The men repeatedly issued violent threats against the staff at the shelter. One police officer pointed his gun at the coordinator and said, “You’re going to regret this, you’ll get yourself into trouble, it’s better if you cooperate or we will push down the doors and break the locks.” Following repeated threats and fearing for their lives, the staff eventually allowed the men to enter the shelter. They ransacked the shelter, overturning furniture and searching under beds. Once they were satisfied the girl was not there, they left.

This violent breach of the rights of the women seeking protection at this shelter is especially dangerous because many of them have fled violent partners, including various municipal policemen. The forced entry of these policemen has jeopardized the women’s safety by revealing their location and exposing them to potential future reprisals.

This case does not mark the first time the rights of women have been neglected in Mexico’s recent history. In 2006 in San Salvador Atenco, more than 45 women were arrested without explanation during a peaceful protest. Dozens of them were subjected to physical, psychological and sexual violence by the police officers who arrested them, and those responsible have yet to be brought to justice.

Take action! to ensure the policemen responsible for the raid of the women’s shelter are brought to justice. Write to the Mexican authorities calling for a full, prompt and impartial investigation into the forced entry into the shelter and urging them to protect the confidentiality and security of the women who have sought refuge.

Rachel Good, Individuals at Risk Campaign, contributed to this blog post. This posting is part of our Urgent Action Series.

Join the Urgent Action Network!

Members of the Urgent Action Network provide an effective and rapid response by sending letters, e-mails, and faxes directly to those who have the power to stop the violations. For more information visit: www.amnestyusa.org/uan

Saeed Torabian and Reza Shahabi are both members of the The Union (or Syndicate) of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed), which was banned after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The union activities resumed in 2004, although the union itself is not legally recognized.

Despite the fact that the union is not recognized by Iranian authorities, the arrests of Saeed Torabian and Reza Shahabi are unlawful. Iran is a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political, Article 22 (1) of which states: “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and join trade unions for the protection of his interests,” and to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Article 8 of which guarantees the “right of everyone to form trade unions and join the trade union of his choice”.

An enforced disappearance facilitates the use of torture and other ill-treatment, and Amnesty International is concerned about the conditions of these two men. Saeed Torabian and Reza Shahabi are believed to be prisoners of conscience, detained solely for their peaceful trade union activities.

Amnesty International is calling on Iranian authorities to disclose the whereabouts of the trade union members and to release them immediately, and demand that they are not subjected to torture or other ill-treatment while in custody.

Other members of the Union’s board, like Mansour Ossanlu, the head of the Tehran and Suburbs Company bus drivers union, considered a prisoner of conscience and a priority case for AIUSA’s Individuals at Risk campaign, is serving a five-year prison sentence and he is in poor health and has suffered from medical neglect in prison over the past three years. Mansour Ossanlu is currently in Evin prison in Iran.

Take action now! on behalf of Mansour Ossonlu, Saeed Torabian, Reza Shahabi, and other trade union workers in Iran. Demand that the Iranian government would protect its own citizens by actually upholding the international covenants and laws which they claim to abide by, instead of arresting hundreds of trade union workers for their peaceful activity.

Courtney A. Myhrum, Individuals at Risk Campaign, contributed to this blog post. This posting is part of our Urgent Action Series.

Join the Urgent Action Network!

Members of the Urgent Action Network provide an effective and rapid response by sending letters, e-mails, and faxes directly to those who have the power to stop the violations. For more information visit: www.amnestyusa.org/uan

© MUSTAFA OZER/AFP/Getty Images

It may seem silly that we have an entire day devoted to a rectangular piece of material, but the meaning of the flag runs deeper than that. The American flag is a representation of not only the freedom our country possesses as a whole, but also the freedom bestowed to each individual – a kind of freedom that is often denied in other parts of the world.

In December of 2004, Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage were arrested for raising the West Papuan flag, known as the “Morning Star” flag during a peaceful ceremony outside Abepura in Papua, Indonesia. The flag is a symbol of Papuan independence. Filep and Yusak were subsequently charged with rebellion for allegedly leading the flag-raising event, and were later sentenced to prison for 10 and 15 years respectively in May 2005 for charges of treason for “betraying” Indonesia by flying the outlawed flag. Amnesty International considers them to be prisoners of conscience, detained purely for the peaceful and legitimate exercise of their right to freedom of expression.

