News & Updates

Sheperds stand beside a cistern in the village of Umm al-Kheir, in the southern West Bank (OPT), September 2009.

Israel rations Palestinians to trickle of water

27 October 2009

Amnesty International has accused Israel of denying Palestinians the right to access adequate water by maintaining total control over the shared water resources and pursuing discriminatory policies.
Irene Khan, Amnesty International Secretary General, speaks to doctors in Freetown, Sierra Leone, September 2009

Maternal death rate in Sierra Leone is a "human rights emergency"

21 September 2009

In Sierra Leone, one in eight women risk dying during pregnancy or childbirth - one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world.

China must free activist who defended earthquake victims

23 November 2009

Huang Qi has been sentenced to three years in prison for his work on behalf of families of five primary school pupils who died when school buildings collapsed in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

Abduction and killings of journalists and politicians in the Philippines must be investigated

23 November 2009

At least 21 civilians have been killed in the southern province of Maguindanao. These are the first reported killings linked to national elections to be held in May 2010.

Danish government must arrest Sudanese President if he attends climate conference

20 November 2009

Amnesty International has learned that the Danish government has invited Sudanese President al Bashir to attend a meeting in Copenhagen on climate change in December.  

Russia moves one step closer to death penalty abolition

20 November 2009

Amnesty International has welcomed a decision by Russia's Constitutional Court that brings the country a step closer to abolishing the death penalty.

Chinese activists under threat after Obama visit

20 November 2009

Chinese authorities must stop the harassment and arbitrary detention of dozens of human rights lawyers and activists who were targeted during US President Obama’s visit.

Time for world leaders to ratify disappearances treaty

20 November 2009

Amnesty International has called on world leaders to help prevent enforced disappearances by urging them to ratify a landmark treaty at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Ohio moves to resume executions under new protocol

20 November 2009

Amnesty International is appealing to the authorities in the state of Ohio not to resume executions, following their adoption of a new lethal injection protocol.

Soldiers convicted for ill-treatment of conscientious objector in Turkey

19 November 2009

Amnesty International has welcomed the conviction of three Turkish soldiers for “intentionally wounding” a conscientious objector while he was in military custody.

Egyptian Military Court of Appeals fails to rectify injustice

19 November 2009

Amnesty International condemns the failure of Egypt's military appeals court to overturn sentences imposed on leading members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood organization after unfair trials.

Singapore defamation case threatens press freedom

19 November 2009

A magazine and its editor have agreed to pay S$405,000 (Approximately US$290,000) following a fine by the country’s highest court for alleged defamation.