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Israel’s latest response to the UN on its investigations into alleged violations of international law by its forces in Gaza a year ago is totally inadequate, Amnesty International said on Tuesday.

Crucial questions about the conduct of attacks in which hundreds of civilians were killed and thousands were made homeless are not credibly addressed in Israel’s update to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

“The investigations undertaken by Israel fail to meet international standards of independence, impartiality, transparency, promptness and effectiveness,” said Malcolm Smart, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme.

“The Israeli military is investigating itself and in no way can this be adequate in obtaining the truth and ensuring justice for the victims.”

The 46-page update published on 29 January says that Israel has opened investigations into 150 incidents involving alleged violations of the laws of war by its forces during Operation “Cast Lead”, its 22-day military offensive in Gaza which ended on 18 January 2009.

Around 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed in the conflict that took place in Gaza and southern Israel.   

The limited details released indicate that the Israeli authorities are failing to credibly address grave concerns about the army’s use of white phosphorus in densely-populated areas.   
Attacks on UN facilities and other civilian buildings and infrastructure, as well as direct attacks on Palestinian civilians, including ambulance crews have also not been adequately investigated by Israel.

Such incidents were reported by the UN, Amnesty International and other human rights and media organizations at the time of the conflict.

“There were numerous credible allegations during Operation ‘Cast Lead’ that violations of international humanitarian law by Israeli forces caused the deaths of hundreds of civilians, led others to be used as “human shields” and destroyed or damaged thousands of homes and other civilian infrastructure,” said Malcolm Smart.

“Yet more than one year on, according to the update, only one soldier has been convicted of an offence as a result of the Israeli investigations, and that was the theft of a credit card.”

All the Israeli investigations have been carried out by army commanders or by the military police criminal investigators and overseen by the Military Advocate General, severely compromising their independence and impartiality.

The Military Advocate General’s office gave the Israeli forces legal advice on their choice of targets and tactics during Operation “Cast Lead”.

The military investigations also preclude the possibility of examining decisions taken by civilian officials, who are also alleged to be responsible for serious violations.   

The update states that there is no basis for criminal investigations into serious incidents which Amnesty International maintains warrant effective and independent investigations.

These include Israeli strikes on UN facilities, civilian property and infrastructure, attacks on medical facilities and personnel, and incidents in which large numbers of civilians were killed.   

Despite enduring concerns by Amnesty International over Israel’s extensive use of white phosphorus in Gaza, the update contends that there are “no grounds to take disciplinary or other measures for the IDF’s use of weapons containing phosphorous”.

During Operation “Cast Lead” Israeli forces often launched artillery shells containing white phosphorus into residential areas, causing death and injuries to civilians.

Other Israeli attacks which resulted in civilian injuries and deaths are dismissed as “operational errors” although the update admits “some instances” in which Israeli soldiers and officers “violated the rules of engagement”.   

The Israeli government has not indicated that it will ensure reparations, including compensation, to Palestinian civilians harmed as a result of the “operational errors” or admitted violations of their forces.   

Research by Amnesty International into Operation “Cast Lead” showed elements of reckless conduct, disregard for civilian lives and property and a consistent failure on the part of Israeli forces to distinguish between military targets and civilians and civilian objects.

Israeli forces continued to employ tactics and weapons that resulted in growing numbers of civilian casualties for the entire duration of the military offensive.  This was despite Israeli officials knowing from the first days of the military offensive that civilians were being killed and wounded in significant numbers.

Amnesty International drew a number of incidents to the attention of the Israeli authorities who have not responded to the organization’s repeated requests for clarification on specific incidents.

“In his forthcoming report on domestic investigations by Israel and the Palestinian side, Ban Ki-moon must include a substantive assessment of whether these investigations meet the established UN criteria and are ‘independent, credible and in conformity with international standards,” said Malcolm Smart.

“So far, it appears that neither of the parties are able or willing to conduct investigations meeting those standards. If this remains so, then the responsibility will fall on the UN to ensure accountability for the perpetrators and justice for the victims – and this must include the Security Council eventually considering a referral of the Gaza situation to the International Criminal Court and steps by the General Assembly to establish a fund for victims who were killed or injured or suffered loss or damage resulting from unlawful acts committed during the war.”

Background

The Israeli update was submitted days before the deadline set by the UN General Assembly in November 2009 when it endorsed the recommendations of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (the Goldstone Report) and called on both Israel and the Palestinian side, within three months, to undertake investigations into alleged war crimes and other violations by their forces.

