Below you’ll find breaking news as well as reports, updates on our campaigns, and victories.
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Update
Ohio’s proposed abortion bans would violate human rights—We must fight back!
This Tuesday, the legislature in Ohio passed a ban on abortion as soon as the fetus’ heartbeat can be detected.
December 12, 2016
Update
From Margin to Center: Sex Work Decriminalization is a Racial Justice Issue
Sex work is criminalized throughout the United States, typically as misdemeanor offenses. Similar to the way the Unites States treats and criminalizes drug use, the policing of sex work exacerbates stigma, compromises access to resources, justifies violence, and is steeped in racial disparities.
December 12, 2016
Press Release
Bahrain: Opposition leader condemned to nine years in prison following unfair and arbitrary verdict
A nine year prison sentence against the Bahraini opposition leader, Sheikh Ali Salman, was upheld today by a Bahraini Appeal Court, after a retrial, in another blow to freedom of expression in the country
December 12, 2016
Press Release
Trump’s Proposed State Department Leadership Deeply Concerning
Responding to President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Rex Tillerson to serve as Secretary of State, Eric Ferrero, director of communications for Amnesty International USA released the following statement.
December 11, 2016
Update
Why We Need to Address Gender-Based Violence, Now More Than Ever
The 16 Days campaign is exactly that —16 days of global activism, starting with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25th and leading up to Human Rights Day on December 10th
December 9, 2016
Press Release
Kenya must reveal why UK journalist held without charge
Jerome Starkey, who has reported for the UK newspaper The Times from Kenya for last five years, was detained on his return from London at 9:45 p.m. on December 8. He has yet to be told why, more than 18 hours later.
December 9, 2016
Report
New name, old system? Qatar’s new employment law and abuse of migrant workers
Changes to labor laws in Qatar barely scratch the surface and will continue to leave migrant workers, including those building stadiums and infrastructure for the World Cup, at the mercy of exploitative bosses and at risk of forced labor, said Amnesty International in a new briefing.
December 9, 2016
Press Release
Cameroon: Excessive force that led to deaths of protesters must be urgently investigated
Authorities in Cameroon must investigate the use of excessive and unnecessary force that led to the deaths of between two and four people during a protest in the north western city of Bamenda yesterday, Amnesty International said today.
December 9, 2016
Press Release
Azerbaijan: A decade in jail for graffiti activist is a shameless attempt to stifle criticism
A 10-year jail sentence handed by the Baku Court of Grave Crimes in Azerbaijan to Bayram Mammadov, a youth activist who has been detained since May 2016 after spraying graffiti on a statue of the former President of Azerbaijan, is a shameless attempt by the Azerbaijani authorities to crush dissent out of existence, Amnesty International said today.
December 8, 2016
Press Release
Egypt must free journalist detained for over three years for taking photos
Egyptian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release photojournalist Mohammed Abu Zeid, popularly known as Shawkan, who has spent more than three years in detention and whose court hearing takes place on Saturday December 10, Amnesty International said today. The authorities must also drop all charges against him.
December 8, 2016
Press Release
Homeland Security Pick Must Commit to Human Rights
Responding to reports that President-elect Donald Trump intends to nominate Gen. John Kelly to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security, Margaret Huang, executive director for Amnesty International USA released the following statement.
December 7, 2016
Press Release
Obama Speech Offers Lessons for Trump
Responding to President Obama’s speech today on counterterrorism, Naureen Shah, director of Amnesty International USA’s Security with Human Rights program, released the following statement.
December 6, 2016