Amnesty International Australia Campaigns

Thank you for your support

2009-11-11T03:33:20+00:00

Graham Thom thanks supporters who spoke out for refugees.

Al-Marri: Justice Served?

2009-11-09T00:57:06+00:00

On the 29th of October of this year, Ali Al Marri was sentenced by a U.S. District Court to eight and a half years imprisonment. The sentence comes after five years and eight months of illegal detention and being held in conditions amounting to torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

CIA Agents Convicted in Italy

2009-11-05T22:14:26+00:00

The Court of Milan has convicted twenty three CIA agents for their role in the rendition of Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, also known as Abu Omar. Read more about this historic finding.

Detained journalist freed in Sri Lanka

2009-11-05T01:34:04+00:00

Journalist Vettivel Jasikaran and his wife Valarmathi Jasikaran were released on 26 October 2009.

Going backwards: Why laws are fuelling discrimination in the Northern Territory

2009-10-30T03:58:19+00:00

In 2007, the Australian Government launched an initiative that today subjects more than 45,000 people to discrimination based on their race.

The day the bulldozers came…

2009-10-28T01:31:21+00:00

West Bank farmer Mahmoud al-'Alam won't forget the day Israeli army bulldozers cut off his water supply... and destroyed his livelihood.

Palestinians denied fair access to water

2009-10-27T23:55:06+00:00

While many people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories struggle to get enough water to drink - let alone grow crops - their rainwater harvesting systems are often destroyed by the Israeli military.

Jakarkhon Sheikho ‘Ali released

2009-10-22T22:13:53+00:00

Prisoner of conscience Jakarkhon Sheikho ‘Ali was released without charge on 3 October 2009 in Syria.

Frank answers your questions

2009-10-19T02:38:45+00:00

On 14 October, Father Frank Brennan took questions from our supporters on his experiences as Chair of the National Human Rights Consultation Committee, which administered Australia's biggest ever public consultation. Questions were put forward by campaign coordinator Jenny Leong after Father Brennan's presentation at the Canberra Press Club.

Mongolian death row inmate pardoned

2009-10-14T02:23:42+00:00

Buuveibaatar, a 33-year old Mongolian man sentenced to death for murder, has been granted a pardon by the Mongolian President.

The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights

2009-10-13T21:28:53+00:00

In her new book The Unheard Truth, Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan reveals why poverty is the worst human rights crisis in the world today.

Cruelty Spreads

2009-10-13T21:04:56+00:00

The export of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment has always been of major concern to torture experts. Read more about the treatment alleged by lawyers of a prisoner of conscience in the United States.

“You Will Not Leave This Place Innocent”: Admissions of Torture

2009-10-12T21:24:34+00:00

Last month, Fouad al-Rabiah was ordered to be released from Guantanamo Bay after admissions that the US Government tortured him to gain a false confession. With such an admission there should be no doubt that a full scale comprehensive investigation is necessary to ensure accountability for actions against the people illegally held and tortured in US run prisons.

Trials in Error: Military Commissions

2009-10-11T21:15:42+00:00

On the 28th October President Obama signed off on the amended Military Commissions Act 2009. Whilst the amendments are a positive start, they still do not comply with internationally recognised fair trial standards.

All 36 detainees released

2009-10-08T02:43:54+00:00

The 36 Iranians detained by the Iraqi security forces were released on 7 October 2009, and have been taken back to Camp Ashraf.

Human Rights Act for Australia: Let’s act on it

2009-10-08T00:00:04+00:00

The release to the public of the report on Australia's biggest ever public consultation - itself the culmination of over a year's work by the National Consultation Committee - is apparently just around the corner. We can't wait to see the recommendations by the Committee, and moreover how the Federal Government and Attorney General respond to it.

Human Rights Act: Blogs from the frontline

2009-10-07T21:59:44+00:00

We can't wait to see the the report from the Human Rights Consultation Committee and hear the Attorney General's response to it! Check out the latest news and views from our Campaign Team.

Ask Frank a question

2009-10-07T01:47:13+00:00

Consultation Committee Chair Father Frank Brennan has kindly agreed to sit down for a chat with Amnesty Campaign Coordinator Jenny Leong after his Canberra Press Club presentation on Wednesday 14 October. Jenny will be asking Father Brennan questions from Amnesty supporters about the Human Rights Consultation Committee's report and the consultation process. We'll be filming the discussion and will post it live on youtube and this website on Thursday 15 October.

The Report portal

2009-10-02T04:15:18+00:00

Australian Human Rights Consultation report release portal.

Justice denied for Cambodia’s Group 78

2009-10-02T03:17:02+00:00

After three years of government harassment and intimidation, the residents of Group 78 in Cambodia have been forcibly evicted from their homes.

Xinjiang - An inevitable explosion

2009-10-02T00:39:00+00:00

The violence in China's Xinjiang province represents rising tensions and attempts at stripping the Uighur population of its cultural heritage.

Report released - can we have a copy please?

2009-09-30T06:44:22+00:00

Campaign Coordinator Jenny Leong can't wait for the Attorney-General's release of the report he received from the Human Rights Consultation Committee on Wednesday 30 September.

Human Experimentation at Guantanamo Bay

2009-09-28T00:47:22+00:00

Revelations continue to come to light regarding the CIA's extensive use of doctors whilst "interrogating" so called 'war on terror' detainees. Read more about the involvement of medical professionals in the torture of people detained by the CIA and the US military here.

Environment and health laid waste in Nigeria

2009-09-28T00:08:34+00:00

The 31 million people who live in Nigeria's once pristine coastal wetlands remain desperately poor.

Bagram: Still no Prospect of Justice

2009-09-20T23:41:03+00:00

On the 14th September, the Obama Administration filed a brief which outlined its continued intention to prevent ANY detainee held in Bagram Airbase from challenging their detention. Read the Amnesty International report here

Otomi Indigenous woman and prisoner of conscience freed

2009-09-18T01:22:35+00:00

Prisoner of conscience Jacinta Francisco Marcial was released from prison in Mexico on 17 September 2009, after being held for three years for a crime she did not commit.

Murder witness released

2009-09-09T00:32:51+00:00

Tehran resident, Caspian Makan, is reported to have been released on bail from Evin Prison, Iran, though it is not clear when or under what conditions.

Working on the frontline in the Democratic Republic of Congo

2009-09-07T01:56:44+00:00

After a decade researching human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo for Amnesty International, Andrew Philip believes there is no worse place on earth to be female.

Situation dire for refugees in Malaysia

2009-09-04T04:27:51+00:00

Dr Graham Thom recently travelled to Malaysia to investigate the situation for refugees and asylum-seekers in detention there. Many of these people endure horrific conditions and treatment while seeking sanctuary there.

The Disappeared

2009-08-30T23:52:26+00:00

30th August marks the International Day of the Disappeared. Disappearance, defined as abduction, arrest or detention by the state or its agents, is one of the cruellest forms of human rights violations and it impacts many people around the world.