Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a web page
Amnesty International Australia

Campaign newsletter December 07

 Forward to your friends
Dear friend,

David Hicks is due for release from Adelaide's Yatala Labour Prison next week on 29 December, but does not know whether he will be subject to a control order. We believe control orders violate human rights, and that he must be allowed to return to a normal life.

As we approach the sixth anniversary of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre on 11 January, there are still 290 men detained there without charge.

We are marking the anniversary with a global day of action. Join us outside the U.S. Consulate in Sydney's Martin Place at 8am on Friday 11 January 2008. Meet our new National Director, members and staff as we call for the U.S. to immediately shut down Guantanamo Bay. Take part in the largest orange jumpsuit action in Australia.

 

In this edition

Victory for global campaign against the death penalty

The global campaign against the death penalty secured a landmark victory when the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the call for a worldwide moratorium. We now call on countries which still use the death penalty to establish an immediate moratorium on executions. More about the good news.

Rape case highlights a need for reform

We are outraged at the Australian legal system's failure to ensure justice and protection for a 10-year-old Aboriginal girl who was gang raped by nine men. The case created a disgraceful environment where the victim was on trial - not the defendants. More.

Stop child executions

Atefeh Rajabi Sahaaleh was publicly hanged in Iran for 'crimes against chastity'. She was just 16 years old. Right now there are at least 71 Iranians on death row for crimes committed when they were children. Your support will help us campaign for an end to child executions in Iran, and other human rights abuses around the world. Send your donation.

“Make human rights real”…

Find out what Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International, had to say on the occasion of International Human Rights Day 2007 on December 10. Read her speech.

On the blogs

Good News - Saudi rape survivor pardoned by King
"Media freedom" says China - just ignore the fine print
Burmese refugees on Nauru to be resettled in Australia

  

Send Omar home from Guantanamo

Omar Khadr, a 20-year-old Canadian, was only 15 years old when he was taken into U.S. custody at Guantanamo Bay. His young age at the time was not taken into account. After five years of cruel and inhumane treatment, he is still designated with hundreds of other detainees as an 'enemy combatant' - a status unrecognised in international law. Call on the Canadian authorities to intervene now.

Good news about the Pacific Solution

We welcome the important first steps the Australian Federal Government has taken in dismantling the Pacific Solution. We are now calling for a full commitment to swiftly end the policy of processing asylum seekers off shore. Find out more.

Information ‘no through road’

Instead of the internet transforming China into a more open society, the Chinese Government is blocking access to information with the help of Western internet companies. Find out how.

In your area

We are holding public actions in QLD, WA and NSW on 11 January 2008 to mark the six year anniversary of Guantanamo Bay. Also, look out for our stalls at the Falls Festival in Victoria and Tasmania from 29 December to 1 January and welcome the new year with us. Look out for details about these events.

We’re looking for creative talent

We're looking for savvy creators across all fields to write, blog, pod or design for our website. If you know of any creative makers in your networks who would like to contribute their work to one of our campaigns, let us know.

This is the last newsletter of the year. Let us know how we can make our newsletter even better in 2008. Thank you to everyone who has taken action with us in 2007 and we look forward to continuing our campaigning work with you in the new year.

More about Amnesty International

Amnesty International is an international movement promoting and defending human rights. Your donations are vital to our work.

We do not accept funding from governments or political organisations for our campaigning work against human rights abuses, only from individuals like you. Please donate today.

You were sent this email because you subscribed to one of our campaign newsletters with the email address, [email address suppressed]. If you would prefer not to receive this newsletter use this link to unsubscribe. For more information about all our campaigns please visit our website.

If you find this newsletter useful please add us to your address book so that our emails go straight into your inbox. Please also forward this email on to your friends.