MEDIA RELEASE
23 July 2007

Appeal will help promote human rights reform in China, and around the world

When New Zealanders dig into their pockets, or pick up the phone to make a Freedom Week donation next week they'll be helping Amnesty members protect people in desperate need in China and around the world.

Local Amnesty groups are organising Freedom Week street and supermarket collections in 22 cities and towns on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 August.

New Zealanders can also make a Freedom Week donation from anywhere
by phoning 0900 48626 to donate $20, or texting the word 'free' to 833 to donate $3.

"Freedom Week contributions this year will provide desperately needed funds for all our major campaigns in 2007 and 2008," says Amnesty International New Zealand Development Manager John Shaw. "These include global campaigns to save lives in Darfur, stop violence against women, end torture and terror, and promote human rights reform in China.

"When you make a Freedom Week donation you'll be helping individuals like Mokarrameh Ebrahimi, a woman currently at risk of death by stoning for adultery in Iran. You'll be helping save lives in Darfur, Sudan, where hundreds of thousands have been killed, thousands of women raped, and over two million men, women and children made homeless.

"You'll also be contributing to campaigning on behalf of vulnerable and voiceless individuals in China." An estimated 10,000 people are executed in China every year, sometimes for the smallest offences, and often after torture or prolonged interrogation produces a 'confession'. China is also a country where people are routinely arrested, tortured and imprisoned for daring to ask questions of their rulers.

When Amnesty International determines that action is needed to protect those whose human rights have been abused it mobilises its 2.2 million members and supporters around the world (13,000 in New Zealand). "We speak out as one voice, on behalf of those whose voices cannot be heard," says John Shaw.

Through Amnesty International research and collective action by members since 1961, torturers have been bought to justice, death sentences have been commuted, tens of thousands of prisoners of conscience have been released. Governments have been persuaded to stop human rights violations and change laws and practices.

"But clearly, the struggle for human rights is far from over", says John Shaw. "Governments and armed groups worldwide continue to violate human rights with impunity. That's why we need New Zealanders to join us in speaking out for human rights by making a Freedom Week donation."

FREEDOM WEEK APPEAL 30 July – 5 August

ENDS