November 2007


Uganda: Justice system fails victims of sexual violence

Amnesty International today (30 Nov) accused the criminal justice system in northern Uganda of ignoring, denying and tacitly condoning violence against women and girls, while it protects suspected perpetrators. Posted: 30 Nov 2007

New Nick Broomfield film calls on MPs to help change UK policy making refused asylum seekers destitute

A campaigning film with a difference opens in parliament on Tuesday 4 December. Still Human Still Here: The Destitution of Refused Asylum Seekers, produced by Nick Broomfield for Amnesty International, has one audience in mind: parliamentarians. Posted: 30 Nov 2007

Scotland: Amnesty warns government over roll out of tasers

Amnesty International stepped up its campaign this week against the roll out of tasers in Scotland. Posted: 30 Nov 2007

Chad: UN must deploy adequately resourced forces immediately

Amnesty International today (29 Nov) warned that the lack of technical support for peacekeeping forces in Chad, Darfur and the Central African Republic is endangering people's lives and setting the international community up to fail in its efforts to resolve the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis in the region. Posted: 29 Nov 2007

Abused women in Northern Ireland have least access to support services in UK

The End Violence Against Women Coalition - of which Amnesty International is part - is today calling on the Northern Ireland Government to provide proper services for women who have experienced violence. Posted: 28 Nov 2007

Burma: arrests continue

Military junta targets human rights activists, ethnic leaders and politicians as number detained since September's protests rises to 700 Amnesty International today condemned the new arrests of political activists inside Burma, despite the commitment by Prime Minister Thein Sein to the UN Special Representative, Ibrahim Gambari, in early November that no more arrests would be carried out. Posted: 28 Nov 2007

Equality and human rights commission/ End Violence Against Women coalition

Urgent action needed for women affected by violence The Commission for Equality and Human Rights and the coalition, End Violence Against Women (EVAW), are calling on the government and local authorities to provide more support for the 3 million women in the UK who experience violence every year. In addition, there are also untold numbers who have experienced abuse in the past and urgently need support. Posted: 28 Nov 2007

Russian Federation: systematic repression on eve of elections

Protesters beaten and arrested, trials unfair, media threatened and political activist shot dead Amnesty International today (28 November) expressed grave concern about the Russian authorities' systematic disregard for basic human rights in the run-up to parliamentary elections in the country, scheduled for 2 December 2007. Posted: 28 Nov 2007

Northern Ireland: Abused Women in Northern Ireland have least access to support services in UK

The End Violence Against Women Coalition - of which Amnesty International is part - is today (28 November 2007) calling on the Northern Ireland Government to provide proper services for women who have experienced violence. Posted: 28 Nov 2007

Israel/occupied Palestinian territories: Annapolis talks must lead to immediate, concrete action on human rights

If next week's Annapolis talks are to make progress towards a just and durable solution to the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, peace pledges must be accompanied by clear and concrete steps to halt and redress the grave human rights abuses and serious violations of international humanitarian law that continue to destroy lives on both sides. Posted: 26 Nov 2007

UK: Amnesty releases 'ten good reasons why extending pre-charge detention is a bad idea'

Amnesty International UK today (26 November) released 'Ten good reasons why extending pre-charge detention is a bad idea', outlining the strong case against government proposals to extend the time for which police can hold terrorism suspects without charge. Posted: 26 Nov 2007

Cambodia: mother of four killed trying to protect children as security forces forcibly evict villagers

Two shot dead, 12 arrested and 317 families evicted in brutal crackdown Cambodian security forces killed two - including a 29-year-old mother of four - arrested 12 and evicted 317 families last week as they cleared a commune in the remote northern province of Preah Vihear, Amnesty International learnt today. Posted: 23 Nov 2007

Brazil: prison rape exposes increasing abuse of women

Women in Brazil are the hidden victims of a crumbling detention system that exposes them to rape and other ill treatment, Amnesty International said today. Posted: 23 Nov 2007

Scotland: Amnesty warns that roll-out of tasers would spell disaster for communities

Amnesty fears for community safety in the wake of calls from the Joint Central Committees of the Police Federation to make tasers available to all police officers in the UK. Posted: 23 Nov 2007

EU-ASEAN Summit: Amnesty calls for 'watertight' arms embargo on Burma

Amnesty issues open letter to EU leaders demanding that they put human rights abuses in Burma at the heart of forthcoming summits Amnesty International has written an open letter to all EU leaders demanding that the continuing human rights abuses in Burma are central to today's agenda at the EU-ASEAN summit in Singapore and the summits next week with China and India. Posted: 22 Nov 2007

Iran: crackdown on womens rights as journalist and activist arrested

Amnesty International today (21 November) issued an urgent appeal for Maryam Hosseinkhah, a journalist and women's rights defender, who was arrested on 18 November in Iran. She has reportedly been accused of "disturbing public opinion", "propaganda against the system" and "publication of lies" in connection with articles posted on websites she edits. Posted: 21 Nov 2007

Pakistan: Amnesty International condemns intimidation and arrests of journalists

Amnesty International today condemned the arrest of at least 100 journalists after police baton-charged a peaceful demonstration against curbs on media. Posted: 21 Nov 2007

USA: 'an opportunity for justice' for Gary Tyler

Amnesty International supporters are urgently appealing to authorities in Louisiana to pardon a 49-year-old African American man who has already spent more than 33 years in a state prison after being convicted of murder in a fundamentally flawed and unfair trial. Posted: 21 Nov 2007

Burma: monks leader faces death penalty

Amnesty International today (20 November) admitted that it has deep concern over the future of U Gambira, the 27-year-old leader of the All-Burma Monks Alliance (ABMA). Posted: 20 Nov 2007

UN decision on execution moratorium

Amnesty International welcome the UN's decision in favour of a global moratorium on executions, it is an historic decision which takes us all one step closer to a more humane world. Posted: 16 Nov 2007