Press release me, let me go

Sometimes it is just simply impossible to believe what is happening in the world. This week two horrendous gang rape cases have come to our attention and in both cases the authorities have a lot to answer for. This morning the BBCs...

So Israels sweetener to Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas ahead of next weeks peace talks are strawberries and armoured personnel carriers it would seem. Ehud Olmerts move to ease the trade embargo on Gaza by allowing Palestinian...

Regardless of what Heather Mills says about the media, they are often at the frontline when it comes to human rights, particularly in times of crisis. Amnesty today condemned the arrest of at least 100 journalists in Pakistan after...

What price do you put on free speech and the right to peaceful protest? Sadly in Burma, the cost could well be life. In September, the All-Burma Monks Alliance was instrumental in getting thousands of monks onto the streets in pro...

We were appalled at Amnesty by video footage that came out last week on YouTube, showing the last moments of a man who died after being stunned with an electro-shock Taser by police at Vancouver International Airport last month. The...

A special edition of todays blog from our Head of Campaigns Janet Hague, to mark some fantastic news Last night the UN voted in favour of a global moratorium on executions , calling on all states that still maintain the death penalty...

Alarming reports emerged today of a rise in violence against women in the Iraqi city of Basra being carried out by Islamist extremists and suspected Shia militias. A powerful piece on the Today program detailed the intimidation...

Big news overnight on the notorious case of Yahoo and how it handed across information on Chinese activists who later got imprisoned. Yahoo has settled a lawsuit with the families of Wang Xiaoning, a pro-democracy blogger and Shi Tao...

As our clear winter skies were shrouded with thick plumes of black smoke rising from the warehouse fire in East London, today further reports of political turmoil emerged from Pakistan amid mounting international pressure on General...

I worked from home yesterday. Yes, I know it can be a euphemism for catching up on daytime TV but I really did work from home. It was only in the evening, after Id finished my hours spent diligently at the computer, that I realised I...

Today, its all about states of emergency more commonly known among some of the worlds more notorious governments as how to get away with human rights violations the easy way. Firstly, weve got Georgia on our mind (I couldnt resist it)...

Lots of debate today inside and outside Parliament over how long the UK should be able to detain people without charge, following a proposed Counter-Terrorism Bill listed in the Queens Speech (which contained no mention of a detention...

After last weeks Saudi visit - and graphic evidence that neither the Queen or Parliament has yet chucked out the chintz - today weve got the Queens Speech . So, theres much media anticipation of the colourful ceremony, of men wearing...

The meaning of language is an amazing thing. On Saturday, President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan. What that actually meant in reality was clearly open to interpretation. His text talked of the need to...

Cherie Blairs interview on the Today programme very much skirted the issue of the serious violations of womens rights in Saudi Arabia . While its great that she has flagged up the fact that womens rights need to be upheld within any...

Its all about the law today. First up, Israel. In response to rocket attacks launched from the Gaza Strip, the Israelis decided to tackle the problem at the source. A rational decision on the face of it. So what did they opt for...

Which is the odd one out? Burma, Zimbabwe or Saudi Arabia? The governments of all three countries have terrible human rights records. Weve written much about Burma in this blog of late, reflecting the media interest sparked by massive...

Halloween's drawing near and I'm contemplating scaring myself silly with a few choice horror films (and ignoring the trick-or-treaters at the door). But in Lithuania and Italy, its homosexuality that has paralysed some people with fear...

You, like me, probably think Google Earth is pretty impressive. Along with Google Map (and quite a few other G products it has to be said!) I think the search tools are nothing short of amazing. (I especially like the hybrid map view...

Although I am slightly gutted that I missed the first episode of Spooks which was on last week (I was in NYC so really I shouldnt complain), Im delighted its back on the screen. Its just as gripping as previous seasons although I have...