September 2001

One year after the intifada began on 29 September 2000 Amnesty International called on the international community to take steps to end the human rights tragedy in Israel and the Occupied Territories. Posted: 29 Sep 2001

(New York/London) Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International today criticized the Vietnamese government's use of closed trials to impose harsh prison terms on fourteen ethnic minority Montagnards from the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Posted: 29 Sep 2001

As speculation heightens concerning 'Operation Enduring Freedom', Amnesty International UK has today written to Prime Minister Tony Blair seeking assurances from Downing Street that any British military force involvement will strictly adhere to international humanitarian law and impress this need on coalition partners. Posted: 28 Sep 2001

Human rights defender Moncef Marzouki will know tomorrow, Saturday 29 September 2001, whether he has to spend the next year in prison for speaking out about the deteriorating situation of human rights and public liberties in Tunisia. Amnesty International has sent two delegates to observe this appeal session of the trial. Posted: 28 Sep 2001

The United Nations Committee against Torture (the Committee) will review the periodic report of the government of Zambia in its forthcoming 27th session. Posted: 28 Sep 2001

Opinion piece by Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International. Posted: 27 Sep 2001

Despite initial improvements after the return to constitutional order in 1994, the human rights situation in Haiti is again deteriorating, Amnesty International warned today. Posted: 27 Sep 2001

Amnesty International urges Bush administration to maintain human rights standards in response to 11 September attacks, and warns of looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Posted: 25 Sep 2001

The international community must honour its commitments to the people of Sierra Leone to bring to justice the perpetrators of some of the worst crimes under international law, Amnesty International said. Posted: 24 Sep 2001

"The fear of military attacks on Afghanistan has caused a mass movement of people towards borders - it is imperative that the international community take responsibility for this and urgently address the unfolding humanitarian crisis," Amnesty International said. Posted: 22 Sep 2001

The current fear of military attacks on Afghanistan has caused Afghans to flee to neighbouring countries (mainly Pakistan and Iran, but also Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan). Tajikistan has had its border with Afghanistan closed since mid-September 2000, in violation of international law, consequently refugees are being stranded in the border. Posted: 22 Sep 2001

In a joint statement issued yesterday, President George Bush and President Megawati Sukarnoputri vowed to open "a new era of bilateral cooperation based on shared democratic values and a common interest in promoting regional stability and prosperity." Today Amnesty International urged both governments not to lose sight of the critical need to make the protection of human rights the cornerstone of such cooperation. Posted: 21 Sep 2001

Amnesty International fears that the recent arrest of 11 former Eritrean government officials and reports of the wholesale closure of the private press indicates growing repression of non-violent dissent by the government of President Issayas Afewerki. Posted: 21 Sep 2001

Amnesty International today renewed its call for international observers, an end to closures and respect for international humanitarian law in the Israeli Occupied Territories. Posted: 21 Sep 2001

As EU Justice and Homes Affairs Ministers gather in Brussels today for their extraordinary council meeting, following the attacks in the US last week, Amnesty International has expressed its support for the EU's determination to combat impunity. However, the human rights organization has called for explicit assurances that any measure to tighten security will not undermine civil liberties and the right of refugees to protection. Posted: 21 Sep 2001

Amnesty International welcomed yesterday's acquittal of Jehovah's Witness Levon Margaryan who had faced up to five years' imprisonment under the Armenian Criminal Code for "enticing minors into attending religious meetings of an unregistered religion" and "influencing members to refuse their civic duties". Posted: 20 Sep 2001

On Sunday 23 September, at 21:00 hours Jamaican TV station CVM will show the BBC programme "Dead Men Tell No Tales", an investigation into police killings in Jamaica. Posted: 20 Sep 2001

In the aftermath of the appalling loss of human life resulting from the 11 September attacks in the USA, the world stands at a crossroads, Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International warned today. Posted: 20 Sep 2001

Fourteen leading British charities and aid organisations have today joined in a call for the United States and its allies to show restraint in responding to the terrorist attacks in the United States. Posted: 19 Sep 2001

Amnesty International has been concerned about allegations of ill-treatment of prisoners in Wormwood Scrubs and in other prisons in England and Wales for several years. The criminal investigation into some of the allegations regarding Wormwood Scrubs led to the prosecution of 27 police officers and to the conviction of six. Posted: 17 Sep 2001