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CAMPAIGNS
APPEALS |
October 97, Good news:
Thanks to thousands of letters and petitions.
The Portuguese government cancelled the revision of the constitution.
Amnesty International in Macao thanks everyone who joined this campaign.
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Boas Notícias:
Graças a milhares de cartas e de petitções, o Governo Português cancelou a revisão constitucional. A Amnistia Internacional de Macau agradece a todas as pessoas que participaram nesta campanha.
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Campaigns on refugees
In 1997, Amnesty International has launched a campaign - REFUGE! HUMAN
RIGHTS HAVE NO BORDERS-in response to the worldwide refuge crisis.
It has 3 main aims:
1. To prevent human rights violations so that people do not have to
leave their homes in search of safety;
2. To ensure that those who flee human rights violations are allowed to reach
a place of safety, are given effective protection against forcible return,
and are guaranteed minimum standards of humane treatment while they
are displaced;
3. To press for human rights to be a priority when considering refugee issues,
such as programs for refugees to return home, development in international
refugee law and practice, and the protection needs of people displaced
within their own cuntries.
For more information - Click here! - and sign the petition!
Petition for signing. Or send individual letters expressing your concerns to the portuguese government :
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APPEAL
President of Portugal, Dr. Jorge Sampaio, Palácio de Belém, Calçada da Ajuda, 1300, Lisboa. Fax: +351 136 257 00 and the President of the Assembly of the Republic: Presidente da Assembleia da República, Dr.Almeida Santos, Palácio de S.Bento, 1200 Lisboa. Fax +351 160 7771
Say NO to the Extraditions!
Amendment to the Portuguese Constitution
Humans Rights must be preserved
Legal Concern / Death Penalty
PORTUGAL proposed constitutional change could put extradited prisoners at risk of death penalty
We, undersigned,are aware that on 7 March 1997 the two major Portuguese political parties, the ruling Socialist Party (PS) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD) signed an agreement to revise the Portuguese Constitution. The inter-party agreement to amend Article 33(3) allows for the possibility of extradition of prisoners for crimes which carry the death penalty under the law of the requesting state.
We would like to express our oppsition to the referred amendment that contradicts the international covenants ratified by Portugal,and that it would be seen in other countries as a retrograde step, given Portugal's long history of abolition of the death penalty and the important role Portugal has played in seeking worldwide abolition.
Portugal abolished the death penalty for political offences in 1852 and for common criminal offences in 1867. The death penalty was abolished for all offences in a new Constitution approved by the Constituent Assembly in 1976. The Assembly voted unanimously in favour of Article 25 of the Constitution which states, "1. Human life is inviolable. 2. In no case will there be the penalty of death."
We believe that, if passed, the amendment would be seen by other countries as a retrograde step and a weakening of resolve by Portugal in the worldwide fight against both imposition and execution of the death penalty.
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