These investigations, the General Assembly, said, should be “independent, credible and in conformity with international standards into the serious violations of international humanitarian and international human rights law reported by the [UN] Fact Finding Mission, towards ensuring accountability and justice”. Hamas has yet to submit any public report to the UN.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AFR/somalia-tfg-100.jpg alt= title= /br/Amnesty International has called for arms transfers to the Somali government to be suspended until there are adequate safeguards to prevent weapons from being used to commit war crimes and human rights abuses. br /
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In its latest briefing paper on the country, Amnesty International details US shipments of arms, including mortars, ammunition and cash for the purchase of weapons to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). br /
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These transfers were made despite substantial risks that such types of weapons could be used in indiscriminate attacks by TFG forces, or diverted to armed groups opposed to the TFG, who also commit gross and widespread abuses. br /
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ldquo;International concern for the future of the Somali government has not been matched by an equal concern for the human rights of civilians,rdquo; said Michelle Kagari, Amnesty International Deputy Director for Africa. br /
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ldquo;Mortar attacks continue to claim lives ndash; it is time for international donors to apply tighter controls to their support for the governmentrdquo; br /
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Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s briefing also details growing international programmes of military and police training for TFG forces, despite a lack of adequate oversight procedures. br /
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The training is delivered in Somalia itself and in Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti and Uganda. The European Union, France, Germany and Italy are involved, or have pledged funding for it. br /
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Amnesty International calls for all states providing, financing or planning military and police training for the TFG to provide training in international humanitarian law and on arms management. They should also press for the establishment of oversight procedures for TFG forces. br /
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A UN arms embargo on Somalia has been in place since 1992 but states can apply to the UN Sanctions Committee for exemptions to supply security assistance to the Somali government. br /
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Amnesty International is urging the committee to apply criteria for assessing the risk thatnbsp; exemptions to the arms embargo will contribute to war crimes and human rights abuses, and to deny authorisations on this basis. br /
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To be effectively implemented, Amnesty International argues that such criteria need to be enshrined in international law and universally applied to all arms transfers. The organisation calls on states to establish such common standards in an international Arms Trade Treaty. br /
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Somalia has been mired in armed conflict since the collapse of the Siad Barre government in 1991. Conflict intensified and unlawful killings of civilians increased after Ethiopian troops entered Somalia at the end of 2006 to help the TFG fight against several armed opposition groups from whom it has been seeking to regain territorial control. br /
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Despite a peace agreement between the TFG and one armed group, the appointment of a President issued from the former armed opposition and the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia, armed opposition groups have continued attacks against the TFG. In May 2009, they launched a major offensive against the TFG, which currently only controls a small part of the capital Mogadishu. br /
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In 2009, indiscriminate attacks by all parties to the armed conflict have resulted in thousands of civilians killed and hundreds of thousands displaced. The number of people internally displaced within Somalia is now 1.5 million and some 3.7 million are dependent on humanitarian assistance for their survival.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-demo-100.jpg alt= title= /br/At the end of a 10-day visit to Honduras during the country’s presidential elections, Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation to ensure all those responsible for human rights abuses are brought to justice and the victims given reparations. nbsp;br /
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quot;The crisis in Honduras does not end with the election results, the authorities cannot return to business as usual without ensuring human rights safeguards,quot; said Javier Zuacute;ntilde;iga, head of the Amnesty International delegation in Honduras. br /
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quot;There are dozens of people in Honduras still suffering the effects of the abuses carried out in the past five months. Failure to punish those responsible and to fix the malfunctioning system would open the door for more abuses in the future.quot; br /
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During its visit to Honduras, Amnesty International’s delegation documented numerous cases of human rights abuses carried out since last June, when President Manuel Zelaya was forced into exile. br /
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These included killings following excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests of demonstrators by police and military, indiscriminate and unnecessary use of tear gas, ill treatment of detainees in custody, violence against women, harassment of activists, journalists, lawyers and judges.nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;br /
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The organization found that members of the military assigned to law enforcement duties were involved in committing serious human rights violations such as killings following excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests and illegal raids. br /
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Amnesty International also found that the civilian de facto authorities failed to do anything to prevent the indiscriminate use of tear gas against protesters. In some cases gas canisters were thrown inside offices. nbsp;br /
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Most people interviewed said that after being injured or made ill by the gas, they were too scared to seek medical assistance as police and military entered hospitals in order to intimidate them. br /
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On 23 September, Marta (not her real name) was attacked by police while she was taking part in a demonstration. She was hit with a tear gas can, which burned her leg and caused her to have breathing problems. While she was hiding from the gases in a church, police caught up with her and hit her so badly they broke her arm. She didnrsquo;t go to the hospital until several days later because she was scared the police would harass her there. Her arm still hasnrsquo;t recovered and the burn to her leg is still visible. br /
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quot;We spoke to people who still had eye irritation and burns to the skin several weeks after having been affected by tear gas,quot; said Javier Zuacute;ntilde;iga. quot;Not only did police use gas against peaceful protesters and in enclosed buildings, doctors were not given information about the chemical substances used in the cans to enable them to treat victims properly.quot;nbsp; nbsp;br /
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quot;The security forces’ use of tear gas raises questions about the level of training received that could have minimized the risks of serious injury or death,quot; said Javier Zuacute;ntilde;iga.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;br /
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Representatives of human rights organizations, journalists, lawyers and judges told Amnesty International about the threats and harassment they received for being seen as opposed to the de facto authorities. br /
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Members of a national judges association were called to a hearing to account for their participation in peaceful demonstrations. br /
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quot;During the crisis, institutions in Honduras have blatantly failed to protect basic human rights,quot; said Javier Zuacute;ntilde;iga. quot;It is particularly worrying that in Honduras the conditions which enable human rights abusers to go unpunished exist.quot; br /
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Amnesty International urged the future Honduran government to:br /
ul
liRepeal all legislation, decrees and executive orders issued by the de facto authorities;/li
liEnsure the military return to their barracks and that their law enforcement function is withdrawn;/li
liEnsure that all members of the security forces are held accountable for human rights abuses committed between 28th June and end of November;/li
liDevelop a National Plan for the protection of human rights./li
/ul
p
quot;It is essential that the international community does not forget people in Honduras by giving a blank cheque to the new authorities over-looking the abuses of the past five months,quot; said Javier Zuacute;ntilde;iga.
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/p
ul
linbsp;Call on Honduras to hold security forces accountable for human rights a href=http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/call-honduras-hold-security-forces-accountable-human-rights-abusesimg src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/AI/action-button-en.gif alt= title= class=asset-align-right//aabusesnbsp;/li
/ul

