Dear Amnesty Supporter, "Six months in and what a year it’s been! With your incredible support we’ve fought against the scrapping of the Human Rights Act, demanded action to stop drownings in the Mediterranean, seen torture survivor Moses Akatugba go from ‘prisoner to conqueror’, and – in a world first – used innovative technology to bring the horror of the devastation in Syria to people on the streets.The
news has been particularly hard to watch recently, but there is much to
be hopeful for, and so much we should be proud of. Here are just a few
reasons why:"
Submitted by one of our members... not strictly human rights (and, yet it is):
Published on Apr 2, 2015 (2:49 min)
We
surprised kids with a stunning fact: 1 in 5 children faces hunger in
the U.S. Then we asked them for ideas on how we could fight child hunger
together. Their thoughts were smart, creative, and heartfelt. It’s easy
for your family to help fight child hunger: volunteer at a food bank;
enter a ConAgra Foods product code to donate a meal, or collect food.
Visit http://ChildHungerEndsHere.com to learn more.
Click here for entire list of URGENT ACTION for the week of June 25 to July 3.
(This post is updated daily.)
Countries for
this week's Urgent Actions
include: Colombia, Brazil, Bahrain, Hungary, Thailand, Chad, and Egypt.
Note: Most Urgent Actions require a written letter. See our guidelines for writing letters. Countries are added to this list during the week. The link contains all Urgent Actions for the week.
Amnesty
International is a global movement of more than 3 million supporters,
members and activists in over 150 countries and territories who campaign
to end grave abuses of human rights. Our vision is for every
person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and other international human rights standards. We
are independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest
or religion, and are funded mainly by our membership and public
donations. After more than 50 years of groundbreaking
achievements, Amnesty International is now embarking on a major process
of evolution, to adapt to the dramatic changes in the world we operate
in, and to increase the impact of our human rights work. We are
introducing a new, global way of working -- with a distributed centre
and Regional Hubs of research, campaigns and communications -- because
we owe it to the people we work for to be the most effective force for
freedom and justice that we can, globally. As we develop this
process -- in line with the long-held desire of our international
membership -- we will post regular blogs, articles, stories and personal
accounts to explain what is happening, and why it is important to those
on the human rights front line. Come with us on our journey by
reading our blogs here , and then help us make a real difference to
people's lives by becoming a member or supporter of Amnesty
International.
Two years ago, Ihar Tsikhanyuk was dragged from his hospital bed by police officers. They took him into custody and beat him. Why? Simply for being a proud gay man.
He
made a complaint against the Minsk police force. It was rejected. His
requests to launch an investigation into his abuse have been flat out
refused. But Ihar remains undeterred. Please join him in his fight for justice and LGBTI rights in Belarus. Enough is enough!
HI Everyone:
Thank you everyone who took action on this issue.
Below is an article on a request for action I sent a couple of
weeks ago regarding a letter to Sec of State John Kerry and the Human Rights of
Palestinian Children.
From Edie Garwood, AIUSA's Country
Specialists for I/OT: Follow-up action is: asking that we ‘thank’ those who
signed and if our elected officials haven’t - ask them why. Call the
Congressional main switchboard number, (202)
224-3121 and simply ask for your representative. See list below to
check if your MOC is listed to ’thank’ or ask ‘why’. You can also see other
action options here (http://goo.gl/jYvDHe) and for more background
information, videos, etc … see www.nowaytotreatachild.org.
Thank
you all.
Angie Hougas
Incoming Board of Director for AIUSA
Los Angeles Gun Violence Prevention Network
#AskThePope #EndGunViolence
"As the Pope’s comments about climate change have recently impacted
world news, we want to hear what he thinks of an American Congress that
continues to block gun reform in a country where 9 church members are
shot while praying, 20 kindergartners are shot in their classroom, 12
moviegoers are shot in a theater, and over 32,000 Americans are killed
by guns every year.
On Sunday, June 21st, while Pope Francis addressed a crowd in Italy,
he put aside his prepared notes and spoke frankly, implying that
weapons manufacturers can't call themselves Christian. “If you trust
only men you have lost,” he said, “It makes me think of ... people,
managers, businessmen who call themselves Christian and they manufacture
weapons. That leads to a bit of distrust, doesn’t it?” He also
criticized those who invest in weapons industries, saying “duplicity is
the currency of today ... they say one thing and do another.”"
Click here for more information and ONLINE PETITION.
We
have such a wonderful membership! Not only do we hold human rights dear
to our hearts but there are also other issues such as the environment,
poverty, children's health, etc that can be related to human rights but
may not be addressed by Amnesty International. Here are some of those
links submitted by our members:
Last year,
we wrote to supporters like you about Rebiya Kadeer's and her son Ablikim’s
story. The response we got was overwhelming. I am so happy to let you know that
Ablikim was released from prison in May and is reunited with his family!
