum system at European Council meeting Current system is tearing families apart and sowing discord amongst EU partners Internal lack of solidarity pushing a dangerous agenda to dump refugees and asylum-seekers on countries outside Europe There is an urgent need for a new asylum system that is fair, efficient and …
Continue reading “Europe’s asylum system is broken and leaders must fix it”
The National Justice Project and Amnesty International are welcoming the news that the Federal Court has today ruled in favour of protecting the right of people seeking asylum to retain access to their mobile phones. The Federal Court found that government officials or their representatives could not mandatorily take property, including lifelines such as mobile …
In response to a letter sent by the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley to human rights groups, accusing them of blocking reform at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said: “Following the USA’s showy departure from the Human Rights Council, Nikki Haley’s letter is another sign …
The Saudi Arabia-led coalition has continued to impose restrictions on the entry of essential goods into conflict-ravaged Yemen Huthi de facto authorities have excessively delayed the delivery of humanitarian assistance in famine-threatened areas and are said to have asked for bribes The coalition’s tightened restrictions could constitute a war crime Millions of lives are at …
Continue reading “Yemen: Millions of civilians at risk due to restricted life-saving supplies”
In response to the continued detention of human rights defender, Taner Kılıç, after the latest hearing against him, Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary General said: “The heart-breaking decision to keep our colleague in jail is yet another travesty of justice. “After more than a year away from his family, and without a shred of credible …
Continue reading “Turkey: Court defies logic as Amnesty Turkey Chair kept in jail”
Responding to the arrest of Zeynab Taheri, the lawyer of Mohammad Salas, the 51-year-old Sufi bus driver who was executed on Monday morning after a grossly unfair trial, Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said: “It’s telling that Zeynab Taheri’s arrest followed her public announcement that she …
Continue reading “Iran: Outspoken lawyer arrested after protesting the execution of her client”
US President Trump signed an executive order today mandating for children to stay with their parents in detention while their asylum claims are processed. This executive order seeks to modify the Flores Agreement, which states that children should not be held in detention for more than 20 days. Denise Bell, refugee and migrant rights researcher …
Continue reading “US Executive Order inflicts further harm on children”