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Amnesty International Australia sticks with M&C Saatchi

Human rights organisation Amnesty International has declared it will stick with its creative agency M&C Saatchi after it was revealed founder Charles Saatchi has been cautioned by police for assault over a London restaurant incident involving his wife Nigella Lawson.

Saatchi was questioned by police in relation to several photos which were published in the British press on Sunday, showing Saatchi apparently holding his wife by the throat.

One of Amnesty International’s chief aims is preventing violence against women.

Saatchi co-founded M&C Saatchi with his brother Maurice and earlier in his career Saatchi & Saatchi which is now owned by Publicis.

In Australia, Amnesty International is a client of M&C Saatchi. The agency slogan is “brutal simplicity of thought”.

In a statement issued to Mumbrella, Amnesty International Australia said it would continue to work with M&C Saatchi, as Charles Saatchi is no longer involved in the company.

The statement reads: “AI has for decades campaigned for an end to violence against women worldwide, including in Australia and in the U.K. All women and girls, everywhere, have the right to live free from violence and intimidation.

“AI has strict guidelines regarding the organisations and companies it uses as suppliers and partners, namely that any organisation or company must work to uphold the same human rights standards that AI fights for. As there is no relationship with Charles Saatchi, former head of advertising agency M&C Saatchi, this has no bearing on our business dealings with the agency.”

Saatchi formed M&C Saatchi in 1995 with brother Maurice in 1995 after being ousted from Saatchi & Saatchi. Maurice Saatchi is currently executive director of M&C Saatchi.

Sicne news of the incident broke, M&C Saatchi has not been responding to requests for comment.

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