Amnesty International Ireland at 50
Created by amnestyireland on 24/05/2011
Last updated: 30/05/11 at 13:10
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As part of Amnesty International’s global campaign to support women’s reproductive rights, people across the world are showing their support for local Women’s and Girls’ organizations in Nicaragua. In Nicaragua, abortion has recently been criminalized in all circumstances, even for survivors of rape and incest. Women's reproductive rights are human rights, and Amnesty International helps to defend them. © Amnesty International
Everyone is encouraged to find the nearest Section or Group to “Toast Freedom” with Amnesty International © Amnesty International
Amnesty International publishes its latest research on the use of the Death Penalty and progress that has been made since the UN Moratorium was first introduced in 2008. Image: Death Penalty Campaign billboard © TBWA \ Paris
On a national holiday to commemorate the police forces, Egyptians take to the streets in large numbers, calling it a "Day of Rage". The crowds increase in number, calling for free elections and the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak. There are violent clashes with the Police over the next few days. When the Army is brought in to Cairo to keep the peace it is welcomed; it refuses to use its weapons against the population. After several refusals, on 11 February, Hosni Mubarak resigns as president and hands power over to the Army. The new military rulers promise to hand power to an elected, civilian government and pledge that Egypt will remain committed to all international treaties - in an apparent nod to its 1979 peace treaty with Israel. © Corbis
Liu Xiaobo, a prisoner of conscience, is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize but he is not allowed to travel to Norway to accept the prize, nor is his family on his behalf. On the night of the awards ceremony, Amnesty International hosts a torchlight parade through Oslo for Liu Xiaobo. Image: Torchlight parade through Oslo for Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, Norway, 10 December. © Greg Rødland Buick
In a landmark victory for Indigenous rights and corporate accountability, the Indian government rejects plans by Vedanta to mine bauxite in the Niyamgiri Hills, eastern India. The decision, announced on 24 August, follows years of campaigning by the Dongria Kondh and other Indigenous communities who described the proposed mining project as a threat to their very existence. Amnesty International joined the campaign in mid-2008 and published its damning report, Don’t mine us out of existence, in early 2010, documenting human rights abuses and violations of the law. Six months later, an Indian government report, comes to similar conclusions, and forms the basis of the government’s decision to axe the mine. Plans for a six-fold expansion of an alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, at the base of the hills, are quashed by the government on 20 October 2010. The refinery has been linked to water and air pollution and has blighted the lives of local communities. Image: Kondh villagers stand next to the makeshift gate that they have set up to stop Vedanta officials from accessing the proposed mining area, Lanjigarh, Orissa, India, June 2008. © Amnesty International
Salil Shetty begins a symbolic journey from the CIVICUS 2010 World Assembly in Montreal, to the UN summit on the Millennium Development Goals in September in New York. The Millennium Development Goals are the world’s most prominent global initiative against poverty, but are largely silent on human rights. The human rights basis for the goals is evident: universal primary education, promotion of gender equality, improvements in maternal health, to name just a few. But unlike the legal requirements bound in international human rights instruments, progress toward these goals is largely thought to be a matter of goodwill rather than a legal obligation. It is a central part of the Demand Dignity campaign. Image: Closing ceremony at Civicus 2010, Montreal, Canada. © Tristan Brand
An explosive report by Amnesty International USA on maternal mortality rates: Deadly delivery: The maternal health care crisis in the USA. The USA spends more than any other country on health care, and more on maternal health than any other type of hospital care. Despite this, women in the USA have a higher risk of dying from pregnancy-related complications than those in 49 other countries, including Kuwait, Bulgaria, and South Korea. African-American women are nearly four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than white women. These rates and disparities have not improved in more than 20 years. Image: Tatia Oden French, who died in 2001 after her labour was induced. Her baby, Zorah, also died. © Amnesty International
Amnesty International campaigns for migrants in Mexico. Every year thousands of migrants are kidnapped, raped and sometimes murdered in Mexico. Driven by grinding poverty and insecurity back home, they travel through Mexico in hope of reaching the USA, but all too often their dreams are turned to nightmares. Campaign video: Directed by Gael García Bernal and Marc Silver for Amnesty International, this film The Invisibles exposes the truth behind one of the most dangerous journeys in the world and reveals the untold stories of the people who make the journey north through Mexico. © Amnesty International
Amnesty International launches the campaign "Whose Justice? Women of Bosnia and Herzegovina Still Waiting". Fourteen years after the end of the war in the region, women survivors of sexual violence had not received justice. Working with local women’s organizations and survivors, Amnesty International’s supporters and activists lobbied governments, donors and decision-makers. Less than a year after the launch of the campaign, a number of war criminals are prosecuted and the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina begins introducing laws and strategies to tackle the issue. Image: Sabrina was only 13 years old when she was raped during the 1992 - 1995 war in Bosnia. © Robin Hammond/Panos Pictures
Amnesty International brings together its work on various abuses of human rights carried out or allowed by corporations, from Bhopal to the Niger Delta. Campaign video: “Shell: Human rights go up in flames” © Amnesty International
Amnesty International launches the Demand Dignity campaign, focusing on maternal mortality, slums, corporate accountability and making rights law. Campaign themes are based on the Millennium Development Goals of 2000, and show how far the targets are from completion.
