A man China wants extradited over the murder of a prostitute is "hyping up" his right to a fair trial to evade justice, says a top Chinese government official.

COMMENT: Once this small refugee increase takes effect, NZ will remain well behind all the countries we most often compare ourselves to, writes Grant Bayldon.

At least 1634 people were executed last year, according to Amnesty International annual figures released yesterday.

COMMENT: We must stand up and tell those like Trump who support the cruel, debasing practice that it has no place in the modern world.

Amnesty International is holding its own public hearings on the three-yearly review of New Zealand's refugee quota at Parliament today.

At least 2000 women have been abducted by Boko Haram, detained in prisons and houses and subjected to forced marriage, stonings and sexual slavery.

The international outcry over restrictions on freedom of speech in Saudi Arabia escalated as an array of Nobel prizewinners published an open letter calling on the country's academics to condemn the public flogging of the blogger Raif Badawi.

A Chinese New Zealander who entered China illegally to see his parents claims he was detained, chained and tortured for five days before being deported to Auckland.

The Government has been slammed for its track record on child poverty and violence against women following a critical report from an international human rights watchdog.

New Zealand could play a role in repealing Papua New Guinean sorcery legislation following an Easter "witch-hunt", Amnesty International says.

Fiji police say they will investigate a "shocking'' video posted on the internet, which appears to show men being beaten and tortured in Fiji.

Australia has taken many backwards steps on human rights in the past year, says Amnesty International.

Marriage equality was the dominant theme of the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade.