March 2002

"Human rights must be central to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)," Amnesty International said as African leaders gathered in Abuja, Nigeria to fine tune their initiative to develop the continent. Posted: 28 Mar 2002

Hundreds of Amnesty International's southern African members meeting in Johannesburg called on African leaders in general and Southern African Development Community (SADC) diplomats in particular to seize every opportunity to protect the rights of citizens in Zimbabwe. Posted: 28 Mar 2002

The release of prisoner of conscience, Andrey Klimov, although welcomed by Amnesty International, was overshadowed by the arrests of at least 50 people during the peaceful Freedom Day demonstration in the Belarusian capital, Minsk. Posted: 27 Mar 2002

With Panama becoming the 56th state to ratify the Rome Statute, fast progress is being made towards the establishment of the International Criminal Court, Amnesty International has said. Posted: 26 Mar 2002

Twenty years on from General Efraín Ríos Montt's coup -- which marked the opening of one of the bloodiest periods in Guatemala's recent history -- the death and "disappearance" of over 200,000 people remain unaccounted for and the vast majority of those responsible have not answered for their crimes, Amnesty International has said. Posted: 26 Mar 2002

Amnesty International very much welcomes the recent public declaration by the Attorney General of Jamaica, A J Nicholson, that he is personally against the death penalty. Posted: 26 Mar 2002

Amnesty International and Nigerian human rights organisation Baobab for Women's Human Rights (BWHR) today welcomed the decision by the Sharia Court of Appeal of Sokoto State in northern Nigeria to acquit Safiya Yakubu Hussaini, following her appeal against a death-by-stoning penalty originally imposed on 9 October 2001. Posted: 25 Mar 2002

Since September 11, the Chinese government has stepped up its harsh repression of ethnic Uighur opponents of Chinese rule and others branded as "separatists" in the name of countering "terrorism", Amnesty International said today in a new report. Posted: 22 Mar 2002

Amnesty International delegates today spelt out at a press conference in Jerusalem the perils of avoiding the centrality of human rights to security and lasting peace. Posted: 20 Mar 2002

In the midst of the conflict in Nepal and under a state of emergency, security forces are arresting dozens of civilians for their perceived "support" for the Nepalese Maoists and undermining human rights, Amnesty International says. Posted: 20 Mar 2002

With the case of Safiya Yakubu Hussaini pending (25 March 2002) before the Sokoto Sharia Court of Appeal, Amnesty International has expressed serious human rights concerns over the recent introduction of laws based on Sharia in several states of northern Nigeria. Posted: 19 Mar 2002

As the Zimbabwean authorities continue their crackdown on human rights defenders and non-governmental organisations following the presidential elections, Amnesty International today appealed to the troika of Commonwealth leaders to address human rights concerns in their deliberations. Posted: 19 Mar 2002

As the appeal case of four men sentenced to three years' imprisonment for their actual or perceived sexual orientation opens before a Cairo Court of Appeal today, Amnesty International is renewing its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those imprisoned on the grounds of sexual identity. Posted: 18 Mar 2002

As a Brussels court decides on 18 March whether to commit seven law enforcement officers for trial in connection with the death in September 1998 of Semira Adamu, a 20-year-old rejected asylum-seeker from Nigeria, within hours of an attempt to deport her forcibly from Brussels-National airport , Amnesty International urges the Belgian government to thoroughly review its expulsion procedures. Posted: 15 Mar 2002

Amnesty International is gravely concerned that with international observers leaving Zimbabwe after this week's election there is a new risk of attacks on perceived supporters of the opposition, as well as a heightened risk of government-sponsored violence at protests over the results. Posted: 15 Mar 2002

Amnesty International is gravely concerned at reports that 14 girls have lost their lives and dozens of others were injured following a fire at their school in Mecca on 11 March 2002 after the religious police (Mutawa'een) prevented them from escaping from the fire because they were not wearing headscarves and their male relatives were not there to receive them. Posted: 15 Mar 2002

On the eve of the EU Summit in Barcelona this weekend, Amnesty International is calling on the Spanish authorities to ensure that policing of demonstrations respects the right to peaceful protest. Posted: 15 Mar 2002

Selectivity and double standards must not take precedence over human rights standards, Amnesty International warned as the UN Commission on Human Rights opened its 58th session. Posted: 14 Mar 2002

"I have now been in solitary confinement for three and a half months and by the time of the next hearing I will have been here for four months. [...] Why am I imprisoned? Why in solitary confinement? And why under maximum security measures? I have many questions and no answers. What are they accusing me of? Nobody knows." Posted: 14 Mar 2002

Amnesty International is gravely concerned about the high risk of violence in the aftermath of the elections held on 9, 10 and 11 March 2002, especially in light of the departure of many international election observers. Posted: 14 Mar 2002