Amnesty International is now a global movement of more than 2.8 million people in over 150 countries.
Short film shows Amnesty International Hungary's campaign called "Promises don't feed"
© Amnesty International
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/POL10/001/2009/en
The UN General Assembly adopts the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, enabling the Committee to receive and consider complaints from groups and individuals. © APGraphicsBank
People around the world took part in “Fire Up” actions to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, thousands of people lit candles, fires or flames as part of a mass demonstration in support of human rights. Image: “Fire Up” action in Jalpaiguri District, West Bengal, 10 December. © Amnesty International
The Reverend Bienvenido Samba Momesori is released from prison in Evinayong, Equatorial Guinea. He has been held without trial since 2003, and this imprisonment is thought to be politically motivated, due to his known peaceful political opinions and his ethnic origin. Prior to his release, Amnesty International had been working on his case for several years and members around the world had taken action on the Reverend Samba’s behalf. He later tells Amnesty International “I want to thank you and congratulate you for the work you do and for getting me free. I knew of your work because two years ago I received a letter in prison from a woman in Spain who said she was a member of an NGO. It was a miracle that I received it... Thank you for your solidarity.” © Private
Amnesty International's global campaign for girls' education is launched on International Women's Day. © Amnesty International
The UN General Assembly adopts the first-ever resolution calling for a global moratorium of the use of the death penalty. The President of the General Assembly had been given a book with more than 5 million signatures collected worldwide on a petition to the General Assembly calling for a global moratorium on executions, at UN Headquarters in New York. The General Assembly President meets members of the Coalition Against Death Penalty. © UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras
The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is adopted by the General Assembly, by a majority of 144 states in favour, 4 votes against (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA) and 11 abstentions. However, since its adoption, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA have all reversed their decisions. © APGraphicsBank
Amnesty International demonstrates against five years of unlawful detentions in Guantánamo and continues its call for the camp’s closure
Image: Close Guantánamo: Symbol of injustice
© Amnesty International
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR51/001/2007/en
In Australia, Irene Khan accepts the Sydney Peace Prize on behalf of Amnesty International.
