News stories - 2012

The fabricated charges used to convict two housing rights activists in Phnom Penhs Municipal Court confirms the dire state of Cambodias justice system and rule of law in the country, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 28 Dec 2012

Two leading childrens authors today called on Britains young people to put their holiday time to good use and enter Amnesty Internationals Young Human Rights Reporter of the Year competition. Posted: 24 Dec 2012

The UN Security Councils approval of armed intervention into Mali risks worsening the human rights and humanitarian crisis in the north, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 21 Dec 2012

Taiwans execution of six people today makes a mockery of the authorities stated commitment to abolish the death penalty, Amnesty International said. Posted: 21 Dec 2012

Amnesty International has welcomed an increase in global support for abolition of the death penalty, after the UN General Assembly yesterday voted overwhelmingly in favour of a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. Posted: 21 Dec 2012

The first civilian conviction for human rights abuses committed during Argentinas military rule is a historic step towards justice according to Amnesty International. Posted: 21 Dec 2012

A resolution against female genital mutilation (FGM) has been endorsed by the UN general assembly in a move hailed by Amnesty International. Todays result was a first for the UNs general assembly. Posted: 20 Dec 2012

Amnesty International has called on Russian parliamentarians to reject a bill it believes will have a chilling effect on Russian human rights defenders and civil society if it becomes law. Posted: 20 Dec 2012

Amnesty International has condemned the Bahraini authorities detention of a 16-year-old boy in an adult prison in violation of international human rights standards. Posted: 19 Dec 2012

Ahead of this weeks European Union-Russia summit, a group of eight international human rights organisations is calling on European Union leaders to urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to end a crackdown on Russian civil society. Posted: 19 Dec 2012

Amnesty International is calling on the Iraqi authorities to halt the execution of 28 prisoners whose death sentences were reportedly ratified yesterday. Posted: 18 Dec 2012

Amnesty International said has said the UK government must not delay further on delivering a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, as proposed in the 1998 peace agreement. Posted: 18 Dec 2012

Amnesty International said that there was a risk that a British Bill of Rights could be a Trojan horse that results in reduced rights protection. The organisation was responding to the report issued by the Commission set up to determine whether a British Bill of Rights should be drafted to replace the Human Rights Act, in which the Commission's members could not agree on whether there was a strong case for a UK Bill of Rights. Posted: 18 Dec 2012

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague today acquitted Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, who had been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Posted: 18 Dec 2012

Asylum seekers and other migrants are the some of the hardest hit victims of Greeces economic crisis, facing racist violence, squalid living conditions and a chaotic asylum system, Amnesty International says in a new briefing out today. Posted: 18 Dec 2012

Amnesty International is warning that tomorrows debate in the House of Commons on the governments Justice and Security bill is a key moment in the battle to ensure that the principles of fairness and open justice remain as cornerstones of the UKs justice system. Posted: 17 Dec 2012

A Sudanese teacher and activist is facing the death penalty because of her humanitarian work and the peaceful expression of her views, and should be released immediately, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 17 Dec 2012

Amnesty International has written to Russian politicians urging them to reject a controversial draft law on the promotion of homosexuality when it comes before the countrys state Duma later this week. Posted: 17 Dec 2012

Amnesty International has hailed a judgement from the West African regional ECOWAS court yesterday that the Nigerian government and multinational corporations have been responsible for years of pollution in the Niger Delta. Posted: 17 Dec 2012

Todays conviction of the killer of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya is welcome progress, Amnesty International said today, but the organisation urged Russian prosecutors to keep digging until those who masterminded the killing are brought to justice. Posted: 14 Dec 2012