Its current campaigns are to end human rights abuses in Israel and Gaza, Syria, Egypt and Central African Republic. Stop Torture Amnesty International is working worldwide for governments to end the practice of torture. It is actively lobbying the governments of Mexico, Nigeria and the Philippines to ban torture. Individuals at Risk When individuals suffer grave human rights abuses, Amnesty International New Zealand takes action for their support. Recent successes include the release of Meriam Ibrahim, condemned to death in Sudan for apostasy; Nasrin Sotoudeh, an imprisoned Iranian human rights lawyer; and a reduced sentence for Dr Tun Tun Hein, an imprisoned community leader in Myanmar. Refugees and Asylum Seekers Amnesty International campaigns to ensure the rights of refugees and asylum seekers are protected by working to prevent human rights violations that cause people to flee their homes. At the same time, it opposes the forcible return of any individual facing serious human rights violations. One such case is of former Islamic Salvation Front member Ahmed Zaoui, who was seeking asylum in New Zealand. Amnesty International didn't take a position on whether Ahmed Zaoui is guilty of the charges laid against him, but argued that he had not received fair criminal trials in Algeria, Belgium, or France, and that Switzerland's rejection of his refugee claim and subsequent deportation to Burkina Faso was improper. Zaoui was bailed in 2004 and the New Zealand government withdrew objections to his refugee status in 2007. Asia-Pacific With no official Amnesty presence in the Pacific, Amnesty International New Zealand has a unique responsibility to protect human rights in the region. It campaigns to end violence against women in countries like Papua New Guinea with extremely high rates of sexual and gender-based violence, and works to protect freedom of expression in countries like Fiji. Other Campaigns Amnesty International strongly supports the creation of a United Nations treaty to control small arms. Amnesty International New Zealand gathered over 12,000 faces in a photo-petition it handed in to the New Zealand Government. Minister for Disarmament Phil Goff declared New Zealand's strong support for such a treaty after receiving the petition. New Zealand is the first nation in negotiations for a free trade agreement with China. As a result of this, and New Zealand's proximity to the nation, Amnesty International New Zealand is trying to highlight human rights in the People's Republic of China. The organisation is particularly concerned