MEDIA RELEASE AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

27th November 2006

School Students Wear their Hearts on their Sleeves

School students from all over New Zealand have applied their design skills to Amnesty International's Stop Violence Against Women and Girls campaign.

Students, ranging from McAuley High School in South Auckland down to St Margaret's College in Christchurch, took part in the Rights Design competition – in which participants were asked to design a t-shirt based on Amnesty International's global priority campaign: Stop Violence Against Women.

The over all winner of the competition was Giselle Keenleyside from Glenfield College in North Shore City.

Giselle's t-shirt - along with a group design created by Miriam McCreanor, Marie Kitchin and Lauren Richardson (Onslow College, Wellington) and an independent design made by Kera Sherwood-O' Regan (Marist College, Auckland) will be produced as part of Amnesty International's campaign to stop gender-based violence. The 103 designs received by Amnesty International will be exhibited in the Fletcher Challenge Foyer of the Michael Fowler Centre. The exhibition will run from 27-30 November and is open to all members of the public from midday on Monday 27 November.

Photo & Interview Opportunity 1.00pm – Mon 27th November Foyer – Michael Fowler Centre

"The true value of the competition is that a whole range of students have considered the issue of violence against women and acted in a creative and practical way", said Amnesty International Campaigner Luke Harrison.

"We hope that their work encourages wider discussion about the extent and impact of violence against women in New Zealand."

An e-gallery of highly commended designs is available at www.standbyme.org.nz.

ENDS

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