Amnesty International has welcomed the conviction of Reynaldo Bignone, who was found guilty of torture, murder and several kidnappings that occured during the 1970s.

The guerrilla group has been urged to put an immediate and unconditional end to kidnapping and hostage-taking.

The law protects those responsible for thousands of killings and disappearances during the country's armed conflict from 1980 to 1992.

President Raúl Castro has been urged to ensure the safety of a group of female relatives of prisoners of conscience.

Amnesty International called on US President Barack Obama to tackle soaring rates of maternal mortality and pregnancy-related complications that particularly affect those in poverty.

Sara López, Joaquín Aguilar and Guadalupe Borja have been detained since July 2009 for their activities as members of a group fighting high tariffs in Campeche.

Speaking at an anti-death penalty summit in Geneva, Amnesty International's interim Secretary General Claudio Cordone hailed global efforts but said more needs to be done.

Amnesty International urges the Nicaraguan authorities to provide a pregnant woman with cancer treatment that is currently being withheld because of a law that bans abortion. 

Henry Skinner is scheduled to become the 450th person to be executed in the state since judicial killing resumed in the USA in 1977.