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AFR/guinea-conakry-bullet-100.jpg alt= title= /br/Guinea’s security forces are continuing to arrest and harass activists and others, following a massacre during a political protest on 28 September, Amnesty International found during a recent visit to Guinea. br /
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Mouctar Diallo, vice-president of Guinea’s national human rights commission, was arrested on 26 November. Amnesty International discovered that Diallo is being detained in military Camp Alpha Yaya, for quot;endangering the security of the statequot;. br /
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The Amnesty International delegation, that returned from Guinea on Tuesday, also found cases of over 40 people who attended the rally and whose whereabouts are still unknown. This includes dead bodies that were identified in photographs and film footage taken at the stadium but were not subsequently found at any of Conakryrsquo;s hospitals, morgues, mosques or military camps including Camp Alpha Yaya Diallo. br /
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The whereabouts of others who attended the rally is now unknown. Amnesty International fears that they may have been killed or subjected to enforced disappearance. br /
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The official death toll from the protest at Conakry’s stadium is given as 58 people but human rights organizations report that at least 157 people died. br /
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Amnesty International has also uncovered fresh evidence about disturbing levels of sexual violence during the massacre. br /
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Over 30 women told Amnesty International they were raped during the events of 28 September. Medical records gathered from Conakry’s Donka hospital indicate that at least 32 female participants in the rally showed evidence of being raped. br /
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One woman recalled seeing her friend attacked by five members of the quot;red beretsquot; ndash; the Presidential Guard: quot;They ripped off her clothes with a bayonet, pinned her to the ground and raped her. They then fired a bullet into her vagina.quot; br /
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Several women interviewed by the delegation said they had been arrested by quot;red beretsquot; soldiers at the demonstration and then held for over five days, during which time they were drugged, beaten and repeatedly raped while being filmed with mobile telephones. br /
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quot;A climate of fear continues in Guinea. The authorities can no longer turn a blind eye to the human rights violations committed by its security forces,quot; said Gaetan Mootoo of Amnesty International. br /
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quot;The authorities must fully support the efforts of the UN’s International Commission of Inquiry and ensure the perpetrators of these crimes are brought to justice.quot; br /
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Amnesty international discovered that the security forces are also clamping down on any potential internal dissent within the military.nbsp; nbsp;br /
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The delegation learned that eight military officers have been arrested since the events of 28 September and remain in detention on Ile de Kassa, an island outside of Conakry. br /
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strongInternational military assistance /strongbr /
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Amnesty International has gathered information about international military assistance and training provided to specific units of Guinea’s regular military and security forces involved in the 28 September violence, and is concerned that such assistance may have ignored and failed to address the past human violations committed by these units. br /
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The assistance includes combat training provided by the government of China since at least 2006 to members of battalions within the Presidential Guard. Technical assistance in the training and organisation of up to 4000 new recruits of the Gendarmerie Nationale was also provided since 2008 by the government of France. Members of both the quot;red beretsquot; and Gendarmerie Nationale units were present at Conakry stadium on 28 September. France has suspended military cooperation with Guinea since 28 September. br /
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Amnesty International also saw 60 Kalashnikov-type cartridge cases gathered from Conakry stadium and two other locations in Conakry ndash; in Kosa and Ratoma – following the 28 September violence. Nearly 20 per cent of these appear to have been manufactured in 2006 and 2008, indicating recent ammunition supplies to Guinearsquo;s security forces despite repeated unlawful killings and the excessive use of force since 1998. br /
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quot;The 28 September massacre and its aftermath is the latest example of a decade-long record of human rights violations by the security forces.quot; said Gaetan Mootoo. quot;Governments must immediately stop any support given to the Guinea security forces that could facilitate further violations.quot; br /
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Amnesty International has also learned that the Guinean government has recently approached the government of Morocco for assistance in restructuring their armed forces. Any programme of security sector reform must be transparent and address impunity for past violations and operationalize human rights law. br /
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strongTraining camps for militia group members /strongbr /
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The delegation found evidence of militia groups operating alongside governments forces but outside formal military and police structures. Many demonstrators present at the stadium provided consistent accounts of the presence of significant numbers of civilian-dressed men working with the security forces, armed with knives and other weapons. br /
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The organisation has received information about the recruitment and training up to two thousand young men in two camps to the south-east of Conakry, as well as reports of organised gatherings and recruitment of youths in the Kaporo suburb of Conakry itself. This activity appears to have begun around August 2009 and is now being carried out partly by foreign trainers in the camps outside Conakry.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/ASA/afghanistan-us-troops-100.jpg alt= title= /br/Amnesty International has called on the US to establish a consistent, clear and credible mechanism to investigate civilian casualties resulting from military operations after President Barack Obama said he would send 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan. br /
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This is now particularly urgent due to the current lack of accountability and transparency within regular US military forces and civilian intelligence agencies, as well as private contractors. br /
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quot;Recent efforts by the US and NATO forces to minimise civilian casualties are a step forward but the US government must ensure that any troops who violate Afghan civilians’ human rights are held to account,quot; said Madhu Malhotra, deputy director of Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific programme. quot;More US troops must not lead to more harm to Afghan civilians.quot;nbsp; nbsp;br /
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Amnesty International said that it recognises that anti-government groups, including the Taleban, are responsible for the majority of civilian casualties and injuries. The organization said that this does not diminish the responsibility to offer support to those injured by Afghan and NATO/US forces and to bring those suspected of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law to justice. br /
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Respect for international law, including human rights law and international humanitarian law by all parties involved is a prerequisite to bringing security to Afghanistan. br /
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Clearer chains of command and rules of engagement that abide by international law must be established for all forces to ensure the safety of Afghan civilians. br /
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Without a clear sense of who is involved in these operations it is impossible for victims and their families to make complaints, inquire about investigations, and ultimately seek justice.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-troops-100.jpg alt= title= /br/Amnesty International said on Saturday that it was deeply worried about the safety of victims of and witnesses to a shooting at a military blockade that took place in Tegucigalpa on Friday night. The organization called on the Human Rights Prosecutor to urgently investigate the incident.br /
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According to eye witnesses interviewed by Amnesty International on Friday night, four men were on their way back home when they saw a military blockade moved from its normal position, close to the Estado Mayor (military compound). They were not given any indication to stop or request to slow down so they drove past. br /
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Immediately after, shots were fired by the military at the car. The men drove on and as they went into a new road, one bullet hit the driver, 32-year-old Angel Salgado, in the head. He lost control of the vehicle which then crashed into a taxi and injured several bystanders, including 45-year-old woman, who was also hit by a stray bullet. She is now in a serious condition in hospital. br /
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At the time of writing, Angel Salgado was in hospital in a critical condition.br /
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Eye witnesses said military personnel began cleaning the scene immediately after the crash occurred.br /
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quot;We are extremely concerned about this case given Honduras’ track record of widespread impunity for human rights violations committed by police and military,quot; said Javier Zuntilde;iga, Head of Amnesty International’s delegation in Honduras.br /
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Amnesty International delegates in Honduras visited the hospital where both injured were being treated and heard the relatives of Angel Salgado had found it difficult to gain entry to see him. br /
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The organization’s delegates also saw two men in military outfits passing by and going directly into the theatre where Angel Salgado was recuperating. The men said they wanted to check on his condition. br /
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quot;Until the authorities take serious action to investigate and bring to justice those responsible for human rights violations, this will be another shocking example of how the lives of Hondurans can be devastated in a moment by the police and military, who act knowing that noone will ever hold them to account,quot; said Javier Zuntilde;iga.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-teargas-100.jpg alt= title= /br/Amnesty International has learned that the de facto authorities in Honduras have stock piled 10,000 tear gas cans and other crowd control equipment, triggering fears of an increased risk of excessive and disproportionate use of force by security forces around the presidential elections.br /
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An Amnesty International delegation in Honduras to monitor the human rights situation around the presidential elections on 29 November received information of the recent official purchase of 10,000 tear gas grenades; 5,000 projectiles for tear gas grenades and a water spray tank, as well as the deployment of several thousand reservists.br /
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quot;Since taking power, the de facto authorities have allowed the security forces to use tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition to punish demonstrators in Honduras, causingnbsp; several deaths and serious injuries, and nobody has been held responsible,quot; said Javier Zuniga, Head of Amnesty International’s delegation in Honduras.br /
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quot;The past misuse of tear gas and other crowd control equipment, together with the lack of guarantees that the purchased equipment will not be used to attack demonstrators and the absence of investigations on past abuses paints an extremely worrying picture of what might happen over the next few days,quot; said Javier Zuniga. br /
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It is not clear how this new equipment will be used or whether the security forces have received appropriate training or put the procedures in place to ensure that security operations in the context of possible demonstrations do not abuse human rights.br /
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In July, Amnesty International visited a detention centre in Tegucigalpa and spoke to a number of demonstrators who were arbitrarily arrested and had been beaten and ill-treated. br /
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Amnesty International also denounced the fact that human rights activists and journalists critical of the de facto authorities have been receiving increased threats and intimidation.br /
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In a facsimile signed by the First Battalion of Communications, the Honduran Armed Forces requested a local mayor to provide a list of names and phone numbers of activist members of the Resistencia, a movement opposed to the de facto authorities.br /
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quot;Today, there’s an environment of fear and intimidation in Honduras,quot; said Javier Zuniga. quot;We have seen an increased level of harassment against those who are seen as opposed to the de facto authorities and officials responsible for the protection of human rights are not doing anything to investigate the incidents or stop them.quot;br /
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The Amnesty International delegation will be in Honduras until 4 December. They are meeting with victims of human rights violations, representatives of human rights organizations, journalists, teachers and doctors. Meetings have also being requested with prosecutors, the Army and the Police.