“My story is very dark. You’ll see why I’m so
terrified for my son, having experienced the inside of a Chinese prison
myself.”
These were the words of
Rebiya. The last time she heard her son’s voice, he was screaming, as Chinese
police brutally beat him and dragged him away in a car. That was nine years
ago.Like
Rebiya, Ablikim has defended the rights of the Uighurs. And like her, the
Chinese authorities threw him in jail for standing up for human rights.Amnesty International declared him a prisoner of conscience
and campaigned tirelessly demanding his release.Because of Amnesty International, because of supporters
like you, Ablikim is alive.Rebiya said that she believes efforts by
the international community helped to protect Ablikim during his detention:
"My son came out alive, and for that I am happy … I believe
this is due to the concern shown by the international community and rights
organizations, as well as pressure from western governments on Beijing.”
Thank you for your
support of Ablikim, Rebiya, and Amnesty’s efforts to keep them safe. And please
know how grateful I am for your dedicated commitment to human rights.
With grateful thanks,
Claire
Mallinson National Director Amnesty International Australia
Published on Jun 24, 2015 (1:44 min)
Around the world, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters are torn apart because they have bravely stood up for human rights.
GOOD NEWS: One of these families has just been reunited after Ablikim Abdiriyim was released from prison in May.
Today we celebrate as the Supreme Court in the USA recognizes same sex marriages in all 50 states. Click here
to read more about this landmark case decided this morning. We have
also grouped some of the online petitions and news items related to gun
violence in this post. So much is happening this week! Please check out our website posts and "act" today!!!
-Debbie, Weekly Update Editor
Click here for complete list of links to this week's petitions, urgent actions, other actions, news, videos, and calendar of events.
June 26, 2015
Amnesty International USA VICTORY:
The Supreme Court of the United States delivered a historic ruling
today affirming the right of same-sex couples to legally marry in all 50
US states. Equality is a human right!
Amnesty International USA
"Near drownings, mock executions, men hung nude wearing diapers and
immersed in ice water. Dick Cheney says he'd "do it again in a minute." Yet,
the Justice Department won't read the Senate's damning report on
torture. It's handing out "get out of jail free" cards to torturers.
5 minutes of your day could help prevent the US from burying the truth on torture.
Human Rights and Democracy for Iran
"Today is the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. June 26
marks the anniversaries of both the signing of the United Nations
Charter in 1945 and the entry into force of the Convention Against
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
(CAT) in 1987. In 1998, the United Nations elected to mark this day to
show solidarity with and commemorate victims of torture and to bring an
end to this unspeakable crime."
"The Convention Against Torture unequivocally bans all forms of torture
under all circumstances including for reasons of national security and
provides for remediation and redress for all victims of torture.[1]
Iran is among the handful of countries in the world that are not state
party to CAT. This is for good reason. The Islamic Republic flagrantly
and routinely violates the treaty in its law, which prescribes corporal
punishments such as flogging and amputation, and in practice."
June 24, 2015
"In a landmark ruling that many hope establishes a new global
precedent for a state's obligation to its citizens in the face of the
growing climate crisis, a Dutch court on Wednesday said that the
government has a legal duty to reduce carbon emissions by 25 percent by
2020. The decision came in response to a lawsuit,
launched in November 2013 by the Amsterdam-based environmental
nonprofit Urgenda Foundation along with 600 Dutch citizens, which argued
that the government was violating international human rights law by
failing to take sufficient measures to combat rising greenhouse gas
emissions.
"The state must do more to avert the imminent danger caused by
climate change, also in view of its duty of care to protect and improve
the living environment," read a statement from the Hague District Court.
There have been many petitions and articles written since the June 17th shooting in Charleston. Here are just a few links from our members and Amnesty International.
Panelists
discuss the human toll of gun violence in Chicago and other places
during the Human Rights Conference 2014 by Amnesty International. This
program was streamed and recorded by Chicago Access Network Television
(CAN TV).
In 2013, the country's highest court illegally voided the birth certificates of people born to immigrantssince 1929.The vast majority of these citizens are of Haitian descent.This
shameful and discriminatory act rendered thousands of Dominican-born
persons stateless - easy targets for acts of discrimination and
violence.
"We
are extremely worried because authorities continue to deny the
existence of statelessness, but it's our reality. Discrimination exists
in this country. I can't work and I can't access vital services." - Juan Alberto Antuan Vill, a young man of Haitian descent born in the Dominican Republic
The discrimination against Dominicans of Haitian descent must stop.
Click here for more information and ONLINE PETITION.
Amnesty International European Institutes Office
June 20, 2015
"This Monday, Amnesty International warned that the global refugee
situation has not been this dire since the end of the Second World War
70 years ago. The crisis in Syria is the biggest humanitarian
catastrophe of our time, with four million refugees struggling to
survive in neighbouring countries and another 7.6 million people
displaced within its borders. Less publicised conflicts are also
devastating; three million refugees are fleeing human rights abuses in
South Sudan, Nigeria, Burundi and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa.
