Amnesty International Ireland

Eighth Anniversary of Guantanamo Bay.

In January 2002, following the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York, the first people were transferred to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Since then the orange jumpsuits, worn by the prisoners, have become symbols of Human Rights violations for those that campaign for their protection.

Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that no one has the right to arrest us, put us in jail, or send us out of our own country without good reason. Yet for over 770 people, who have been detained in Guantanamo, this Human Right has been ignored and disrespected.

The passing of this momentous occasion has had me thinking. How many more of the prisoners Human Rights have been violated: There have been reports of torture, and of suicides (and further suicide attempts). Inmates have not been afforded the ‘luxury’ of a fair and open trail.

Amnesty International’s former General – Secretary, Irene Khan referred to Guantanamo as ‘the gulag of out times’ (the labour camps of Stalin’s Soviet Union).

Following Barack Obama’s election as President of the United States of America last November, he promised that he would close Guantanamo bay by the 22nd of January this year. This will now not happen.

One of the reasons why, the closure of Guantanamo has been slower than expected, is that the resettlement of the prisoners has proved an obstacle. Around 50, of the 198 prisoners still within the gates of Guantanamo, are still there because they have nowhere else to go. They cannot be returned to their own countries: for fear of further Human Rights violations. Combined with this many countries, including some within Europe, have proved resistant to offering the inmates a sanctuary to rebuild their lives.

Ireland is one of the European countries, whose government has provided a new home to two former inmates.

Following on from the Government’s acceptance of the two men, Amnesty International, along with many other groups, has been working behind the scenes to encourage Ireland to become vocal and visible advocates, in encouraging other countries, to also accept Guantanamo detainees for resettlement.

2010 also sees the beginning of a new Amnesty International campaign: No Security with Human Rights. First on the agenda is: Illegal Detention centres throughout the world.

Tens of thousands of people, far more than were ever held in Guantanamo, continue to be held in detention and torture camps across the world, all in the name of security. Our aim will be to work to end this process including ending the use of Administrative Detention in places like Israel.

As this campaign gets under way, from April this year, we will keep you informed and we will create opportunities for your input and welcome all of your thoughts, ideas and suggestions.

Guantanamo Bay may now be closing, but the existence of other detention centres, reminds us that there are still thousands of people across the world who are detained, without trial, and who are, repeatedly, the victims of Human Rights Violations.

A new decade. Renewed hope, and a new focus in the campaign to ensure that everyone's Human Rights are respected and protected.