Amnesty International has condemned the forced eviction of a community of about 400 Roma people in the Italian capital, Rome.br /
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According to local NGOs and media, around 150 police officers evicted the families from the Via Centocelle camp, in the east of the city, on Wednesday morning.br /
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All the community’s shelters were destroyed and around 20 Roma men were arrested. It is not known what charges they face.br /
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The municipality offered short-term shelter to some of the Roma women and small children, in the city’s dormitories for homeless people.br /
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TThe majority of those made homeless, numbering some 100 families, have occupied an abandoned privately owned factory nearby. According to the latest media report, these families are facing today another forced eviction.br /
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If evicted, they face living in harsh conditions at another makeshift camp, or may even be forced to live out in the open.br /
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The community includes around 140 children, 40 of whom attend schools nearby. The eviction threatens to interrupt their schooling and seriously disrupt their education.br /
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Local NGOs say that the community was not notified or consulted about the eviction. Under domestic law, the authorities should notify each individual, or publish an order or notice.br /
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As the order was not formalized in this way, the community could not challenge it through the courts, and stop or postpone the eviction.br /
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Most people living in the Via Centocelle camp have previously experienced at least one forced eviction. These involved the destruction of shelters, clothes, mattresses, medicines and documents.br /
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All these evictions are believed to have been carried out without the procedural safeguards required under regional and international human rights standards.br /
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Amnesty International has urged the Rome authorities to ensure that all the families who were forcibly evicted are provided with adequate alternative accommodation as a matter of urgency, and compensation for all possessions they lost when they were forcibly evicted.br /
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The organization also reminded the authorities that forced evictions, carried out without legal and other protections, are prohibited under international law as a gross violation of a range of human rights; in particular, the right to adequate housing.br /
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For at least the last 10 years, numerous forced evictions of Roma communities have been carried out in Italy.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/ASA/bangladesh-bdr-100.jpg alt= title= /br/p
The Bangladesh government must ensure justice for the victims of the February 2009 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny by ensuring that all suspects receive a fair trial, Amnesty International said in a report released on Thursday.br /
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emstrongLooking for Justice: Mutineers on trial in Bangladesh/strong/em carries testimony from family members of BDR personnel accused of participating in the mutiny. These reports suggest that scores, possibly hundreds of BDR personnel had suffered torture, for possible involvement in the mutiny. Nearly all were denied the opportunity to seek the assistance of a lawyer for weeks or months.br /
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Amnesty International condemned the unlawful killings, hostage taking and other human rights abuses committed during the mutiny and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.br /
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The organization said that the government of Bangladesh has an opportunity to reinforce trust in the rule of law by ensuring the civilian courts, which will be trying the accused, deliver justice. br /
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quot;The mutiny was brutal and led to the killing of civilians, and army officers who died in horrific circumstances. It’s vital that the government of Bangladesh brings the perpetrators of these crimes to justice in a manner that is compatible with international law,rdquo; said Abbas Faiz, Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s Bangladesh Researcher.br /
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Large scale mutiny broke out at the BDR headquarters in Dhaka on 25 February 2009 just two months after the newly elected government of Bangladesh took office. It quickly spread to BDR barracks across the country and mutineers killed at least 74 people, including six civilians and 57 army officers, one army soldier and nine Jawans (lowest BDR rank). It was 33 hours before the government was able to negotiate an end to the mutiny.br /
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To date, the only publicly available official investigation has failed to establish the actual causes of the mutiny. Bangladeshi newspapers reported that BDR personnel mutinied because of grievances over pay and conditions. Some government officials allege it was a conspiracy to unseat the newly elected government.nbsp; nbsp;br /
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Following the mutiny, thousands of BDR personnel were confined to barracks and denied all contact with the outside world. Reports soon emerged as family members began to meet the detainees, alleging that scores, possibly hundreds of BDR personnel had suffered human rights violations, including torture, for possible involvement in the mutiny. br /
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Amnesty International’s report documents the methods of torture used including depriving suspects of sleep over a number of days, subjecting suspects to beatings and the use of pliers to crush testicles, inserting needles under suspectrsquo;s nails and administering electric shocks. br /
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quot;The reports of torture that Amnesty International has received are consistent with the previously documented torture and ill treatment of detainees in Bangladesh. It’s not good enough for the authorities to deny that torture isn’t taking place. There needs to be greater accountability on this issue.quot; said Abbas Faiz. br /
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At least 20 BDR personnel died in custody between 9 March and 6 May 2009 alone. BDR sources claimed that four of them committed suicide, seven died of heart attacks and another nine died from diseases. By 10 October 2009, the total number of BDR Personnel who have died in custody has risen to 48. br /
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Amnesty International has welcomed the Supreme Court’s clarification that army courts martial have no jurisdiction to try BDR personnel accused of mass killings and other criminal offences during the February 2009 mutiny. br /
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The organization said that the government must also reconsider its decision to use the Speedy Trial Tribunal because the time limit these courts impose for the completion of the trial may lead to a miscarriage of justice.br /
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Amnesty International urged the government of Bangladesh to ensure that:
/p
ul
lithose suspected of committing crimes must be brought to justice under internationally recognized fair trial standards which include the right to family visits and access to lawyers;/li
liall allegations of torture must be investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice in fair trials. Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases, regardless of the nature of the crime, and urges the Bangladeshi authorities not to seek the death penalty;/li
liit examines the capacity of the judicial system and if necessary seeks assistance from relevant international bodies, to ensure that the criminal justice system has the competencies and resources ndash; and the judges have the necessary training to conduct the trails of such a large number of BDR defendants in accordance with the international standards of fair trail;/li
liBangladesh should ratify the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and designate or establish National Preventive Mechanisms in accordance with the Protocol./li
/ul
p
nbsp;
/p

