Newsroom

We put a human face on complex issues to hold governments accountable.

Below you’ll find breaking news as well as reports, updates on our campaigns, and victories.

If you are a member of the press, please reach out to [email protected]

Activists Protest Chicago Police Department, Rahm Emanuel
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 31: Demonstrators calling for an end to gun violence and the resignation of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel march through downtown on December 31, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. The shooting deaths by police of a 19-year-old college student Quintonio LeGrier and his 55-year-old neighbor Bettie Jones and a recently released video showing the shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by Chicago Police officer Jason Van Dyke have sparked dozens of protests in the city. Yesterday Emanuel announced several changes that would take place in the police department with the hope of preventing future incidents. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Press Release

Governor Signs Bill Providing Common Sense Gun Reform in Illinois

Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a bill today that will make it easier to oversee and track down careless gun dealers…

January 17, 2019

Press Release

Amnesty Statement on the attack of Dusit D2 Hotel and Office Complex, Nairobi

Amnesty International Kenya joins other Kenyans and persons of good will around the world in expressing shock and outrage at…

January 16, 2019

Former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo greets his legal team as he enters the courtroom of the International Criminal Court in The Hague on January 15, 2019, where judges were expected to issue rulings on requests by Gbagbo and ex-government minister Charles Ble Goude to have their prosecutions thrown out for lack of evidence. - The International Criminal Court on January 15 acquitted former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo over post-electoral violence in the West African nation in a stunning blow to the war crimes tribunal in The Hague. Judges ordered the immediate release of the 73-year-old deposed strongman, the first head of state to stand trial at the troubled ICC, and his right-hand man Charles Ble Goude. (Photo by Peter Dejong / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo credit should read PETER DEJONG/AFP/Getty Images)

Press Release

Cote d’Ivoire: Acquittal of Gbagbo and Blé Goudé a crushing disappointment to victims of post-election violence

Following today’s International Criminal Court (ICC) decision to acquit Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé, Marie-Evelyne Petrus Barry Amnesty International’s…

January 15, 2019

Press Release

Statement in Response to Closure of Tornillo Tent City

The following can be attributed to Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA: “Warehousing thousands of children in tents…

January 11, 2019

Yellow and white graphic with the Amnesty international logo on the bottom left and the word

Press Release

Syria: US withdrawal does not erase Coalition’s duty towards Raqqa’s devastated civilians

UPDATE: This statement has been modified to reflect a clarification by US forces that the early stages of the withdrawal…

January 11, 2019

YE AUNG THU/AFP/Getty Images

Press Release

Myanmar: Reuters journalists’ rejected appeal perpetuates an appalling injustice

Responding to news that a Myanmar court has rejected the appeal by Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo,…

January 11, 2019

Press Release

17 Years Later, Guantanamo Prison Remains a Threat to Human Rights

The military prison at Guantánamo Bay remains a stain on the human rights record of the United States and continues…

January 10, 2019

Yellow and white graphic with the Amnesty international logo on the bottom left and the word

Press Release

Thailand: Amnesty welcomes Saudi woman’s refugee protection

Responding to news that the UN have granted refugee status to Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, an 18-year old Saudi woman, and…

January 9, 2019

LAMPEDUSA, ITALY - MAY 24: Refugees and migrants are seen swimming and yelling for assistance from crew members from the Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) 'Phoenix' vessel after a wooden boat bound for Italy carrying more than 500 people capsized on May 24, 2017 off Lampedusa, Italy. Numbers of refugees and migrants attempting the dangerous central Mediterranean crossing from Libya to Italy has risen since the same time last year with more than 43,000 people recorded so far in 2017. In an attempt to slow the flow of migrants Italy recently signed a deal with Libya, Chad and Niger outlining a plan to increase border controls and add new reception centers in the African nations, which are key transit points for migrants heading to Italy. MOAS is a Malta based NGO dedicated to providing professional search-and-rescue assistance to refugees and migrants in distress at sea. Since the start of the year MOAS have rescued and assisted 3572 people and are currently patrolling and running rescue operations in international waters off the coast of Libya. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Press Release

“Dangerous and unseemly spectacle” must spur action to save lives at sea in the EU

Following news of the disembarkation of 49 men, women and children stranded at sea for 19 days while their requests for safe…

January 9, 2019

MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 12: Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) waits for the start of a press conference after joining with anti-gun violence activists and victims' families to discuss the impact of gun violence on August 12, 2016 in Miami, Florida. They used the opportunity to also discuss why they support Hillary Clinton's plans to combat gun violence. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Press Release

Universal Background Checks Are Critical to Addressing Human Rights Crisis of Gun Violence

Legislation introduced today requiring universal background checks for firearm sales presents an important opportunity to address the human rights crisis…

January 8, 2019

AIUSA Executive Director Margaret and AI Secretary General Salil Shetty delivered a letter to the Department of Homeland Security Secretary, outlining numerous personal stories of people who are affected by the Muslim ban, asking DHS to release full information about how the ban has been implemented, and demanding that DHS help roll back the ban. As a part of the protests outside, we projected “No Ban, No Wall” on the building along with photos of refugees in Lebanon and Kenya provided by Magnum Photography.

Press Release

It’s Time To Stop Political Posturing And Protect Human Rights At The Border, Says Amnesty

In anticipation of President Trump’s address tonight on his administration’s policies toward asylum-seekers and migrants at the border, Margaret Huang,…

January 8, 2019

Mike Pompeo
Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Press Release

Failure to Raise Human Rights During Pompeo Visit to Gulf Could Risk Increased Abuses

Amnesty International USA has sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo regarding his current tour of the Middle…

January 8, 2019