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

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

 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.

 The campaign remains firmly rooted in the power of

individuals working in support of others who need
protection or support.
 Amnesty International is independent of any…
b. government
c. political ideology
d. economic interest
e. religion

 Amnesty International does not support or oppose

h. any government or political system
i. 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 Ryan Matthews was
released from sentenced to death for
Guantánamo on the 24 a murder he had not
August 2006 after four committed.
years and eight Mirza Hussein has been
months without charge released after 18 years
or trial. 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. be used or are likely to be used for gross violations of

international human rights law or serious violations of
international human rights law.
d. have an impact that would clearly undermine
sustainable development or involve corrupt practices;
e. provoke or exacerbate armed conflict in violation of
their obligations under the UN Charter and existing
treaties.
f. contribute to an existing pattern of violent crime.
g. 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.

Featured issues:
d. Stop abduction and illegal transfer of personnel
e. Stop secret detention and detention without trial
f. Close Guantanamo and overseas detention cells
 13 October 2008
UK House of Lords rejects 42-day detention

 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…