Shine a light on human rights

Amnesty International Australia's Candle Day campaign will be held on October 18 and this year will shed light on the human rights atrocities occurring against women.

The women's human rights focus will include female circumcision, a common occurrence in several African countries.

To help raise the awareness of the Candle Day campaign, prominent Australian female celebrities will lend their support. They include Anita Keating, Ita Buttrose, Jackie O and Pia Miranda.

Other Amnesty International campaigns include human rights education and campaigning against the use of child soldiers. Human rights education helps prevent violations, strengthens actions and campaigns, creates a space for dialogue and change, encourages respect and tolerance, and integrates the principles of human rights into everyday life.

War inevitably devastates the lives of children, but not a single child should be engaged in the fighting. Children who become combatants before they gain emotional maturity can suffer devastating psychological damage. Casualty rates among child soldiers are generally high because of their inexperience, lack of training and lower recovery rates from battlefield injuries. Many girl soldiers are expected to provide sexual services as well as to fight.

No funds are sought or accepted from governments for Amnesty International's work of investigating and campaigning against human rights violations, so events like Candle Day are very important.

This year Amnesty International is aiming to have 12,000 volunteers collecting $500,000 towards defending human rights.

To volunteer to be a Candle Day collector sign up online at www.amnesty.org.au or call the Activist Resource Centre on 1800 808 157.

For further information

September 2002 contents