March 2007

Responding to today's news that Bisher al-Rawi, a UK resident from Kingston-on Thames, is set to be released from the US military detention centre at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba, Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said: Posted: 29 Mar 2007

Amnesty International today (29 March 2007) warned that Scottish airports are failing to take appropriate steps to ensure that so-called "torture flights" are unable to land on Scottish soil. Posted: 29 Mar 2007

Amnesty International has welcomed the vote by Derry City Council to adopt in principle a new 'anti-rendition' policy for use at the council-owned City of Derry Airport. Posted: 28 Mar 2007

Amnesty International expressed outrage at events today in Zimbabwe, including the arrest of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai. The organisation called for an end to the continued harassment, torture and intimidation of opposition activists in Zimbabwe. Posted: 28 Mar 2007

Heavy fighting is currently taking place in Mogadishu as forces of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the large Ethiopian army force supporting it have been attacked by armed opposition groups. Posted: 23 Mar 2007

Amnesty International applauds the UK Government's signature of the European Convention Against Trafficking. Today is a great step on the road to eradicating trafficking in Britain. Posted: 23 Mar 2007

A new Polish Ministry of Education anti-homosexuality proposal is strongly reminiscent of 'Clause 28' in Britain, says Amnesty International. Posted: 23 Mar 2007

Amnesty International applauds the UK Government's signature of the European Convention Against Trafficking. Today is a great step on the road to eradicating trafficking in Scotland and the rest of the UK. Posted: 23 Mar 2007

A new Polish Ministry of Education anti-homosexuality proposal is strongly reminiscent of 'Clause 28' in Britain, known as Section 2A in Scotland, Amnesty International said today (23 March 2007). It is alarming that it comes amid recent threats against Gay Pride march organisers and increasing intimidation of and discrimination against gay people in Poland. Posted: 23 Mar 2007

In a major new report published today (22 March), Amnesty International has condemned the proposed 'military commission' tribunals at the US military prison at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba as unfair and 'a travesty of justice'. Posted: 22 Mar 2007

Sir Elton John today (22 March) urged people to 'shout down' homophobia, 'whether the bigot is in our local pub or a thousand miles away,' in a New Statesman article to mark his commitment to Amnesty International and human rights ahead of his 60th birthday this weekend. Posted: 22 Mar 2007

Heavy fighting is currently taking place in Mogadishu as forces of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the large Ethiopian army force supporting it have been attacked by armed opposition groups. Posted: 22 Mar 2007

Thousands of Amnesty International supporters are sending messages of concern to the Sudanese authorities upon receiving news that two women from Darfur, western Sudan could face death by stoning after being convicted of committing adultery. Posted: 20 Mar 2007

Amnesty International is urging Derry City Council to adopt a new 'anti-rendition' policy for use at the council-owned City of Derry Airport. Posted: 20 Mar 2007

As the UK launches its blueprint for an Arms Trade Treaty, the Control Arms campaign today calls on all governments to ensure their proposals for the Treaty recommend a ban on arms transfers that fuel serious human rights abuses, conflict and poverty. Posted: 19 Mar 2007

Amnesty International UK's National Conference & AGM takes place in Edinburgh this weekend (23-25 March), attended by 400 of the human rights organisation's members and opened by Mirza Tahir Hussain, the British man whose release from death row in Pakistan members successfully campaigned for last year. Posted: 19 Mar 2007

Amnesty International is deeply concerned at reports of the use of excessive and unnecessary force by police in West Bengal (Eastern India) against farmers protesting against proposed displacement by the state government for a new industrial project. The violence has resulted in the deaths of at least 14 people. Posted: 16 Mar 2007

Amnesty International has produced a shocking new advertising campaign to draw attention to the horrific human rights violations taking place in Darfur, western Sudan. Posted: 16 Mar 2007

Amnesty International welcomes the appointment of leading Australian human rights lawyer, Chris Sidoti, as the independent Chair of the Bill of Rights Forum and calls for further steps by Government to help make Forum effective. Posted: 15 Mar 2007

Armed groups, some identified as part of a breakaway group of Tamil Tigers known as the Karuna faction, are infiltrating camps for newly displaced people and abducting residents, according to sources known to Amnesty International. Posted: 14 Mar 2007