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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 21. 5th September 1973

THIS IS AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Amnesty was started in 1961. Today it is a focal point for international action against political and religious persecution. There are Amnesty Sections in 21 countries, 700 local voluntary Groups and thousands of members all over the world. Amnesty's first concern is to obtain the release of prisoners of conscience. It also campaigns for humane prison conditions, raises money for prisoners' families and informs public opinion. Nearly 1,500 prisoners of conscience a…

THIS IS AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Amnesty was started in 1961. Today it is a focal point for international action against political and religious persecution. There are Amnesty Sections in 21 countries, 700 local voluntary Groups and thousands of members all over the world. Amnesty's first concern is to obtain the release of prisoners of conscience. It also campaigns for humane prison conditions, raises money for prisoners' families and informs public opinion. Nearly 1,500 prisoners of conscience adopted by Amnesty have been released. Amnesty is an impartial movement with no political or religious affiliation. It has consultative status with the United Nations, Unesco and the Council of Europe. OBJECTS The objects of Amnesty International shall be: (a) to ensure for every person the right freely to hold and express his convictions, and the obligation on ever person to extend a like freedom to others: and in pursuance of that object to secure throughout the world the observance of the provisions of articles 5, 9, 18 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (see below), (b) Irrespective of political considerations, to work for the release of and provide assistance to persons who in violation of the aforesaid provisions are imprisoned, detained, restricted or otherwise subjected to physical coercion or restraint by reason of their political, religious or other conscientiously held belief or by reason of their ethnic origin, colour or language, provided that they have not used or advocated violence (hereinafier referred to as "Prisoners of Conscience"). Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 5 No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Article 9 No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. Article 18 Everyone has the right lo freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom either alone or in community with others and in public or in private, to manifest his religion or belief in leaching, practice, worship and observance. Article 19 Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Amnesty International, New Zealand Section, Box 3579. Wellington.