Amnesty and Human Rights - Case Study Example

14089 Lily Assignment 221932 May 4 2008 Amnesty and human rights China and Tibet, time for action! Amnesty International is a broad organisation world wide. According to the Amnesty International Australia (2008), the organisation is a world wide movement of people campaigning to protect human rights. It has a vision of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. When those human rights are violated, Amnesty will: Search out the facts Expose what is happening Mobilise people to put pressure on governments and others to stop the abuse This report will show you the action Amnesty is taking for Tibet, how you can join and get involved in it and use your voice. The report will show the efforts taken by Amnesty but also will show the risks: 1. The action you have chosen and why 2. How effective do you think the action has been/will be and how could it be more effective 3. What were the difficulties/risks involved in the action(s) 4. What future actions you think might be effective on this issue and do do you think you would be involved in any further action The action you have chosen and why Amnesty has published an article under the title: "Tibet at risk of torture" on march 27 2008. It shows the recent events in Tibet, a country that is occupied by China for more then 50 years now. Despite all efforts from the Dalai Lama, the Olympics 2008 in Being are the event that draws finally the attention to the problems of the occupation. The whole world is protesting right right now. And what Amnesty shows us explains why. Amnesty (2008): "According to information published by the Tibetan Center on Human Rights and Democracy, 15 Tibetan monks were detained on 10 March for staging a peaceful demonstration in Barkhor, Lhasa, the capital of Tibetan Autonomous Region in China. There is no information of their current whereabouts or of any charges brought against them. They are at high risk of torture and other ill- treatment." Besides this significant and important action there is also the important issue on the Human Rights situation in China. Amnesty (2008): " Expressing an opinion online in China can result in jail, torture and death. People are silenced and what happens in China is often clouded in secrecy. Sign up to take the pledge to stop the Chinese Government and large internet companies restricting freedom of expression on the Internet, and we'll keep you up-to-date with ways you can help create a more transparent society in China." You can directly participate in signing the form online. The chosen actions are petitions you can sign online or send in an email to the Ambassador. You reach immediate whom you want to reach, the Government of China from home. In doing so you can plaid for changes in the situation of Chines regarding the human rights and plaid for a free Tibet. How effective do you think the action has been/will be and how could it be more effective Amnesty is offering us a change to write a letter to the Chinese Ambassador to plead for Tibet. Online there is an example for an email. Amnesty asking us to personalize the letters also online to help. Amnesty (2008): " Please send an urgent letter to His Excellency Mr ZHANG Junsai, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China in Australia. Here are some key points you can include in your letter: urge the authorities to release the 15 monks, as well as all others detained for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression, Association and assembly urge the authorities to fully account for all those detained during the demonstrations, ensuring they are not tortured or otherwise ill-treated, have access to lawyers and medical care, are brought promptly before an independent court and are able to challenge their detention ensure that those prosecuted are charged with internationally recognizable offences and tried in proceedings which meet international fair trial standards allow full and unimpeded access to Tibet and other Tibetan areas to journalists and other independent observers allow independent United Nations investigation into the events of the last week, including full access to scenes of confrontation, eye-witnesses, and detainees, and allow similar access to independent observers, including journalists and human rights non-government organizations" All you need to do is join in, send the email or personalize the letter. Amnesty (2008) " Harsh laws and vague definitions of 'crime' mean that thousands of people in China are imprisoned for defending basic human rights. Lawyers, peaceful protesters and ordinary citizens who support democracy are all at risk. Laws and practices like surveillance, house arrest and intimidation create a culture of oppression where people are frightened to speak out and will be punished if they do. Despite this there are many people who still pursue freedom and basic human rights." The petition to sign is available online. Amnesty makes us aware of the mayor problems in Tibet and China and offers us a change to have a voice. China promised to change the position of it's citizen regarding human rights. The awareness that the World has, the petitions, the demonstrations and the IOC and Political leaders speaking to China about Tibet and the human rights helped. The Dalai Lama is going to talk to China about the situation in Tibet and little changes in The human rights situations are made. What were the difficulties/risks involved in the action Amnesty says clearly the following on his website what China should do: "The Chinese government has the right and duty to defend all individuals and property from violence. At the same time international law requires that the authorities handle such crises in ways that uphold fundamental human rights." However the people who live in China and Tibet are at high risk for talking about the situation. They are put in jailed, sentenced for years for their opinion or tortured. People outside China hardly have any risk. In signing a petition or sending an email has no risk. The only risk we have is being put on the black list to visit China and Tibet. Our names on that list can China decide not to give us a visa to visit both countries. But even that is nothing compared to what the citizen in China and Tibet have to endure. What future actions you think might be effective on this issue and do you think you would be involved in any further action! Tibet needs to be on it's own again, the Dalai Lama is speaking of an Autonomic part of China, were they have their own Government. Separation is not what he is talking about. Even if he wanted it, he knows China won't let Tibet go now. But the opening is there. China reached out and the negotiations will bring some peace again. However we must give them the time they need. And we must pay attention to the process. The World must not let go now in the middle of the process. That is the only way, we have to look over the shoulders. For China the changes are more and more significant. What need to do is keep the attention to the human rights pledge. Keep talking about it but also give China a fair change. We must respect the efforts made already. We cannot change China overnight, Democracy also dit not happen in one day. China needs time and patience from all of us, and when China shows the World it is willing to change the situation in the Country then we should not only respect that but also embrace that. So indeed I would participate in any petition that is needed to keep the attention and will spread the word. Fact is that Amnesty gives you a change to participate directly online. Let hope that by participating and taking actions, would influence the government's policy toward positive changes. References Amnesty International Australia. Tibetans at risk of torture, viewed May 1 2008, . Amnesty International Australia. Promoting and defending human rights viewed May 2 2008, < http://action.amnesty.org.au/centre/action/4917/ > Read More