Below you’ll find breaking news as well as reports, updates on our campaigns, and victories.
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Update
Immigrants Are Welcome Here, Arizona Copycat Bills are Not!
Arizona 1070 copycat immigration bills are spreading across the US. On Monday, Georgia state Republicans introduced bills enabling law enforcement to detain anyone they think may not be a US citizen.
March 1, 2011
Update
Will Ohio Carry Out an Execution Nobody Wants?
Ohio is set to carry out an execution on March 10 that the victim's family does not want, and that the manufacturer of the execution drug strenuously objects to. Will Ohio's Governor step in and stop this execution that nobody seems to want?
March 1, 2011
Update
Prometheus Bound: Connecting the Arts and Human Rights
Amnesty International is proud to announce our partnership with the American Repertory Theater’s production of Prometheus Bound, written by Tony and Grammy Award-winning playwright Steven Sater (Spring Awakening) and Grammy Award-winning composer Serj Tankian (of the band System of a Down).
March 1, 2011
Update
Women of Zimbabwe Arise Hunted by Police
In the last two days, members of civil rights organization WOZA have been targeted and arrested by police in Zimbabwe. Seven members of WOZA and MOZA (Men of Zimbabwe Arise) were arrested yesterday at private homes. They were not engaging in any activity in violation of the law, although three are accused of smoking marijuana based on having "black hands." One of the women arrested yesterday is a nursing mother who has been denied access to her child. When visited today by family, several of those arrested indicated they were subjected to beatings on the soles of their feet. This is a torture method…
March 1, 2011
Update
Immigrants Are Welcome Here, Arizona Copycat Bills are Not!
Arizona 1070 copycat immigration bills are spreading across the US. On Monday, Georgia state Republicans introduced bills enabling law enforcement to detain anyone they think may not be a US citizen.
March 1, 2011
Update
Video: Philip Luther on Libya's Human Rights Crisis
Amnesty International's Philip Luther speaks on Colonel al-Gaddafi's role in the worsening human rights situation in Libya.
February 28, 2011
Update
More Violence in Yemen
More groups are joining demonstrators across Yemen asking for the president Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down. In addition to young people now tribesmen and others are joining anti-government demonstrators in various cities in Yemen.
February 28, 2011
Update
Escalating Political Violence in Zimbabwe
[UPDATE: Four WOZA activists, three women and one man, were arrested today at the home of a WOZA member. The charges or reason for the arrests is unknown, other than the continuing harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders.] Last weekend, a group of individuals in Zimbabwe gathered to watch footage of the protests in Egypt and Tunisia, discuss the impact of these events and speculate what implication they might pose for the African continent as a whole. Instead of a peaceful, academic discussion unfolding, police broke up the meeting and arrested 45 individuals. At least seven of these persons have been…
February 27, 2011
Update
Unanimous Security Council Vote A Crucial Moment for International Justice
Saturday's Security Council referral of Libya to the International Criminal Court marks a historic moment in accountability for crimes under international law.
February 27, 2011
Update
Egypt: New Regime, Some Old Abuses
Nearly a month after Egyptian demonstrators first took to the streets to demand political change, we’re only now finding out about some of the actions taken by the government to fight back. Amnesty International received reports that some members of the Egyptian security forces have intimidated victims and their families following the overthrow of President Mubarak to prevent them seeking justice and making complaints about the forces' actions during the unrest. This is the kind of behavior that was closely identified with the Mubarak regime: Ending impunity is essential for Egypt to move forward toward a just regime. In addition,…
February 27, 2011
Update
As Situation in Libya Escalates Alarmingly, UN Has to Act
While the human rights situation in Libya continues to escalate at an alarming rate, the UN Security Council is meeting in New York to decide on next steps. We are calling for the United States to take a leadership role in the discussions at the Security Council, including the support of an arms embargo and a referral to the International Criminal Court. We continue to receive reports that many people are being killed by forces loyal to Colonel al-Gaddfi and the situation is deteriorating. It seems that at least several hundred people, possibly many more, have been killed across the…
February 26, 2011
Update
War Crimes in Sri Lanka: Time for UN to Act
This past Tuesday, Feb. 22, I had the privilege of accompanying Yolanda Foster, the Amnesty researcher on Sri Lanka, and Dr. Kasipillai Manoharan, the father of one of the "Trinco 5" students killed by the security forces in 2006, to the UN offices in New York as we delivered the signed petitions to the UN.
February 25, 2011