Amnesty International Australia
Encyclopedia
Amnesty International Australia is a section of the Amnesty International
network, and is part of the global movement promoting and defending human rights
and dignity.
The organisation has a vision of a world in which every person enjoys all of the rights stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.
Amnesty International Australia searches out facts about human rights abuses and raises awareness of these abuses in Australia, the Asia-Pacific and around the world. The organisation undertakes advocacy and mobilises people to put pressure on governments and others to end rights violations.
issues. These include calling for an end to the human rights abuses that drive and deepen poverty
, through the Demand Dignity campaign; working to stop violence against women
; the fair treatment of refugee
s and asylum seekers; calling for a Human Rights Act
in Australia; taking action for individuals around the world who are in imminent danger; upholding human rights in counter-terrorism activities; and calling for the end of the death penalty internationally, as part of an international campaign to see full human rights for everyone.
Human rights in the Asia-Pacific region
is a key concern for Amnesty International Australia.
Controversy arose over former minister Phillip Ruddock's membership when he was asked to remove his Amnesty badge while discussing refugee and asylum seeker policies and practices at odds with Amnesty's position. He was not asked to leave the organisation however, as Amnesty is a democratic membership based organisation. It does not restrict membership and does not consider itself represented by the actions of just one of its members.
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to 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."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
network, and is part of the global movement promoting and defending human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and dignity.
The organisation has a vision of a world in which every person enjoys all of the rights stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.
Amnesty International Australia searches out facts about human rights abuses and raises awareness of these abuses in Australia, the Asia-Pacific and around the world. The organisation undertakes advocacy and mobilises people to put pressure on governments and others to end rights violations.
Campaigns
Amnesty International Australia campaigns on international and domestic human rightsHuman rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
issues. These include calling for an end to the human rights abuses that drive and deepen poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, through the Demand Dignity campaign; working to stop violence against women
Stop Violence Against Women
Stop Violence Against Women is a worldwide campaign of Amnesty International to counter violence against women.It was started on 5 March 2004, in preparation before International Women's Day. It is one of Amnesty's key campaigns. Amnesty considers that domestic and sexual violence are serious...
; the fair treatment of refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s and asylum seekers; calling for a Human Rights Act
Human Rights Act
A human rights act is a statute that sets out individual rights and freedoms under the law. Many jurisdictions have bills of rights enshrined into law and called the "Human Rights Act". This naming convention is commonly used in Commonwealth nations...
in Australia; taking action for individuals around the world who are in imminent danger; upholding human rights in counter-terrorism activities; and calling for the end of the death penalty internationally, as part of an international campaign to see full human rights for everyone.
Human rights in the Asia-Pacific region
Asia-Pacific region
Asia-Pacific region may refer to:*Asia-Pacific, a geographic designation*Asia-Pacific Scout Region *Pacific Rim, countries and cities located around the edge of the Pacific Ocean...
is a key concern for Amnesty International Australia.
Support
Amnesty International Australia has over 100,000 members and financial supporters. The organisation is impartial and independent of any political ideologies, economic interests or religions, and as such does not accept any money from governments or political parties.Controversy arose over former minister Phillip Ruddock's membership when he was asked to remove his Amnesty badge while discussing refugee and asylum seeker policies and practices at odds with Amnesty's position. He was not asked to leave the organisation however, as Amnesty is a democratic membership based organisation. It does not restrict membership and does not consider itself represented by the actions of just one of its members.