Amnesty International's Media

Citizens of the World Argentina

Amnesty International — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:19:25 -0700

During the summer of 2008, five groups of Belgian teenagers were chosen by an Amnesty International competition to spend time with human rights defenders across the world.Each group spent two weeks working with local NGOs to understand the human rights realities on the ground. They went to Guatemala, Burkina Faso, Argentina, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.Working with producer Yvon Lammens, the teenagers created a video report about their activities. The youngsters tackled themes central Amnesty Internationals work: womens rights, child soldiers, the right to education, the importance of memory and the fight against impunity, land rights, respect for minorities and indigenous people, and freedom of expression.This chapter from Argentina looks at the disappearances carried out during the military dictatorship.This film was produced by and about students and Human Rights defenders actively involved in the project 'World Citizens for Human Rights Defenders', developed and supervised by the Youth Programme of the Amnesty Belgian section (French speaking).The project aims at protecting HRDs through the creation of communication networks between Belgian students and their respective NGOs. It encourages the students to develop their own projects to promote the work of their partner HRD.The project was launched in September 2006 and distributed to institutional partners in the educational field calling for project applications to work with NGOs / HRDs across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.35 student groups (around 400 individuals) sent in applications and for over a year they regularly communicated with their partner NGO /HRD , enquiring about objectives, activities, members, motivations, successes and difficulties. They developed creative projects to support and promote their partners in their local environment. Some wrote plays, created websites, directed short films, composed music, etc.The five groups that ran the most successful projects over the year were selected to visit their partner HRD in the home country and make a documentary film on their activities.The resulting documentaries were broadcast on Belgian TV during the anniversary celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 10th anniversary of the UN Declaration for Human Rights Defenders.The five films are now available on DVD and for download to support and publicise the work of Human Rights Defenders and as a resource for Human Rights Education.See AlsoCitoyens du Monde: ArgentinaCitoyens du Monde: Burkina FasoCitoyens du Monde: DRC Child SoldiersCitoyens du Monde: DRC Sexual violence and womens rightsCitoyens du Monde: Guatemala

Bhopal - end 25 years of injustice

Amnesty International — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:13:07 -0800

Shortly before midnight on 2 December 1984 thousands of tonnes of deadly chemicals leaked from Union Carbide’s pesticide plant in Bhopal, central India. Around half a million people were exposed. Between 7,000 and 10,000 people died in the immediate aftermath and a further 15,000 over the next 20 years.
On 2 December 2009 the people of Bhopal mark the 25th anniversary of the devastating leak. Amnesty International is joining them to highlight the ongoing human rights impacts of the 1984 leak.
Despite a quarter of a century having passed the factory site has not been cleaned up. More than 100,000 people continue to suffer from health problems. Efforts to provide rehabilitation – both medical care and measures to address the socio-economic effects of the leak – have fallen far short of what is needed.
Many of those affected are still waiting for adequate compensation and the full facts of the leak and its impact have never been properly investigated. No-one has ever been held to account for what happened at Bhopal and efforts by survivors’ organizations to use the Indian and US court systems to see justice done and gain adequate redress have so far been unsuccessful.
Bhopal is not just a human rights tragedy from the last century – it is a human rights travesty today. The legacy of Bhopal persists because the people of Bhopal have never been able to claim their rights. Moreover, the negative impacts of the leak are affecting new generations.
For 25 years the Indian government has failed the people of Bhopal. Promises have been repeatedly broken and no adequate action has ever been taken to address the impacts of the gas leak. And, while the people of Bhopal have struggled to obtain even basic relief such as clean water, the companies involved have evaded accountability and obstructed the efforts of victims to secure reparation.

Amnesty International: Report on Mindanao Conflict

Amnesty International — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:32:43 -0700

More than 200,000 civilians in central Mindanao are still vulnerable to abuses despite the recent ceasefire between the Philippine army and the insurgent Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), warned Amnesty International in a new report published on Tuesday.

U2 announces Amnesty award to Aung San Suu Kyi

Amnesty International — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:39:31 -0700

U2 has announced that Aung San Suu Kyi has been given Amnesty International's highest honour - The Ambassador of Conscience Award for 2009

Iran Demonstration July 2009

Amnesty International — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:20:45 -0700

Demonstration outside the Iranian Embassy in London calling for the Iranian people's human rights to be respected.

Former Prisoner of Conscience Rebiya Kadeer

Amnesty International — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:51:22 -0700

Former Prisoner of Conscience Rebiya Kadeer speaks for freedom of Human Rights in China
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajzFyjac8tk

High Level Mission to Kenya - The Dignity Campaign Launch

Amnesty International — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:07:17 -0700

Irene Khan, the Secretary General of Amnesty International at the launch of the new campaign, Demand Dignity, in Kenya.

High Level Mission in Kenya

Amnesty International — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:46:01 -0700

Irene Khan, the Secretary General of Amnesty International visiting slums in her first day visit in Kenya.

Amnesty International Report 2009

Amnesty International — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:11:25 -0700

The Amnesty International Report 2009 highlights the impact of the economic crisis on human rights across the world and calls for a new deal on human rights to go hand-in-hand with the financial solutions currently being developed by world leaders.

Mixed messages from President Obama after 100 days

Amnesty International — Wed, 06 May 2009 12:17:12 -0700

100 days after taking office, President Obama's record in terms of US counter terrorism policies has been assessed in a new Amnesty International report.
Photographs by Peter Von Elling