AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

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Summary:
Asylum seekers/ internally displaced persons (IDPs) / refugees
Children
Death Penalty
Health Professionals
Hemophilia
HIV/ AIDS
Mental Health
Occupational Health
Prisoners
Sexual and Reproductive Rights
Torture

Publications

Amnesty International reports & statements:

See the following recent AI reports and press statements [dates given in day/month/year format]. These and other press releases and reports are accessible at: http://web.amnesty.org/library/eng-recent/index

30/11/2007World: Governments must keep promises on AIDS (NEWS) POL 30/029/2007
29/11/2007 Chad: Escalating violence means UN must deploy, but be adequately resourced (NEWS)
AFR 20/012/2007
28/11/2007 Slovakia: Extradition to Algeria would put Mustapha Labsi at risk of torture or other ill-treatment (NEWS) EUR 72/011/2007
28/11/2007 Philippines: Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review. First session of the UPR Working Group, 7-18 April 2008 (REPORTS) ASA 35/006/2007
28/11/2007 Uganda: Arrest Now! Joseph Kony, Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo and Dominic Ongwen (REPORTS) AFR 59/008/2007
28/11/2007 Russian Federation: Systematic repression on eve of elections (NEWS) EUR 46/056/2007
28/11/2007 Russian Federation: Human rights defenders at risk in the North Caucasus (REPORTS)
EUR 46/053/2007
28/11/2007 Sri Lanka: Amnesty International condemns civilian killings (NEWS) ASA 37/020/2007
28/11/2007 Algeria: Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review. First session of the UPR Working Group, 7-11 April 2008(REPORTS) MDE 28/021/2007
28/11/2007 Brazil: Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review. First session of the UPR Working Group, 7-11 April 2008(REPORTS) AMR 19/023/2007
27/11/2007 Myanmar: arrests continue two months on (NEWS) ASA 16/041/2007
26/11/2007 Nigeria: Local government elections -- no lessons learned (NEWS) AFR 44/027/2007
26/11/2007Czech Republic: Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review: First session of the UPR Working Group, 7-18 April 2008 (REPORTS) EUR 71/003/2007
26/11/2007 Poland: Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review: First session of the HRC UPR Working Group 7-18 April 2008 (REPORTS) EUR 37/005/2007
24/11/2007 Education key to addressing HIV : Safe schools every girl's rights (REPORTS) ACT 77/013/2007
24/11/2007 Safe schools every girl's right (REPORTS) ACT 77/008/2007
24/11/2007 No to discrimination, harassment and violence : Safe schools every girl's right (REPORTS)
ACT 77/012/2007
24/11/2007 Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories: Annapolis talks must lead to immediate, concrete action on human rights (NEWS) MDE 15/067/2007
24/11/2007 Why can't I afford to go to school? : Safe schools every girl's right (REPORTS) ACT 77/011/2007
24/11/2007Stolen childhood, lost learning : safe schools every girl's right (REPORTS) ACT 77/010/2007
24/11/2007 Russian Federation: Human rights activist and journalists beaten in Ingushetia (NEWS)
EUR 46/055/2007
23/11/2007 Brazil: Prison rape exposes increasing abuse of women (NEWS) AMR 19/022/2007
23/11/2007 Pakistan: The human rights implications of swearing in of General Musharraf as civilian president (NEWS) ASA 33/046/2007
23/11/2007 Pakistan: Fatal erosion of human rights safeguards under emergency (REPORTS) ASA 33/040/2007
23/11/2007 Pakistan: Fatal erosion of human rights safeguards under emergency (REPORTS) ASA 33/040/2007
22/11/2007Cambodia: Forced evictions must end (NEWS) ASA 23/008/2007
22/11/2007 Cambodia: Forced evictions must end (NEWS) ASA 23/008/2007
21/11/2007 ASEAN: human rights in the Charter and beyond (NEWS) ASA 01/009/2007
21/11/2007 Albania: "No place to call home" - adult orphans and the right to housing (REPORTS)
EUR 11/005/2007
21/11/2007 Albania: Respect the right of orphans to housing (NEWS) EUR 11/008/2007
21/11/2007 Albania: 'No housing, No future' (Two postcards) (REPORTS) EUR 11/006/2007
21/11/2007 Central African Republic: War against children in the wild north (REPORTS) AFR 19/006/2007
20/11/2007 Nepal at a crossroads - urgent need for delivery on transitional mechanisms for truth, justice, inclusion and security (NEWS) ASA 31/011/2007
20/11/2007 Pakistan: Amnesty International condemns intimidation and arrests of journalists (NEWS)
ASA 33/043/2007

