news blogAugust 2009
Palace of The End wins Amnesty Freedom of expression award at Edinburgh Festival
Amnesty International today announced that Palace of the End by Judith Thompson has won its prestigious Freedom of Expression Award. The production was by the Royal Exchange Theatre Company (Manchester) at the Traverse. Posted: 28 Aug 2009
UK: Families and activists call for an end to disappearances
Amnesty calls for UK Government to ratify UN Convention against Disappearances Posted: 28 Aug 2009
Amnesty International and Mainstream Publishing launch collection of short stories by some of the world's greatest fiction writers to mark 60 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Tomorrow, 27 August, at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Amnesty International and Mainstream Publishing will jointly launch a collection of short stories by top writers, to celebrate 60 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Posted: 27 Aug 2009
Human rights proclaimed a major theme of the festival as Amnesty International announces Freedom of Expression Award shortlist
Amnesty International (today) announced that four plays have been short listed for its prestigious Freedom of Expression Award. They are: Posted: 25 Aug 2009
CIA torture findings: full-scale investigation needed
Responding to the release of a report into the torture of detainees by CIA operatives, Amnesty International USA executive director Larry Cox said: Posted: 25 Aug 2009
Philippines: Displaced people at great risk despite ceasefire
More than 200,000 civilians in central Mindanao are still vulnerable to human rights abuses despite the recent ceasefire between the Philippine army and the insurgent Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), warns Amnesty International in a new report published today. Posted: 25 Aug 2009
Taser: Amnesty alarmed at claims that Home Office is considering new taser that fires electric bullets
Amnesty is seriously concerned about this latest weapon by Taser. This is effectively a shotgun that fires electric-shock bullets. Posted: 24 Aug 2009
Netanyahu visit: Gordon Brown should oppose illegal settlements
Ahead of his meeting with Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Amnesty International has called on Gordon Brown to completely oppose all illegal settlements by Israel in Palestinian territories. Posted: 24 Aug 2009
Bangladesh: Do not extend army act to Bangladesh rifle suspects
The Government of Bangladesh is seeking an endorsement from the highest court of the country that the 1952 Army Act can be extended to cover Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel accused of killing dozens of army personnel and civilians during a mutiny in February 2009. Posted: 24 Aug 2009
Bangladesh: Do not extend army act to Bangladesh rifle suspects
The Government of Bangladesh is seeking an endorsement from the highest court of the country that the 1952 Army Act can be extended to cover Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel accused of killing dozens of army personnel and civilians during a mutiny in February 2009. Posted: 24 Aug 2009
Malaysia: Amnesty condemns caning sentence for woman who drank alcohol
Amnesty International has condemned the sentencing of a 32-year-old Malaysian woman to the cruel punishment of caning for the crime of drinking alcohol in public. Posted: 21 Aug 2009
Afghanistan: Electoral media restrictions undermine democratic process
On the eve of the presidential elections in Afghanistan, Amnesty International has called on the Afghan government to reverse its ban on national and international media from reporting on cases of violence and insecurity occurring during Thursday's election. Posted: 20 Aug 2009
Tunisia: 'Plus ca change' No change on human rights, says Amnesty - New report
A year after it strongly criticised Tunisia for serious human rights in the name of 'security', Amnesty International has today (20 August) published a new report saying there has been little change in the country. Posted: 20 Aug 2009
Honduras: Amnesty reveals photographic evidence of brutal police violence against peaceful protesters
Amnesty International today published a series of exclusive photos and testimonies revealing serious ill-treatment of peaceful protesters by police and military in Honduras' capital, Tegucigalpa Posted: 19 Aug 2009
Arms exports: Human rights still under threat from lax arms controls
Responding to the findings of the Select Committees on Arms Export Controls' report Amnesty International's Arms Programme Director Oliver Sprague said: Posted: 19 Aug 2009
Tasers: Serious concerns remain about 'extremely dangerous weapons'
Responding to the publication of new Home Office figures showing an increased use of Taser weapons by police forces in England and Wales, Amnesty International UK arms campaigner Oliver Sprague said: Posted: 18 Aug 2009
Tasers: Amnesty questions the 'alarming disparity' in use of Tasers across the UK
Responding to the number of times Northumbria police have used the Taser, Amnesty International Arms Programme Director Oliver Sprague said: Posted: 18 Aug 2009
Amnesty announces 'world's top intellectual coming to Belfast
Noam Chomsky to urge Northern Ireland people to stand up for human rights Posted: 13 Aug 2009
Mexico: Woman accused of kidnapping six agents named Amnesty prisoner of conscience
Amnesty International today [Tues 18 Aug] adopted 46-year-old Jacinta Marcial as a prisoner of conscience for being unfairly sentenced to 21 years in prison and demanded that the Mexican authorities release her immediately and unconditionally. Posted: 13 Aug 2009
Afghanistan: Journalists threatened by both government and Taleban in lead-up to elections
Ahead of the Afghan presidential elections (20 August), journalists from 13 provinces in Afghanistan have told Amnesty International that they have recently been threatened by Afghan government officials because of their critical reporting. Posted: 12 Aug 2009
