Source: Amnesty International marks 60-year milestone anniversary | The Standard
BY MOSES MUGUGUNYEKI
Amnesty International yesterday marked its 60th anniversary celebrating the continued fight for justice, equality and freedom across the globe.
The organisation was founded in 1961 by Peter Benenson on the idea that together ordinary people can change the world.
Today Amnesty is a worldwide movement for human rights, calling on the collective power of 10 million people, each one committed to fighting for justice, equality and freedom everywhere.
From London to Santiago, Sydney to Kampala, people have come together to insist that the rights of each and every human are respected and protected.
“When I first lit the Amnesty candle, I had in mind the old Chinese proverb: Better light a candle than curse the darkness.”– Peter Benenson.
The organisation said its candle will stay lit for human rights as it celebrated 60 years of taking injustice personally.
In Zimbabwe the organisation vowed to continue with its human rights activism and defending human rights in Zimbabwe.
“Locally, we have done a number of campaigns including anti-death penalty, end forced evictions, stop child marriages, access to information and licencing of community radios and stop violence against women,” said Amnesty International Zimbabwe director Jessica Pwiti.
“We are starting on the two campaigns to end obstetric fistula and another one to end statelessness. So, that’s what Zimbabwe has contributed to the global movement in a nutshell.”
Pwiti said her organisation was also doing reactivate work on human rights defenders and individuals at risk making sure that their rights are respected.
“It’s been 60 years for the global movement and 15 for Zimbabwe,” Pwiti said.
Amnesty International is a movement of 10 million people which mobilises the humanity in everyone and campaigns for change in as far as human rights are concerned.
COMMENTS