Amnesty International has called on all parties to the conflict raging in Yemenrsquo;s northerly Sarsquo;da region to treat detainees humanely and protect civilians.br /
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Fighting between Yemeni government forces and armed supporters of the late Shirsquo;a Zaidi cleric Hussein al-Houthi is reported to have spilt over into Saudi Arabia, leading Saudi Arabian forces to become directly engaged against the Yemeni rebels. br /
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Amnesty International has urged all parties to the conflict to adhere strictly to the requirements of international humanitarian law.br /
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At least 100 al-Houthi supporters are reported to be detained in Saudi Arabia after being captured by or surrendering to Saudi Arabian forces in the past few days. br /
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The rebels, in turn, say they have captured and are holding several Saudi Arabian soldiers. Neither side is yet known to have allowed those they are holding access to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), prompting fears for their safety.br /
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On 5 November, the Saudi Arabian air force is reported to have struck at al-Houthi forces who had crossed the border near Jabal al-Dukhan, killing one Saudi Arabian soldier and wounding 11 others. br /
br /
Allegations that the Saudi Arabian air force dropped phosphorus bombs have been carried by news reports. It is unclear whether anyone was killed in the bombing and, if so, whether they included civilians, but some 300 families are reported to have fled the area afterwards. br /
br /
Phosphorus bombs are highly incendiary weapons and pose grave risks to civilians. They should never be used in the vicinity of civilians.br /
br /
The day after the bombing raid, Amnesty International wrote to Saudi Arabiarsquo;s Defence Minister, Crown Prince Sultan bin lsquo;Abdul lsquo;Aziz Al-Saud, asking whether phosphorus bombs were used and, if so, in what manner and what precautions were taken to ensure that civilians were not put at risk. As yet, the organization has received no response. br /
br /
The conflict in Yemenrsquo;s Sarsquo;da Governorate began in 2004 and has continued intermittently since then. It flared to new intensity last August, since when thousands of the predominantly Shrsquo;ia population have been displaced and scores, possibly hundreds, of people, including civilians, have been killed. br /
br /
The Yemeni government has largely sealed off the area making it extremely difficult to obtain independent information about events there and increasing concern for the safety and welfare of the civilian population. br /

