July 2004

Amnesty International today (30 July) condemned the use of civilians as bargaining chips in the continuing political instability in Iraq. Posted: 30 Jul 2004

In response to the adoption today (30 July) of the UN Security Council resolution on the situation in Darfur, western Sudan, Amnesty International welcome the indication that the international community is finally turning its attention to the plight of civilians in the region. However, while the resolution ensures there will be monitoring of the crisis, Amnesty International is concerned that it has failed to adopt measures to address the urgent and essential human rights crisis. Posted: 30 Jul 2004

Amnesty International is seriously concerned for the safety of Bangladeshi writer and lecturer Dr Humayun Azad, his 16-year-old son Anannyo Azad and other members of his family. This follows the abduction of his son on 24 July and the stabbing of Dr Humayun Azad in February 2004, together with a series of death threats against the family since the publication of his book 'Pak Sar Zamin Saad Baad' (the first line of the Pakistani national anthem). In a newspaper report of 25 July, an Islamic leader and member of parliament reportedly told a public meeting that Dr Humayun Azad faced 'dire consequences' for his writing. Posted: 27 Jul 2004

Amnesty International today (27 July) called on armed groups to release all hostages and bring an end to the practice of kidnapping that is rife in Colombia. The Bishop of Yopal was kidnapped this weekend in Morcote, on the border of Boyacá and Casanare departments. Posted: 27 Jul 2004

A new report today (27 July) from Amnesty International reveals how a man held in Lisbon prison was beaten by between 10 and 15 prison guards after speaking "disrespectfully" to one of their colleagues. According to an inspector's report seen by Amnesty International, on 11 November 2003 a group of 10 to 15 prison officers lined up in two rows and the man, Albino Libanio, was forced to walk between them while the prison officers pushed, kicked and punched him. He suffered multiple injuries and had difficulty walking after the attack, yet despite this received no medical attention. Posted: 27 Jul 2004

Amnesty International today expressed grave concern at reports that the Zimbabwe government plans to ban international human rights groups as well as the foreign funding of local organisations promoting human rights in the country. Posted: 26 Jul 2004

Concluding her visit to Thailand, Amnesty International's Secretary General, Irene Khan, acknowledged progress on human rights in the country over the past decade but also pointed to major deficiencies that need urgent attention. Posted: 21 Jul 2004

As Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi arrives in the UK for talks with Tony Blair on 23 July 2004, Amnesty International issued a new briefing on human rights concerns in Malaysia. Posted: 20 Jul 2004

Girls as young as eight are among the victims of mass rape in Darfur, western Sudan, said Amnesty International today (19 July 2004), as it published a new report on the impact on women and girls of 'Janjawid' militia raids in Darfur. Posted: 19 Jul 2004

A group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has today welcomed recent steps by the Czech Minister of Health to end the use of 'cage beds' within psychiatric institutions in the country. Posted: 16 Jul 2004

As the 15th International AIDS conference continues in Bangkok, in neighbouring China those infected with HIV/AIDS are being persecuted, says Amnesty International. Posted: 16 Jul 2004

A 15-year-old girl, the daughter of two Guatemalan trade unionists, has been raped by men allegedly linked to the management of the plantation where they work. The rape is believed to be part of management intimidation of union activists taking legal action against the plantation. In March this year the plantation manager allegedly offered a reward to any of the plantation's private security guards who raped a woman or girl associated with the union. Amnesty International believes the family and all union members are in grave danger. Posted: 15 Jul 2004

Amnesty International is deeply concerned that the UN Security Council has missed a crucial opportunity to make clear the specific obligations of the multinational force and the Iraqi authorities under international human rights and humanitarian law, in its resolution unanimously adopted on the transfer of power in Iraq. Although a majority of Security Council members supported a proposal by Brazil, Chile and Spain to state these international obligations in unambiguous terms and to include them in the binding part of the resolution, the drafters of the resolution - the USA and the UK - failed to do so. Posted: 15 Jul 2004

july 2004 Posted: 15 Jul 2004

Members of the UN Security Council must urgently adopt concrete measures to alleviate the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Darfur, western Sudan, said Amnesty International today (14 July). Posted: 14 Jul 2004

july 2004 Posted: 14 Jul 2004

july 2004 Posted: 13 Jul 2004

"After 14 years of marriage á he has no right to kiss his daughters goodnight" - Terry Bullata, 38-year old school principal from Jerusalem Thousands of Palestinians are being denied their fundamental right to live as a family in Israel and the Occupied Territories, said Amnesty International today, as it released a new report calling for the repeal of a discriminatory citizenship law due for review in July. Earlier family unification procedures were suspended in 2002 and a one-year citizenship law enacted on 31 July 2003. Posted: 13 Jul 2004

Amnesty International is concerned about reports that refugees, migrants, asylum-seekers and the homeless are being rounded up and detained as the Greek government mounts the biggest security operation in the history of the Olympic Games. Posted: 13 Jul 2004

(Brussels 12 July 2004) As European Union foreign ministers prepare to adopt guidelines today for the new EU military operation, (to be known as "ALTHEA") in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which will take over from the NATO-led SFOR, Amnesty International warns the EU to learn from SFOR's shortcomings. Posted: 12 Jul 2004