Below you’ll find breaking news as well as reports, updates on our campaigns, and victories.
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Press Release
#WelcomeWithDignity Campaign Responds to Today’s Family Reunification Report
The Interagency Task Force on the Reunification of Families released an initial progress report today. The Task Force states ‘one child was reunited with their parent in March 2021 and six children were reunited in May 2021 --a small but significant number that reflects the challenge of reuniting families that were callously separated by government officials without even an adequate paper trail. In light of these challenges, the newly launched #WelcomeWithDignity campaign appreciates these first signs of progress in addressing the harms that should have never been done, but much more needs to be done to ensure families can seek…
June 8, 2021
Update
Amnesty International Policy Recommendations on Technology and Human Rights
On June 3, 2021, Amnesty International USA wrote to the Biden administration to outline the organization's policy recommendations that address the risks posed by emerging technology and the surveillance-based business model of Big Tech. Amnesty calls for more stringent control over the import and export of surveillance technology including by implementing a moratorium on the sale and transfer of surveillance equipment until such time as a proper human rights regulatory framework is in place; and for a ban on the use, development, production, and sale of facial recognition technology for identification purposes by state and private sector actors. Click here…
June 8, 2021
Update
Amnesty Calls for Co-sponsors of Break the Cycle of Violence Act
On June 8, 2021, Amnesty International USA wrote to members of the Senate to urge them to co-sponsor the Break the Cycle of Violence Act. If passed and enacted into law, the legislation would provide funding for federal grants to communities that experience 20 or more homicides per year and have a homicide rate at least twice the national average, or to communities that demonstrate a unique and compelling need for additional resources to address gun and group-related violence. This legislation would transform community violence intervention programs nationwide and would reduce gun violence in Black and Brown communities across the…
June 8, 2021
Report
Governments Must Stop Conniving with Fossil Fuel Industries to Burn Our Rights
The world’s richest governments are effectively condemning millions of people to starvation, drought and displacement through their continued support of the fossil fuel industry, Amnesty International said today. The organization’s new policy briefing offers a damning assessment of global failures to protect human rights from climate change, and outlines how human rights law can help hold governments and companies to account.
June 6, 2021
Press Release
Surveillance city: NYPD can use more than 15,000 cameras to track people using facial recognition in Manhattan, Bronx and Brooklyn
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has the ability to track people in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx by running images from 15,280 surveillance cameras into invasive and discriminatory facial recognition software, a new Amnesty International investigation reveals today. Thousands of volunteers from around the world participated in the investigation, tagging 15,280 surveillance cameras at intersections across Manhattan (3,590), Brooklyn (8,220) and the Bronx (3,470). Combined, the three boroughs account for almost half of the intersections (47%) in New York City, constituting a vast surface area of pervasive surveillance. “This sprawling network of cameras can be used by police…
June 3, 2021
Press Release
New Heroes Campaign Celebrating Community Violence Intervention Program Leaders
Just days before Wear Orange Weekend 2021, Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) today announced the launch of the Heroes Campaign, a national advocacy effort to secure critical federal funding for community violence intervention programs. The campaign is AIUSA’s latest effort to bring attention to and to end gun violence that disproportionately affects Black and brown communities throughout the country.
June 1, 2021
Update
Amnesty International USA policy recommendations on climate displacement
On May 28, 2021, Amnesty International USA submitted its recommendations to the forthcoming interagency report to President Biden commissioned by Executive Order 14013: Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs to Resettle Refugees and Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration. While we offer recommendations with respect to the report’s consideration of “options for protection and resettlement of individuals displaced directly or indirectly,” these recommendations should be seen as part of a comprehensive human rights framework to address climate change. Click here to read the letter PHOTOGRAPH BY Zakir Hossain Chowdhury / Barcroft Media May 28, 2021 Mr. Curtis…
May 28, 2021
Press Release
The U.S. Has an Opportunity for a Better Strategy to Address Climate Displacement
For the first time, Amnesty International USA has published recommendations to the U.S. government on addressing climate displacement through human rights and humanitarian principles. The recommendations come in response to the forthcoming report commissioned by President Biden in his February executive order on planning for the impact of climate change on migration. Amnesty’s recommendations center the human rights framework for addressing climate change and arise from Amnesty International’s forthcoming publication on climate change, “Stop Burning Our Rights! What governments and corporations must do to protect humanity from the climate crisis." “Assuming global leadership on climate displacement will not only directly…
May 28, 2021
Press Release
Google must halt plans to establish Cloud Region in Saudi Arabia
Amnesty International has today joined with 38 other human rights groups and individuals to call on Google to halt plans to establish a Cloud Region in Saudi Arabia until the company can publicly demonstrate how it will mitigate risks of adverse human rights impacts. “Saudi Arabia has a dismal human rights record, including digital surveillance of dissidents, and is an unsafe country to host the Google Cloud Platform,” said Rasha Abdul Rahim, Director of Amnesty Tech. “In a country where dissidents are arrested, jailed for their expression and tortured for their work - Google’s plan could give the Saudi authorities even greater…
May 25, 2021
Press Release
Recent Antisemitic Incidents Must be Condemned
Responding to antisemitic incidents reported in the U.S. in recent weeks, including reports of one today in New York City that is now being investigated as a hate crime, Amnesty International USA executive director Paul O’Brien said: “As a human rights organization committed to fighting discrimination wherever it is committed, we condemn antisemitism in the strongest possible terms. Intimidating worshippers at synagogues, defacing the Star of David, and using images and words that invoke antisemitic tropes is appalling and abusive, and when done in the name of protesting the actions of the Israeli government, belie the perpetrator’s motives and do…
May 21, 2021
Press Release
United States Must Halt Arms Sale to Israel and Commit to Ending Violations in Gaza
Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) supports joint resolutions in the House and Senate, introduced by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders, to block the United States’ pending $735 million weapons sale to Israel. Israeli forces have carried out airstrikes in Gaza targeting residential buildings and family homes, in some cases killing entire families. These attacks may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity and must be investigated. By planning to supply hundreds of millions of dollars worth of weapons to Israel, the United States government stands to help carry out war crimes and kill or injure more people with…
May 21, 2021