[focus] Amnesty International Presentation

It’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness

Amnesty International

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1961 - establishment 1971 - 700 prisoners of conscience released 1977 – awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 1978 – wins the UN’s Human Rights Prize 1992 – membership passes 1-million milestone 2007 - UN General Assembly adopted resolution L29 calling for a global moratorium on executions.

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A worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all.

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Conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights and to demand justice  for those whose rights have been violated.

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The campaign remains firmly rooted in the power of individuals working in support of others who need protection or support.

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 h. i.

Amnesty International is independent of any… government political ideology economic interest religion Amnesty International does not support or oppose any government or political system the views of the victims or human rights defenders whose rights we seek to protect.

Violations of human rights exist.

Deliberate and arbitrary killings of civilians, Torture and abductions or hostage taking 35 countries Africa: Angola, Burundi, Central Africa Republic, DR Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Liberia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda Asia: Afghanistan, India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka Americas: Colombia, Haiti Europe and Central Asia: Macedonia, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Spain, Turkey, UK Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Iraq, Israel/Occupied Territories, Palestinian Authority, Morocco/Western Sahara, Saudi Arabia

People were arbitrarily arrested and detained without charge or trial in 58 countries Africa: Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, China, India, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Vietnam Americas: Colombia, Cuba, Jamaica, USA Europe and Central Asia: United Kingdom Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel/Occupied Territories, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco/Western Sahara, Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

But Amnesty works!

Murat Kurnaz was released from Guantánamo on the 24 August 2006 after four years and eight months without charge or trial.

Ryan Matthews was sentenced to death for a murder he had not committed. Mirza Hussein has been released after 18 years in Pakistani prisons

What has been done in the college so far?

Campaign 1

Jointly run by Amnesty International, Oxfam International and International Network on Small Arms Calling for a global, legally binding Arms Trade Treaty to stop weapons being used to fuel conflict, poverty and human rights abuses.

States shall not authorize international transfers of conventional arms or ammunition where they will: c.

d. e.

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be used or are likely to be used for gross violations of international human rights law or serious violations of international human rights law. have an impact that would clearly undermine sustainable development or involve corrupt practices; provoke or exacerbate armed conflict in violation of their obligations under the UN Charter and existing treaties. contribute to an existing pattern of violent crime. risk being diverted for one of the above outcomes or for acts of terrorism

Campaign 2

The so-called “war on terror” has led to an erosion of a whole host of human rights. States are resorting to practices which have long been prohibited by international law, and have sought to justify them in the name of national security.

d. e. f.

Featured issues: Stop abduction and illegal transfer of personnel Stop secret detention and detention without trial Close Guantanamo and overseas detention cells

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13 October 2008 UK House of Lords rejects 42-day detention

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12 September 2008 With evidence that the CIA operated a secret detention facility in Poland mounting, Amnesty International has welcomed the news that public prosecutors have initiated an investigation into these long-standing allegations. 

Now here is your turn…