© Jeremy Piper / Oculi
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/POL10/001/2006
A major milestone for the Control Arms campaign: the UN General Assembly vote overwhelmingly to start work towards an International Arms Trade treaty. © Amnesty International
Nelson Mandela accepts Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience award and congratulates Amnesty International for making the struggle against poverty its focus for the coming years. © Amnesty International (photo Mark Morrison)
The UN adopts Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law. © APGraphicsBank
Amnesty International is the world's largest independent human rights organization with over 2 million members and many more supporters worldwide. In the age of the “war on terror”, the campaign against torture has a specific aim, to “counter terror with justice”. © Amnesty International
At the World AIDS Conference, Amnesty International calls for respect for the human rights of those living with HIV/AIDS. Poster from Papua New Guinea calling for respect of human rights in gender, health and HIV issues. © Amnesty International
Amnesty International launches its global campaign to Stop Violence Against Women, with its first phase focussing on women in armed conflict. Amnesty International field research exposes the extent of mass rape, abduction and murder in Darfur, Sudan. ©Amnesty International
Prisoner of Conscience Sok Yoeun is freed from a Thai jail, after spending more than four traumatic years behind bars. Sok Yoeun’s release followed a sustained campaign by Amnesty International members who wrote thousands of letters in support. Sok Yoeun was arrested in Thailand in December 1999, after he fled Cambodia following false allegations linking him to an attack on the Prime Minister of Cambodia. A member of a Cambodian opposition political party, he was accused of involvement in a 1998 rocket attack which Prime Minister Hun Sen claimed was aimed at him. Two other opposition party activists were arrested in connection with the attack, held in isolation for six months, and released due to lack of evidence. Sok Yoeun fled the country to escape arrest, unfair trial and possible torture. He was granted refugee status by the UN Refugee Agency in November 1999, but was arrested by Thai authorities and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for entering the country illegally. His arrest was believed to have been carried out because of pressure from the Cambodian authorities. When the six-month sentence expired in June 2000, Sok Yoeun remained in detention pending the outcome of a request for his extradition to Cambodia. During his detention he was held in harsh overcrowded conditions and his health seriously deteriorated. Amnesty International members campaigned tirelessly for Sok Yoeun’s release, through Urgent Actions, Medical Letter-writing Actions, publicity and government lobbying. Members sent thousands of greeting cards to Sok Yoeun during his imprisonment, for which he was extremely grateful. Amnesty International Thailand coordinated a postcard campaign targeting the Thai authorities, which was taken up by members across the world. Sok Yoeun is finally reunited with his family in Finland, one day after his release. Speaking to reporters upon his arrival, he says: “I’ve been saved from the throes of death, I will never forget this day in my life. I now have two fatherlands. Finland is a new home. I’m so happy to be with my family and I hope that my children who are still in Thailand and Cambodia can soon join us.” “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Amnesty International for its constant efforts for my release from prison,” Sok Yoeun told Amnesty International members a month later, “and to send my respect and the expression of my highest consideration to all your collaborators devoted in their difficult tasks of helping the whole world.” Sok Yoeun, a Cambodian national, finally reunited with his family in Helsinki, Finland on 27 February 2004, one day after being released from a Thai prison in Bangkok. © Katja Tähjä
Amnesty International publishes a report on the market for weapons used in torture across the world: Pain Merchants: Security equipment and its use in torture and other ill-treatment. The report discusses why the manufacture, use and transfer of security and police technologies need to be strictly regulated by governments using common criteria based on international human rights and humanitarian standards.
Image: Thumb-cuffs from Chinese law enforcement/security equipment distributor. Thumb-cuffs are also supplied by companies in the UK, Spain, germany and other EU states.
© Robin Ballantyne / Omega Research Foundation
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ACT40/008/2003/en/a0ba9742-d67a-11dd-ab95-a13b602c0642/act400082003en.pdf
The Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment is adopted. © APGraphicsBank
Amnesty International, Oxfam and IANSA launch the global Control Arms campaign.
© Amnesty International Norway
http://www.controlarms.org/
The International Criminal Court is established by treaty with its official seat in The Hague, Netherlands. Governed by the Rome Statute, the Court is the first permanent, treaty based, international criminal court established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. Image: International Criminal Court logo over its building, The Hague, Netherlands. © AP
Former Czech president Václav Havel is awarded the first ever Ambassador of Conscience award by Amnesty International in the Irish capital, Dublin, Ireland. © Hugh McElveen
Amnesty International undertakes its first research mission to Iraq after not being allowed into the country in 20 years. The research team meet many groups working to rebuild the country. The documentary includes touching interviews with relatives of the "disappeared" discussing how their lives have been affected. © Amnesty International
Amnesty International is granted access to Myanmar for the first time after years of requests. ©Amnesty International
Amnesty International joins forces with Oxfam to argue for tough new export laws on the arms trade. © Oxfam
In Zimbabwe, Chief Justice Anthony Gubbay stands down after being threatened by supporters of President Robert Mugabe. Former President of Yugoslavia Slobodan Miloševi? is arrested and indicted at International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Terrorist attacks in USA lead to the death of nearly 3,000 people. © Corbis
Nobel peace prize is awarded to Kim Dae Jung of South Korea.
