November 2009

Amnesty International deeply regrets the choice of Swiss voters today to introduce a ban on the construction of minarets into the constitution. Posted: 29 Nov 2009

Amnesty International has learned that the de facto authorities in Honduras have stock piled 10,000 tear gas cans and other crowd control equipment, triggering fears of an increased risk of excessive and disproportionate use of force by security forces around the presidential elections. Posted: 27 Nov 2009

The Philippine government must urgently ensure that witnesses are protected following the massacre of at least 57 people in Maguindanao province, and safeguard vital forensic evidence to ensure those responsible are brought to justice, said Amnesty International. Posted: 27 Nov 2009

The End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) warmly welcomes today's announcement of a cross-government strategy to tackle all forms of violence against women including rape, domestic violence, trafficking and forced marriage. Posted: 25 Nov 2009

A ban on the construction of minarets would breach Switzerland's obligations to uphold freedom of religion, Amnesty International said ahead of a referendum on Sunday 29 November on a constitutional amendment on the issue. Posted: 25 Nov 2009

Amnesty International today called on international donors, who are meeting in Bangkok this week, to pressurise the Burmese authorities to end harassment of activists trying to help survivors of Cyclone Nargis. In late October, the Burmese authorities arrested at least 10 political activists and journalists for accepting relief donations from abroad. Posted: 24 Nov 2009

The authorities in Tajikistan are failing to curb rampant domestic violence against women in the country, said Amnesty International today (24 November), as it published a new report on the topic. Posted: 24 Nov 2009

Amnesty International today welcomed the Sri Lankan government's promise to allow freedom of movement for the 130,000 people currently held in detention camps in the north of the country by 1 December, but issued a firm warning saying that the words will mean nothing without action. Posted: 24 Nov 2009

Amnesty International today condemned the killings of at least 21 civilians, including journalists and members of a politician's family, in the southern Philippines province of Maguindanao - the first reported killings linked to national elections to be held in May 2010. Posted: 24 Nov 2009

Amnesty International today condemned the killings of at least 21 civilians, including journalists and members of a politician's family, in the southern Philippines province of Maguindanao - the first reported killings linked to national elections to be held in May 2010. Posted: 24 Nov 2009

The Tunisian authorities should immediately release a well known government critic, journalist Taoufik Ben Brik, Amnesty International said today. The organisation is calling for trumped-up charges that could lead to his being imprisoned for five years to be dropped. Posted: 24 Nov 2009

Amnesty International today (23 November) urged the Chinese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Huang Qi, a human rights defender who worked with the victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake and was sentenced today to three years' imprisonment. Posted: 23 Nov 2009

Stephen Fry, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi would be the guests of honour and chocolate Hobnobs the biscuit of choice at people's 'Dream tea party', according to a new online survey to mark the launch of AMNESTEA, Amnesty International's new fundraising tea parties. Posted: 23 Nov 2009

Ian Paisley, Nadine Coyle and Seamus Heaney would be the Northern Ireland guests of honour and ginger nuts the biscuit of choice at people's 'dream tea party', according to a new survey to mark the launch of AMNESTEA, Amnesty International's new fundraising tea parties. Posted: 23 Nov 2009

On the 20th anniversary of the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the Convention on the Rights of the Child today (20 November), Amnesty International calls on the Albanian authorities to ensure that children are not placed in orphanages unnecessarily. Posted: 20 Nov 2009

The Danish government must arrest Sudanese President al Bashir if he attends the Copenhagen climate conference next month, said Amnesty International today. Amnesty has learned that the Danish government has invited President al Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, to attend the meeting in December. Posted: 20 Nov 2009

Chinese authorities must stop the harassment and arbitrary detention of dozens of human rights lawyers and activists who were targeted during US President Obama's visit to the country earlier this week, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 20 Nov 2009

Amnesty International is calling on the international community and the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to take all necessary measures to ensure that the international judges and prosecutors serving in the War Crimes Chamber of the State Court can continue to assist in prosecutions of war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out during the 1992-1995 war. Posted: 19 Nov 2009

Amnesty International has today expressed its deep disappointment after a High Court judge ruled this morning that British intelligence services facing a civil lawsuit over alleged complicity in the ill-treatment of former Guantánamo Bay detainees can be allowed to rely on a secret 'closed' procedure. Posted: 18 Nov 2009

Authorities in Haiti must enact legislation to prevent girls and boys working in conditions that amount to slavery, said Amnesty International ahead of Universal Children's Day - 20 November. Posted: 18 Nov 2009