50 years on Amnesty is going for gold

Amnesty International’s going for gold this coming week as they celebrate their 50th anniversary while collecting for the organisation’s annual Freedom Week appeal.

Freedom Week runs from August 1-7 with the main street collection day on Friday 5th and supermarket collections taking place on Saturday 6th.

Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand’s Freedom Week Coordinator Mo Farrell is urging New Zealanders to invest in the next half decade of human rights campaigning by giving generously.

“We are calling on you to help us celebrate our golden anniversary by digging deep in their pockets as a present to us, to help stop human rights abuses globally,” says Mo Farrell, Amnesty International Aotearoa NZ’s Freedom Week Co-ordinator.

“Fifty years ago, Amnesty was started by one man calling on others to join him in standing up against injustice. Every individual act makes a difference, and Amnesty’s strength is in drawing together those individual actions towards a common goal.

“By joining with us – whether that be donating, collecting on the street, signing a petition, or becoming a member, ordinary New Zealanders are contributing towards extraordinary global human rights achievements.”

The organisation has now grown to be a movement of over 3 million supporters, members and activists working at the forefront of human rights issues in more than 150 countries and territories across the globe. Amnesty’s purpose is to protect people when their human rights are denied, calling for an end to the discrimination, persecution and harassment that individuals face.

“Collectors will be out in your area on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th. Please give generously; knowing it will make a difference to the lives of men, women and children wherever gross human rights abuses occur,” adds Farrell.

People can also make donations towards the appeal at www.freedomweek.org.nz.

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