conscience to a series of campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the plight of refugees.

The local chapter of the human rights organisation is sponsoring a visit to the Island by a former refugee, Marian Shermarke, who is from Ethiopia, together with an expert in refugee affairs, Canadian Janet Bench.

The two women will be making a presentation on Thursday evening at the Wesley Methodist Church Hall at 6.30 p.m. and they will also be speaking to schools around the Island. The visit will launch the refugee campaign in Bermuda.

The plight of refugees is a topic which has appeared on the pages of newspapers around the globe on a daily basis for many years. William Holdipp of Amnesty International said: "Some 20 group sections from around the world are taking part. It's a new topic in Bermuda, so we thought we should get someone in to give us some more information.'' The Amnesty member went on to explain: "There is a change in our thrust, because we've found that today, rather than keeping prisoners of conscience in prison, regimes are likely to execute them immediately.

"There is a feeling that Amnesty's success has resulted in shift of policy which repressive governments have regarding their prisoners, and prisoners of conscience,'' he said.