These
people are doing what any of us would when trapped in intolerable
circumstances: they flee. To achieve this, they will risk everything.
Sometimes the only thing they have left to risk is their lives.
The
world’s wealthiest countries are doing shockingly little to help people
leave places where their rights and lives are at risk. The
international community offers money, but not enough to deal with the
unprecedented scale of the crisis. More importantly, wealthy countries
are miserly when it comes to offering refugees a new home, in the form
of resettlement programs.
This means that the countries
shouldering the responsibility for this massive crisis are generally the
ones least capable of doing so; 86% of the world’s refugees live in
developing nations. Turkey, Pakistan and Lebanon each host more than one
million refugees. The global number of resettlement places for refugees
from Syria represents a little more than 2% of those living in the
neighbouring host countries. And in 2013, fewer than 15,000 refugees
from the entire African continent were resettled.
Click here for entire list of URGENT ACTION for the week of June 19 to June 26.
(This post is updated daily.)
Countries for
this week's Urgent Actions
include:Thailand, Russian Federation, Chad, Colombia, and Indonesia.
Note: Most Urgent Actions require a written letter. See our guidelines for writing letters. Countries are added to this list during the week. The link contains all Urgent Actions for the week.
Amnesty International Australia
"By signing up to a 'commitment to kids', we can show our government
that Australians everywhere believe in better solutions than locking
kids up. We can show them that more community support is needed, not more prisons for kids. We’ll be letting your politicians all across Australia know about
this groundswell of support, to prove that Australians -- Indigenous and
non-Indigenous alike -- stand together for harmonious communities and a
brighter tomorrow."
Submitted by one of our members...
Ricky Martin Foundation, website
"Many
of the victims of child sex trafficking have been involved in our
nation’s foster care system, yet the system lacks the training and
guidelines necessary to provide help.
Click here for more information and ONLINE PETITION.
Published on Jan 15, 2015 (11 min)
“The
Chance for a New Life” depicts Sara Kruzan’s journey from being
sexually trafficked as a young girl to her conviction for murder and
sentence of life imprisonment. For seven years, attorneys at Perkins
Coie worked tirelessly in support of Sarah’s bid for freedom. Here is
their true story.
Amnesty International USA
"Victims of war crimes and other serious violations of international
humanitarian law committed by both sides in the 2014 armed conflict in
Gaza could be a step closer to justice, Amnesty International said upon
today’s publication of the findings of the United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry into the war.
“This report marks an important step towards accountability for all
the victims and their families. It’s a welcome independent validation of
Amnesty International’s own extensive research into last year’s
Gaza/Israel conflict, which found that both sides carried out a litany
of appalling violations of international human rights and humanitarian
law,” said Philip Luther, Middle East and North Africa Programme
Director at Amnesty International.
“The evidence is overwhelming and now the members and observer states
of the UN Human Rights Council must give the Commission’s findings and
recommendations serious consideration, refrain from politicizing the
Commission or its report, and ensure that the Council takes all
appropriate measures necessary to ensure accountability.
“Additionally, the Israeli and Palestinian authorities must
co-operate with the International Criminal Court examination, opened in
January, and all states must actively support the work of the ICC in
relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as the Commission
recommended.”
Yesterday we released our new report, Deadly Force, which reveals that
not only does the U.S. government fail to track how many people are
killed by law enforcement officers each year, but also that not one of
the 50 U.S. states complies with international law and standards on the
use of lethal force.
Join us for a webinar that will shed light on findings in Amnesty's new
report, Deadly Force: Police Use of Force in the United States.
Together, we'll discuss key information in this urgent report, its
policy implications, and how you can get involved in addressing this
human rights crisis.
"The Iranian authorities musturgently commute the death
sentence of Ehsan Shah Ghasemi, a 24-year-old man who faces imminent
execution amid a flawed trial that cast overwhelming doubts over his
guilt, said Amnesty International.
Ehsan Shah Ghasemi was sentenced to death for stabbing Ali Khalili in
the neck in July 2011, causing injuries that allegedly led to his death
almost three years later in April 2014. The Supreme Court approved
Ehsan Shah Ghasemi’s execution despite the absence of any conclusive
evidence that the stab wound caused Ali Khalili’s death. The Chief
Justice of Iran is expected to endorse the death sentence in the next
few days.
“Ehsan Shah Ghasemi is caught in the agonizing grip of a nightmare as
he faces the gallows. His life is now in the hands of the head of the
judiciary who must decide on putting a young man to death after a deeply
flawed trial,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Director of Amnesty
International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme.
We
have such a wonderful membership! Not only do we hold human rights dear
to our hearts but there are also other issues such as the environment,
poverty, children's health, etc that can be related to human rights but
may not be addressed by Amnesty International. Here are some of those
links submitted by our members:
