Below you’ll find breaking news as well as reports, updates on our campaigns, and victories.
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Update
AIUSA Letter to HFAC on 2021 International Human Rights Priorities
On December 10, 2020, Amnesty International USA addressed a letter to the House Foreign Affairs Committee outlining the organization’s international human rights priorities for 2021. Click here to read the letter December 10, 2020 Rep. Eliot Engel Chair House Committee on Foreign Affairs 2170 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 Rep. Michael McCaul Ranking Member House Committee on Foreign Affairs 2170 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 Re: International Human Rights Priorities for 2021 Dear Chair Engel, Ranking Member McCaul, and Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee: On behalf of Amnesty International and…
December 10, 2020
Press Release
Abuse of Protesters and Prisoners Highlights Urgent Need to Regulate Torture Tools
The world must act urgently to prohibit the global trade in equipment designed to inflict excruciating pain and injury, Amnesty International and the Omega Research Foundation said today, ahead of a high-level UN meeting on the ‘torture trade’. In a new report, Ending the Torture Trade: The Path to Global Controls on the ‘Tools of Torture’, the organizations also called for controls on standard policing equipment to ensure it does not end up in the hands of abusers.
December 10, 2020
Press Release
Airbnb is Deeply Compromised by Israeli Settlement Properties
As Airbnb prepares to go public in a multi-billion-dollar Initial Public Offering (IPO) it must withdraw listings of rental properties built illegally on the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), Amnesty International said today. The San Francisco-based online accommodation company has around 200 properties for rent in the illegal Israeli settlements that are at the heart of systematic human rights violations faced by Palestinians. Two years ago, Airbnb said it would remove accommodation in the settlements from its listings, before reversing its decision. Responding to reports that Airbnb is set to become a publicly-listed company after filing IPO documents in the US, Saleh Higazi, Deputy Regional Director for Middle East…
December 9, 2020
Press Release
Senate Vote Authorizing Arms Sales to the UAE Could Fuel More War Crimes in Yemen, Libya Conflicts
Responding to authorization today from the United States Senate to sell several advanced military capabilities that are worth $23.37 billion and export over $7.2s billion in defense articles to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Philippe Nassif, the advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International USA said: “Today’s vote could be the first act in a domino effect which ends in human tragedy as this country provides capabilities which risk being used to injure and kill thousands of Yemenis and Libyans in their homes, their schools, and their hospitals. “Today’s sale could result in United States…
December 9, 2020
Press Release
COVID-19 vaccine should be available to all, contrary to new Executive Order
Responding to reports of an executive order issued by President Donald Trump, Amnesty International USA Interim Executive Director, Bob Goodfellow said: “The anticipated executive order from President Trump is morally and strategically misguided. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we are only as safe as those of us who are most at risk. COVID-19 vaccines should be available to everyone - regardless of where they live or what they can afford. COVID-19 is a global crisis that requires global cooperation, not a me-first approach, or an America-first approach, that jeopardizes everyone’s right to be protected from…
December 8, 2020
Update
December 9 Testimony for House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing on International Human Rights and Closing Civic Space
On December 8, 2020, Amnesty International USA's National Director of Advocacy and Government Relations Joanne Lin submitted her written testimony ahead of House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations hearing on "International Human Rights and Closing Civic Space" on December 9. Click here to read the written testimony TESTIMONY OF JOANNE LIN NATIONAL DIRECTOR, ADVOCACY AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA, GLOBAL HEALTH, GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS, AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Hearing on “International Human Rights and Closing Civic Space” December 9, 2020 Good afternoon Chairwoman…
December 8, 2020
Press Release
Argentina’s Congress must pass historic bill to legalize abortion
Ahead of a vote in the lower chamber of the Argentine Congress on December 10, on Human Rights Day, Tarah Demant, the director of the Gender, Sexuality, and Identity program at Amnesty International USA said: “Abortion is a human right that respects the dignity and autonomy of anyone who can become pregnant. Everyone must be able to access safe abortion, care, and information, and decriminalization is absolutely central. The Argentinian Congress has the opportunity now to recognize the rights of all women, girls and people who can become pregnant to make free decisions about their own bodies.” “It’s well past…
December 8, 2020
Update
NGO Letter to Establish the Senate Human Rights Commission (S.R. 725)
The Honorable Mitch McConnell Senate Majority Leader The Honorable Chuck Schumer Senate Minority Leader Senator James E.Risch Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Senator Bob Menendez Ranking Member Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Senator Roy Blunt Chairman Senate Committee on Rules & Administration Senator Amy Klobuchar Ranking Member Senate Committee on Rules & Administration December 8, 2020 Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Democratic Leader Schumer, Senator Risch, Senator Menendez, Senator Blunt, and Senator Klobuchar: We are writing in strong support of S. Res. 725, a resolution establishing the Senate Human Rights Commission, introduced by Senate Human Rights Caucus co-chairs Senator Chris…
December 8, 2020
Press Release
US must not abandon civilian victims of its air strikes in Somalia after troop withdrawal
The US military must not wash its hands of international legal obligations towards civilian victims of US air strikes in Somalia, Amnesty International said, following a Pentagon announcement that troops will be removed by January 2021. Following weeks of speculation about the change in policy, the US Department of Defense issued a press release on December 4, saying US Africa Command (AFRICOM) would “reposition the majority of personnel and assets out of Somalia by early 2021”. Withdrawal of ground troops does not necessarily mean an end to US military action in Somalia, which has included dozens of air strikes each year,…
December 7, 2020
Press Release
Amnesty International USA Hosts Human Rights Day Briefing on the Crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region
In advance of Human Rights Day, Amnesty International will host a virtual briefing on the human rights challenges expected in 2021. The briefing will focus on the human rights crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Hundreds in the Tigray region have lost their lives, many more have been injured, and tens of thousands of people have been forced into refugee camps in neighboring Sudan.
December 7, 2020
Update
Amnesty International USA Special Webinar to Commemorate Human Rights Day
Amnesty International USA Special Webinar to Commemorate Human Rights Day Tuesday, December 8, 2020 starting at 1:00 PM ET In advance of Human Rights Day, Amnesty International will host a special virtual briefing marking the human rights challenges to come in 2021. In particular, the briefing will focus on the human rights crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray region that has already claimed hundreds of lives, left many more injured, and forced tens of thousands into refugee camps in neighboring Sudan. Please join Amnesty International and other organizations in this urgent briefing. Special opening remarks on human rights in the 117th Congress…
December 3, 2020