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of AI development in the third world.
The Soviet Al group was formally recognized in the autumn of 1974 and was assigned three prisoners for adoption.
Membership in the Irish Section has increased. Two major fundraising events were held and considerable publicity surrounded the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Sean MacBride, chairman of the section. The British Section, with a new director and fundraiser, has undertaken numerous new initiatives to promote the work of Al throughout the country.
In the Nordic countries, the most encouraging development has been the establishment of a section in Iceland. The section has already received extensive publicity and the membership is growing rapidly. The sections in Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland and Norway have all shown a gradual increase in member- ship. They have participated in special campaigns and have made continued efforts in publicity and fundraising. The Swedish Section has established a large number of new groups and has devoted much time to AI publications.
The Canadian Section has been successful in establishing groups in all but two provinces. A number of campaigns have been held and support has been given by the Canadian parliamentary AI group. In the United States individual member- ship has risen rapidly whilst a number of inactive groups have been closed down. As already mentioned the two sections in Latin America, Mexico and Peru, have been visited by the Latin American field secretary. The Mexican Section particularly has had increasing contacts throughout the year with other sections and with the International Secretariat. Dirk Börner, Chairman of the Internation- al Executive Committee, met with members of the section while in Mexico on a private visit. The section was represented at the Askov council meeting.
In Israel the group in Tel Aviv has been revived, and the section was able to send a representative to the council meeting.
In Asia the main development in the past year has been the field secretary program and the holding of the South Asia Regional Conference in New Delhi. The Indian Section, while acting as host for the field secretary and for the conference, has also concentrated on promoting the Campaign for the Prisoners of the Month and has compiled a handbook to explain the different ways in which members can support the work of AI. The field secretary has visited the sections in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The sections played an active role in the regional conference and have outlined plans for renewed activity. Representatives of the section which is in formation in Pakistan attended the regional conference, and this was followed up in April by a visit from the field secretary.
The Japanese Section has had good press coverage and many new members have joined. Preliminary arrangements are going ahead for the AI Pan-Pacific Conference on Human Rights. The section in the Republic of Korea has contin- ued to translate and distribute the Newsletter, including the Campaign for the Prisoners of the Month, and has been successful in obtaining publicity for its activities.
The six AI branches in Australia have continued to expand. A meeting was held in Sydney in January 1975 at which representatives from each of the branches discussed the possibility of establishing a single Australian Section. Ratification of the proposed constitution is now under consideration by each of
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