World’s biggest arms traders promise global arms treaty

31 October 2009, 08:58AM

On 30 October at the United Nations, after 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.

Somalia: Better accountability and safeguards needed on arms transfers

12 August 2009, 10:42AM

Urgent safeguards must be applied to any arms transfers to Somalia, after the US reportedly decided to double its arms transfers to Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government.

Pacific leaders pledge to end violence against women

7 August 2009, 01:05PM

Pacific Islands heads of government have shown strong leadership by committing to eradicate sexual violence and gender-based violence in the Pacific region.

Landslide support for Arms Trade Treaty

3 November 2008, 10:33AM

The international community has voted overwhelmingly for the establishment of a global Arms Trade Treaty at the United Nations. Only two states out of 149 voted against the proposal.

Arms Trade Treaty could fail without human rights

18 September 2008, 11:29AM

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 substantial risk that they are likely to be used for serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.

Amnesty International Report 2008

28 May 2008, 03:01PM

Amnesty International today challenged world leaders to re-commit themselves to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

60 years of Human Rights failures

28 May 2008, 03:00PM

Amnesty International's Report 2008 was launched on Wednesday 28 May. The report looks back on key events in 2007 and ahead to major human rights challenges for 2008, which is the 60th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Lee Myung Bak

South Korea’s human rights commission under threat

23 January 2008, 02:04PM

South Korea's President-elect, Lee Myung-bak, has announced plans to change the status of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) from an independent body to one under the wing of the presidential office. We are concerned by this move, part of reorganisation plans announced on 16 January by the president's transition team.

© Guang Niu/Getty Images

Amnesty appeals to the Olympic Committee Executive Board

11 December 2007, 03:04PM

Ahead of the forthcoming International Olympic Committee Executive Board meeting in Switzerland (10-12 Dec), Amnesty International urges the Committee to ensure that human rights concerns are addressed in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics.

Irene Khan © AI

Stop the human rights meltdown: make human rights real

9 December 2007, 11:46PM

A message from Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International, on the occasion of International Human Rights Day 2007.

©AFP

Occupied Palestinian Territories: Torn apart by factional strife

24 October 2007, 10:48AM

Interfactional fighting between Hamas and Fatah forces in the Gaza Strip earlier this year left 350 Palestinians dead and has been followed by further serious abuses in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, Amnesty International said in a new report published today.

©AI

An attack on north Darfur is imminent

10 October 2007, 10:19AM

Amnesty International today warned that the northern areas of Darfur are currently in the crosshairs of the Sudanese armed forces and that further deadly attacks are imminent.

Amnesty International calls for international arms embargo on Myanmar

2 October 2007, 10:08AM

Amnesty International is urging the United Nations Security Council to immediately impose a comprehensive and mandatory arms embargo on Myanmar, as accounts mount of killings, serious injuries and mass detentions of peaceful protestors by the Myanmar authorities.

African detainees tortured during incommunicado detention

17 September 2007, 03:11PM

Amnesty International is condemning acts of torture committed by members of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) of the Uganda police force on some of the 41 individuals who were held in incommunicado detention from 13-17 August.

Violence in Democratic Republic of Congo increases risk of mass ethnic killings

11 September 2007, 09:22AM

In the wake of recent intense fighting in North-Kivu province between government forces and fighters loyal to renegade general Laurent Nkunda, Amnesty International today accused the DRC government and international community of having failed the people of eastern DRC.

Violence in Nigeria escalates

23 August 2007, 10:08AM

Amnesty International is extremely concerned about the number of people who have been killed and injured in the recent violent clashes in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

New photographs show further breach of UN arms embargo on Darfur

22 August 2007, 10:54AM

Amnesty International today released new photographs showing that the Sudanese government is continuing to deploy offensive military equipment in Darfur despite the UN arms embargo and peace agreements.

Cycling 21,000kms for human rights

18 May 2007, 01:55PM

On 1 April 2006, 21-year-old Timo Mueller embarked on a 420-day epic cycling journey from Germany to Australia. Riding solitary overland through 15 countries, his aim was to cycle 21,000 kilometres at the age of 21 to raise 21,000 Euros.

Community leaders call for Arms Trade Treaty

24 April 2007, 11:00AM

Three leading female advocates of the campaign to control the international arms trade have called on governments to deliver a tough Arms Trade Treaty that is grounded in international human rights law to stop arms transfers that fuel global violence and conflict.