Below you’ll find breaking news as well as reports, updates on our campaigns, and victories.
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Press Release
Human Rights, Religious, Security Organizations Urge President Obama to Help Close the Deal on an Effective Global Arms Trade Treaty
A coalition of 36 nongovernmental organizations pressed President Obama today to provide the support necessary to conclude an effective Arms Trade Treaty.
February 26, 2013
Press Release
Focus of Scheduled House Committee Drone Hearing Excludes Bulk of Those Impacted by Strikes
Zeke Johnson, director of Amnesty International USA's Security and Human Rights campaign, issued the following the statement in advance of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee on the use of drones to target U.S. citizens overseas suspected of terror activities.
February 26, 2013
Press Release
Oscar Nomination for Zero Dark Thirty Underscores Need to Release Senate Torture Report
Rachel Ward, U.S. program director for Amnesty International USA, issued the following the statement the day after the Oscars regarding Zero Dark Thirty's nomination
February 25, 2013
Press Release
Yemeni Authorities Must End Use of Lethal Force on Peaceful Protesters
Yemeni security forces have acted in violation of international human rights standards by opening fire on peaceful pro-secession protesters in the south Thursday, resulting in four deaths and dozens of injured, said Amnesty International. The rights group called for an immediate end to the use of force by Yemeni authorities against peaceful protesters and to respect their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
February 21, 2013
Press Release
President Obama Must Back U.S. Adoption of Arms Trade Treaty
With two-thirds of the world's countries supporting a global Arms Trade Treaty, Amnesty International is rallying supporters to urge President Barack Obama to lead a life-saving effort to adopt the treaty when a second round of talks opens at the United Nations in March.
February 19, 2013
Press Release
Countries Must Adopt Strong Arms Trade Treaty to Stop Contributing to the Use of Child Soldiers
On Monday, Feb. 12, International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers, Amnesty International highlights the need to adopt a global Arms Trade Treaty to prevent government forces or armed groups – like those currently in Mali – from using weapons to recruit child soldiers.
February 11, 2013
Press Release
Aamer Must Be Released Immediately Unless Charged and Fairly Tried
Amnesty International will present more than 50,000 petitions, addressed to President Barack Obama, to the White House and to the U.S. embassy in London on Thursday, February 14th, calling for Shaker Aamer, the last former U.K. resident held at Guantánamo Bay, to be released immediately unless he is to be charged and fairly tried in federal court.
February 11, 2013
Press Release
Papua New Guinea Must End ‘Sorcery’ Killings and Harassment
After the brutal murder of a woman accused of using witchcraft to kill a young boy, Amnesty International called on authorities in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to take urgent actions to prevent 'sorcery'-related killings.
February 8, 2013
Press Release
Transparency Not the End Goal; End Drone Kill List
In response to reports that President Barack Obama has decided to release further details about his administration's legal rationale for so-called "targeted killings" to Congress, Amnesty International USA's Zeke Johnson, Security with Human Rights Campaign Director, issued the following statement.
February 7, 2013
Press Release
One Year Before Olympics in Sochi, Russia Continues Its “Assault on Freedom”
With only a year left before the start of the XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia has little time to reverse its increasing crackdown on freedom of expression, says Amnesty International USA.
February 7, 2013
Press Release
Brennan “Orwellian” on Torture; Wrong on Drones
Brennan is "Orwellian" on torture and wrong on drones.
February 7, 2013
Report
The Devil in the (Still Undisclosed) Detail: Department of Justice ‘White Paper’ on Use of Lethal Force Against U.S. Citizens Made Public
The Department of Justice white paper only confirms Amnesty International’s fears that the administration is operating outside the bounds of international law.
February 6, 2013