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Salient. Victoria University of Wellington Student's Newspaper. Volume 31, Number 10 May 28 1968

Amnesty

Amnesty

Sir—I wish to inform you that 1968 is Human Rights Year. 1968 is the twentieth year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The United Nations at the request of the Secretary-General is marking the occasion by planning to intensify the practical work being done to ensure the Declaration is fully implemented by all governments.

Amnesty International plans to declare an International Prisoner of Conscience week in November. This organisation is striving for the general acceptance of Articles 18 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into our political and social thinking. Article 18:—

"Everybody has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes the freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom either alone or in community with others. And in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching. practice, worship and observance," Article 19:—

"Everyone has the right 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 regardless of frontiers."

On the basis of these two articles, Amnesty International attempts to aid in every way, people imprisoned as a result of the denial of their rights. Worldwide prisoners of conscience are contacted by Amnesty groups and their cases are investigated in hopes of legal forms of aid being discovered.

Their trials are attended by observers and by lawyers to ensure a fair hearing.

Letters written to influential people and governments plead for the release of the prisoners on the grounds of their rights, principles and health.

Amnesty has no connection with religions or, political groups, but tries to aid on purely humanitarian grounds with money, food, clothing and books.

None of the prisoners aided have advocated or used violence.

In these ways, whether 1968 is Human Rights Year or not, Amnesty International tries to prevent the nameless, faceless thousands of prisoners of conscience from being forgotten.

Rosemary Ross.