AI Index:AMR 20/C05/99
14 December 1999
AI Canada:
Roger Clark retires - Alex Neve appointed new Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada
Roger Clark, who has been Secretary General of the Canadian Section of Amnesty International (English Branch) since April 1988, will retire on 17 December 1999.
Over his years with Amnesty International Canada, Clark has been on missions to Cambodia, Guatemala and Ethiopia on behalf of the worldwide human rights organization. In 1995 and 1996 Clark led a number of missions to Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania. And in 1997 and 1998 he was interim Program Director for Africa at the International Secretariat in London. During that time Clark travelled to Liberia, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda before resuming his position as Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada in July 1998. Within Canada, Clark has been active with numerous human rights coalitions and monitoring groups including serving as a member of the executive of the Network on International Human Rights (NIHR) and as chair of Human Rights Internet (HRI).
As principal spokesperson for Amnesty International Canada, Clark has frequently been seen, heard and quoted on national TV, radio and in newspapers. His frequent travels across the country talking to AI members and the general public have brought human rights home to many.
“Roger’s passionate concern for human rights and his eloquent presentation of complex issues that define our era on behalf of Amnesty International Canada will be deeply missed”, says Bob Goodfellow, Executive Director of Amnesty International Canada. “But as Roger says, he is retiring from the position not from human rights.” The Executive Committee of the English Branch of Amnesty International Canada has acknowledged the vital role that Roger Clark has played in with the organization since 1988.
They are also pleased to announce that Alex Neve has been appointed Secretary General effective 1 January 2000.
Until recently a member of the Immigration and Refugee Board, Alex Neve is a lawyer with extensive experience in the human rights field. He holds degrees from Dalhousie University and the University of Essex, and he has worked in Canada and Britain in private practice and with a number of refugee organizations.
A member of Amnesty International since 1985, Alex Neve has worked with the organization in many capacities. He served as the refugee coordinator for Amnesty International Canada in 1992-3 and as media spokesperson on refugee issues for the branch from 1993-98. From 1995-98 he was a Canadian representative on Amnesty International’s Organization of American States Working Group. And as a consultant with the International Secretariat of Amnesty International in London in 1998-9, Alex Neve wrote a major report about protecting the human rights of displaced people.
In 1989-90 Neve was a refugee counsellor at Sojourn House Refugee Shelter in Toronto. From 1992-98 he was directly involved in the management of the shelter as a member of the Board of Directors serving as the Chair from 1995-98.
“Alex Neve brings a depth of experience in refugee law and extensive background with Amnesty International to the position of Secretary General”, says Bob Goodfellow. “We are confident that his ability to communicate a deep understanding of human rights will draw even more support for the organization in the future.”
For further information, please contact:
John Tackaberry,
Media Relations
(613) 744-7667 #236