Amnesty International Australia
Defending Human Rights
Authorities must not “push-back” Rohingya fleeing violence in Myanmar Refugees sent back to face certain persecution Thailand should provide refugees formal legal status and protection Australia has a crucial role to play in the region and must accept Rohingya refugees from Thailand With the world’s fastest growing refugee crisis developing on its doorstep, Thailand must …
Continue reading “Thailand: Hard line on refugees leaves thousands vulnerable and at risk”
Amnesty International has today upped the ante on the Australian government and increased its calls for action on the crisis in Myanmar. “Today, Amnesty International supporters around Australia will begin making direct calls on Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defence Minister Marise Payne to do everything in their power to end the violence and ethnic …
Continue reading “Amnesty ups the ante on calls for action on Myanmar”
Amnesty International today has the pleasure of announcing the finalists in the 2017 Media Awards, which celebrate excellence in human rights reporting. “In this fourth year of the awards, we were thrilled to receive a record number of entries from commercial, public and community media outlets across Australia,” said Media Coordinator Anita Harvey. “The 18 …
Continue reading “Congratulations to 2017 Media Awards Finalists”
Responding to the Saudi Arabian government’s announcement that women will be allowed to drive, Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said: “It is a testament to the bravery of women activists who have been campaigning for years that the government of Saudi Arabia has finally relented …
Continue reading “Saudi Arabia: Right to drive long overdue step forward for women”
Responding to reports that President Trump will slash the number of refugee admissions to the United States to an all-time historical low number of 45,000 next year, Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA said: “If these reports are true, this is a devastating betrayal of an American tradition of helping people escape war …
Continue reading “Thousands of Lives In Danger As Trump Slashes Number of Refugees Admitted to U.S.”
Responding to the news that at least 42 people were executed in Iraq yesterday on “terrorism” charges, Lynn Maalouf, Middle East Research Director at Amnesty International said: “This mass execution is a shocking display of the Iraqi authorities’ resort to the death penalty to try to show they are responding to security threats. “There can …
Following a revision of President Trump’s travel ban to now include restrictions on travellers from Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, Naureen Shah, senior campaigns director for Amnesty International USA, released the following statement: “Since this ban was implemented 10 months ago, we’ve seen families torn apart and whole nations of …
Continue reading “USA: Muslim Ban Revision Risks More Suffering”
Amnesty International has assessed three new videos taken inside Rakhine State as recently as Friday afternoon showing large plumes of smoke rising from Rohingya villages, one of which was already deserted, as well as satellite imagery with smoke visible over burnt-out structures. Local sources in northern Rakhine State claim the fires were started by members …
Earlier today the United Kingdom cut ties to the Myanmar military including any non-combat support. “While a campaign of ethnic cleansing is being committed against the Rohingya people, the Australian Government must suspend all forms of support to Myanmar’s military,” Amnesty International Australia’s Campaigns Manager Michael Hayworth said. “Amnesty International is calling on …
Continue reading “Rohingya crisis: Australia must cut ties with Myanmar Army”
“Amnesty International welcomes the news that for a select few people on Manus Island and Nauru this week may finally bring hope, and the prospect of safety as they receive news about settlement in the US,” said Graham Thom, Refugee Coordinator at Amnesty International Australia. “Amnesty International acknowledges the US for giving people a genuine …
Continue reading “MANUS/NAURU: Welcome news for some, but solution must be for all”