Below you’ll find breaking news as well as reports, updates on our campaigns, and victories.
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Press Release
Senior Myanmar Officials Should Be Held Accountable for Crimes Against Humanity
The U.S. Department of Treasury imposed targeted sanctions today against four Myanmar officials and two military units, including Aung Kyaw Zaw, Khin Maung Soe, Khin Hlaing, and Border Guard Police commander Thura San Lwin, along with the 33rd and the 99th Light Infantry Divisions In response, Francisco Bencosme, advocacy manager for Asia-Pacific at Amnesty International USA issued this statement:
August 17, 2018
Press Release
Turkey: Released Amnesty Chair hopes justice will prevail for all victims of politically motivated prosecutions
Taner Kılıç, the Honorary Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, who was released yesterday after more than fourteen months behind bars, has thanked his supporters and said he hopes the campaign for his release helps to highlight the situation facing other victims of politically motivated prosecutions in Turkey. Taner, whose trial will resume on November 7, was reunited with his family late yesterday after being released by a court in Istanbul. “I think the campaign for my release has helped to shine a light on all those people who have been the victims of politically motivated, unfair prosecutions in Turkey,” said Taner Kılıç.…
August 16, 2018
Press Release
Afghanistan: Student massacre is a war crime
Responding to the attack on a Shi’a education center in Kabul on 15 August 2018, where a bomber stormed in and killed 34 people and injured at least 56 others, Amnesty International’s South Asia Campaigner, Samira Hamidi, said: “The deliberate targeting of civilians and the targeting of places of education is a war crime. The students killed were preparing for their university entrance exams when the bomber struck. The tragedy is compounded by the fact that this appears to have been an attack that was motivated by sectarian hatred, targeting members of the minority Shi’a religious community. “The mounting civilian…
August 16, 2018
Press Release
“Bigger, bolder and more inclusive”: Kumi Naidoo sets out his vision for human rights
The human rights movement needs to be bigger, bolder and more inclusive if it is to tackle the challenges that people face today, said seasoned activist Kumi Naidoo as he officially started his role as Secretary General of Amnesty International. Â
August 16, 2018
Press Release
Amnesty Turkey’s Chair released after more than a year behind bars
Following the release the Honorary Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, Taner Kilic, after more than fourteen months behind bars, Kumi Naidoo, Amnesty International’s new Secretary General said: “We are overjoyed at this news. It has taken us more than a year of campaigning and struggle to get here. Taner has finally been freed and is safely back in the arms of his wife and daughters. “But beneath the smiles of joy and relief there will be sorrow, anger and a steely determination. Sorrow for all the things Taner has missed during his cruel incarceration. Anger that the baseless charges against…
August 15, 2018
Press Release
Amnesty Turkey’s Chair to be released after more than a year behind bars
Following a decision by a court in Istanbul to release the Honorary Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, Taner Kilic after more than fourteen months behind bars, Kumi Naidoo, Amnesty International’s new Secretary General said: “We are overjoyed at this news. It has taken us more than a year of campaigning and struggle to get here, but it appears that Taner will finally be freed. Whilst we rejoice at this decision, our celebrations will only truly begin when he is safely back at home in the arms of his wife and daughters. “But beneath the smiles of joy and relief there…
August 15, 2018
Press Release
Malaysia: Convictions of two women sentenced to caning for having sexual relations must be quashed
Responding to yesterday’s sentencing of two women to six strokes of caning and a fine of RM 3,300 after they were convicted of attempting to have sexual relations in Terengganu state, Gwen Lee, Amnesty International Malaysia’s Interim Executive Director said: “This deeply cruel sentence marks yet another severe setback in Malaysia’s treatment of LGBTI people, which is increasingly troubling. “Across the country, LGBTI people are facing a climate of growing discrimination and persecution. Rulings such as this only affirm that Malaysia is becoming a more hostile place for its LGBTI population. “Caning is a form of cruel, inhuman and degrading…
August 15, 2018
Press Release
Italy/Malta: Stop playing with refugee and migrants’ lives by closing ports
Responding to news that the authorities in Italy and Malta have closed their ports to Aquarius MV, a rescue ship run by SOS Mediterranee, with 141 people aboard, including 73 children, Maria Serrano, Amnesty International’s Senior Campaigner on Migration, said: “European governments must stop playing with human lives. Italy and Malta’s disgraceful refusal to allow refugees and migrants to disembark in their ports is pure cruelty. These individuals have braved dangerous journeys and inhumane conditions in Libya only to be stranded at sea as governments shamelessly abdicate their responsibility to protect. “What’s equally alarming is that the Gibraltar, under whose flag Aqurius has…
August 14, 2018
Update
HUMAN RIGHTS ON CAPITOL HILL: AUG 13, 2018
In this edition of Human Rights on Capitol Hill: (1)USA - Trump Administration Must Not Swap Family Separation – a Human Rights Travesty – for Mass Family Detention, Another Human Rights Travesty. (2)Myanmar - Amnesty International Testifies at Hearing on Military’s Persecution of Religious and Ethnic Minorities (3)Amnesty International Fights Religious Persecution (4)Yemen – Amnesty International Report Details War Crimes by Emirati and Yemeni Authorities (5)Syria - US-led Combined Joint Task Force Recognizes Documented Civilian Deaths (6)Cameroon - Human Rights Crisis Deepens as Elections Loom (7)Ethiopia – Ahead of Elections, Government Must Ensure Reparations for Human Rights Violations (8)Chad – Amnesty International Report Finds Government’s…
August 13, 2018
Press Release
Nebraska Set to Carry Out Its First Execution in 21 Years
Amnesty International USA urges the state of Nebraska not to resume executions, ahead of plans by the state to carry out its first execution in 21 years on August 14. “The death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights,” stated Kristina Roth, Senior Program Officer for Criminal Justice Programs at Amnesty International USA. “The U.S. capital justice system is fundamentally broken. Rather than joining those states that have turned against this cruel and irrevocable punishment, Nebraska chooses to take a backward step that provides no constructive solutions to the challenges posed by violent crime.” The last execution in Nebraska…
August 13, 2018
Press Release
New video in Cameroon shows more brutal killings by armed forces
A horrifying video obtained by Amnesty International shows Cameroonian security forces shooting at least a dozen unarmed people during a military operation in the village of Achigaya in the Far North region of the country, the organization said today. Using advanced digital analysis tools, Amnesty International experts were able to confirm that the video, shot at an unknown date but prior to May 2016, corroborates previous accounts of extrajudicial executions which the Cameroonian authorities have denied. “This shocking video shows armed men lining people up face down or sitting against a wall and shooting them with automatic weapons. A second…
August 10, 2018
Press Release
Amnesty International USA Statement on Charlottesville Anniversary and Rallies
Ahead of a planned “Unite the Right 2” rally in Washington DC and the anniversary of the Charlottesville tragedy on August 12, Amnesty International’s executive director Margaret Huang issued the following statement: “Failure from our leaders to denounce racial and ethnic hatred has only emboldened those who wish to normalize discrimination,” said Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA. “When President Trump persists in promoting policies that target and imperil the rights of people of color, immigrants, refugees, Muslims and others, it is more important than ever that people take action against institutionalized discrimination.” “Last year we saw the…
August 10, 2018