Changes

#Protect the rights of [[refugee]]s, [[Immigration|migrants]] and [[asylum seeker]]s

#Protect the rights of [[refugee]]s, [[Immigration|migrants]] and [[asylum seeker]]s

One topic of particular controversy is the organisation's stance on [[abortion]], as both pro- and anti-abortion members belong to Amnesty. In August 2007, Amnesty International changed its position to [[pro-choice]]. <ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/8/21/153220.shtml?s=ic Amnesty International Becomes a Pro-Choice Organization].  ''NewsMax'' Aug. 21, 2007 </ref> <ref> [http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGORG500412007 Amnesty International takes on divided world] "Amnesty International committed itself to strengthening the organization's work on the prevention of unwanted pregnancies and other factors contributing to women's recourse to abortion and affirmed the organization’s policy on selected aspects on abortion (to support the decriminalisation of abortion, to ensure women have access to health care when complications arise from abortion and to defend women's access to abortion, within reasonable gestational limits, when their health or human rights are in danger), emphasizing that women and men must exercise their sexual and reproductive rights free from coercion, discrimination and violence." ''Amnesty International'' 17th August 2007</ref>  

One topic of particular controversy is the organisation's stance on [[abortion]], as both pro- and anti-abortion members belong to Amnesty. In August 2007, Amnesty International changed its position to [[pro-choice]].<ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/8/21/153220.shtml?s=ic Amnesty International Becomes a Pro-Choice Organization].  ''NewsMax'' Aug. 21, 2007</ref><ref>[http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGORG500412007 Amnesty International takes on divided world] "Amnesty International committed itself to strengthening the organization's work on the prevention of unwanted pregnancies and other factors contributing to women's recourse to abortion and affirmed the organization’s policy on selected aspects on abortion (to support the decriminalisation of abortion, to ensure women have access to health care when complications arise from abortion and to defend women's access to abortion, within reasonable gestational limits, when their health or human rights are in danger), emphasizing that women and men must exercise their sexual and reproductive rights free from coercion, discrimination and violence." ''Amnesty International'' 17th August 2007</ref>  

<ref> [http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGPOL300122007 Amnesty International defends access to abortion for women at risk] ''Amnesty International'' 14th June 2007</ref>

<ref>[http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGPOL300122007 Amnesty International defends access to abortion for women at risk] ''Amnesty International'' 14th June 2007</ref>

==Criticism==

==Criticism==

For many years, the [[Catholic Church]] and Amnesty Intl. had a working relationship. That relationship has been cancelled in its entirety due to Amnesty's decision promoting "[[abortion]] rights".<ref>[http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/2904 No Amnesty For the Unborn] NCRegister, June 12, 2007</ref>

For many years, the [[Catholic Church]] and Amnesty Intl. had a working relationship. That relationship has been cancelled in its entirety due to Amnesty's decision promoting "[[abortion]] rights".<ref>[http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/2904 No Amnesty For the Unborn] NCRegister, June 12, 2007</ref>

For all the talk of Amnesty being an organization protecting human rights, human rights does not include those children in the womb. Amnesty Intl. is coming out against the [[Dominican Republic]]'s proposed protections for unborn life in its draft constitution and in the country's penal law. <ref>[http://www.lifenews.com/int1180.html Amnesty International Twists Intl Law in Dominican Republic Abortion Debate] Lifenews.com, May 7, 2009</ref>

For all the talk of Amnesty being an organization protecting human rights, human rights does not include those children in the womb. Amnesty Intl. is coming out against the [[Dominican Republic]]'s proposed protections for unborn life in its draft constitution and in the country's penal law.<ref>[http://www.lifenews.com/int1180.html Amnesty International Twists Intl Law in Dominican Republic Abortion Debate] Lifenews.com, May 7, 2009</ref>

There is a growing trend among so-called "human rights" bodies that seek to impose obligations on countries based on social policy rather than principles. Amnesty has criticized the [[Polish]] government for "Denial of access to abortion for eligible women." <ref>[http://www.speroforum.com/a/19727/Amnesty-International-drubs-Poland-on-abortion Amnesty International drubs Poland on abortion] Spero News, June 25, 2009</ref>

There is a growing trend among so-called "human rights" bodies that seek to impose obligations on countries based on social policy rather than principles. Amnesty has criticized the [[Polish]] government for "Denial of access to abortion for eligible women." <ref>[http://www.speroforum.com/a/19727/Amnesty-International-drubs-Poland-on-abortion Amnesty International drubs Poland on abortion] Spero News, June 25, 2009</ref>

===Anti-Israel stance===

===Anti-Israel stance===

Just about everything Israel does to defend itself is 'illegal' in the eyes of Amnesty International. During the [[Israel]] [[Lebanese]] conflict of 2006, Amnesty was accusing Israel of war crimes. According to the [[Jerusalem Post]]'s Alan Dershowitz, through restraint, Israel was able to minimize the number of civilian casualties in Lebanon, but Amnesty criticized nevertheless. Yet on [[Hezbollah]]'s best efforts to embed itself in population centers and to use civilians as human shields, Amnesty said nothing. "Bigotry, pure and simple.", said Dershowitz. <ref>[http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1154525974885&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Amnesty Int'l redefines 'war crimes'] The Jerusalem Post, Aug 30, 2006</ref>

Just about everything Israel does to defend itself is 'illegal' in the eyes of Amnesty International. During the [[Israel]] [[Lebanese]] conflict of 2006, Amnesty was accusing Israel of war crimes. According to the [[Jerusalem Post]]'s Alan Dershowitz, through restraint, Israel was able to minimize the number of civilian casualties in Lebanon, but Amnesty criticized nevertheless. Yet on [[Hezbollah]]'s best efforts to embed itself in population centers and to use civilians as human shields, Amnesty said nothing. "Bigotry, pure and simple.", said Dershowitz.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1154525974885&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Amnesty Int'l redefines 'war crimes'] The Jerusalem Post, Aug 30, 2006</ref>

===Support for same-sex rights===

===Support for same-sex rights===

==References==

==References==

==Also See==

==See also==

*[[Human rights]]

*[[Human rights]]

*[[Human Rights Watch]]

*[[Human Rights Watch]]

==External Links==

==External links==

[http://www.amnesty.org/ Amnesty International's homepage]

* [http://www.amnesty.org/ Amnesty International's homepage]

[[category:International Organizations]]

[[Category:International Organizations]]

[[Category:Nobel laureates in Peace]]

[[Category:Nobel laureates in Peace]]

[[Category:Liberal Organizations]]

[[Category:Liberal Organizations]]