Campaigns
© AAP
Human Rights in China
China has emerged as a powerful force on the world stage. It is now the fourth largest economy in the world, Australia's biggest trading partner and plays a lead role in global politics and economics. But despite the political and economic triumphs, human rights are still not part of China in 2008.
© Graham Thom
Refugees' Human Rights
Millions of people around the world have no choice but to flee their homeland to escape persecution and conflict. Refugees seek asylum in other countries so they can rebuild their lives, free from fear and violence. Because of the reasons they are forced to leave, they are often unable to obtain proper passports and visas.
© AFP
Torture and Terror
Human rights have come under attack from armed groups and governments in all parts of the world. Amnesty International condemns the atrocities committed by groups such as al-Qa'ida, and we strongly believe the people who carry out these cruel and criminal acts must be brought to justice.
© AFP/Jewel Samad
Stop Violence Against Women
Violence against women is the most widespread human rights abuse in the world. Every day, thousands of women and girls are abused in their own homes. They are raped in armed conflict or murdered by their families. They are attacked for speaking out, for defending womens' rights.
© iStock
Abolish the Death Penalty
The death penalty violates the right to life. It is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. It has no place in a modern criminal justice system.
Amnesty International Australia is opposed to the use of the death penalty, anywhere, for any reason.
© AIA
Human Rights in Australia
Poverty is a violation of human rights. Every person, everywhere in the world, has a basic right to an adequate standard of living – the right to food, water, housing, health and education.
Our campaign for Dignity will hold national and international leaders accountable for the human rights violations that drive and deepen poverty; and it will defend every person’s right to live with dignity.
© Doug MacLellan/Global Aware
Human Rights Education
Our human rights education program is aimed at promoting a greater focus on human rights in schools. Key projects are:
- Publishing a new curriculum resource, Human Rights today.
- Developing China, the Olympics and Human Rights
- Developing a professional learning program for teachers.
- Teachers' guide accompanying 'Human Rights today'.
- Lesson plans.
Campaign blogs
China in the headlines – 8 September 2008
In the latest wrap-up from news outlets and bloggers across the globe:
The Paralympics have opened in China, a country where prejudice is still widespread.
Chinese authorities begin a Ramadan security crackdown in the homeland of the country's mainly Muslim ethnic Uighur people.
Plus …
Blind activist’s friends and family face more hurdles
Relatives and friends of jailed blind activist Chen Guangcheng have had their telephones tampered with – just as the Paralympics are about to open.
Continue reading Blind activist’s friends and family face more hurdles
Can Paralympics be a catalyst for change?
Many are hoping China's hosting of the Paralympics will have positive spin-offs for the country's disabled, who despite improvements still face many barriers.
China in the headlines – 5 September 2008
In the latest wrap-up from news outlets and bloggers across the globe:
Angry parents, whose children died when their schools collapsed in May's devastating earthquake, are thwarted in their bid to confront China's Prime Minister.
The Chinese ambassador to the UK writes in the Guardian about how she thinks the Olympics have changed her country.
A look at what's likely to happen in the Tibet-China relationship when the Dalai Lama eventually dies.
Plus …
School attendance and welfare: another blow to human rights
Under new legislation passed by the Australian Government, the principal carers of children who miss school regularly could have their welfare payments stopped for up to three months. This policy targets Indigenous people without seeking to address the underlying causes of Indigenous disadvantage.
Continue reading School attendance and welfare: another blow to human rights
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What you can do to support human rights.
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During their bid to host the Olympic Games the Chinese authorities promised to improve human rights. This promise has not been kept.
© Kin Cheung, AP Photo.
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