The Protect The Human drive, launched on 23 October, is a major nationwide initiative aimed at getting a million people across the UK to stand up and speak out for human rights.

The launch kicked off with an all-star line-up of music from Starsailor, The Others, Dreadzone, Mark Moore from S-Express and an acoustic set by Kill City.

There was also stand-up comedy from Guy Pratt - formerly of Pink Floyd - and compere Robin Ince.

Amnesty International UK Campaigns Director Stephen Bowen said:

"The combination of music, comedy and human rights has been a powerful one for Amnesty International in the past and, along with moving speeches from those fighting for justice in Brazil, Zimbabwe, Nepal and Guatemala, these ingredients helped to create the perfect launch pad for our Protect The Human initiative, to get a million people in the UK standing up for human rights. "Protect The Human is all about making it easier for people to show their support and - through art, music, film and TV, and using letters, emails, postcards, photos and texts - Amnesty will be equipping the nation in the coming months with simple and creative ways to speak out." The "global scourge" of violence against Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights is also on the campaign agenda – with the World Health Organisation estimating that one in every five Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights in the world is, or will become, a victim of rape. Representatives from around the world who spoke at Amnesty International’s launch included Krishna Pahadi from Nepal, who once campaigned for prisoners of conscience and then ended up as one, and two mothers from the peaceful protest group Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights Of Zimbabwe Arise, who have suffered first-hand at the hands of Zimbabwe's repressive regime.

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