Our Successes

Landmark victory for Indigenous rights, Corporate Accountability, 2010

In 2010, the Indian government rejected plans to mine bauxite in the Niyamgiri Hills, eastern India; a landmark victory for Indigenous communities in the area.

Joining with the Dongria Kondh communities' campaign in 2008, Amnesty International worked to challenge the environmental clearance granted for the mine. The Dongria Kondh and other Indigenous communities described the proposed mining project as a threat to their very existence.

Amnesty International engaged in talks with the mining company, Vedanta, and members joined with other NGOs to stage protests outside their London offices during the company's annual general meeting. More than 30,000 Amnesty International members also wrote to the Indian authorities.

In early 2010, Amnesty International published a damning report, Don't mine us out of existence, documenting human rights abuses and violations of the law. Six months later, an Indian government report, which came to similar conclusions, formed the basis of the government's decision to axe the mine.

The ruling was a blow to the companies involved. Several investors have pulled out of Vedanta on human rights grounds after receiving information from several organizations, including Amnesty International.

A Dongria Kondh leader told Amnesty International: "After years of struggle and visits by committees our voice has finally reached Delhi."

A step towards an Arms Trade Treaty, Control Arms Campaign, 2003

An average of a thousand people a day are killed by firearms, with many more wounded, displaced, raped or otherwise abused as a result of armed violence. Partnering with Oxfam and the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), Amnesty International campaigned for the creation of a global Arms Trade Treaty.

The international arms trade is poorly regulated with almost no binding global standards. In October 2003, Amnesty International, Oxfam and IANSA came together to develop the Control Arms Campaign calling for a strong and effective global Arms Trade Treaty. The need for an Arms Trade Treaty centres on one 'golden rule': no international transfer of conventional arms should be permitted where the weapons, munitions or equipment are likely to be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international human rights.

The Control Arms Campaign gained the support of more than a million people through the first ever photo petition which was delivered to the United Nations in June 2006. Around the world, local sections of Amnesty International set up partnerships with other NGOs, meeting with officials and decision-makers to influence national policies and laws on arms control.

In December 2006, The UN General Assembly voted to develop common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms. This was a historic step toward an Arms Trade Treaty. In 2010, all states began a series of meetings in a UN process leading to an Arms Trade Treaty negotiating conference in 2012.

Conviction of Alberto Fujimori, International Justice, 2009

In 2009, former President of the Republic of Peru, Alberto Fujimori, was found guilty of murder, kidnapping and serious bodily harm committed by his subordinates during his time as head of state. The court ruling showed that evidence gathered by Amnesty International helped to convict the former president.

"It happened around 10pm during a fundraising party… A group of six uniformed people entered abruptly, two were leading and had their faces covered…they insulted us and ordered us to lay on the ground… One man stood up and said: 'I'm the one who organized this, do it to me'. They shot him…Then the massacre started."

This is how survivors of the Barrios Altos massacre in Lima, Peru, recounted their testimony to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Peru. The massacre is just one of the grave human rights violations committed by security forces between the years of 1990 and 2000, when Alberto Fujimori was President of the Republic of Peru.

During Fujimori's presidency, Amnesty International repeatedly exposed human rights violations taking place, meeting with Fujimori to present concerns and delivering statements at the former UN Human Rights Commission.

After Alberto Fujimori fled to Japan, Amnesty International campaigned to bring him to justice. In 2006, 20,000 signatures from countries worldwide were collected to represent some of the victims of Peru's armed conflict.

In court the Prosecutor stated that reports provided by Amnesty International were crucial for him to be able to confirm the number of crimes. The huge body of evidence collected by the organization also helped to refute Fujimori's claim that he was unaware of the crimes against humanity committed in Peru between 1991 and 1993.

On 7 April 2009, Alberto Fujimori was found guilty of murder, kidnapping and serious bodily harm committed by his subordinates and was sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment.

Justice for women, Bosnia & Herzegovina, 2010

Less than a year after the launch of an Amnesty International campaign for survivors of sexual violence during the 1992-1995 war, a number of war criminals had been prosecuted and the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) had begun to tackle the issue.

"Here there is no justice at all!" This was how a woman in BiH summed up the situation for survivors of sexual violence in 2009. During the war, thousands of women and girls were raped and many were held and sexually exploited; many were killed. Fourteen years later, local civil society organisations were the only source of support for the survivors.

Working closely with local civil society partners, Amnesty International's campaign aimed to ensure that the government of BiH provided reparation and justice for the women, while taking measures to reduce stigmatisation and discrimination. Amnesty International supporters lobbied decision makers, including the European Union (EU) and UN, sending letters, postcards, petitions and emails.

The issue gained huge international media interest and in May 2010 two BiH government ministries invited civil society organisations to help them develop a new law and strategies for providing protection and reparations to victims.

