Amnesty International Australia

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Amnesty International Australia

Type	Non-Governmental Organisation
Founded	1962, Australia
Headquarters	Sydney, Australia
Key people	National Director, Mara Moustafine; President, Georgina Perry
Industry	human rights
Products	Lobbying, research, consultancy.
Revenue	$14 Million AuD income (2005)
Employees	about 50 (nationally)
Slogan	n/a.
Website	www.amnesty.org.au/

Amnesty International Australia (AI Australia) is a part of the Amnesty International network, and works to end human rights abuses.

Since being founded, the organisation has worked to free prisoners of conscience, oppose torture, and fight other human rights violations around the world. It seeks to promote human rights in Australia by lobbying and education. It describes itself as working for full human rights for everyone.

[edit] Campaigns

Amnesty International Australia campaigns for fair treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, and the full implementation of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and condemns mandatory imprisonment. AI Australia has opposed the 'Pacific Solution' of sending asylum seekers to a detention centre in Nauru.

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.

AI Australia strongly supports the creation of a United Nations treaty to control small arms.

The Darfur conflict in Sudan is one of Amnesty International's top priorities, as a result of the large scale human rights abuses occurring. Amnesty has called for the introduction of a United Nations peacekeeping force to prevent conflict and stop further unnecessary suffering.

The Asia-Pacific region is a key concern for AI Australia.

[edit] Support

Amnesty International Australia has over 65,000 members, prominent members have included former and present Foreign Ministers Alexander Downer and Phillip Ruddock. Controversy arose over Mr 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 does not restrict membership and does not consider itself represented by the actions of its members [1].