‘The UK is saying to the rest of the world: ‘Pick and choose your human rights’’

01/10/2014 – On 9 and 10 October, Ministers will meet at the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council to discuss, amongst others, the migratory flows in the Central Mediterranean Sea to Europe. This JHA Council falls around the time of the first anniversary of the October shipwrecks in the central Mediterranean that cost the lives of over 500 people.

01/10/2014 – With the European Council of 23 and 24 October approaching, Amnesty International is urging European Union (EU) member state leaders and their governments to give priority to ensuring and implementing effective measures to stop the increasing death toll in the Central Mediterranean Sea.

Regardless of the dangers and of EU measures to keep them out, refugees and migrants will continue to risk their lives and the lives of their children fleeing their war-torn, rights violating or economically struggling countries of origin. EU states cannot channel them into the world’s most dangerous sea route and then abandon them to their fate.

25/09/2014 – Today Amnesty International wrote to the Bulgarian authorities to express concerns over the allegations that law enforcement forces did not intervene to prevent verbal abuse, harassment and threats of violence against Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC), during the 12 September rally organised by a far right political party that ended in front of their main office.

The latest influx of refugees has undoubtedly placed even further strain on Turkey’s already stretched resources, but this cannot be used as an excuse for denying safe sanctuary to anyone who is fleeing the horrors of war.

With hundreds of thousands fleeing war and poverty across the Middle East and Africa, the priority must be to protect lives rather than creating an impenetrable fortress.

10/09/2014 – On 8 September around a dozen police officers raided the offices of two NGOs, Ökotárs and Demnet, and confiscated files and computer servers. The raids come after a string of recent government statements and actions which have sought to discredit the work of civil society organizations in Hungary.

The Ukrainian authorities must not replicate the lawlessness and abuses that have prevailed in areas previously held by separatists.

29/08/2014 – In its submission, Ammesty International takes the position that the general measures the Polish Government reports having taken do not adequately execute the European Court of Human Rights’ judgment with respect to its obligation to ensure access to lawful abortion.

Italian Navy vessel Virginio Fasan, performing search and rescue activities in the Central Mediterranean as part of the Mare Nostrum operation, August 2014 © Amnesty International