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Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all.
This lens gives information on human rights and recent campaigns Amnesty has.
Amnesty International
Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization which defines its mission as "to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all human rights." Founded in the UK in 1961, AI draws its attention to human rights abuses and campaigns for compliance with international standards. It works to mobilize public opinion which exerts pressure on individuals who perpetrate abuses. The organization was awarded the 1977 Nobel Peace Prize for its "campaign against torture" and the UN Human Rights Prize in 1978, but has received criticism for both alleged anti-Western and alleged pro-Western bias.Michael Mandel, How America Gets Away With Murder: Illegal Wars, Collateral Damage and Crimes Against Humanity, Pluto Press 2004.
UN no longer a voice FOR human rights!
In a vote on Freedom of Expression the Human Rights Council killed that freedom on March 28th 2008. Canada, The European Union, the United Kingdom (speaking for Australia and the United States), India, Brazil, Bolivia, Guatemala and Switzerland all withdrew their sponsorship of the main resolution when the amendment was passed. In total, more than 20 of the original 53 co-sponsors of the resolution withdrew their support.
http://www.iheu.org/node/3123
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 1.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Article 3.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
The rest of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
"We believe human rights abuses anywhere are the concern of people everywhere."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (10 December 1948 at Palais de Chaillot, Paris). The Guinness Book of Records describes...
Amnesty in Action - pictures
Human Rights Icons
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Fighting with Pen.
Letter Writing
Amnesty International is most famous for writing letters to political prisoners.
1 Political prisoners are generally isolated. They are in jail because they openly disagree with the government. Their imprisonment is itself a statement of an anti-democratic attitude of the government in question.
The revolutionary thing Amnesty started doing years ago was to send these prisoners letters. Members of Amnesty International write letters themselves, or copy out letters Amnesty associates have already set up, and send them to these prisoners.
2 Amnesty also writes letters to the governments in question - usually to specific members of that government. Imagine their offices swamped in letters about those political prisoners they really don't want to think about - much more effective than sending e-mail. This is a really powerful way to get the attention of officials on a subject.
Here's my favorite link:
Culturally independent? what do you think?
The Human Rights manifesto, despite having been signed by a lot of countries, has been accused of being partial to western culture.
There is also the issue of whether one can expect countries with significant poverty, lacking in health care and proper education for all citizens to abide by these rules.
Is the declaration of Human Rights culturally independent?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes, every one has been created equal and should have equal rights, whatever country they are in.
spirituality says:
I have a hard time believing that a poor country that puts much energy in prosecuting dissidents can grow rich faster than a poor country that gives its citizens equal rights.
I wonder about the culture thing: is it really cultural to prosecute those you disagree with?
Posted May 08, 2008
No, In some countries human rights aren't on the agenda because things like proper education and economic development are a priority: who can blame them?
Amnesty International Products
Show your support of human rights
Anti-Torture Sticker (Bumper)
Torture doesn't work, and it's a crime against humanity. Why is Bush so determined to be allowed to torture any way he likes?
Boycott The Olympics 2.25" Button
Boycott The Olympics Till China Leaves Tibet. Beijing, China, cannot be allowed to play host to the Olympic Games, while creating cultural genocide and murderous mayhem in Tibet. Protest t-shirts.
Amnesty News: latest protests and issues
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byAmnesty International Reading List
Stay up to date with books on human rights
#1
Keepers of the Flame: Understanding Amnesty International by Stephen Hopgood
If one organization is synonymous with keeping hop more...1 point
#3
Diplomacy of Conscience: Amnesty International and Changing Human Rights Norms by Ann Marie Clark
<p>A small group founded Amnesty Int more...1 point
#4
The Marketing of Rebellion: Insurgents, Media, and International Activism (Cambridge Studies in Contentious Politics) by Clifford Bob
How do a few Third World political movements becom more...0 points
#5
The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Life in the Balance (Open Media Pamphlet Series)
Mumia Abu-Jamal, a black man, was convicted and se more...0 points
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