Latest News
Venezuela: Violence in the family in Venezuela: Case of Alexandra Hidalgo
AI Index: AMR 53/007/2008 Amnesty International November 2008
2008-11-19
Majority support expected in UN vote on death penalty moratorium
A large majority of states from all regions are expected to back a second resolution by the UN General Assembly (Third Committee) on Thursday calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
2008-11-19
UN adopts key economic, social and cultural rights instrument
The international community has taken a step towards strengthening human rights protection, particularly for the world's most marginalised.
2008-11-19
Sri Lankan government must act now to protect 300,000 displaced
The humanitarian crisis in the Wanni region of north Sri Lanka is worsening as tens of thousands of families endure the monsoon season with limited food, shelter, water or sanitation.
2008-11-19
Czech anti-Roma demonstrators clash with police
About 500 demonstrators linked to the far right Czech Workers Party, tried to attack a Roma community in the town of Litvinov.
2008-11-19
Exceptional Uzbek woman honoured in Geneva on 20 Novembere
Mutabar Tadzhibaeva, a human rights activist from Uzbekistan, will receive the 2008 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA) on Thursday, 20 November.
2008-11-19
Colombia: Stop false accusations against human rights groups, government should address reported abuses
(Washington/London) President Álvaro Uribe of Colombia should stop making false and dangerous accusations against human rights groups that criticize his government, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said today in a joint statement.
2008-11-19
United Nations: Breakthrough in access to justice for all rights
Amnesty International welcomed today’s adoption of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, by the UN General Assembly's Third Committee in New York.
2008-11-19
Georgia: In Wake of Russia-Georgia Conflict, Return, Security and Truth a Long Way Off, Says Amnesty International
In a new report, Amnesty International says that the evidence it has collected strongly suggests that serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law were committed by all sides in the August conflict between Russian, Georgian and South Ossetian forces.
2008-11-18
USA: President-elect Obama recommits to closing Guantánamo and ending torture
'Early action' promised on closing the detention centre at Guantánamo Bay and ensuring that the USA does not resort to torture.
2008-11-18
DRC: NGOs call for UN session on the Democratic Republic of Congo
Over forty organizations active in Africa warn that the situation in the eastern DRC is at risk of turning into a humanitarian catastrophe, as the civilian death toll continues to rise.
2008-11-18
Japan: Taiwan and South Korea call for 'comfort women' apology
The Government of Japan must accept historical responsibility and apologise to the victims of Japan's military sexual slavery system.
2008-11-18
Czech Republic: No to racist attacks
The Czech authorities must put an immediate end to the increasing verbal and physical attacks against the Roma community by far right groups and prosecute those breaching the law, Amnesty International said today.
2008-11-18
Sri Lanka: Hundreds of thousands trapped in the Wanni need urgent shelters
The Sri Lankan government must immediately end its policy of blocking humanitarian aid needed to reach an estimated 300,000 displaced people in the Wanni region of northern Sri Lanka, Amnesty International said today.
2008-11-18
Uganda: Ugandan government must establish reparations programme for war victims
Widespread human rights violations were committed during northern Uganda's 20-year conflict between the Government of Uganda's (GoU) armed forces and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).
2008-11-17
USA: Amnesty International Welcomes President-Elect Obama's Commitment to Close Guantanamo
President-elect Obama's statement in a CBS interview yesterday that he will follow through on his commitment to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay is an important step in the right direction, Amnesty International said today.
2008-11-17
Italy: Genoa court convicts 13 police and acquits 16 high-ranking officials over violence at 2001 G8
Amnesty International welcomes the fact that a judicial decision has been reached establishing human rights violations committed by law enforcement officials, including ill-treatment, occurred at the Armando Díaz School during the G8 summit during the night of 21 July 2001, in Genoa, Italy
2008-11-17
India: Arbitrary detention of human rights defenders monitoring elections in Jammu & Kashmir
Amnesty International calls upon authorities in India to immediately release Pervez Imroz, a Srinagar-based senior advocate, and two other human rights defenders - Firdouz Ahmed Sofi and Aijaz Ahmed Mir - who were apparently arbitrarily detained at Bandipura where they were monitoring polling during the ongoing elections in Jammu & Kashmir today, 17 November
2008-11-17
Thailand: Refugees held by Thailand must be freed
Ninety-two children are among a group of 158 Lao Hmong refugees who have been held under harsh conditions at a detention centre in Thailand for two years.
