February 2010

Amnesty International has issued an urgent action appeal calling for the release of a Russian activist after she was forcibly detained in a psychiatric hospital in connection with her activities promoting happiness in the country. Yulia Privedennaia was sent to the Moscow Serbskii Institute for a period of at least 30 days on the orders of a Moscow court. Posted: 28 Feb 2010

Amnesty International has today welcomed the publication of a contentious paragraph critical of the UKs intelligence services in relation to the Binyam Mohamed case. Posted: 26 Feb 2010

Staff at a local radio station in El Salvador, have been sent a series of death threats by text, after their station broadcast details of the brutal murders of three individuals with anti-mining activism links in the area. Posted: 26 Feb 2010

Amnesty International is calling on the government of Bangladesh to carry out a prompt, independent and impartial investigation into the death of two Jumma indigenous residents of the Chittagong Hill Tracts after the army opened fire on them on 20 February 2010. Posted: 26 Feb 2010

Amnesty International has called on the government of Zimbabwe to end harassment and intimidation of a union activist who is in hiding after police raided a union office in Harare on Wednesday. Posted: 25 Feb 2010

Amnesty International has called on European Union countries to ensure there are effective investigations into their involvement in the CIA rendition and secret detention programme. Posted: 25 Feb 2010

Guinea risks a new era of human rights violations if urgent reforms of the security forces do not take place and the perpetrators of last years massacre continue to escape justice, Amnesty International warned today (24 February) in a new report examining the Bloody Monday massacre on 28 September 2009 and its aftermath. Posted: 24 Feb 2010

Amnesty International has criticised Nicaraguas law which bans abortion in all circumstances after it has been revealed that cancer treatment for a pregnant woman is currently being withheld for fear that it may harm the foetus. Posted: 24 Feb 2010

In a new report Amnesty International has denounced an increase in the number of attacks against the indigenous population of Colombia, which is leaving many communities struggling for survival. The abuses include killings, enforced disappearances and kidnappings, threats, sexual abuse of women, recruitment of child soldiers, forced displacement and persecution of Indigenous leaders. Posted: 23 Feb 2010

Amnesty International UK has joined forces with Learnnewsdesk to launch a brand new Young Human Rights Reporter competition. Posted: 23 Feb 2010

As Iraq prepares to hold new parliamentary elections amid continuing controversy over the eligibility of many candidates, Amnesty International is appealing to the countrys political leaders to ensure that both the election campaign and the vote on 7 March are conducted peacefully and fully conform with Iraqs obligations under international human rights law. Posted: 22 Feb 2010

Responding to reports that the UK Metropolitan Police are investigating allegations that UK security services were complicit in the torture of Shaker Aamer (41), a UK resident who has been held at Guantnamo Bay for eight years, Amnesty International UK counter-terrorism campaigner Sara Mac Neice said: Posted: 19 Feb 2010

Amnesty International has called on the Malaysian government to end caning after three women were subjected to the punishment following their conviction for extramarital sex. Posted: 18 Feb 2010

Amnesty International has accused Iran of showing contempt for human rights, after it rejected important recommendations by the United Nations to improve human rights in the country. Posted: 18 Feb 2010

Responding to the decision taken by Tongas Supreme Court Judge to sentence two men to 13 years in jail and six lashes for escaping from prison and stealing while on the run, Amnesty Internationals Pacific Researcher Apolosi Bose said: Posted: 18 Feb 2010

Responding to news that Danny Fitzsimons trial on murder charges in Iraq has been delayed until April, Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said: Posted: 18 Feb 2010

Amnesty International has called on both sides to protect Afghan civilians as NATO and Afghan forces continue a major military offensive in the southern Afghan province of Helmand. Posted: 17 Feb 2010

An event for bloggers and other digital media at Amnesty Internationals London Human Rights Action Centre on 22 February is asking "Is technology really good for human rights?" Posted: 17 Feb 2010

International and local human rights organisations have today urged the Nepali authorities to stop obstructing criminal proceedings over the alleged torture and murder of 15-year-old Maina Sunuwar by four army officers. Posted: 17 Feb 2010

Amnesty International today (17 Feb) called on the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to protect human rights defenders, who continue to be arbitrarily detained by the countys security agencies and subjected to death threats. Posted: 17 Feb 2010