The planned Baltic Pride march due to take place on Saturday in Riga, Latvia, has been banned. Riga City Council (RCC) revoked permission for the march, organized by the Latvian organization Mozaika, the Lithuanian Gay League, and Estonian Gay Youth. The organizers have complained to the courts and...

The government says domestic violence is not an issue for this country. I want both state and society to just acknowledge that this problem exists in Armenia. Survivor of domestic violence Over a quarter of women in Armenia have been hit or beaten by a family member and about two thirds have...

As UN member states meet in October to consider moving towards negotiations on an Arms Trade Treaty, a new detailed report by Amnesty International urges world leaders to adopt a “Golden Rule” on human rights.  This rule states simply that governments must prevent arms transfers where there is a...

As five more men face trial in Cairo on April 9 in a widening and dangerous police crackdown on people living with HIV/AIDS, 117 organizations worldwide working in the fields of health and human rights condemned the crackdown and the participation of medical personnel. In a letter to the Health...

Amnesty International is urging the United Nations Security Council to immediately impose a mandatory arms embargo on Myanmar. States, in particular China, India, and Asean States in addition to Russia, Serbia and Ukraine, must cease forthwith the involvement of their agencies, companies and...

This document provides the latest information on the death penalty as of 28 August 1997. Amnesty International now knows of 5,139 executions in the world and 4,367 in China in 1996. Four countries – China, Ukraine, Russian Federation and Iran – accounted for ninety-two per cent of all...

1. United Nations calls for halt to executions; 2. Council of Europe condemns Russia and Ukraine for continuing executions; 3. USA: American Bar Association (ABA) demands US moratorium on executions; 4. News in brief: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Libya, North Korea, USA (Arkansas), Puerto Rico, Zaire; 5....

1. Executions continue in Ukraine and Russia; 2. Afghanistan: Prisoner publicly executed by victim’s husband; 3. South Korea: Constitutional Court rules death penalty a “necessary evil”; 4. Trinidad and Tobago: Move to overturn Pratt and Morgan ruling; 5. USA (Georgia): Prisoner...

1. Russia, Ukraine: Council of Europe demands cessation of executions; 2. AI calls on China to stop mass executions; 3. USA: New law restricts death penalty appeals; 4. South African constitution upholds death penalty ban; 5. News in brief: Albania, Bahamas, Belgium, Guyana, Libya, Sudan, USA (New...

This report describes the recent secret transfer of weapons and ammunition from several countries, including Albania and Bulgaria, to the exiled Rwandese armed forces in Eastern Zaire by traders in the United Kingdom using aircraft registered in Ghana, Nigeria, Ukraine and Russia. AI is concerned...