Jack Thomas' plight

It is now 161 days since Jack Thomas was served Australia's first Control Order. For 22 weeks he has lived under constant surveillance with diminished rights to freedom of movement, association and privacy.

Mr Thomas had previously been imprisoned on the basis of evidence obtained under torture and without a lawyer present. To date, Mr Thomas has not been convicted of any crime. His lawyers consider the Control Order unconstitutional.

The constitutional basis for Control Orders and Preventative Detention Orders has also been challenged by retired High Court judge Michael McHugh.

Guantánamo Bay: Global day of action

Amnesty International and other human rights groups held protests - from Europe to Australia to the Americas - on 11 January this year, five years to the day that Guantánamo Bay was opened. Take a look at what happened on the global day of action.

Thanks to support from around the world the Guantánamo Bay Flotilla is also going full steam ahead. Thousands of people have got onboard as surfers, pirates, mermaids, sailors, dolphin riders to protest against Guantánamo Bay - why not join them?

Towards a Bill of Rights

New Matilda's draft Human Rights Bill has continued to progress toward Parliamentary debate and the Bill has supporters in several political parties.

Amnesty International Australia is also proud to support New Matilda's campaign for an Australian Human Rights Bill.

Australian Muslims feel under siege

Anti-terror laws in Australia undermine human rights and are generating high levels of community concern, according to a national survey conducted for Amnesty International in 2006.

This concern is perhaps most strongly felt in Australia's Muslim community. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's 2006 Annual Report links terrorism and national security measures with a rising tide of suspicion and fear directed at Australia's Arab and Muslim communities.

Terror and counter-terror

The Amnesty International report Terror and Counter-Terror: Defending our human rights presents compelling evidence of human rights abuses committed in the context of counter-terrorism measures. The report also demonstrates the power of community action.

English and Arabic versions of the report are available on our website.