Amnesty International Australia

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.

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 rights 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 refugees 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.

Support

Amnesty International Australia has over 250,000 members and financial supporters.^[1] 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.^[2]

References

External links

• Amnesty International Australia
• Amnesty International