Below you’ll find breaking news as well as reports, updates on our campaigns, and victories.
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Press Release
Increased Gun Sales and Gun Stores Recognized as “Essential Businesses” Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Will Lead to More Violence
In response to reports of increased gun sales and gun stores being considered “essential businesses” amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Ernest Coverson, campaign manager for the End Gun Violence Campaign at Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) released the following statement:Â
March 31, 2020
Press Release
“Hope Can’t Be Quarantined” campaign to help immigrants and asylum-seekers held in detention during the COVID-19 crisis
As a response to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) have launched a new campaign entitled “Hope Can’t Be Quarantined.” The initiative encourages the public to support immigrants and asylum-seekers held in detention at this time of crisis and offers several ways to get involved. Participants can download a digital toolkit with instructions to write messages of hope to detainees, learn about immigration detention in the U.S., donate to detention visitation programs, and share their acts of support online. "As more Americans are confined to their own homes, they increasingly relate…
March 31, 2020
Press Release
Prisoners in Syria Should be Released to Prevent Spread of COVID-19
The Syrian authorities must cooperate fully with UN agencies and humanitarian organizations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country’s prisons, detention centers and military hospitals, Amnesty International has warned.
March 31, 2020
Press Release
Human rights organization calls on the President to take action on COVID-19
The United States should take immediate action to ensure that every person who requests access to COVID-19 testing can receive it, Amnesty International USA said today in a letter addressed to United States President, Donald J. Trump. The human rights organization called on the President to ensure that adequate and quality personal protective equipment (PPE), information, training, and psychosocial support are available to support nurses, doctors, and other response staff on the front lines of the coronavirus in these critical days and weeks. “Until there is widespread testing available in every state, we will not fully know the full scale…
March 31, 2020
Report
Authorities in Russia Urged to Protect Half a Million Prison Population in Face of COVID-19
Russian authorities should take urgent measures to address the potentially devastating consequences should COVID-19 begin spreading among prisoners and detainees, Amnesty International said in a letter to Russian government agencies. At least 9,000 of Russia’s 519,600-strong prison population are over 60-years-old and many more in poor health.
March 31, 2020
Press Release
Zero accountability as civilian deaths mount in Somalia from U.S. air strikes
Civilian casualties continue to mount from the U.S. military’s secret air war in Somalia, with no justice or reparation for the victims of possible violations of international humanitarian law, Amnesty International warned as it released details of two more deadly air strikes so far this year. US Africa Command (AFRICOM) has conducted hundreds of air strikes in the decade-long fight against the armed group Al-Shabaab, but has only admitted to killing civilians in a single strike that took place exactly two years ago today. This lone admission was prompted by Amnesty International’s research and advocacy. “The evidence is stacking up…
March 30, 2020
Press Release
Workshop for media will examine technology and surveillance in the age of COVID-19
As part of a series of workshops exploring human rights concerns related to the COVID-19 response, Amnesty International USA will be holding a workshop titled “Technology and Surveillance in the Age of COVID-19”. The workshop will cover the themes of how digital technologies track and monitor individuals and populations, concerns around digital surveillance powers, and recommendations of how governments can respond to the pandemic while still upholding basic values of human rights. These are extraordinary times, but it’s critical to stress that respect for human rights is vitally important now, more than ever. Countries cannot simply disregard rights such as…
March 30, 2020
Press Release
Granting Government in Hungary Unlimited Powers Under New COVID-19 Law is Disturbing Development
Following the decision by the Hungarian parliament to pass a new law that will allow the government to rule by decree without meaningful oversight, and with no clear end date or periodic reviews under the state of emergency, David Vig, Amnesty International’s Hungary Director, said:
March 30, 2020
Press Release
Imprisoned Journalists, Human Rights Defenders and Others in Turkey at Risk of COVID-19 Must be Urgently Released
Amid growing concerns over the spread of COVID-19 in prisons, the Turkish government is accelerating the preparation of a draft law that will reportedly release up to 100,000 prisoners. This is a welcome step.
March 30, 2020
Press Release
As federal judge weighs release of children in immigration detention, COVID-19 risks grow
Responding to a temporary restraining order by Judge Dolly M. Gee of the United States District Court directing the government to make continuous efforts to release children currently being held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody, Denise Bell, researcher for refugee and migrant rights at Amnesty International USA said: "We still don’t know enough about how this pandemic can affect children. But what we do know is that children should not be detained, in any circumstances, because of their immigration status. Each day that a child is detained is a day that poses…
March 29, 2020
Press Release
Battle Against COVID-19 in India Must Not Leave Behind the Poor and Marginalized
The three-week nation-wide lockdown to battle the COVID-19 pandemic in India have left millions of migrant workers stranded and the poor struggling to access essential services across the country. The policies and schemes that are being planned and implemented to battle the pandemic by the Government of India must alleviate and not aggravate the hardships of the poor and marginalized communities in India, said Amnesty International India. On March 24, 2020, in a televised address Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day nation-wide lock down, imposed under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. “India…
March 28, 2020
Press Release
Immediately revoke suspension of environmental protections
Responding to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement it would suspend enforcement of environmental laws indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Richard Pearshouse, Amnesty International’s Head of Crisis and the Environment, said: “The Trump administration is cynically abusing this crisis to achieve its pre-COVID-19 goal of gutting U.S. environmental regulations. “It’s difficult to overstate the risk. The decision to indefinitely suspend the protections afforded by environmental laws will kill or compromise the health of large numbers of people. These impacts will be felt by everyone in the U.S., but particularly by people already facing marginalization and discrimination, including those…
March 27, 2020