2008-11-17
Israel: Israeli army relaxes restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza
The Israeli army allowed a limited number of trucks carrying humanitarian assistance into Gaza for the first time in two weeks on Monday.
2008-11-17
Georgia/Russia conflict: Counting the cost of war: Return, security and truth still a long way off
One hundred days after the August conflict, over 20,000 ethnic Georgians are still unable to return to their homes in South Ossetia, while many of those, on both sides of the conflict, who have gone back have found their homes pillaged or destroyed.
2008-11-17
USA: Amnesty International welcomes commitment to close Guantánamo
President-elect Obama?s statement in a CBS interview yesterday that he will follow through on his commitment to close the detention centre at Guantánamo Bay is an important step in the right direction, Amnesty International said today.
2008-11-17
Uganda: Government miserably failing in care of victims of conflict
Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children who suffered abuses during the 20-year conflict in Northern Uganda remain destitute and physically and mentally traumatized due to the government's failure to put in place a comprehensive reparations programme, Amnesty International said today.
2008-11-17
Democratic Republic of Congo: Human rights groups request special session of Human Rights Council
As the civilian death toll in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to rise, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and more than forty other organizations active in Africa warned today that the situation in the eastern DRC is at risk of turning into a humanitarian catastrophe, and called on the UN Human Rights Council to convene a special session on the crisis without delay.
2008-11-17
Israel: Israeli Blockade Worsens Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza, Charges Amnesty International
Amnesty International urges the Israeli authorities to allow the immediate passage of humanitarian aid, medical supplies and fuel to the Gaza Strip, where the situation is nothing short of a disaster.
2008-11-14
Tunisia: Former political prisoners face harassment
The hunger strike staged since 2 October by former political prisoner, Abdellatif Bouhajila, to protest against the authorities' denial to grant him access to medical care and to issue him a passport is a stark reminder of the harassment faced by former political prisoners in Tunisia, said Amnesty International today
2008-11-14
Israel: Israeli army blocks deliveries to Gaza
The Israeli army has completely blocked the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid and medical supplies to the Gaza Strip for more than a week.
2008-11-14
Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories: Israeli blockade causes worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza
Amnesty International urges the Israeli authorities to allow the immediate passage of humanitarian aid, medical supplies and fuel to the Gaza Strip, where the situation is nothing short of a disaster.
2008-11-14
India: Act with restraint during elections in Jammu & Kashmir
In advance of the month-long elections to be held in the state of Jammu & Kashmir starting on 17 November and ending on 24 December, Amnesty International appeals to India's security forces to act with restraint and avoid excessive use of force, in the wake of recent volatility in the state
2008-11-13
USA: Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment votes for abolition
13 November 2008
2008-11-13
Latest Reports
Georgia/Russia: Civilians in the line of fire: The Georgia-Russia conflict.
From the onset of the five-day war between Georgia and Russia in the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia in August 2008 the conflicting parties failed to take necessary measures to protect civilians from the hostilities. In this report Amnesty International raises concerns that serious violations of both international human rights law and international humanitarian law were committed by all parties, both during the course of the conflict and in its aftermath.
2008-11-18
Thailand: Life at a Dead End: Lao Hmong refugees detained in Thailand
A group of 158 Lao Hmong refugees, at least 92 of whom are children, have been held for two years at the Immigration Detention Center in the north of Thailand. The conditions at the centre are harsh and the health of many of the refugees has been badly affected. Amnesty International believes that many of the Lao Hmong in Thailand are at risk of serious human rights violations if they are forcibly returned to Laos.
2008-11-17
Uganda: Left to their own devices: The continued suffering of victims of the conflict in Northern Uganda and the need for reparations
The conflict in northern Uganda between Government of Uganda's (GoU) armed forces and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) lasted nearly two decades from 1986
2008-11-17
USA: We're counting on you. Counter terror with justice - 100 days action postcard.
