Below you’ll find breaking news as well as reports, updates on our campaigns, and victories.
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Press Release
Human Rights Advocates with Medical and Legal Expertise Call on Governors, State Health Officials to Direct Reduction, Release of Immigration Detainees to Prevent Coronavirus Spread
Calling on governors and state health officials to use their authority to act in the interest of public health and protect immigration detainees, Human Rights First, Amnesty International USA and Physicians for Human Rights asked that these officials direct drastic reductions in detention occupancy and pressure the federal government to release immigration detainees being held in their states, in letters sent out today.Â
March 17, 2020
Report
Amnesty International USA Asks States, President Trump to Prioritize Human Rights in their Responses to COVID-19, Particularly in Regards to Marginalized Populations
This week, Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) released a briefing paper detailing preliminary observations of states’ responses to the COVID-19 outbreak in the context of their human rights obligations. The World Health Organization (WHO) has already designated the disease a pandemic, and as of the release of this statement, there have been 153,517 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over 5,000 deaths across more than 100 countries on all inhabited continents.
March 17, 2020
Press Release
RESPONSES TO COVID-19 AND STATES’ HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS: PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Preventing People’s Exposure to COVID-19 Quarantines Travel Bans and Restrictions Access to Information, Transparency and Censorship Preventive Care, Goods and Services States of Emergency Access to Care for People Affected Accessibility and Affordability of Care Particular and Disproportionate Impact on Certain Groups Social Security and Workers’ Rights Preventing Stigma and Discrimination Protecting Health Workers International Cooperation and Assistance Long-Term Recovery and Follow Up All governments and other actors involved in and affected by the COVID-19 outbreak must ensure that international human rights law and standards are at the centre of all responses to COVID-19, in order…
March 16, 2020
Update
Comment on Proposed Artificial Intelligence Regulations (3-13-2020)
To view PDF click here: Comment on Proposed Artificial Intelligence Regulations 13 March 2020 Mr. Dominic J. Mancini Acting Administrator Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Office of Budget and Management 725 17th St. NW Washington, DC 20503 RE: Draft Memorandum to the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, Guidance for Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Applications Mr. Maninci: On behalf of Amnesty International[1]and our more than seven million members and supporters worldwide, we hereby submit this statement in response to the request for information on the “Draft Memorandum to the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, Guidance for…
March 13, 2020
Report
Amnesty International USA, Partners Intervene in Landmark Youth Climate Case Calling for the Courts to Play Their Role, Protect Rights
A coalition of environmental and human rights organizations that includes Amnesty International USA, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW), as well as New York University School of Law’s Global Justice Clinic and four experts in international law, yesterday submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in support of a rehearing on the Juliana v. United States climate case. The lawsuit had been brought by a group of young people to call on courts to declare that the Federal government had violated their rights and to order the government to…
March 13, 2020
Update
Vote Recommendation on NO BAN Act and Access to Counsel Act (3-11-2020)
To view PDF version click here: No Ban Act House Vote Rec 11MARCH2020 March 11, 2020 RE: Vote Recommendation on NO BAN Act and Access to Counsel Act Dear Representative: On behalf of Amnesty International USA and our over two million members and supporters in the United States, we recommend you VOTE YES on H.R. 2214, the NO BAN Act, in its current form. Nondiscrimination is a core provision in all international human rights instruments, and our research has demonstrated how every version of the Muslim ban has shown itself to be deadly, dangerous, and disastrous. Executive orders and…
March 11, 2020
Press Release
State Department’s Human Rights Report Highlights Trump Administration’s Anti-Human Rights Policies
In response to the U.S. State Department releasing its third human rights report compiled under the Trump administration, Joanne Lin, national director of advocacy and governmental relations at Amnesty International USA, said:
March 11, 2020
Update
Statement for the Record on the EARN IT Act Hearing (3-11-2020)
To view PDF version click here: AIUSA Statement for the Record on the March 11th Hearing on the EARN IT Act March 10, 2020 Sen. Lindsay Graham, Chairman Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Ranking Member Senate Judiciary Committee Dirksen Senate Office Building 226 Washington DC 20515 Re: March 11 Hearing on the EARN IT Act Dear Chairman Graham, Ranking Member Feinstein, and Members of the Committee: On behalf of Amnesty International (“Amnesty”), we submit this statement to express our serious concerns with the negative impact that the EARN IT Act will have on the rights to privacy and freedom…
March 10, 2020
Press Release
ICC Authorizes Historic Investigation in Afghanistan
Responding to the International Criminal Court’s decision to open an investigation into international crimes in Afghanistan, Amnesty International’s Head of International Justice, Solomon Sacco, said: "This is a historic moment where the International Criminal Court has reversed a terrible mistake and decided to stand by the victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by all sides to the conflict in Afghanistan.
March 5, 2020
Press Release
Moscow Summit Must Prioritize Ending Renewed Attacks on Civilians in Idlib
Ahead of a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Moscow tomorrow (Thursday, March 5) to discuss the escalating military conflict in Idlib in Syria, Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International’s Middle East Research Director, said: “The Moscow summit represents an opportunity for Russia and Turkey to prioritize the safety of civilians."
March 4, 2020
Press Release
Decision Not to Decriminalize Abortion in Colombia is a Missed Opportunity
The decision by the Constitutional Court of Colombia not to take action to decriminalize abortion represents a missed opportunity for the realization of the sexual and reproductive rights of women and other people who can become pregnant in the country, said Amnesty International.
March 3, 2020
Press Release
New Evidence Shows At Least 23 Children Killed in Iran by Security Forces During November Protests
An investigation by Amnesty International has uncovered evidence that at least 23 children were killed by Iranian security forces in the nationwide protests in November last year.
March 3, 2020