“Fifty years since the Amnesty candle began to shine a light on repression, the human rights revolution now stands on the threshold of historic change,” Amnesty International writes of this video report it produced.
“People are rejecting fear. Courageous people, led largely by youth, are standing up and speaking out in the face of bullets, beatings, tear gas and tanks. This bravery — combined with new technology that is helping activists to outflank and expose government suppression of free speech and peaceful protest — is sending a signal to repressive governments that their days are numbered.
“But there is a serious fight-back from the forces of repression. The international community must seize the opportunity for change and ensure that 2011 is not a false dawn for human rights.”
Salil Shetty, Amnesty International Secretary General offers his comments in this, Amnesty International’s 50th anniversary.