Amnesty honours musician Gabriel

Story from BBC NEWS, Published 2008/09/11

Musician Peter Gabriel has been named Ambassador of Conscience 2008 by human rights group Amnesty International. Gabriel was presented with the honour by U2 guitarist The Edge at a ceremony that took place in London. The Irish rock group were honoured in 2006 for their work to protect human rights around the world. Stars including Gabriel and U2 are also supporting the Small Places Tour, which marks 60 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

A series of concerts encompassing 46 countries have already got under way, and will culminate with a number of events on 10 December, the anniversary of the declaration. The first gig took place in Los Angeles on Wednesday night and featured Mexican rock band Juguares. On Thursday, REM will play in Estonia and highlight the plight of Burmese politician Aung San Suu Kyi, who is held under house arrest in the country.

Former Genesis star Gabriel began his work with Amnesty International on their Conspiracy of Hope tour in 1986, and has since founded two groups to work in favour of human rights. The Ambassador of Conscience founder Bill Shipsey called Gabriel "an ambassador in the truest sense of the word".