Livewire – Amnesty International blogging for human rights

La ciudadanía de Oriente Medio, harta de sufrir represión, corrupción y discriminación, dice que ya basta. © AbdulRahman H. Jaber

Por Salil Shetty, secretario general, Amnistía Internacional

Para quienes trabajan en derechos humanos, los sucesos de la semana pasada han provocado algunos debates interesantes, pero que constituyen un desafío.

Hemos escuchado a funcionarios del Estado y expertos argumentar que la tortura condujo al descubrimiento de Osama Bin Laden. En alguna parte, afirman, en un centro de detención secreto en Polonia o Lituania, o en una sala de interrogatorios de Guantánamo o Bagram, alguien facilitó la pista determinante que produjo este resultado.
Continuar leyendo ‘La “Primavera Árabe” da una lección al mundo’ »

People in the Middle East who are tired of repression, corruption and discrimination are saying enough is enough © AbdulRahman H. Jaber

By Salil Shetty, Secretary General, Amnesty International

For those working in human rights, the events of the last week have led to some interesting but challenging debates.

We have heard government officials and pundits argue that torture led to the discovery of Osama Bin Laden. Somewhere, they claim, in a secret detention centre in Poland or Lithuania, or in an interrogation room in Guantánamo Bay or Bagram, someone gave the critical clue that led to this outcome.

As justifications for the legitimacy of torture hit the headlines, Amnesty International has been preparing to release its annual report into the state of the world’s human rights.

Continuar leyendo ‘‘Arab Spring’ offers lesson to the world’ »

Alex Neve will be observing Omar Khadr's military trial at Guantánamo © Amnesty International Canada

By Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International in Canada.

It seems difficult to believe that after being held here at Guantánamo Bay for close to eight years and having been put through an astonishing array of legal twists and turns – including charges being thrown out at one point and then reinstated – Omar Khadr is about to face trial by military commission, possibly this week if pre-trial proceedings are completed.

I’m here to observe these proceedings on behalf of Amnesty International. And quite honestly at this stage I find it very difficult to predict just what I will observe.  All that seems certain is that it will be another phase in the systematic injustice to which Omar Khadr has been subjected.

Continuar leyendo ‘Omar Khadr trial – no security without human rights’ »

© Amnesty International

It’s Saturday 3^rd July, and for us, the third day of the ESF will start with action. With our bright yellow t-shirts and jerseys, we headed towards Istiklal, the main busy pedestrian street in Taxim area and started setting up in Galata Saray. We built a long wall and nailed the banner which we all made together the day before. The message was ‘Israel: end the blockade of Gaza’, both in English and in Turkish. Amnesty staff, board members and volunteers gathered behind the wall to symbolise the blockade of Gaza while some were asking for signatures of our postcard action. After the media were gathered, we read the Amnesty public statement out loud from the speaker phone.

The action had very good coverage, mainstream Turkish media and CNN Turkey being some examples and there was a big interest from the public.

Continuar leyendo ‘ESF 2010, Day 3 and closing’ »

© Amnesty International

It’s day 2 at the European Social Forum in Istanbul and more crowds seem to find their way to the park and taking part in actions.  People are passing through all the stalls and asking information on the campaigns and actions.

Amnesty staff and volunteers have been joining the seminars and encouraging people to sign our many actions on Demand Dignity, Discrimination, Human Rights Defenders, ending the Gaza blockade and refugees in Turkey.

We are very happy to have with us Halil Savda, conscientious objector for whom Amnesty has been campaigning in order to stop his unfair prosecution by the Turkish authorities.

Continuar leyendo ‘European Social Forum 2010, Day 2′ »