Amnesty International's Report 2007 documents human rights issues of concern to Amnesty International during the period covering January to December 2006. Read the media release.

Young boy of Haitian descent in Dominican Republic

"The politics of fear is fuelling a downward spiral of human rights abuse in which no right is sacrosanct and no person safe."

Irene Khan, Secretary General Amnesty International

Key points

  • Governments and armed groups deliberately foment fear to erode human rights
  • International community impotent and weak-willed in the face of major human rights crises
  • Old-fashioned repression manifests as new anti-terror laws and attacks on freedom of speech

Read the report

You can read the report online or download PDF files of selected chapters.

Australia in summary

During 2006, governments and armed groups deliberately fomented fear to erode human rights. The international community was too often impotent or weak-willed in the face of major human rights crises, and old-fashioned repression reared its head in the guise of new anti-terror laws and attacks on freedom of speech.

"Amnesty International works for victims and survivors of human rights violations - one individual's suffering is no less significant than another's."

Katie Wood, Amnesty International Australia.

Both national and international bodies condemned the state of Indigenous human rights in Australia, including poor housing conditions and the high rates of sexual abuse and violence against Indigenous women and children. The Australian Government introduced new counter-terrorism measures, posing a threat to human rights, and continued to support trial by the US Military Commission although it fell below international standards. Violence against women was again a cause for concern, especially the low rates of conviction in sexual assault cases, and more than 1,000 refugees remained on three-year Temporary Protection Visas. In a further erosion of their human rights, the High Court ruled these visas would not be renewed if the individuals were unable to prove continued need for protection.

In a victory for human rights, the prime minister was forced to withdraw proposed legislation to settle refugees outside Australia, due to lack of support, and the Australian Government was instrumental in the fight against the illegal arms trade in the region.

Regional overviews

You can read or listen to the regional overviews, available in PDF or mp3 formats:

  • Africa PDF (pdf size: 37kb); mp3 (size: 1.7mb ; dur: 01'51)
  • Americas PDF (pdf size: 35kb); mp3 (size: 2.6mb; dur: 02'48)
  • Asia-Pacific PDF (pdf size: 34kb); mp3 (size: 1.9mb; dur: 02'04)
  • Europe and Central Asia PDF (pdf size: 38kb); mp3 (size: 3.4mb; dur: 03'44)
  • Middle East and North Africa PDF (pdf size: 37kb); mp3 (size: 2.4mb; dur: 02'40)