January 2007

As the USA State Department raised concerns in its report to Congress about possible violations by Israel of a classified US-Israeli agreement on the use of cluster bombs, Amnesty International today (30 January) urged the Israeli government to hand over detailed maps and coordinates of the areas in south Lebanon into which its forces fired hundreds of thousands of cluster bombs during the 34-day conflict with Hizbullah last July-August. Posted: 30 Jan 2007

The Thai government must permanently call off the deportation to Laos of 153 refugees from the Hmong minority, said Amnesty International today. Immigration officials dragged women and girls crying and screaming out of their cell in the Nong Khai immigration centre and used tear gas against the men and boys, who have been barricading themselves in their cell for hours. Posted: 30 Jan 2007

Amnesty International today (29 January 2007) warned that the African Union (AU) would compromise its reputation if it elected Sudan as chair of the AU this week. Posted: 29 Jan 2007

Amnesty International is inviting entries for its 16th annual Media Awards, which recognise excellence in journalism that has made a significant contribution to the UK public's greater awareness and understanding of human rights issues. Posted: 29 Jan 2007

Amnesty International today (29 January) issued an urgent web appeal on behalf of two Algerian men, known as 'Q' and 'K', who are being held incommunicado in Algeria and are at risk of torture. The men were deported from the UK last week. Posted: 29 Jan 2007

"These people have tricked us. We risked our lives to hand in our weapons... Some of our friends have been killed because they joined the programme. Now we can no longer live in our villages because people are looking for us to kill us... The solution is for these people to give us our weapons back...' A former fighter in Ituri Posted: 25 Jan 2007

Amnesty International deplores the executions yesterday of four Iranian Arab men and fears for the lives of other prisoners who are reported to have been sentenced to death recently following unfair trials. Posted: 25 Jan 2007

Journalists striving to expose the misuse of government power in Azerbaijan are increasingly living under the threat of politically motivated arrests, physical assault and even death, Amnesty International said today (24 January). Posted: 24 Jan 2007

Amnesty International UK, Reprieve and anti-death penalty campaigners today (24 January) welcomed a fresh opportunity for a Scottish man on death row in the USA to clear his name. Posted: 24 Jan 2007

Amnesty International has condemned the closure in Russia today of a key non-governmental organisation run by two distinguished Russian journalists. Posted: 23 Jan 2007

Amnesty International Northern Ireland today (23 January 2007) welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement that the UK Government is to sign up to the European Convention Against Trafficking. Posted: 23 Jan 2007

Signing the Convention Against Trafficking means that the Scottish Executive can start work on Posted: 23 Jan 2007

Amnesty International applauds the decision of the UK Government to sign up to the European Convention Against Trafficking. Posted: 22 Jan 2007

Amnesty International has announced that it would be part of multi-stakeholder discussions with companies including Google, Microsoft and Yahoo!, other NGOs, experts, and socially responsible investors, to establish principles for safeguarding human rights on the internet. Posted: 22 Jan 2007

Amnesty responds today (22 January 2007) to a report from Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland Nuala O'Loan on collusion between security forces and loyalist paramilitaries. Posted: 22 Jan 2007

Human rights organisations Amnesty International and Global Witness have today (22 January) called on the diamond industry to make good on its promises to clean up the international diamond trade and ensure that consumers can be sure the gems they buy are not blood diamonds. Posted: 22 Jan 2007

Amnesty International deplores the murder in Turkey today of prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. We believe he was targeted because of his work as a journalist who championed freedom of expression. Posted: 19 Jan 2007

Amnesty International has received reports that the government-backed Janjawid militia have threatened to attack three villages in West Darfur - Bir Dageeg, Sirba and Abu Suruj - which they apparently believe are supporting anti-government forces. Posted: 18 Jan 2007

Amnesty International UK, Reprieve and Scottish anti-death penalty campaigner Karen Torley today (17 January) issued fresh calls for justice for a Scottish man on death row in the USA, as the US marks a 30-year 'anniversary' of the death penalty. Posted: 17 Jan 2007

Amnesty International today (16 January) welcomed the lifting of the death sentence against 19-year-old Nazanin Fathehi and a stay of execution in the case of fellow child offender Sina Paymard. Posted: 16 Jan 2007