Amnesty International Australia
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Human Rights and Security Campaign April 2007

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Dear friend,

Welcome to this month's Human Rights and Security Campaign newsletter. Last week we sent you an important update about David Hicks and in this newsletter we bring you more info about Guantánamo Bay and human rights issues in Australia.

 

In this newsletter

Guantánamo conditions getting worse

Amnesty International has released a new report showing that the large majority of detainees who remain in Guantánamo Bay are held in cruel conditions of isolation which flout international standards.

According to the report, USA: Cruel and inhuman Conditions of isolation for detainees in Guantánamo Bay, most detainees are confined for 22 hours a day to individual and enclosed steel cells where they are almost completely cut off from human contact.

Amnesty International is continuing to call for the closure of Guantánamo.

Promoting a Charter of Rights for NSW

The NSW Charter Group will be launched at NSW Parliament House on Monday 16 April.

A state Charter of Human Rights would guarantee basic human rights and ensure that all NSW laws and policies are consistent with these rights. The launch is a great opportunity to build support for community discussion about a Charter of Rights for NSW.

For further details and to register for the launch please email brenda@piac.asn.au

You can also write a letter or email of support for the NSW Charter of Human Rights to your local member and other Members of the NSW Parliament.

Reflections from the US

The Human Rights Law Resource Centre will host a seminar with visiting speakers Professor Davison Douglas and John Tobin from 5.45pm on Tuesday 24 April in Collins Street, Melbourne ($20/$10). Registration by 18 April is essential.

 
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Take action against the military commissions

Amnesty International believes the US Government should abandon its proposed military commissions and bring any Guantánamo detainees it charges to trial in the ordinary federal courts.

US President George W Bush signed into law the Military Commissions Act in October 2006, which threatens to deprive "war on terror" detainees held in US custody of fundamental safeguards against human rights violations.

Take action against the military commissions

A new counter-terror law every 6.5 weeks

Dominque Dalla Pozza, a PhD researcher with the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law, has analysed counter-terrorism legislation introduced by the Australian Federal Parliament since September 2001.

Dominque's study draws on the online resource guide, Australian Terrorism Law. Dominque concludes that by March this year 44 Acts had been passed by Federal Parliament and two Bills are currently being considered.

1,166 anti-terror arrests net 40 convictions

The Guardian recently reported that fewer than a fifth of those arrested in the UK under anti-terrorism laws since 11 September 2001 have been charged with terrorism-connected offences. More than half the suspects held have been released without any charge at all.

UK Parliament rights panel says control orders violate Europe convention

The UK Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights said in a recent report that control orders issued by the government to limit the movement and conduct of uncharged terror suspects violate the European Convention on Human Rights.

Tell your friends

Please help us to raise awareness about our Human Rights and Security Campaign by forwarding this newsletter on to your friends, family and colleagues. Helping us spread the word will make a big difference.

About Amnesty International

Amnesty International is an international movement promoting and defending human rights. Your donations are vital. We do not accept funding from governments or political organisations for our campaigning work against human rights abuses. We only accept donations from individuals like you. Please donate today.

Thank you for your ongoing support. You'll be hearing from us again next month!


Katie Wood and James Whelan
Human Rights and Security Campaign Coordinators
Amnesty International Australia

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