So Fidel Castro has hinted that he may soon step down from the leadership in Cuba to make room for the younger generation. Should that happen, lets hope that a new leadership would guarantee the full respect of human rights for the...

Death Penalty News Encouraging news today as the Guardian reports that the American state of New Jersey has abolished the death penalty. This is a significant step in US history as New Jersey becomes the first state in 40 years to...

So in spite of the Governments promise in October to make special allowances for the Iraqi interpreters seeking asylum in the UK, only 75 out of the 200 who applied have been granted leave to remain according to The Times. Thats hardly...

The Met Police today announced plans to start deploying tasers to non-firearms trained officers as of Monday. They are the last of ten forces around the UK to take part in this pilot scheme set up by the Home Office which began on 1st...

Did you know that if youre a woman whos been raped, abused at home, trafficked or suffered violence of one sort or another, the chances of getting appropriate specialised services can vary greatly according to where you live . Shocking...

So Israels sweetener to Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas ahead of next weeks peace talks are strawberries and armoured personnel carriers it would seem. Ehud Olmerts move to ease the trade embargo on Gaza by allowing Palestinian...

Cherie Blairs interview on the Today programme very much skirted the issue of the serious violations of womens rights in Saudi Arabia . While its great that she has flagged up the fact that womens rights need to be upheld within any...

Although I am slightly gutted that I missed the first episode of Spooks which was on last week (I was in NYC so really I shouldnt complain), Im delighted its back on the screen. Its just as gripping as previous seasons although I have...

The decision by Burma’s military ruler to meet imprisoned democratically-elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi is so riddled with conditions that it makes me wonder if they really want to make that happen. It also seems slightly incongruous...

I’m contentedly biting into a delightful Belgian praline as I write this as I’ve just returned from the lovely town of Ghent in Belgium where I attended a conference for Amnesty press staff across the EU. Nothing works quite like...

Burma is rarely out of the news due to the extreme savagery of a military government which presides over mass political imprisonment, forced labour and torture . But the images of saffron robe-clad monks facing teargas and warning...

Englands Twenty20 match against Zimbabwe today may well be a nail biter given yesterdays upset when Zim beat the Aussies in their warm-up match. I dont think anyone saw that coming. One thing about Zimbabwe you cant miss however is the...

There’s a sombre tone around the office today as so many of us are saddened by the loss of Dame Anita Roddick who died yesterday evening . I’m sure Anita would have been one of the many people who would be dismayed to hear how many...

Over the past 18 months, theres been a frightening wave of gun attacks which have resulted in many teenagers and now a pre-teen being shot and either wounded or killed. From where Im standing gun crime is far from going down, in fact...

Other stuff in the news today is that horrific video posted on the Internet of two men being killed execution style. Detail of the killing is absolutely appalling but thankfully the videos been removed from www.livejournal.ru. The...

It’s always great to start the morning off on a positive note, it makes the day go so much better, I think. So I was delighted when after my first hour in the office I heard that the Foreign Office had requested that five British...

For more than four years people in that region have suffered some of the worst crimes known to man . Thousands have died, millions have fled their homes and countless others have been butchered, raped or tortured. Gordon Brown has...

Well I’m just days back from New York where I was just yards away from Grand Central Station when a massive steam pipe explosion caused great consternation, forcing hordes of us off the subway and onto the streets of Manhattan. As you...