Amnesty International EuropaWorld 10/11/2000

Amnesty International is a worldwide campaigning movement that has worked for almost 40 years to promote human rights and to raise awareness of human rights abuses. A visit to the AI website demonstrates that whilst Europe may be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Convention of Human Rights, there is still a long way to go before these rights become inviolable for all.

Whether reporting on prisoners of conscience in Cuba, excessive use of lethal force in Israel, or suppression of political opposition in Mauritania, the AI site gives up-to-date and accessible information from all over the globe. Categorisation of news according to country and region, together with a site search engine, make it possible to review the human rights situation in any part of the world. Browsers can also be directed to the AI site in their own country. News releases - including video releases in four languages - draw attention to human rights concerns while details of current campaigns highlight specific abuses that the million or so AI members are fighting to eliminate. These are campaigns to which anyone can make a contribution ranging from a simple click-to-donate to letter-writing to taking part in a public demonstration, promoting human rights education or for the more ambitious,organising your own fundraising event.

The site does not always make for light reading but if you find yourself becoming too despondent reading, for example, of the atrocities that have inspired the latest AI "Stamp out Torture" campaign, take heart; a look at the "Good News About AIs Work" section is an inspiring reminder of how popular participation in such campaigns can make a fundamental difference to millions of lives.

Publications, books, videos and CDs concerning human rights can be ordered online and the site databases provide detailled information and useful links for anyone interested in further research. For anyone with a commitment to ensuring that human rights become rights for all, EuropaWorld Recommends… this is the site for you.

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