Amnesty International

1
Amnesty International

• Case Study

2
The History of Amnesty International

• In 1961 a UK lawyer, Peter Benenson, read about
  two Portuguese students who were arrested and
  imprisoned for seven years for drinking a toast
  To freedom
• He wrote an article in the UK Press to launch an
  appeal to help the students because of the
  violation of their Human Rights
• This was the beginning of Amnesty International
  and their work to protect and promote Human Rights

3
The Issues it Deals with

• Amnesty fight to protect people against
• Torture
• Death Penalty
• Disappearances
• Extra-Judicial Executions
• Unfair Trials
• Becoming Prisoners of Conscience

4
How it addresses such issues

• Research Amnesty International employ
  researchers to gather accurate information about
  Human Rights Abuses around the world
• Publicity Amnesty raise awareness about Human
  Rights Abuses through publicity, education, local
  groups, fundraising and the internet
• Campaigns they start campaigns to deal with
  these abuses e.g. letter writing, protests etc.
• Results Governments are pressured into dealing
  with Human Rights abuses in their countries

5
What can the individual, society and government
do?

• Individual Letter writing campaigning
  fundraising donating volunteering
• Society Start a local Amnesty International
  group campaign protest fundraise
• Government Can change their Human Rights
  practices can support people from their country
  who are victims of Human Rights Abuses at home
  and abroad

6
Current Campaigns

• MOROCCO Last summer 11 students from Marrakesh
  were imprisoned after participating in protests
  that became violent. Amnesty believes they are
  prisoners of conscience.
• PAPUA NEW GUINEA Police burnt down homes and
  threatened people with guns while illegally
  evicting them from land alongside the Porgera
  gold mine.
• UK Many asylum seekers survive on just 5 a day
  while they await a decision on their claim. They
  are asking the government to offer support and
  end the destitution of asylum seekers.

7
The Effectiveness of Amnesty International

• Amnesty International have had enormous success
  in helping reduce Human Rights Abuses around the
  world
• Many peoples lives have been saved and illegal
  convictions have been overturned
• Amnesty recently lost the support of the Catholic
  Church and Catholic institutions after it changed
  its position on Abortion the Human Rights of
  the unborn child