2008-11-15
Armenia: No pride in silence: Countering violence in the family in Armenia
2008-11-13
Armenia: Violence in the family in Armenia: Case of Greta Baghdasaryan
2008-11-13
Armenia: No pride in silence: Domestic and sexual violence against women in Armenia: Summary
Thousands of women in Armenia are regularly subjected to violence within their families. Women who try to defend themselves from violence and seek justice face multiple barriers. It is difficult to report violence in the family as a crime because it is neither defined in law nor clearly condemned as a crime. The state must take urgent steps to change wider attitudes towards domestic and sexual violence prevalent in Armenian society. This summary is based on the report: EUR 54/004/2008.
2008-11-13
USA: Indefinite detention by litigation: 'Monstrous absurdity' continues as Uighurs remain in Guantánamo
USA: Indefinite detention by litigation
2008-11-12
Gambia: Fear rules
2008-11-11
Moratoriums on Executions: Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the United Nations General Assembly resolution 62/149
Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the United Nations General Assembly resolution 62/149
2008-11-11
Dominican Republic: Challenging discrimination in the Dominican Republic: Protecting the rights of Haitian migrant workers and their descendants
Discrimination on grounds of race, language, skin colour and nationality is an everyday reality for many Haitian migrant workers and Dominicans of Haitian descent. In this document Amnesty International highlights the contribution made by organizations such as the Movement for Dominico-Haitian Women (MUDHA); expresses concern at the apparent campaign to discredit the work of MUDHA; expresses concern at the discrimination faced by Haitian migrant workers; and reminds the Dominican authorities of their obligation to recognize the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders.
2008-11-09
Colombia: Campaigning for truth and justice: The National Movement of Victims of State Crimes
The National Movement of Victims of State Crimes (Movimiento Nacional de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado, MOVICE) is a coalition of non-governmental organizations which campaigns for truth, justice and reparation for the thousands of victims of human rights violations committed by the security forces and their paramilitary allies. In this document Amnesty International expresses concern for the safety of members of MOVICE and calls for effective investigations into the killings and harassment of MOVICE members.
2008-11-09
Venezuela: Defending the right to education in Venezuela: José Luis Urbano and The Foundation for the Defence of the Right to Education
The Foundation for the Defence of the Right to Education is an NGO working to promote and defend the right to free education for all as it is enshrined in Venezuela’s Constitution. José Luis Urbano and other members of this Foundation have repeatedly been targeted because they have publicly condemned corruption and violations of the right to free education. In this document Amnesty International expresses concern for the safety of José Luis Urbano, his family, and other members of the Foundation.
2008-11-09
Ecuador: Standing up for the environment in Ecuador: The Assembly for the Defence of Our Rivers Gala, Chico, Tenguel and River Siete
Esther Landetta Chica is a leading member of the community-based Assembly for the Defence of Our Rivers Gala, Chico, Tenguel and River Siete. She has been targeted for a series of threats and intimidation because of her crucial role in voicing communities’ concerns about possible negative consequences of irregular mining activities and has now gone into hiding. In this document Amnesty International calls on the Ecuadorian authorities for a thorough investigation into threats made and to continue to provide protection measures to Esther Landetta.
2008-11-09
Somalia: Fatal Insecurity: Attacks on aid workers and rights defenders in Somalia
An escalating wave of attacks on humanitarian workers, peace activists and human rights defenders has been sweeping Somalia. In this report Amnesty International calls for the arms embargo to be strengthened, for neighbouring countries to open their borders to Somalis seeking asylum, and for the international community to provide support to those forced to flee their country. The international community must exert pressure to demand genuine change – to protect civilians and ensure human rights.
2008-11-06
USA: Counter Terror with Justice: A checklist for the next US President
Government responses to the attacks in the USA on 11 September 2001 and in other countries since then have undermined the framework of human rights. Much of this assault on human rights has been the result of policies and practices authorized and justified by the US executive, led by the US president. Using this checklist, Amnesty International calls on the next US president to close Guantánamo and end illegal detention; to eradicate torture and other ill-treatment; and to end impunity.
2008-11-05
Japan: Still Waiting for Justice!
2008-11-03
Zimbabwe: Time for Accountability
2008-10-31
Zimbabwe: While Negotiations Drag On in Zimbabwe, Population Facing Extreme Hunger, According to New Amnesty International Report
Amnesty International released a report today and new video that graphically demonstrates the ongoing suffering of the Zimbabwean people, as the three main political parties in Zimbabwe struggle to form an inclusive government.