Today at the United Nations after years of discussions and debates, the vast majority of governments ndash; 153 in total – agreed a timetable to establish a quot;strong and robustquot; Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) with the quot;highest common standardsquot; to control international transfers of conventional arms. There is currently no global Treaty on the conventional arms trade. br /
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Most of the world’s biggest arms traders ndash; including the USA, UK, France and Germany – will now all back the UN process. Nineteen states abstained but are all expected to take part in the process. Zimbabwe was the only State to vote against. br /
br /
During the debates on the resolution, many countries spoke out and underlined the need for the treaty to be based on international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law. br /
br /
The Control Arms campaign ndash; a coalition of hundreds of non-governmental organizations in over 100 countries that has promoted the ATT – welcomed the historic breakthrough at the UN today and called on all States to negotiate a truly effective Treaty. They warned that governments must keep up the momentum to ensure the final Treaty has firm international standards for the global arms trade. Campaigners expressed reservations about the procedure planned for the UN Conference that could give every State the right of veto over final decisions at the UN Conference. They warned a small number of sceptical States must not be allowed to hijack the ATT process when it is clear the world wants a strong treaty. br /
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ldquo;All countries participate in the conventional arms trade and share responsibility for the lsquo;collateral damagersquo; it produces ndash; widespread death, injuries and human rights abuses,rdquo; said Rebecca Peters, director of the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA). ldquo;Now finally governments have agreed to negotiate legally binding global controls on this deadly trade.rdquo; br /
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The agreement in the UN today means that the eventual ATT will be negotiated in a series of UN meetings concluding at a UN Conference in 2012. br /
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ldquo;The Arms Trade Treaty needs a lsquo;golden rulersquo; requiring governments to stop any proposed arms transfer that poses a substantial risk of being used for serious violations of human rights or war crimes,quot; said Brian Wood, Amnesty International’s head of arms control, ldquo;such a golden rule could save hundreds of thousands of lives and protect the livelihoods of many millions.quot; br /
br /
The resolution on the ATT also highlights the issue of international arms transfers contributing to armed conflict, displacement of people, organised crime and terrorism, thereby undermining peace, safety, security and sustainable development. br /
br /
quot;For too long, governments have let the flow of weapons get out of control causing pain, suffering and death in some of the world’s poorest regions. With hundreds of thousands of people dying a year from armed violence, weapons that fall into the hands of criminals and rights abusers destroy communities and livelihoods.quot; said Anna Macdonald of Oxfam International. quot;Governments must ensure that negotiations live up to the promise of setting the highest possible standards – this is a life and death situation for thousands of poor people worldwide.quot; br /
br /
* The States that abstained were: Bahrain, Belarus, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, UAE, Venezuela and Yemen. br /
br /

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/General/controlarms-gallery-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/p
Campaigners from Amnesty International and other Control Arms Campaign partners are in New York this month, attending the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, campaigning for the start of negotiations for an effective International Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). br /
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A photo exhibition compiled and staged by the Control Arms Campaign, is mounted just outside the conference chamber where government delegates are debating the ATT document.br /
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The exhibition shows visually the six legal components that the Control Arms Campaign is urging states to incorporate into an effective Arms Trade Treaty.br /
br /
Sixteen of the images featured in the exhibition can be seen in the gallery in this story.br /
br /
Every day, thousands of people are killed, injured, raped, and forced to flee from their homes as a result of irresponsible and poorly regulated international arms transfers.br /
br /
These problems are compounded by the increasing globalization of the arms trade ndash;components being sourced from across the world, and production and assembly in different countries, sometimes with lax controls.br /
br /
National and regional state regulation of the arms trade has failed to adapt to these changes. nbsp;br /
br /
Some of the pictures aim to show the ease with which weapons are transferred around the world, and therefore why there is a need for a comprehensive ATT.br /
br /
Others show the impact that an effective ATT could have on people’s lives: helping to prevent serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, and protecting populations against pervasive armed violence, armed crime and acts of terrorism which shatter lives, deepen poverty and prevent socio-economic development.br /
br /
To achieve this goal, an ATT must establish binding criteria for assessing international arms transfers on a case-by-case basis, and clearly determine when an international arms transfer should be stopped.br /
br /
The Global Principles illustrated here are based on existing international law. They lay out international civil society’s vision of the underlying principles of an effective, global Arms Trade Treaty.
/p

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/usa-control-arms-un-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/Thursdayrsquo;s announcement by the US government at the United Nations of its support for beginning negotiations on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) was welcomed by Oxfam International and Amnesty International. But the two international organisations also warned that Washingtonrsquo;s support comes at a very high price. br /
br /
The shift in position by the worldrsquo;s biggest arms exporter is a major breakthrough in launching formal negotiations at the United Nations in order to prevent irresponsible arms transfers. It shows that the Obama administration is serious about reducing the negative effects caused by the uncontrolled trade in conventional weapons. br /
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The US government, under the Bush Administration, is the only government to vote against the UN process toward an ATT at the General Assembly in the past. br /
br /
On Thursday, as part of its support, the US government has given the condition that future negotiations must include a veto clause, by stipulating that decisions at the final conference must be taken by consensus. br /
br /
This, Oxfam and Amnesty International say, could fatally weaken a final deal. br /
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ldquo;The world has waited a long time for the USA to come on board to support global arms trade negotiations. However, Governments must resist US demands to give any single state the power to veto the treaty as this could hold the process hostage during the course of negotiations. We call on all governments to reject such a veto clause.quot; said Oxfam Internationalrsquo;s policy adviser Debbie Hillier. br /
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Governments are meeting this month in New York in a make-or-break meeting to kick start formal negotiations for a global ATT. br /
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The two international organisations say that new global standards on arms transfers must be agreed in order to prohibit the international transfer of arms likely to be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian or human rights law or to undermine sustainable development. br /
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ldquo;At long last the US government says that it wants a strong and robust Arms Trade Treaty with the highest possible standardsrdquo;, said Brian Wood of Amnesty International. ldquo;But by giving every single government the right to scupper the UN Conference in 2012, the US position could hugely weaken or delay agreement to tackle irresponsible arms transfers that shatter countless lives worldwide.rdquo;