In June 2010, the government acknowledged its responsibility for rape survivors, announcing that it was taking measures to improve their situation. In the following month, a joint project between the government and UN Population Fund was launched focusing on assisting survivors of war crimes of sexual violence. Six new trials relating to war crimes of sexual violence were also held and those responsible prosecuted.

Khaled Jaradat, Released Prisoner of Conscience, 1980

When English teacher Khaled Jaradat was held under administrative detention without charge or trial Amnesty International groups put pressure on the Israeli government for his release.

Khaled has been held under administrative detention numerous times since the 1980s. The Israeli General Security Services claimed that Khaled was a member of a Palestinian militant organization, Islamic Jihad and he was arrested again in 2008. However, they offered no evidence to support this allegation, leaving Khaled and his lawyer with no way to challenge his detention in court.

In April 2010, Amnesty International delegates visited Khaled Jaradat's family, including his six children who have grown up with their father frequently being in prison. When asked what he missed most about his father, 13-year-old Hadi said:

"My dad used to help me with my English homework. Now, when I don't understand a lesson, I can't ask him to explain it to me. And my dad is a big gardener, and we used to work in the garden together, which was fun but now I have to do it alone."

During his recent period in detention local Amnesty International group members in several countries wrote letters calling for Khaled Jaradat's release. Their calls were answered on 15 July 2010. After his release, Khaled told those who had campaigned on his behalf:

"I have received many letters. I can't remember the names of all those who wrote to me but they all told me they were writing to the Israelis to release me. There is no doubt the pressure made by Amnesty International has led to my release. I thank you for that and I hope you continue working on other cases until they are released as well."

Wolfgang Welsch, Released Prisoner of Conscience, East Germany, 1971

In 1970, Wolfgang Welsch, 26, was serving his sixth year of imprisonment in Brandenburg penitentiary in the German Democratic Republic. By alerting Amnesty International to his plight via secret messages written on cigarette papers, Wolfgang won freedom from what he described as his 'death cell'.

An actor and poet, Wolfgang expressed his political opinions through poetry and documentary film-making, and it was these activities that led to his imprisonment in 1964. He was given 3 consecutive prison sentences amounting to over 10 years for 'incitement hostile to the state' and attempting to emigrate illegally.

A secret message, written on a cigarette paper and smuggled out of prison, brought Wolfgang's case to the attention of Amnesty International. In the letter, Wolfgang described his 1.2m by 3.5m "stinking death cell", where he lived in solitary confinement "in semi-darkness without sun and hardly any air". His message closed with the plea "Save my life!"

Wolfgang's case was taken up by the Leeds Amnesty International group in the UK, who began writing to the East German authorities. Their letters went unanswered, until they contacted a lawyer in West Germany who agreed to help pressure the authorities. Shortly afterwards, Wolfgang's mother was allowed to visit her son for the first time, and on 24 March 1971, he was released from prison.

According to online sources, Wolfgang Welsch went on to help dozens of people escape from East to West Germany and survived several assassination attempts.

Ratan Gazmere, Released Prisoner of Conscience, Bhutan, 1989

Ratan Gazmere was arrested, tortured and imprisoned for speaking out against Bhutan's repressive cultural integration policy. Letter after letter was written by Amnesty International members and appeals made directly to Bhutan's authorities. These combined efforts ended in not only in Ratan Gazmere's freedom, but the release of more than 300 political prisoners.

Ratan Gazmere and five other men were arrested in November 1989 for writing and distributing pamphlets critical of the Bhutanese government's repressive cultural integration policy. The policy discriminated against Nepalese-speaking southerners by imposing on them northern Bhutanese cultural norms, including a dress code and rules governing how to serve and eat food.

The men were accused of treason, tortured and detained without trial. Ratan was eventually permitted a visit from his wife, Gauri Giri. Unable to speak directly with her about his situation, Ratan repeatedly traced the letters "A" and "I" on Gauri's back. She spoke to friends about this and they suggested he may have wanted her to contact Amnesty International, which she did without delay.

The focus of Ratan's situation in September 1991 was one of Amnesty International's earliest membership action campaigns and had a decisive impact. Gauri recalls : "I learned that hundreds and thousands of letters were arriving in the capital's post office in support of Ratan."

Ratan was freed in December 1991 – just weeks before Amnesty International's first visit to Bhutan at the invitation of the King. One month after that visit 313 political prisoners were freed.

Following his release, Ratan and Gauri worked for the rights of Bhutanese refugees, living as a refugee for 18 years before finally settling in Australia. He continues to work for refugee rights as an Amnesty International member.

"Amnesty International saved my life," says Ratan. "I know for sure that without their support and all the letters people sent, I would be either dead or still be in jail. Instead I am free."