Press releases

World's Biggest Arms Traders Promise Global Arms Treaty - 30 October 2009

Today at the United Nation years of discussions and debates, the vast majority of governments – 153 in total - agreed a timetable to establish a "strong and robust" Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) with the "highest common standards" to control international transfers of conventional arms. There is currently no global Treaty on the conventional arms trade.

Obama should follow UN lead on Cuba embargo - 29 October 2009

Barack Obama should follow the lead of the UN General Assembly and take all necessary steps to end its economic embargo against Cuba, said Amnesty International today after the UN body condemned US sanctions against the island.

Iran: Criminalising freedom of expression - 29 October 2009

Amnesty International is calling on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to immediately retract his statement on Wednesday that criticising the outcome of June’s presidential election is a crime

Afghanistan: German government must investigate deadly Kunduz airstrikes - 29 October 2009

The German government should immediately launch a credible, transparent investigation into a 4 September airstrike in Kunduz, Afghanistan, that killed scores of people, many of them civilians, Amnesty International said today.

The German military said on Thursday that NATO’s investigation suggested the airstrike, which targeted two fuel tanker trucks that had been hijacked by Taleban fighters five hours earlier, was appropriate even though it led to civilian casualties.

Amnesty international’s investigation into the Kunduz incident suggests that the laws of war may have been violated during the airstrike.

Sudan: Death row prisoner bore marks of torture - 28 October 2009

Amnesty International today said the Sudanese government was responsible for the death and ill-treatment of a prisoner who died from tuberculosis in police custody last week.

African governments must pressure Zimbabwe on human rights - 28 October 2009

Amnesty International today warned that Zimbabwe is on the brink of sliding back into the post-election violence that marred the country last year, risking undermining the stability brought about by the creation of the unity government in February.

Russian Federation: Authorities must investigate activist’s murder - 26 October 2009

Russian and Kabardino-Balkarian authorities must find and bring to justice those responsible for the murder of Maksharip Aushev, a leading civil society activist from Ingushetia

Sierra Leone: Special Court renders final judgment in RUF case - 26 October 2009

Today’s decision by the Special Court for Sierra Leone to uphold the convictions  of three former senior leaders of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) is a positive step in the fight against impunity for the worst crimes committed during the country’s eleven-year civil war

Turkey: The right of refugees to return with dignity - 23 October 2009

Amnesty International calls on the Turkish authorities to allow Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin to return without fear of harassment and discrimination as refugees begin to leave the Mahmur camp in northern Iraq

Nigeria: Government must arrest Sudanese President during visit - 22 October 2009

Amnesty International today revealed that Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua has issued an invitation to Sudanese President Omar al Bashir to visit Nigeria even though President al Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.