Activists rallying in front of the White House on June 5th, 2010 © AI

Amnesty staff and activists joined together outside of the White House on June 5th for a spirited rally to urge President Obama to seek the release of Filep Karma, Yusak Pakage, and other prisoners of conscience in Indonesia. The event was a birthday celebration for both Filep and Yusak, whose birthdays both fall in the summer months. Activists donned birthday hats, made noise with horns, and sang around a paper mache cake with an AI candle on top. A number of tourists and passersby were intrigued enough to participate in the event and sign a giant birthday card which read: “No More Birthdays in Prison, Free Filep and Yusak!”

So, in honor of Flag Day here in the United States, we encourage you to not only appreciate the right to raise a flag here in our own country, but to take some time and speak up for those who do not have the freedom to fly a flag! Take action now to urge the release of Filep Karma,Yusak Pakage, and all prisoners of conscience in Indonesia!

Courtney A. Myhrum, Individuals at Risk Campaign at AIUSA, contributed to this blog post.

Aterciopelados at UN concert ©AI

The Colombian rock group Aterciopelados performed last week at the UN Day Concert: A Tribute to Peacekeeping, as they performed their hit song ‘The Price of Silence’ at the ceremony in New York this past Friday, October 23rd. The UN Day Concert event was put together by the non-profit organization, Culture Project to commemorate the anniversary of the United Nations charter, focusing on its most crucial purpose of peacekeeping. The event featured live music performances and documentary clips, appearances by the Aterciopelados, CNN’s Isha Sesay, Roberta Flack, Lang Lang, Harry Belafonte, , Angelique Kidjo, former child soldier Emmanuel Jal, and Sister Fa. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made an introductory statement at the event and then stayed for the show.

Aterciopelados were invited because of their contribution and participation with  Amnesty International campaigns, since late 2008. They participated in a collaborative performance with singers from all over the world for a human rights anthem ‘The price of silence’, inspired by an Aterciopelados song called “Protest Song” from their album Oye, Latin Grammy winner.

I attended the event as a volunteer for Amnesty International spreading the word for Demand Dignity in the fight for justice against poverty, as well as signing up new members and explaining to people how they can take action. The bonus: going on stage with U2 and the other 85 volunteers in the name of Aung San Suu Kyi (prisoner of conscience in Myanmar) during the song “Walk On.” To call this moment amazing is an understatement. Walking on stage and helping to communicate a message of strength and hope to 84,000 people was simply powerful.

Amnesty International is still travelling on tour with the band. Look for us at the show and demand “Justice Against Poverty!”

U2 has been involved in many campaigns with Amnesty International and has tirelessly fought for human rights around the world. On the “360 Degrees” European tour during a July concert in their hometown of Dublin, U2 and Amnesty International announced that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (prisoners of conscience in Myanmar) had been recognized with Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award for 2009. This award recognizes her exceptional leadership in the fight to protect and promote human rights.

Amnesty International is proud to have U2 as a companion on the Human Right’s stage.  Look for us at the show!

The European Union’s decision to suspend 65.5 million Euros in aid comes after failed attempts to negotiate talks for the resolution of the political crisis in the country, the worst political crisis in Central America in two decades. Recently negotiation talks were mediated by the Costa Rican president and Nobel Peace prize winner Oscar Arias, who proposed a six-point plan that first and foremost requests the reinstatement of Manuel Zelaya to finish his term until late January. Delegates speaking on behalf of the interim government said that Zelaya will be arrested if he returns to his country, a statement that ignores the claims of the United Nations and the international community. Among the other proposals put forth by President Arias is: to form a coalition government, to declare amnesty for political crimes, push for advancing elections and the resignation of Zelaya to a referendum, among other things.

It is a devastating problem for a country like Honduras to lose humanitarian aid and support of entities like the Organization of American States, the United Nations, the European Union and United States. For the members of the Honduran Congress who opted for not only an illegal, but a rebellious solution to resolve an issue in their administration, the loss of millions of Euros, may not be much. Though, the loss of foreign aid has a direct and instantaneous effect for the millions of Hondurans in need living in this impoverished nation. The Honduran government should react as soon as possible before we see more violations of human rights, or more acts of violence and attacks on democracy in Central America that already hangs by a thread.

Deposed President Zelaya took a few steps into Honduran territory on Friday, immediately turning back without being confronted. As of Sunday night, Manuel Zelaya remains on the Nicaraguan border with Honduras, where he has vowed to stay until allowed to enter the country.