2008-10-31
Jordan: Isolated, Exploited, Abused: Jordan's women migrant domestic workers
Tens of thousands of women migrant domestic workers in Jordan face isolation, exploitation and abuse, with little or no protection from the state. In this document Amnesty International calls on the Jordanian authorities: to amend the Labour Law to cover domestic work and guarantee labour rights to migrant domestic workers; to establish a shelter for runaway domestic workers; to improve monitoring of recruitment agencies, and other actions to protect the rights of migrant workers.
2008-10-30
Iran: Campaign for Equality [Global letter-writing marathon 2008]
The Campaign for Equality, an Iranian women’s rights initiative launched in 2006, is committed to ending discrimination against women in Iranian law. Several activists have been arrested or tried for activities which are entirely legal, such as organizing peaceful gatherings, educational workshops, or petitioning for legislative change.
2008-10-29
Iraq: Nathum Mohammad Isma'il al-'Ani [Global letter-writing marathon 2008]
Nathum Mohammad Isma’il al-‘Ani was one of 18 people arrested by Iraqi security forces in Baghdad on 21 December 2005. There has been no news of Nathum Mohammad Isma’il al-‘Ani since January 2006. Iraqi security forces arrested, blindfolded and handcuffed the 18 men before taking them to an unknown location where they were interrogated. They are believed to be the victims of enforced disappearance and Amnesty International fears for their lives.
2008-10-29
Cambodia: The People of Group 78 [Global letter-writing marathon 2008]
Nearly 150 families living in the centre of Phnom Penh face forced eviction. The Phnom Penh city authorities have been threatening since June 2006 to forcibly evict nearly 150 families living on land known as Group 78. Once evicted, the authorities intend to resettle them in Andong, a site that has no water supply or sewerage, where thousands of people evicted from elsewhere in Phnom Penh are living in squalor.
2008-10-29
Moldova: Sergei Gurgurov [Global letter-writing marathon 2008]
Sergei Gurgurov has been left disabled by the reported torture and ill-treatment he received in police detention in late 2005. Sergei Gurgurov was arrested on suspicion of stealing a mobile phone. The charge against him is still in force, and he is awaiting trial.
2008-10-29
Japan: Hakamada Iwao [Global letter-writing marathon 2008]
Hakamada Iwao is suffering from mental illness after spending over 28 years in solitary confinement and lives with the constant fear of execution. After an unfair trial, he was convicted of the 1966 murder of the boss of the factory where he worked, and the man's wife and two children. Hakamada Iwao appears to have been sentenced to death principally on the basis of a confession extracted under duress.
2008-10-29
Democratic Republic of Congo: Justine Masika Bihama [Global letter-writing marathon 2008]
Justine Masika Bihamba is a human rights worker in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). She and her family have been targeted by the DRC military because of her work as the coordinator of the women’s human rights NGO, Synergie des femmes contre les violences sexuelles (SFVS). SFVS counsellors have regularly been threatened and attacked because of their work.
2008-10-29
Mexico: Bárbara Italia Méndez [Global letter-writing marathon 2008]
Bárbara Italia Méndez was detained on 4 May 2006 during protests in San Salvador Atenco, Mexico State. Police officers beat her, threatened her and sexually assaulted her. Security forces arrested 206 people during the protests. In total, 26 women made complaints to the authorities of physical, psychological and sexual violence by the police officers who arrested them. Only six officials have been prosecuted by state authorities for minor criminal offences in connection with the police operations.
2008-10-29
Eritrea: Patriarch Abune Antonios [Global letter-writing marathon 2008]
Patriarch Abune Antonios has been under house arrest since January 2006. Abune Antonios is Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church. Amnesty International considers Abune Antonios to be a prisoner of conscience, and there are grave concerns for his health as he is 80 years old, has diabetes and is not receiving medication.
2008-10-29
Philippines: Shattered Peace in Mindanao: The human cost of conflict in the Philippines
2008-10-29
Colombia: 'Leave us in peace!' : Targeting civilians in Colombia's internal armed conflict
Colombia’s internal armed conflict has pitted the security forces and paramilitaries against guerrilla groups for more than 40 years. It has been marked by extraordinary levels of human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, with civilians by far the principal victims. Amnesty International’s recommendations in this report echo and support the demands and aspirations of the many human rights defenders, community activists and trade unionists who continue to strive for justice often at great personal cost.
2008-10-28
