News stories - 2003

Following its second ever visit to Burma Amnesty International has found that the human rights situation in the country has deteriorated significantly since its first visit at the beginning of 2003 and has called on the Burmese military government to take urgent action to end arbitrary arrests, incommunicado detention and unfair trials. Posted: 22 Dec 2003

Responding to two federal appeals courts yesterday issuing separate challenges to the US administration's detention of so-called "enemy combatants" without charge or trial or access to lawyers or family members, Amnesty International today (19 December) called for these to be heeded. Posted: 19 Dec 2003

As peace talks in Sudan are on course to resolve the 20-year conflict between the government and the rebel movement in the south by the end of the year, Amnesty International has called on the negotiators to ensure that any peace agreement also includes the western region of Darfur, where civilians are subject to serious human rights violations and thousands have fled to refugee camps in Chad. Posted: 18 Dec 2003

In the run up to the UN Security Council's consideration of progress made in Liberia on 22 December, Amnesty International has today (18 December) called on the UN to make good on promises made to the Liberian people this summer and to deploy further peace-keepers, which are still at only about one third of their projected 15,000 strength. Posted: 18 Dec 2003

Posted: 18 Dec 2003

Amnesty International has today (18 December) reiterated its call on the UK Government to repeal measures in recent anti-terrorism legislation that have created a shadow criminal justice system for non-UK nationals. Posted: 18 Dec 2003

Posted: 17 Dec 2003

Following threats of violence and expulsion of an outspoken delegate, Amnesty International called today (17 December) on the Chairman of the Constitutional Loya Jirga - Sebghatollah Mojadedi, and his Deputies to ensure that all delegates to the body are able to freely express their views. Posted: 17 Dec 2003

A government Bill that "denies asylum seekers a fair hearing" was branded as 'devastating' by refugee and human rights organisations today (Wednesday 17 December) Posted: 17 Dec 2003

Amnesty International welcomes the arrest of Saddam Hussein who is accused of gross human rights violations, including war crimes and crimes against humanity. Posted: 15 Dec 2003

Amnesty International is calling for the sentence of 100 lashes, passed on a 16-year-old school girl in the Sudanese capital Khartoum for the 'crime' of adultery, to be commuted immediately. The date of the punishment is set for 20 December. Posted: 12 Dec 2003

Amnesty International statement following reports that the Home Secretary is said to be considering resigning his membership of Amnesty International UK following publication of Amnesty International's report today into the internment of foreign nationals under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. Posted: 11 Dec 2003

Constitutional reforms granting judicial police powers to the Colombian armed forces could allow the armed forces to carry out raids, tap telephones, and make arrests without judicial authority, warned Amnesty International today (Thursday 11 December). The organisation said that decisions could be based on military accusations with no need to undertake proper and impartial judicial investigations. The measure will not become law until enabling legislation is approved by Congress later next year. Posted: 11 Dec 2003

Amnesty International has expressed concern to the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Iraq and the Iraqi Governing Council about the decision to establish an Iraqi special tribunal without prior consultation with the Iraqi civil society or the international community. Posted: 11 Dec 2003

‘Guantanamo Bay’ in our own backyard? The UK government has effectively created a shadow criminal justice system for non-UK nationals that fails to meet international standards for a fair trial, a new report by Amnesty International says today (11 December). Posted: 11 Dec 2003

Britain is falling behind other nations who are pushing for tough controls on the international arms trade, said Amnesty International and Oxfam today, on International Human Rights Day (10 December). An estimated 1,300 people will be killed by conventional arms in the space of this one day. Posted: 10 Dec 2003

On the occasion of the 10-year anniversary of the "disappearance" of prominent human rights defender Mansour al-Kikhiya on 10 December 1993, Amnesty International is calling on the Libyan authorities to shed light on his fate and put an end to the long suffering of his wife and children. Posted: 8 Dec 2003

Abuja- Amnesty International's delegation attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) today welcomed the general commitments given to human rights objectives on democracy and development, particularly the commitment to promote "machinery to protect human rights" and greater partnership within the Commonwealth to achieve the objectives. Posted: 8 Dec 2003

Refugee media Guide December 2003 Posted: 8 Dec 2003

Posted: 8 Dec 2003