Security with Human Rights

For governments across the world, the threat of terror has become an excuse for injustice, brutality and a complete disregard for human rights.

While governments should of course protect citizens from the threat of terrorism, this threat should never be used to justify the violation of human rights or to repress legitimate opposition and dissent.

Our Security with Human Rights campaign calls for an end to human rights violations perpetrated by governments in the name of national security, and insists that those responsible must be held accountable. Find out more:

Read all news and reports from our research headquarters

Ten years too long - Close Guantánamo Bay

A
Navy guard assigned to Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Navy Expeditionary
Guard Battalion patrols Camp Delta's recreation yard at Guantanamo Bay
Cuba, 7 July 2010. © US Department of Defense

An incredible 164,058 of you signed our global petition to President Obama, calling on him to end indefinite detention at Guantánamo Bay. We delivered the petition to the White House on 23 January 2012. It's time for Obama to come true on his promise and close Guantánamo Bay.

UK Detainee Inquiry

Amnesty supporter demonstrating to stop torture © Harrison Mitchell

The Detainee Inquiry, chaired by Sir Peter Gibson, was commissioned by Prime Minister David Cameron in July 2010. The same Government announced that the Inquiry would be scrapped in January 2012, following further investigations by the Metropolitan Police into allegations of British officials assisting with rendition.

The Inquiry was never fit for purpose (read why). We await with interest the report by the Inquiry on its work to date, and hope the Government takes the opportunity to launch an investigation that is fully human rights-compliant.

Press release: Gibson Detainee Inquiry 'was never fit for purpose'
Blog post: "It's all about the use of torture..."

Secret evidence and closed courts in the UK

In October 2011, the British Ministry of Justice published a Justice and Security Green Paper outlining various proposals to change the UK judicial system, increasing the use of secret evidence and closed court hearings when courts are considering issues the Government claims are 'sensitive'.

We have submitted a response to the consultation which details our serious concerns about the proposals. that the proposals will make it harder for victims of human rights abuses, such as the British nationals and residents who were detained in Guantanamo Bay, to find about the truth about what happened to them and to seek redress. The proposals also undermine basic principles which form part of the right to a fair trial such as the right to open justice and the right to see and test the evidence against you.