Asylum seekers/ IDPs / refugees:

Democratic Republic of Congo: As fighting continues, displaced Congolese are encountering a range of health problems in overcrowded refugee camps. VOA News (21 November):
http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-11-21-voa30.cfm

Children:

New Zealand: The Paediatric Society has painted a disturbing picture of child health in New Zealand, particularly amongst the Maori and Pacific Island populations. OneNews (27 November):
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411416/1463561

USA: A new study is calling for action to make pneumococcal vaccines available for all children in resource-poor countries, especially those with a high burden of HIV infection. Science Daily (29 November):
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071128095303.htm

Death Penalty:

Canada: Government fails to clarify its policy on seeking clemency for Canadians on death row in 'democratic' countries such as the USA, according to The Edmonton Journal (25 November):
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=2eec7276-60a3-4939-8693-0cba46321f4f

South Korea: The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee has proposed that the statute of limitations for death penalty crimes be increased from 15 years to 25 years. The Korea Times (22 November):
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/11/113_14212.html

Malawi: The British high commissioner has urged Malawi to abolish capital punishment following the moratorium on executions issued 15 years ago. The Times (22 November):
http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=628529

US: California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George has proposed a constitutional amendment designed to expedite death penalty appeals. The Jurist (19 November):
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/11/california-high-court-urges.php

Health Professionals:

UK: Nearly two-thirds of family doctors are likely to boycott the government's proposed national database of patients' records, over concerns about data protection, according to the Guardian (20 November): http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/nov/20/nhs.health

Hemophilia:

Taiwan: Legislators have criticized the fact that Taiwanese who became infected from tainted blood products received a raw deal compared with their US and Japanese counterparts. Taipei Times (8 November):
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/11/08/2003386763

HIV / AIDS:

South Africa: A report from the Institute of Security Studies and Transparency International indicates that corruption and poor oversight have undermined South Africa's fight against HIV/ AIDS. BBC (28 November):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7116836.stm
For report see: http://www.iss.co.za/dynamic/administration/file_manager/file_links/ISSTIAIDSREPORTDEC07.PDF?link_id=&slink_id=5217&link_type=&slink_type=13&tmpl_id=3

UK: A recently published report highlights the effects that stigma and discrimination can have on the financial situation of people living with HIV. PinkNews.co.uk (28 November):
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-6176.html

USA: New studies from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and others show a demonstrable correlation between a person's housing status and his or her likelihood of transmitting or getting HIV. Science Daily (20 November):
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071119123919.htm

World: Ban Ki Moon's calls for renewed leadership on HIV / AIDS in his message ahead of World Aids Day. United Nations (20 November):
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sgsm11293.doc.htm

World: Stephen Lewis, former United Nations Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa has warned that a recent UNAIDS document reporting decreased HIV infections has provoked 'completely unnecessary levels of doubt, contention and confusion'. Aidsmap (29 November):
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/07D01358-E354-49D5-ACD2-5862D3CCBAC4.asp

Zimbabwe: HIV and Aids activists have admonished Mabvuku MP Mr Timothy Mubhawu's for his recent suggestions that HIV-positive individuals should be quarantined. South African News Features (27 November):
http://allafrica.com/stories/200711270197.html

Mental Health:

UK: Most people with mental health problems are routinely subjected to physical and sexual abuse or theft by their neighbours, a new study by the charity 'Mind' indicates. The Times Online (29 November):
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article2963444.ece

US: Resources for mental health patients are so limited that many Lee County, Florida, residents with mental illnesses are placed in non-psychiatric hospital beds, sent to jail or are left homeless according to The Florida Weekly (22 November):
http://www.florida-weekly.com/news/2007/1122/Top_News/001.html

Occupational Health:

Honduras: On the occasion of the International Day Against Violence Against Women, a local non-governmental organisation has denounced the ill effects on health of factory working conditions. Proceso Digital (21 November):

Con ocasion del 'Día internacional de la no violencia hacia la mujer', una organización no gubernamental ha denunciado los efectos negativos a la salud de las condiciones de trabajo de las maquilas. Proceso Digital (21 noviembre):
http://proceso.hn/2007/11/21/Nacionales/Denuncian.falta.de/2339.html

Prisoners:

