Press releases
Business and human rights
Greater credit clarity: EU gets tough on exporters’ human rights record
13/09/2011The European Parliament today adopted a law to make national export credit agencies (ECAs) more accountable for the impact projects they support have on people in developing countries. Amnesty International and ECA-Watch have welcomed this move to increase transparency and human rights compliance and have expressed the hope it will trigger more ambitious reform of global ECA standards.
Giving human rights credit: EU countries agree to toughen scrutiny of export loans
29/06/2011
EU permanent representatives have today endorsed the European Parliament’s proposal to make national export credit agencies (ECAs) more accountable for the support they give companies doing business around the world. Amnesty International, ECA-Watch and Eurodad have welcomed this move to increase transparency and human rights compliance and expressed the hope that this will trigger more ambitious reforms in EU capitals, leading to a general reform in global ECA standards.
Willing and able? EU fails to ensure respect for Roma human rights
07/04/2011On the eve of International Roma Day, Amnesty International has questioned the effectiveness of the European Union’s efforts to halt discrimination against Roma people and make serious progress on integrating them into society. “Despite the EU’s public commitment to improving the climate for Roma people and halting discrimination, we’ve yet to see effective measures for change” said Nicolas Beger, Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office. “The EU is failing to hold member states to account.”
Hungary’s EU presidency should strive for ‘Europe with a human rights touch’
04/01/2011
As Hungary takes the chair of the European Union’s six-month rotating presidency for the first time, Amnesty International has challenged the country’s government to improve the EU’s defence of human rights worldwide, and today presented a list of recommendations to Dr Róbert Répássy, the Hungarian Junior Minister for Justice.
"Don't short-change human rights", Amnesty International tells EU's new diplomats
30/11/2010On the day the European Union’s new diplomatic body, the European External Action Service (EEAS), is launched, Amnesty International has expressed deep concern that the EU’s human rights capacity will be drastically diminished under the new system.
EU: Make sure EU companies respect human rights
30/06/2009Amnesty International today called the situation in the Niger Delta a “human rights tragedy,” saying that the people of the Niger Delta have seen their human rights abused by EU oil companies that the Nigerian government cannot or will not hold to account.
In a letter addressed to the upcoming Swedish Presidency of the EU (available here), Amnesty International presented its new report, Nigeria: Petroleum, pollution and poverty in the Niger Delta and called on the EU to put in place measures to regulate how EU companies operate at home and abroad. (version française également disponible)
Categories
Spotlight
PEOPLE UNDER THREAT
02/02/2012
Around the world people are suffering the consequences of having their human rights violated. Amnesty International calls on the Danish presidency to ensure the EU’s active engagement in these cases.
Recommendations to the Danish EU Presidency
04/01/2012
We present specific recommendations on human rights policy for the Danish presidency to deliver during its six-month term as President of the Council of the European Union (January-July 2012).
ACT NOW! Stop the trade in torture and death penalty equipment
04/07/2011
Add your name to our petition and demand that the Commission acts now to strengthen its ban on the trade in ‘tools of torture’!