Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
The Australian government is attempting to walk away from the human rights crisis it has created for refugees and asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea (PNG) by winding back critical healthcare services, despite the ongoing plight of the people trapped in its offshore detention centres, Amnesty International said as it released a new briefing today. …
Continue reading “Australia: Healthcare rollbacks put refugee lives and health at risk”
Yemeni civilians are struggling to stay alive amid fierce ground and air attacks in the raging battle to retake western coastal governorates from Huthi armed group control, and the worst could be yet to come, Amnesty International warned after carrying out a field investigation in the south of the country. The organisation interviewed 34 civilians …
Continue reading “Yemen: Fierce new offensive displaces tens of thousands of civilians”
The release of long-time Malaysian opposition leader and Amnesty International prisoner of conscience Anwar Ibrahim is a landmark moment for human rights in the country, the organisation said today. Anwar, who has twice been imprisoned on politically motivated “sodomy” and corruption charges, received a royal pardon following last week’s election win for the Pakatan Harapan …
Continue reading “Malaysia: Release of Anwar Ibrahim a momentous day for human rights”
In response to Israeli forces killing over 50 Palestinian protesters in Gaza and injuring countless others, including children, Amnesty International Australia’s Crisis Campaigns Coordinator Diana Sayed said, “We call on Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to condemn the Israeli military’s excessive use of force in the strongest terms possible, and for Australia to use its diplomatic …
Continue reading “Israel/Gaza: Australia must condemn Israeli military’s excessive force”
Responding to reports that dozens of Palestinians have been killed and hundreds injured by the Israeli military during protests along the fence that separates Gaza and Israel since yesterday, Philip Luther, Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, said: “This is another horrific example of the Israeli military …
A Sudanese court’s sentencing of a 19-year-old woman to death for killing her rapist husband in self-defence highlights the failure of the authorities to tackle child marriage, forced marriage and marital rape, Amnesty International said today. Noura Hussein Hamad has been held in the Omdurman Women’s Prison since May 2017, and was today handed the …
Continue reading “Sudan: Death sentence for raped teenager is an intolerable cruelty”
The US government must stop separating asylum-seeking parents from their children and denying them access to asylum procedures through prolonged detention, said Amnesty International today in response to reports of the US Department of Homeland Security’s adoption of a draconian family separation policy that will apply to anyone who presents themselves at the U.S.-Mexico border. …
Continue reading “USA: Routine separation of asylum-seeking families violates international law”
Responding to news that the Chinese government has removed an estimated 30,000 Peppa Pig videos from the internet, Patrick Poon, Amnesty International’s China researcher, said: “Banning Peppa Pig is further proof of just how sensitive the Chinese government’s censorship is. “Last year, outlawing Winnie the Pooh was laughed at, and now we have a ridiculous …
Continue reading “CHINA: Banning of Peppa Pig ‘Ridiculous new example of state crackdown’”
On Monday 30 April the Australian government is expected to end its contract with International Health and Medical Services (IHMS), which provides healthcare for the refugees and asylum seekers Australia has sent to Papua New Guinea (PNG). Graham Thom, Refugee Coordinator at Amnesty International Australia said: “Ever since the Australian government began shipping refugees out …
Continue reading “Papua New Guinea: Refugee health crisis looming as Australia withdraws support”
A sustained and escalating crackdown curtailed the vital work of human rights defenders in Turkey and left swathes of society in a state of constant fear, a new report from Amnesty International has revealed. The report, Weathering The Storm: Defending human rights in a climate of fear, reveals how few areas of Turkey’s once vibrant …