Amnesty International European Institutions Office
Press Releases
Big gaps in EU human rights protection
23/05/2013Today sees the launch of Amnesty International’s global annual report which charts the state of human rights worldwide. It reveals a range of policies in EU countries which expose migrants and minorities to human rights violations.
EU must get tough on homophobia, transphobia
16/05/2013On the eve of tomorrow’s International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia, Amnesty International has pressed the European Union to uphold the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people inside the Union and in its relations with non-EU countries. The organisation has challenged the EU to show its commitment by backing forthcoming LGBTI events.
EU must press for Sri Lankan war crimes accountability
13/05/2013Ahead of the fourth anniversary of the Sri Lankan conflict’s conclusion, Amnesty International has urged the European Union to demand publicly an independent, impartial and internationally-led investigation which holds to account those responsible for crimes under international law.
Why EU must protect human rights during financial crisis
03/05/2013On 5 May the Optional Protocol for the International Covenant of Economic Social & Cultural Rights comes into effect. This will allow people to seek justice from the United Nations if their rights (which include adequate housing, food, water, sanitation, health, work, social security and education) are violated and their government fails to provide redress. In the context of the current financial crisis, Amnesty International has expressed the belief that it is of paramount importance that all European Union member states sign and ratify the Protocol and belatedly begin to consider the human rights impact of austerity measures.
Ireland’s EU presidency half-hearted on human rights at half-way point
25/04/2013Amnesty International’s mid-term review of Ireland’s presidency of the European Union, published today, reveals slow progress on violence against women and Roma rights, but acknowledges important successes by the Irish Government in driving forward the debate on human rights protection in the EU.
Council of Europe tells Turkey to improve freedom of expression
23/04/2013The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) today told Turkey to bring its law into line with international freedom of expression standards. The PACE resolution comes after Amnesty International’s call in March this year for the Turkish authorities to reform anti-terrorism laws that have allowed political activists and journalists to be imprisoned for making political speeches, attending peaceful demonstrations and associating with registered political organisations.
EU’s duty: Protect ‘invisible’ migrants on Europe’s fringes
23/04/2013Presenting a petition bearing over 70,000 signatures, Amnesty International will tomorrow urge the European Union and the governments of its 27 member states to stop exposing people to danger on Europe’s coasts and borders. The appeal targets Members of the European Parliament, and challenges them to do their duty as watchdog, by holding governments and institutions to account for how they treat the migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers who arrive at EU frontiers.
Event: SOS Europe: European Parliament must stand up for migrants
16/04/2013Join us to witness the triumphant arrival of our 'migrant boat' on the shores of the European Parliament! We'll be delivering Amnesty International’s SOS Europe petition which contains over 50,000 signatures. These thousands of ordinary people are urging Members of the European Parliament to do their duty as watchdog and hold governments and institutions to account for how they treat the migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers who arrive at EU frontiers.
Ground-breaking step for human rights protection
05/04/2013Today in Strasbourg negotiators from Council of Europe member states and the European Union have reached agreement on the European Union’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights following nearly three years of negotiations. The Court of Justice of the EU in Luxembourg must now give an opinion on the draft agreement.
Time to do more: EU must end discrimination against Roma
04/04/2013With the approach of International Roma Day on 8 April, Amnesty International has challenged the European Union to do more to end discrimination against Roma people throughout its 27 member states.
UN puts human rights at heart of historic Arms Trade Treaty
02/04/2013Today, governments at the United Nations adopted by a wide margin an Arms Trade Treaty that will ban states from transferring conventional weapons to countries when they know the weapons will be used to commit or facilitate genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.
Event: Human rights here, Roma rights now!
22/03/2013Watch out for Amnesty International’s flashmob outside the European Parliament! This marks the launch of our campaign to end discrimination against Roma people in Europe. Visit our Roma village and photo exhibition to see how some Roma people in EU countries really live.
EU states must back robust Arms Trade Treaty
12/03/2013Ahead of next week’s final negotiations on a global Arms Trade Treaty at the United Nations, Amnesty International has urged EU countries to back a robust treaty.
Video
On 24 May 1993, Eritrea was formally recognised as an independent nation after a UN-supervised referendum that confirmed the country's separation from Ethiopia, against whom it had fought a 30-year war. Twenty years on from the euphoric celebrations and promise of independence, thousands of prisoners of conscience and political prisoners languish in Eritrea's prisons without charge or trial, for expressing their opinion, practising their religion or attempting to flee the repression in their country.
Spotlight
Recommendations to the Irish EU Presidency
23/05/2013 For each rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, Amnesty International asks the presidency to commit itself to advancing human rights within the EU and worldwide. We also seek the presidency’s active ...
People on the move: Greek police beat a tortured Turkish woman
23/05/2013 This is part of a special ‘People on the Move’ series, highlighting the human rights violations faced by migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in every part of the world. These profiles are being published around the launch ...
Recent Documents
The Czech Republic's Discriminatory Treatment of Roma breaches EU Race Directive
29/04/2013 Submission to the European Commission: The Czech Republic's Discriminatory Treatment of Roma breaches EU Race Directive
Public Statement: Council of Europe plans to push Hungary on compliance with human rights
26/04/2013 In a welcome move, the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe today adopted an opinion recommending that the Assembly opens a monitoring procedure on Hungary.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’S RECOMMENDATIONS TO IRISH EU PRESIDENCY: MID-TERM REVIEW
24/04/2013 Amnesty International’s mid-term review of Ireland’s presidency of the European Union.