Amnesty International Northern Ireland deeply regrets the passing of Body Shop founder and lifelong human rights champion Anita Roddick.

Anita was a long-time supporter of Amnesty's mission and work, a devotee of good causes, and a trailblazing ethical entrepreneur.

Patrick Corrigan, programme director for Amnesty International Northern Ireland, met Anita on a number of occasions in recent years.

He said: "She was an inspiring lady, full of vitality and verve. I was struck by her exuberance and passion for human rights, and by her unquenchable commitment to responsible business.

"When we last spoke, we reflected on one of our first joint campaigns: to save the lives of Nigerian writer and environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues. This was a campaign in which Northern Irish activists were intimately involved; a fact which Anita never forgot.

"Her support for Amnesty International, and for human rights worldwide, will be acutely missed."

In 1994, Anita helped launch Amnesty's "Make Your Mark" campaign alongside HH The Dalai Lama, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

She also lent her voice to the struggles for human rights in Nigeria during the mid-1990s, and was a vocal in her support for the release of prisoners of conscience. She remained an enduring supporter of Amnesty International.

As tributes to her life and work are paid from all quarters of the business world and the campaigning community, Amnesty International Northern Ireland’s members wish to remember her invaluable contributions to the cause of human rights.