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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
NEW ZEALAND
The global voice of human rights
A worldwide movement…
more than 7 million people…
Protecting and promoting human rights
Amnesty International members campaign against some of the most horrific violations of those rights, such as torture, killings, and imprisonment for who people are or what they believe.
over 15,000 supporters in New Zealand, including about 100
school groups, and 5 University groups
What is Amnesty International?
Amnesty’s vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.
What is Amnesty International?
• An international network of volunteer members and professional staff.
• Thousands of appeals on behalf of individuals and communities at risk.
• Protests and vigils in support of human rights.
• A constant stream of information to the media, governments, the United Nations and others.
How does Amnesty International work?
Urgent Action cases Amnesty International engages on sees improvements
Many people say that support from Amnesty International members gives them hope and strength.
• People we are helping are telling us that our pressure and support has really had an effect
• This can be as dramatic as preventing an individual from being stoned to death, to improving conditions for a prisoner-of-conscience.
Does Amnesty International work?
Arrested for drawing cartoons and publishing online articles deemed offensive to Islam
His case became part of the “Write to Rights” campaign in Dec 2013
Released on 4 March, 2014 after serving two years of a seven-and-a-half year sentence
Good news story – Jabeur Mejri
Sentenced to death for murdering a jewelry store owner in 1984
New evidence proved Glenn wasn’t anywhere near the store at the time of the crime
Released after 30 years of imprisonment on 12 March, 2014
Good news story – Glenn Ford
Amnesty International’s Beginnings
The History of Amnesty
In 1960, two Portuguese students were arrested and sentenced to seven years in jail for raising their glass to freedom
in a Lisbon cafe cafe.
Peter Benenson, a British lawyer, read about the two in his morning paper and decided to take action on their behalf.
The candle burns not for us, but for all those whom we failed to rescue from prisons, who were shot on the way to prison, who were tortured, who were kidnapped, who ‘disappeared’. That’s
what the candle is for." - Peter Benenson,
founder of Amnesty International
Who and what Amnesty Internationalcampaigns for
Amnesty works on behalf of prisoners of conscience – people who are imprisoned for their beliefs, who they are and what they say.
Anwar Ibrahim, former deputy prime minister of
Malaysia, released in 2002
General Gallardo, reunited with his family after eight
years imprisonment in Mexico
They are often human right defenders
Prisoners of Conscience
They have never advocated or
practiced violence
Death Penalty
“Were it not for Amnesty International… I think we would have suffered a fate worse than mere torture... we could even have been killed"
Gabriel Shumba, Zimbabwean torture survivor
Torture
campaigns for gender equality
challenges laws and practices that discriminate
against women and girls
16 Days of Activism against
Gender Violence (25 Nov–10 Dec)
White Ribbon Day (25 Nov)
Stop Violence against Women
Freedom of Expression
1. Stay informed
- Check Amnesty International’s website for up to date and accurate information about human rights abuses happening across the globe.
- Keep up to date about social injustices occurring in New Zealand and around the world.
2.Take action
-Sign an online petition on www.amnesty.org.nz
- Start or join a school group
- Participate in our annual youth leadership event Freedom – Challenge freedomchallenge.org.nz
- Join our Urgent Action and Rapid Response Networks
Make a Difference!
www.amnesty.org.nz
What do Amnesty school groups do?Amnesty NZ has almost 100 school groups, from Auckland to Invercargill!
Our school groups usually meet weekly or fortnightly, often getting together more
frequently before events such as Freedom Challenge
They take action for human rights often by facilitating group letter writing, petition signing, or taking action on the Amnesty
International website
TV celebrity Bomber Bradbury addresses Amnesty students at Mt Albert Grammar
School groups can also become part of the Urgent Action and Rapid Response
Networks.
They can generate lots of signatures on petitions and appeals
Their creative campaigning attracts media attention and builds awareness on human
rights issues.
They add youth voices to the global call for respect for human rights
Groups organise events such as debates, guest speakers and movie showings.
Roncalli College fundraising netball match
What do Amnesty International school groups do?
Baradene College student cages
herself in support of Freedom
Challenge
Freedom Challenge is a team challenge for Amnesty International school and youth groups to take action for human rights around the world. It takes place every year in August.
You can use Freedom Week to:
•Inspire others to take direct action of some kind (such as signing a petition)
•Raise awareness of the issue in your school or community
•Raise funds to support the Human Rights work Amnesty International does
What is Freedom Challenge?
Whether you become a member of an Amnesty International school group, Freedom Challenge team, or take action online…
Amnesty International provides you with the opportunity to take part in real human rights campaigning.
… you will be making a real difference in ensuring that all human rights are enjoyed by all people.
What can Amnesty International do for you?
Free 1-year membership
after leaving school
Connect you to one of our
University groups
Invites for Skillshares,
workshops, annual events,
etc.
What can Amnesty do for you
(after high school)?
Contacts
Amnesty InternationalBox 5300
Wellesley StAuckland
Ph 0800 AMNESTY Fax 09 303 4528 www.amnesty.org.nz
Youth Activism Intern
Ph 09 303 4520
Miriam Pierard
Youth Coordinator
Ph 09 666 0143