UN adopts The Millennium Declaration, and details eight Millennium Development Goals, with targets to be reached by 2015, including the reduction of maternal mortality. © APGraphicsBank
The global launch of the campaign to "Stamp Out Torture". The site www.stoptorture.org takes Amnesty International’s campaigning into cyberspace, and wins The Revolution Awards 2001, for “best use of email”.
Image: Logo for Stamp Out Torture campaign.
© Amnesty International
http://amnesty.org/en/library/asset/POL10/001/2000/en/20799676-dfca-11dd-8e17-69926d493233/pol100012000en.pdf
Amnesty International’s campaign draws attention to the plight of 300,000 child soldiers. Image: Drawing by a former child soldier from Uganda, where thousands of children have been abducted and forced to fight for the Lord's Resistance Army. © Amnesty International
Amnesty International hits the 1.8 million members mark with national branches engaging hundreds of thousands of other donors and supporters. International Council Meeting is held in Portugal and the decisions made there lead Amnesty International to, for example: develop its work on the impact of economic relations on human rights; to work to empower human rights defenders; to campaign against impunity; enhance its work to protect refugees, and strengthen its grassroots activism.
©Amnesty International
http://amnesty.org/en/library/asset/POL10/001/1999/en/1763abda-e2c7-11dd-a23e-250891ff01f9/pol100011999en.pdf
Antoinette Chahine had been arrested, tortured, and sentenced to death for a murder she did not commit. On 7 January 1997 Antoinette Yusuf Chahine, a Lebanese student born in 1971, was sentenced to death, commuted to life imprisonment with hard labour, for her alleged involvement in the assassination of Father Sam’an Boutros al-Khoury on 11 May 1992 in ‘Ajeltoun. According to the prosecution and court verdict, the killing of Father Sam’an Boutros al-Khoury was planned and carried out by the Lebanese Forces, of which Antoinette Chahin was allegedly a member. The evidence presented in court implicating her in this offence was extremely weak. During her detention Antoinette was reportedly tortured, which resulted in her hospitalisation. The primary evidence against her was the confession of her co-defendants, allegedly extracted under torture. They later claimed that they never knew Antoinette Chahine. She is finally given a retrial which started on 23 June 1998 and, a year later, is acquitted by the Criminal Court of Cassation. Image: Antoinette Chahine at the International Secretariat © Amnesty International
A major report, Killing with prejudice: Race and the death penalty in the USA, is launched. The report highlights Amnesty International's concerns about the application of the death penalty in the USA and how it is intrinsically linked to racial discrimination within the US legal system.
©Amnesty International
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR51/052/1999/en
An independent inquiry in the UK into the police investigation of the killing of Stephen Lawrence finds ‘institutional racism’ in the police force. Russian forces commit serious human rights violations against thousands of Chechen civilians in conflict with Chechen Republic. East Timorese vote for independence and following attacks on civilians by Indonesian forces, UN peacekeepers are brought in to protect the populace. © Corbis
Amnesty International launches the “Rights for All” campaign on the USA. Image: Poster from Netherlands: Rights for all Verenigde Staten-campagne 1999 Design © Heijdens Karwei
Spain demands extradition of Augusto Pinochet from the UK, where he had been arrested under international warrant. The Taleban orders the closure of over 100 girls’ schools in Afghanistan. Schools will not be allowed to teach girls older than eight and lessons are to be limited to the Koran. © Corbis
Out of the 432 prisoners executed during the year in the USA, 44 per cent are from ethnic minorities. A black person convicted of killing a white person is 15 times more likely to be sentenced to death than a black person who had killed another black person. Amnesty International Secretary General Pierre Sané visits death row in Texas, which has 40 condemned inmates. Image: Pierre Sané speaks to death row inmate in Texas. © Amnesty International
Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.
Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, is appointed as the UN’s top human rights official. © Corbis
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