Amnesty International has called on all states to suspend international supplies of military and police weaponry, munitions and other equipment that could be used to commit human rights violations by Guinean security forces. br /
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The organisation is also calling for an international commission of inquiry to investigate the human rights violations carried out last week in Conakry, in which more than 150 people are thought to have been killed. br /
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ldquo;The transfer of such supplies should stop until the Guinean government has taken steps to prevent these violations from recurring, and has brought to justice those responsible for the brutal attacks last week,rdquo; said Erwin van der Borght, Director of Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s Africa Programme. br /
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The call came as new information emerges about international supplies of South African and French weapons and equipment used by Guinean police and security forces during the past week. br /
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On 6 October Amnesty International raised the issue of irresponsible arms supplies to Guinea at a meeting in thenbsp; United Nations for delegates of the UN General Assembly.nbsp; Brian Wood, Amnesty International’s Control Arms Manager, said: ldquo;ldquo;Arms transfers of the kind we see used for grave human rights violations in Guinea and elsewhere could all be prevented if the UN negotiations can establish an effective Arms Trade Treaty, with a legally-binding human rights risk assessment rule.rdquo; br /
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Amnesty Internationalnbsp; is calling on this month’s UN General Assembly to begin without delay a process of formal negotiations for an international Arms Trade Treaty with a strong rule on human rights.nbsp; nbsp;br /
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Press photos of Guinean police officers taken in Conakry on 1 October show them carrying what appear to be 56mm ‘Cougar’ grenade launchers. br /
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These grenade launchers, made in France, are designed to fire tear gas and kinetic impact grenades also produced by the same French manufacturer. br /
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Guinean security forces were also photographed on 1 October patrolling Conakry in a Mamba armoured personnel carrier (APC). Ten Mamba APCs were sold to Guinea in 2003 by a South Africa-based subsidiary of a UK company, whose spokesperson stated at that time that these vehicles would be used for ldquo;border controlrdquo; in Guinea. Amnesty International has documented the use of Mamba vehicles in Conakry in January 2007 to drive into crowds of peaceful demonstrators while firing at them. br /
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Amnesty International has received information from the French government in the last week indicating that it has authorised the supply of tear gas and other anti-riot grenades to Guinean security forces in recent years, despite Guinean security forces having used these kinds of munitions in persistent serious human rights violations since 1998. Demonstrators and eyewitnesses described to Amnesty International the use of tear gas grenades, alongside live small arms ammunition, against demonstrators gathered in Conakry stadium on 28 September.. br /
br /
France exported 500 unspecified anti-riot grenades to the Guinean Ministry of Interior during 2006, and in 2008 issued a further pre-export authorisation [agreacute;ment preacute;alable] for the sale to the Guinean Ministry of Interior of stun grenades and 56mm GM-2L tear gas grenades, specifically designed for the launchers seen with Guinean security forces in recent days. br /
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It is not known whether this latest sale has yet received final export authorisation. On 29 September, the French government announced the suspension of military cooperation with Guinea. Amnesty International welcomes this suspension, and urges France and other states to ensure that the suspension includes the supply of military and police weapons, munitions and equipment. br /
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ldquo;These kinds of munitions have been persistently used in serious human rights violations ndash; including unlawful killings, the grossly excessive use of force, and sexual violence ndash; during a decade of violent repression by Guinean security forces,rdquo; said Erwin van der Borght. br /

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/usa-control-arms-un-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/More than 100 government officials from around the world attended an event at the United Nations where Amnesty International launched a new briefing on the arms trade. nbsp;br /
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A senior UN peacekeeper working the Democratic Republic of Congo, who is a retired Brigadier General from Pakistan, and the assistant commissioner of police in Jamaica joined with Amnesty International in New York on Tuesday. They described the way irresponsible arms flows have fuelled armed violence in different countries.br /
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They described how hundreds of thousands of people are killed each year as a result of foreseeable patterns of armed violence fuelled by the poorly regulated global trade in conventional arms. This terror trade also contributes to hundreds of thousands more men, women and children being injured, raped, displaced, impoverished, and denied other rights established in international law. br /
br /
To ensure real security they called for an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) that must require states not to transfer arms internationally where there is a substantial risk that they will be used in serious violations of international humanitarian or human rights law.br /
br /
The new briefing paper sets out a workable human rights rule that must be included in an ATT. Amnesty International is keen to ensure that the treaty is effective in delivering real security and protecting lives and livelihoods from the proliferation and misuse of arms. br /
br /
The First Committee of the UN General Assembly is sitting this October to consider the future process towards an ATT. br /
br /
quot;It is vital that this month States agree a strong mandate to move from discussions on a treaty to formal negotiations,quot; said Brian Wood from Amnesty International. br /
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The new Amnesty International briefing shows how the absence of international human rights standards for arms transfers undermines real security across the globe: contributing to unlawful killings in Guinea and Myanmar, armed violence against women in Guatemala, and war crimes in Somalia and the DRC.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/gaza-more-destruction-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/The Israeli authorities must disclose details of the internal investigations they have carried out into the conduct of the Israeli armed forces, Amnesty International said on Wednesday. The call coincides with UN Human Rights Council discussions that started on Tuesday on the Goldstone report on violations of international law committed in Gaza and southern Israel in late December and January. br /
br /
Judge Goldstonersquo;s report concludes that Israeli armed forces and Palestinian armed groups carried out serious violations of the laws of war, including war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity, and criticizes the failure of both sides to investigate and hold the perpetrators to account.br /
br /
Amnesty International has written to Israelrsquo;s Military Advocate General and Foreign Minister seeking full disclosure regarding investigations into ldquo;100 incidentsrdquo; of alleged violations by Israeli forces. br /
br /
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last week ndash; in a special newsletter issued to coincide with the publication of Judge Goldstonersquo;s findings ndash; that these incidents had been investigated by the Israeli authorities. The incidents are said to have included some that were reported by Amnesty International.br /
br /
ldquo;It was surprising to learn about these investigations, as the Israeli authorities have previously failed to respond to our repeated requests for information about investigations into violations alleged to have been committed by their forces,rdquo; said Malcolm Smart, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme. br /
br /
ldquo;What we need the Israeli authorities to tell us now is which incidents from among the numerous violations alleged have been investigated, and by whom and with what outcome.br /
br /
ldquo;We need to know whether these investigations were in any sense independently conducted or whether they were merely a case of the military investigating itself. In particular, the Israeli authorities need to disclose what steps, if any, their investigators took to obtain evidence from eye-witnesses and victims in Gaza.rdquo;br /
br /
Amnesty International has sent a long list of alleged violations requiring investigation to the Israeli authorities based on the organisation’s research in Gaza.br /
br /
quot;But we have never received a response nor any request for further information,quot; said Malcolm Smart. quot;This is despite the fact that the Israeli embassyrsquo;s newsletter says that some of the ‘100 incidents’ investigated were ones reported by Amnesty International.rdquo;