Canada: Opposition MPs have alleged that Canada has violated the Geneva Conventions by permitting prisoner abuses and have called for an order for Canadian Forces to halt the transfer of detainees to the Afghan government. The Jurist (17 November):
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/11/canadian-mps-call-for-end-to-detainee.php

USA: A U.S. Department of Justice report states that inmates in the King County Jail in Seattle have suffered physical and sexual abuse at the hands of guards, and are not receiving adequate medical treatment. The Seattle Times (23 November):
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004029071_jailhealth22m.html

Sexual & Reproductive Rights:

Ireland: The Women's Health Council has said all health workers should be trained to recognise physical, sexual and emotional attacks on women. The Irish Times (28 November):
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2007/1128/breaking57.htm

Saudi Arabia: The lawyer of the Saudi rape victim sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in prison, believes that the worldwide criticism of his client's punishment may help reform the Saudi judicial system. CNN World (21 November):
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/11/21/saudi.rape.lawyer/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

UK: The UK government today unveiled plans to address jurors' misconceptions about rape in the courtroom, in a bid to boost conviction rates. The Guardian (28 November):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,2218310,00.html

Torture:

Cambodia: The U.N.-backed genocide tribunal, created to bring to trial the surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge, opened its first formal hearing, with the alleged chief torturer of the Khmer Rouge the first to appear. CNN Asia (20 November):
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/11/20/khmer.rouge/?iref=mpstoryview#cnnSTCText

Canada: The Canadian military is looking at buying laser weapons designed to inflict temporary blindness to deter innocent Afghans who stray too close to military convoys. The Edmonton Journal (26 November):
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/story.html?id=395f883e-854a-49a3-92dd-5e359a1927b2&k=22800

The Rideau Institute, an Ottawa-based think-tank advises that Canada should resist equipping its soldiers in Afghanistan with laser weapons until the systems can be tested to ensure they can't inadvertently and permanently blind civilians. Canwest News Service (19 November):
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=d2ec53f3-19f7-49ac-a6da-aa95a4e3ca7d&k=32874

UK: Geraldine Van Bueren, Professor of International Human Rights Law at University of London has noted a small but dramatic shift in her students' views on the Government's use of torture. The Independent (22 November):
http://news.independent.co.uk/education/higher/article3180152.ece

USA: A Utah state trooper has used Taser on a motorist who refused to sign a speeding ticket. Daily Mail (26 November):
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=495604&in_page_id=1811

World: The UN's Committee against Torture has declared that Taser use can constitute a form of torture. The Register (26 November):
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/26/un_taser_verdict/

Events:

Unite for Sight Fifth Annual International Health Conference: Building Global Health for Today and Tomorrow. April 12-13, 2008. Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
http://www.uniteforsight.org/conference/2008

Publications:

'Handbook for health care ethics committees', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health,
Vol. 31 Issue 5 Page 495 October 2007 (subscription)
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1753-6405.2007.00129.x

Bergeron, V., 'The Ethics of Cesarean Section on Maternal Request: A Feminist Critique of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Position on Patient -- Choice Surgery.' Bioethics, Vol. 21 Issue 9, Pg 478. November 2007 (subscription)
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/action/doSearch?action=runSearch&type=advanced&result=true&prevSearch=%2Bauthorsfield%3A(BERGERON%2C+VERONIQUE)

Milliken C. et al., 'Longitudinal Assessment of Mental Health Problems Among Active and Reserve Component Soldiers Returning From the Iraq War.' JAMA 2007;298:2141-2148.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/298/18/2141

Seal K. et al., 'Bringing the War Back Home- Mental Health Disorders Among 103, 788 US Veterans Returning From Iraq and Afghanistan Seen at Department of Veterans Affairs Facilities.' Archives Internal Medicine. 2007;167: 476-482.
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/167/5/476

Shelton, J.D., Ten Myths and one truth about generalised HIV epidemics.' The Lancet 1 December 2007; Vol. 370: 1809-1811
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673607617553/fulltext

Straus, S., Stelfox, F., 'Whose life is it anyway? Capacity and consent in Canada.' CMAJ 177 (11). November 20, 2007.
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/177/11/1329

Editorial: Global HIV/ AIDS estimates -- looking beyond the numbers. The Lancet 1 December 2007; Vol. 370:1802
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673607617498/fulltext

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---------------------
Health and Human Rights Team
Amnesty International - International Secretariat
Tel: +44 20 7413 5522
Fax: +44 20 7956 1157
AI web-site: http://www.amnesty.org/
AI Health Professional web-site: http://www.amnesty.org/health

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