Press releases

Honduras: No return to “business as usual” - 3 December 2009

(Tegucigalpa) At the end of a 10-day visit to Honduras during the country’s presidential elections, Amnesty International today called for an independent investigation to ensure all those responsible for human rights abuses are brought to justice and the victims given reparations. 

China: Halt death sentences against Uighurs - 3 December 2009

China’s supreme court must carefully review reported death sentences imposed today on five individuals by a court in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of northwest China. 

Thirteen people were sentenced by the court in the city of Urumqi, in connection with deadly violence that erupted after a police crackdown on Uighur protesters on 5 July. 

Five of these were sentenced to death, and another two were sentenced to life imprisonment. 

Afghanistan: More US troops must not harm Afghan civilians - 2 December 2009

Amnesty International has called on the US to establish a consistent, clear and credible mechanism to investigate civilian casualties resulting from military operations after President Barack Obama said he would send 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan.

Peru: Justice without discrimination for the victims of Amazon violence - 2 December 2009

The Peruvian authorities must conduct fair and impartial investigations into the deaths of all those killed during violence at a road blockade led by Amazon Indigenous peoples in June, Amnesty International said in a new report.

Sri Lankan government must permanently release all civiliansasia - 1 December 2009

The Sri Lankan government must permanently release civilians who have been illegally detained in camps following the end of the civil war six months ago

Climate change deal must ensure the poor are not left out and further disadvantaged - 30 November 2009

(Copenhagen) Political leaders meeting in Copenhagen next week must reach a fair, ambitious and binding deal on climate change that does not leave out and further disadvantage the world’s poor, said Mary Robinson and Irene Khan.

Switzerland votes against religious freedom - 29 November 2009

Amnesty International deeply regrets the choice of Swiss voters today to introduce a ban on the construction of minarets into the constitution

Honduras: Authorities must reveal identities and whereabouts of people detained today - 29 November 2009

(Tegucigalpa) Amnesty International today urged the Honduran authorities to reveal the identities, whereabouts and charges against all people detained on the eve and day of the presidential elections.
 

Honduras: Military shooting must be urgently investigated and witnesses protected - 28 November 2009

Amnesty International today said it was deeply worried about the safety of victims of and witnesses to a shooting at a military blockade that took place in Tegucigalpa last night. The organization called on the Human Rights Prosecutor to urgently investigate the incident.

Honduras: Stock pile of tear gas grenades triggers fears of human rights abuses - 27 November 2009

Amnesty International has learned that the de facto authorities in Honduras have stock piled 10,000 tear gas cans and other crowd control equipment, triggering fears of an increased risk of excessive and disproportionate use of force by security forces around the presidential elections.