- Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand
Infobox_Company | company_name = Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand
company_
company_type = Non-Governmental Organisation
company_slogan = n/a.
foundation = 1965,New Zealand
location =Wellington ,New Zealand
key_people = Patrick Holmes, Stephanie Rixecker
industry =human rights
products = Lobbying, research, consultancy.
revenue = $? Million NZD (2005)
num_employees = "? (nationally)"
homepage = [http://www.amnesty.org.nz/ www.amnesty.org.nz/]Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand (AINZ) is a part of the
Amnesty International network, and works to endhuman rights abuses.The first
New Zealand Amnesty group was founded in1965 , and the organisation was incorporated in1966 . Since being founded, the organisation has worked to free prisoners of conscience, fight human rights violations around the world, and promote human rights in New Zealand by lobbying and education. It describes itself as working for full human rights for everyone.AINZ acts primarily with a focus on rights within the
Asia-Pacific region, and is secretariat for the Association of Commonwealth Amnesty International Sections. It is a consulting member of theCouncil for International Development and part of theHuman Rights Network of Aotearoa New Zealand .AINZs Chief Executive Officer is Patrick Holmes and the chairperson is Dr Stefanie Rixecker.
Campaigns
The organisation is currently active in campaigns to stop violence against women as part of an international campaign to see full human rights for everyone. The campaign calls on governments to take a stronger stand for women in cases of domestic and
sexual violence .Despite a narrow vote in favour, the AINZ governing council decided not to support a controversial right to
abortion proposed by their parent organisation,Amnesty International . Ced Simpson, Executive Director of AINZ stated that "It is not the practice of AINZ to adopt policy on very internally-contentious issues on the basis of a narrow 'vote'" and pointed to strong support among members for theConvention on the Rights of the Child which asserts the right of care "...before as well as after birth". [ [http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jul/06071805.html Amnesty International Getting Cold Feet over Abortion Support, New Zealand Branch Clarifies] , John-Henry Westen,LifeSiteNews.com , July 18 2006]Amnesty International strongly supports the creation of a
United Nations treaty to control small arms. AINZ gathered over 12,000 faces in a photo-petition it handed in to theNew Zealand Government . Minister for DisarmamentPhil Goff declared New Zealand's strong support for such a treaty after receiving the petition.New Zealand is the first nation in negotiations for a
free trade agreement withChina . As a result of this, and New Zealand's proximity to the nation, AINZ is trying to highlighthuman rights in the People's Repbulic of China . The organisation is particularly concerned aboutfreedom of speech issues, and censorship of the internet by the government and companies such asGoogle andYahoo Among the priority campaigns for the organisation is the case of
Islamic Salvation Front memberAhmed Zaoui , who is seeking asylum in New Zealand. Amnesty International does not take a position on whether Ahmed Zaoui is guilty of the charges laid against him, but argues that he has not received faircriminal trial s inAlgeria ,Belgium , orFrance , and thatSwitzerland 's rejection of his refugee claim and subsequent deportation toBurkina Faso was improper. [ [http://www.amnesty.org.nz/ Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand] , [http://www.amnesty.org.nz/web/pages/home.nsf/dd5cab6801f1723585256474005327c8/4cc752418a372126cc2571a700015eb4!OpenDocument Questions and Answers on Ahmed Zaoui] ]The
Darfur conflict inSudan is one of Amnesty International's top priorities, as a result of the large scale human rights abuses occurring. AINZ has called for the introduction of a United Nations peacekeeping force to prevent conflict and stop further unnecessary suffering.Amnesty International also supports the implementation of the New Zealand Government's Action Plan for Human Rights.
upport
AINZ has approximately 14,000 members. These include MPs from across the political spectrum, such as
Don Brash ,Phil Goff andKeith Locke .References
External links
* [http://www.amnesty.org.nz/ Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand]
* [http://www.amnesty.org Amnesty International]
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