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Name: Niall Couper
Occupation: Amnesty International UK (Press Officer)
Country: UK
Total Questions: 7
Total Answers: 6

Links
www.amnesty.org.uk

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Answered Questions

bonzo1 asked Niall Couper: "Countries like Iraq, China and Pakistan have been criticised by Amnesty for their human rights abuses, but would you accept that some human rights abuse is the price that has to be paid to govern what..." Show more »"Countries like Iraq, China and Pakistan have been criticised by Amnesty for their human rights abuses, but would you accept that some human rights abuse is the price that has to be paid to govern what are, in their own ways, pretty ungovernable countries?" Show less »
Niall Couper answers: "Not at all - human rights go hand in hand with good, successful government. Look at countries that enjoy prosperity and stability and you'll find that they tend to be countries that have democracy, a ..." Show more»" Not at all - human rights go hand in hand with good, successful government. Look at countries that enjoy prosperity and stability and you'll find that they tend to be countries that have democracy, a free press and a lively civil society. More fundamentally, the horrors of torture, arbitrary imprisonment, executions and persecution can never be justified in the name of 'stability' or 'government'. "Show less«
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0 comment | Topic: World Affairs | Email to friends | Dec 04 2007 8:43:06 PM
sunnyday asked Niall Couper: "Is it possible to rank different human rights in order of importance? And, if it is, what would you say were the top 5?"
Niall Couper answers: "No. Specific rights may assume a higher significance for an individual according to the circumstances and threats that a person may face but all rights are important. Amnesty International campaigns for..." Show more»" No. Specific rights may assume a higher significance for an individual according to the circumstances and threats that a person may face but all rights are important. Amnesty International campaigns for everyone in the world to able to enjoy all of their human rights. One reason for this is the 'indivisibility' of human rights - the way in which they are interlinked and intertwined "Show less«
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0 comment | Topic: World Affairs | Email to friends | Dec 04 2007 8:45:36 PM
johnread asked Niall Couper: "Can Amnesty International ever make a difference in places like Burma and Zimbabwe given that national governments fail to influence human rights abuses in those countries"
Niall Couper answers: "The quick answer is yes. Amnesty regularly operates letter-writing campaigns to people we define as “Individuals at Risk”. And the feedback we have received suggests that they have made a huge difference. One..." Show more»" The quick answer is yes. Amnesty regularly operates letter-writing campaigns to people we define as “Individuals at Risk”. And the feedback we have received suggests that they have made a huge difference. One such case involves Ko Aung, a former student leader in Burma. He was arrested and tortured after the protests in 1988. Amnesty identified him as an “Individual at Risk”, and as a result the jail that he was held in received thousands of letters – some of which made their way into his hands. He describes the letters as instrumental in giving him hope and also vital in putting an end to the torture he was suffering. Overall though the real question should be: how bad would the situation in those countries be if Amnesty International did not shine the spotlight on the horrific human rights violations? Our press and lobbying work helps give a global audience to some of the world’s hidden atrocities, without the publicity who knows what certain countries would get away with "Show less«
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0 comment | Topic: World Affairs | Email to friends | Dec 04 2007 8:31:32 PM
lucylodge asked Niall Couper: "With the 2008 Olympic games being held in Beijing, are Amnesty planning on using the extra worldwide attention this will bring to highlight Chinese human rights policies or lack thereof, and if so, ho..." Show more »"With the 2008 Olympic games being held in Beijing, are Amnesty planning on using the extra worldwide attention this will bring to highlight Chinese human rights policies or lack thereof, and if so, how?" Show less »
Niall Couper answers: "Amnesty is using the Beijing Olympics to call on the Chinese authorities to honour the promises they made when bidding for the Olympics, that they would improve human rights. Around the world Amnesty ..." Show more»" Amnesty is using the Beijing Olympics to call on the Chinese authorities to honour the promises they made when bidding for the Olympics, that they would improve human rights. Around the world Amnesty is focusing on four key areas: restrictions on media freedom, fair trials, persecution of human rights defenders (activists, lawyers etc) and use of the death penalty. We have produced a Media Kit for journalists going to the Games and in 2008 will release a Visitors Kit so anyone going to Beijing can 'know before they go'. And you can expect something big from us to mark the 4 June anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. "Show less«
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0 comment | Topic: World Affairs | Email to friends | Dec 04 2007 8:38:36 PM
moiraread asked Niall Couper: "Given the Catholic Church support for AI, how will Amnesty's recent decision regarding rape and termination of pregnancy in war affect this relationship longterm?"
Niall Couper answers: "While Amnesty International, as a secular organisation, does not have a formal relationship with the Catholic Church there are many Catholics among our 2.2 million members around the world. It is disappointing..." Show more»" While Amnesty International, as a secular organisation, does not have a formal relationship with the Catholic Church there are many Catholics among our 2.2 million members around the world. It is disappointing that they are being asked by their church to consider alternative ways of supporting human rights. Only a very small number have left Amnesty in the UK and we hope that remains the case. After all, our members and supporters cannot possibly play an active part in all of our campaigns and, in some circumstances because of deeply held beliefs, they choose not to do so. This has always been the case and we as a movement have always respected such views. There will continue to be more that unites Amnesty International and the Catholic Church than divides us. "Show less«
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0 comment | Topic: World Affairs | Email to friends | Dec 04 2007 8:35:50 PM