From the onset of the five-day war between Georgia and Russia in the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia in August 2008 the conflicting parties failed to take necessary measures to protect civilians from the hostilities. In this report Amnesty International raises concerns that serious violations of both international human rights law and international humanitarian law were committed by all parties, both during the course of the conflict and in its aftermath.

The conflict in northern Uganda between Government of Uganda's (GoU) armed forces and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) lasted nearly two decades from 1986

A group of 158 Lao Hmong refugees, at least 92 of whom are children, have been held for two years at the Immigration Detention Center in the north of Thailand. The conditions at the centre are harsh and the health of many of the refugees has been badly affected. Amnesty International believes that many of the Lao Hmong in Thailand are at risk of serious human rights violations if they are forcibly returned to Laos.

Thousands of women in Armenia are regularly subjected to violence within their families. Women who try to defend themselves from violence and seek justice face multiple barriers. It is difficult to report violence in the family as a crime because it is neither defined in law nor clearly condemned as a crime. The state must take urgent steps to change wider attitudes towards domestic and sexual violence prevalent in Armenian society. This summary is based on the report: EUR 54/004/2008.

USA: Indefinite detention by litigation

Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the United Nations General Assembly resolution 62/149

Discrimination on grounds of race, language, skin colour and nationality is an everyday reality for many Haitian migrant workers and Dominicans of Haitian descent. In this document Amnesty International highlights the contribution made by organizations such as the Movement for Dominico-Haitian Women (MUDHA); expresses concern at the apparent campaign to discredit the work of MUDHA; expresses concern at the discrimination faced by Haitian migrant workers; and reminds the Dominican authorities of their obligation to recognize the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders.

The National Movement of Victims of State Crimes (Movimiento Nacional de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado, MOVICE) is a coalition of non-governmental organizations which campaigns for truth, justice and reparation for the thousands of victims of human rights violations committed by the security forces and their paramilitary allies. In this document Amnesty International expresses concern for the safety of members of MOVICE and calls for effective investigations into the killings and harassment of MOVICE members.

The Foundation for the Defence of the Right to Education is an NGO working to promote and defend the right to free education for all as it is enshrined in Venezuela’s Constitution. José Luis Urbano and other members of this Foundation have repeatedly been targeted because they have publicly condemned corruption and violations of the right to free education. In this document Amnesty International expresses concern for the safety of José Luis Urbano, his family, and other members of the Foundation.

Esther Landetta Chica is a leading member of the community-based Assembly for the Defence of Our Rivers Gala, Chico, Tenguel and River Siete. She has been targeted for a series of threats and intimidation because of her crucial role in voicing communities’ concerns about possible negative consequences of irregular mining activities and has now gone into hiding. In this document Amnesty International calls on the Ecuadorian authorities for a thorough investigation into threats made and to continue to provide protection measures to Esther Landetta.

An escalating wave of attacks on humanitarian workers, peace activists and human rights defenders has been sweeping Somalia. In this report Amnesty International calls for the arms embargo to be strengthened, for neighbouring countries to open their borders to Somalis seeking asylum, and for the international community to provide support to those forced to flee their country. The international community must exert pressure to demand genuine change – to protect civilians and ensure human rights.

Government responses to the attacks in the USA on 11 September 2001 and in other countries since then have undermined the framework of human rights. Much of this assault on human rights has been the result of policies and practices authorized and justified by the US executive, led by the US president. Using this checklist, Amnesty International calls on the next US president to close Guantánamo and end illegal detention; to eradicate torture and other ill-treatment; and to end impunity.

Amnesty International released a report today and new video that graphically demonstrates the ongoing suffering of the Zimbabwean people, as the three main political parties in Zimbabwe struggle to form an inclusive government.

Tens of thousands of women migrant domestic workers in Jordan face isolation, exploitation and abuse, with little or no protection from the state. In this document Amnesty International calls on the Jordanian authorities: to amend the Labour Law to cover domestic work and guarantee labour rights to migrant domestic workers; to establish a shelter for runaway domestic workers; to improve monitoring of recruitment agencies, and other actions to protect the rights of migrant workers.