Month: April 2013

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USA: Authorities must end indefinite detention in Guantánamo as hunger strike grows

Amnesty International
22 April 2013

The US authorities must urgently end indefinite detention at Guantánamo Bay, Amnesty International said today after it was confirmed that more than half the detainees are now on hunger strike.

As of 21 April, 84 of the 166 detainees held at the US naval base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, were recognized by the military authorities as being on hunger strike.

Detainees began their protest in early February, in reaction to what they said were abusive cell searches and deteriorating conditions.

The military authorities have rejected the claims, but have acknowledged a sense of despair among detainees because they think the US administration has abandoned its efforts to close the detention facility.

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2013 Ladis Kristof fellow is a rising star in the human rights field

Submitted by Stacy Suh, 2012 AIUSA Ladis Kristof Memorial Fellow

On March 23, 2013, Mbaluka Mutinda was awarded the Ladis Kristof Memorial Fellowship for Organizing and Activism at the Amnesty International USA Annual General Meeting in Tyson’s Corner, VA. Since 2011, the Kristof Fellowship is awarded each year to an outstanding AIUSA activist, who will continue the legacy of Ladis Kristof through a lifelong passion for human rights and activism.

From left: Greg Kristof, Mbaluka "Luka" Mutinda, Stacy Suh (2012 Kristof fellow), Cynthia M. Carrion (AIUSA National Youth Program Coordinator)

From left: Greg Kristof, Mbaluka “Luka” Mutinda, Stacy Suh (2012 Kristof fellow), Cynthia Carrion (AIUSA National Youth Program Coordinator)

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United Nations adopted Arms Trade Treaty

Amnesty International
2 April 2013

UN puts human rights at heart of historic Arms Trade Treaty

Today, governments at the United Nations adopted by a wide margin an Arms Trade Treaty that will prohibit states from transferring conventional weapons to countries when they know those weapons will be used to commit or facilitate genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.

In the UN General Assembly 154 states voted to adopt the treaty just days after Iran, North Korea and Syria – three human rights-abusing countries under some form of UN sanctions – staged a cynical move to try and block it. All three voted against the treaty today and 23 other states abstained.

“The world has been waiting a long time for this historic treaty. After long years of campaigning, most states have agreed to adopt a global treaty that can prevent the flow of arms into countries where they will be used to commit atrocities,” said Brian Wood, Head of Arms Control and Human Rights at Amnesty International, from the UN conference in New York.

“Despite Iran, North Korea and Syria’s deeply cynical attempt to stymie it, the overwhelming majority of the world’s nations have shown resounding support for this lifesaving treaty with human rights protection at its core.”

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