Amnesty International report: “People’s Republic of China: serious human rights violations and the crackdown on dissent continue” (AI index AFR 17/047/2002).

On the eve of the summit in Copenhagen between European Union leaders and the Chinese prime minister Zhu Rongji, Amnesty International calls on the EU to put an end to the situation where the so-called dialogue on human rights is in effect a monologue which China ignores. Amnesty International urges the Danish EU Presidency to convey to the Chinese leadership that it will no longer accept a dialogue that produces no results whatsoever.

As the European Commission finalizes its 2002 progress reports on EU Candidate Countries, Amnesty International releases a new report showing that systematic torture in Turkey is continuing despite recent legal reforms. Amnesty International calls on the EU to urge Turkey to set a date for the abolition of incommunicado detention.

Click here to link to the Amnesty International document, “Turkey: Systematic torture continues in 2002”, (AI index EUR 44/040/2002), September 2002.

Click here to link to document “Concerns in Europe: January-June 2002” (AI index EUR 01/007/2002).

Amnesty International’s concerns regarding the discussion paper issued by the Danish Presidency concerning recognition rates on Convention refugees and persons in need of protection in Member States and (the road towards) a common understanding of international protection,

Amnesty International’s concerns regarding amendments to the draft report on the proposal for a Council directive on a minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals and stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection (PE 310.971/52-176)

Amnesty International’s observations regarding the “Discussion Paper of key elements for a future Repatriation/ Return program on the basis of the Commission Green Paper” in relation to returns to Afghanistan

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL RELEASES DETAILED LEGAL ANALYSIS TO EU COUNCIL

AI Index IOR 40/025/2002

Amnesty International today launched an urgent appeal to the EU to call on the newly inaugurated President Uribe of Colombia to prioritise human rights. In letters to the Danish Presidency (available at end of page) and other EU leaders the organization stressed in particular the need to end impunity, to confront and dismantle army-backed paramilitary organizations and to guarantee the safety of human rights defenders and other vulnerable sectors of the civilian population.

As the United Nations Security Council prepares to discuss proposals today (15.00 New York time) which would exempt UN peacekeepers from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, Amnesty International is calling on European Union governments to reject them.