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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-06-09 Daily Xml
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Amnesty International, 60th Anniversary

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:26): I rise to acknowledge the 60th anniversary of Amnesty International. For six decades, Amnesty has worked to expose human rights abuses, change laws and improve the human condition around the world.

Today, Amnesty International is a global human rights movement of over 10 million people from more than 150 countries and territories. It is a movement based on voluntary members, with a worldwide network of national branches and affiliated groups. True to its values, despite its size, Amnesty keeps democracy at its core. Decision-making occurs at its international global assembly, and its Australian arm is governed by a member-elected national board.

We see Amnesty in full flight today, but its beginnings are humble and remind us that relatively small, yet not insignificant, events can create a groundswell and generate movements. Amnesty began with a toast to freedom by two Portuguese students in 1961. They were gaoled for raising that toast.

Amnesty began with British lawyer Peter Benenson writing the newspaper article, 'The forgotten prisoners', discussing a global trend and citing seven million people suffering imprisonment, torture or execution because their political or religious views challenged those of their government. Benenson then launched the 'Appeal for Amnesty, 1961', disseminating information about prisoners of conscience around the world. By July 1961, the first international meeting occurred and delegates established a permanent international movement in defence of freedom of opinion and religion.

Locally, Amnesty International is now a movement of over half a million supporters, with offices in almost all Australian capital cities. This is everyday people uniting and challenging injustice and defending human rights. At this significant historic marker of 60 years, Amnesty is also setting a path for coming years.

In launching its vision until 2025, Amnesty are determined to pursue systemic change on human rights issues and take purposeful action to further advance human rights. This includes standing against racism and working to become a nation where everyone can feel safe and like they belong regardless of race, ethnicity, culture or religion. I lend my heartfelt support to this ambition and hope to also work to realise Amnesty's plans for a national antiracism strategy.

Amnesty aim to increase refugee and humanitarian intakes, community resettlement and improve human rights in Asia-Pacific communities. It gives me great hope that asylum seekers who flee to Australia have Amnesty advocating for them and raising awareness of their challenges and plights.

Amnesty is also focused on working with Indigenous communities, especially to target and prevent Australia's Indigenous children from becoming incarcerated and trapped within the prison system. We have work to do to correct mistakes of the past, and working with Australia's First Nations communities to help them create positive change is crucial.

The organisation is also driving a women's safety agenda, which we know is critically important to all corners of the globe from highly developed to developing nations. Amnesty shares its vision for Australia to become a nation where women and girls live free from gender-based violence and discrimination. This is not an exhaustive summary of Amnesty's 2025 vision, but it shows there is much work to do even on home soil.

In closing, I give support to Amnesty's work in speaking out against the injustices occurring in Myanmar and its members' vigils to bring awareness to the conflict. I spoke in this chamber recently about the atrocities suffered by the people of Myanmar and urged action or intervention, preferably peaceful, bringing an end to the military junta's control.

Lastly, I wish to recognise the commitment of the volunteers who drive Amnesty International and its work, especially the local SA/NT Activism Leadership Committee members, chaired by Tim Green. Thanks also to Amnesty's national board SA/NT-based directors, Vicki Jacobs and Saras Suresh Kumar.

Time expired.

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