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/gaza-more-destruction-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/The Israeli authorities must disclose details of the internal investigations they have carried out into the conduct of the Israeli armed forces, Amnesty International said on Wednesday. The call coincides with UN Human Rights Council discussions that started on Tuesday on the Goldstone report on violations of international law committed in Gaza and southern Israel in late December and January. br /
br /
Judge Goldstonersquo;s report concludes that Israeli armed forces and Palestinian armed groups carried out serious violations of the laws of war, including war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity, and criticizes the failure of both sides to investigate and hold the perpetrators to account.br /
br /
Amnesty International has written to Israelrsquo;s Military Advocate General and Foreign Minister seeking full disclosure regarding investigations into ldquo;100 incidentsrdquo; of alleged violations by Israeli forces. br /
br /
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last week ndash; in a special newsletter issued to coincide with the publication of Judge Goldstonersquo;s findings ndash; that these incidents had been investigated by the Israeli authorities. The incidents are said to have included some that were reported by Amnesty International.br /
br /
ldquo;It was surprising to learn about these investigations, as the Israeli authorities have previously failed to respond to our repeated requests for information about investigations into violations alleged to have been committed by their forces,rdquo; said Malcolm Smart, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme. br /
br /
ldquo;What we need the Israeli authorities to tell us now is which incidents from among the numerous violations alleged have been investigated, and by whom and with what outcome.br /
br /
ldquo;We need to know whether these investigations were in any sense independently conducted or whether they were merely a case of the military investigating itself. In particular, the Israeli authorities need to disclose what steps, if any, their investigators took to obtain evidence from eye-witnesses and victims in Gaza.rdquo;br /
br /
Amnesty International has sent a long list of alleged violations requiring investigation to the Israeli authorities based on the organisation’s research in Gaza.br /
br /
quot;But we have never received a response nor any request for further information,quot; said Malcolm Smart. quot;This is despite the fact that the Israeli embassyrsquo;s newsletter says that some of the ‘100 incidents’ investigated were ones reported by Amnesty International.rdquo;

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/gaza-more-destruction-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/p
Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan has urged the US government to examine the findings of Judge Richard Goldstonersquo;snbsp; report on violations of international law committed in Gaza and southern Israel in late December and January.br /
br /
The report found Israeli forces committed violations of human rights and international humanitarian law amounting to war crimes and some possibly amounting to crimes against humanity.br /
br /
quot;The White House should actually now examine that report and ask the UN Secretary General to refer it to the UN Security Council,quot; said Ms Khan in an interview with Al Jazeera on Thursday. br /
br /
quot;It’s the responsibility of the UN Security Council to take that report as seriously as it has taken reports for instance on the situation in Darfur. There can be no double standards for justice for war crimes or crimes against humanity.quot;br /
br /
Ms Khan also addressed suggestions that the findings of Judge Goldstone’s inquiry, published on Tuesday, were biased against Israel. br /
br /
She said that while most of the 575-page report was focused on the behaviour of Israeli forces, Judge Goldstone also recognised that Hamas also had a responsibility to respect international humanitarian law.br /
br /
quot;By looking at it in that way, he actually increases the credibility,quot; said Ms Khan. br /
br /
quot;He shows that this is not just propaganda, this is actually the way to judge the Israeli government’s performance against international human rights and humanitarian law standards.quot;br /
br /
Ms Khan described Judge Goldstone as a quot;very credible international prosecutorquot; with a quot;good record on international lawquot;.br /
br /
Rejecting accusations that Judge Goldstone had been biased against Israel, Ms Khan said quot;He has done a very thorough, professional job, he and his colleagues.quot;br /
br /
Despite powerful evidence of war crimes and other serious violations of international law which emerged during and in the aftermath of the conflict, both Israel and Hamas have failed to carry out credible investigations and prosecute those responsible.br /
br /
Ms Khan said that she was pleased that the findings of Judge Goldstone’s report echoed those of Amnesty International’s fact-finding mission to Gaza in January. br /
br /
quot;Judge Goldstone has confirmed that there were war crimes committed by the Israeli forces and also crimes against humanity, attacks on civilians that had no military purpose, excessive destruction of buildings, blockage of food and other essentials to the civilian population.br /
br /
quot;We are also pleased that Judge Goldstone took a balanced approach and also looked at violations committed by the Hamas authorities. And we are very pleased that he has recommended accountability for what has been done,quot; said Ms Khan.br /
br /
In his report, Judge Goldstone has asked that the UN Security Council set up a mechanism to monitor whether the Israeli government and the Hamas administration investigate the crimes within a set period of six months. br /
br /
If they do not, Judge Goldstone has said that the Security Council should refer his findings to the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor.br /
br /
quot;We think there needs to be justice for the victims of Gaza and Judge Goldstone has provided a way for that,quot; said Ms Khan.br /
br /
On Tuesday, Amnesty International welcomed the findings of the Goldstone report as consistent with those of its own field investigation into the 22-day conflict.br /
br /
The organization called on all relevant UN bodies to act promptly and in coordination to implement the recommendations of the report.br /
br /
quot;The responsibility now lies with the international community, notably the UN Security Council, as the UN’s most powerful body, to take decisive action to ensure accountability for the perpetrators and justice for the victims,quot; said Donatella Rovera, who headed Amnesty International’s investigation into the conflict.br /
br /
The UN’s Human Rights Council announced Judge Goldstone as the head of its four-member Gaza fact-finding mission on 3 April.
/p