UK: Death row Briton opens Amnesty’s conference as delegates meet in Edinburgh, 23-25 March

Interview Opportunities

Amnesty International UK’s National Conference & AGM takes place in Edinburgh this weekend (23–25 March), attended by 400 of the human rights organisation’s members and opened by Mirza Tahir Hussain, the British man whose release from death row in Pakistan members successfully campaigned for last year.

Along with his brother Amjad, who campaigned with Amnesty and other organisations and individuals, Mirza Tahir will open the conference on Saturday. Media are welcome to attend this and both men are available for interview afterwards.

Keynote speaker at the conference on Saturday is Gégé Katana, a Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights’s right activist from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Executive Secretary of a Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights’s organisation for human rights and community development (SOFAD) for three years, she has actively campaigned for Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights’s rights for 25 years. She is visiting the UK from 21 March - 26 March 2007 and is available for interview during this time. Note: Gégé is a French speaker and would require a translator

Amnesty International has more than 250,000 members and supporters in the UK and nearly two million around the world. The organisation campaigns to Women's rights's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights, control the Arms, abolish the death penalty and end torture, as well as working on behalf of individuals placed at risk by abuses of their human rights.

Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:

"Our National Conference & AGM represents the biggest gathering of our supporters and I’m delighted that this year we are meeting in Edinburgh. With terrific speakers, some lively debates and a busy timetable of workshops and exhibitions, this will be a tremendous occasion, bringing together Amnesty members from all over the UK."

Kate Allen is available for interview from Friday afternoon.

The National Conference & AGM will close on Sunday afternoon with a commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

• Find out more about the 2007 Amnesty International UK National Conference and AGM