An exhibition at Truro Cathedral has launched two weeks of events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the human rights organisation Amnesty International.

Over the next two weeks the Truro and Falmouth Group of Amnesty International (AI) will be marking the creation of the organisation by British lawyer Peter Benenson in 1961.

Events began on Wednesday with an exhibition in Truro Cathedral of artwork by Cornish secondary school students on human rights themes, which will run until June 7.

The work has been created in a competition run with the help of Porkellis-based war artist Phil Whiting and wil be exhibited alongside the work of AI.

This Saturday between 10am to 4pm there will be stalls from AI, United Nations Association, Christian Aid, the Medical Foundation for torture victims and the Quakers at High Cross outside Truro Cathedral, with opportunities for the public to take action on human rights issues.

The group will be cutting an AI birthday cake, doing a toast to freedom and inviting passers-by to sit in an Amnesty cage prison, with aim of having 50 people photographed in it over the day.

The final event organised will be on Tuesday, June 7 starting at 7pm.

This will be an evening of theatre and discussion in the Chapter House adjacent to the cathedral, starting with a performance of “Rendition Monologues” by professional actors from the London-based human rights theatre company ICEANDFIRE.

This will be followed by a “Question Time” style panel discussion on current human rights issues. The panel will include Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK, Bishop of Truro Tim Thornton, Christine Bacon, artistic director of ICEANDFIRE), Dr Dureid Rifai, Muslim representative on Cornwall Faith Forum and Phil Whiting.

Chris Ramsey, chairman of Truro and Falmouth Amnesty International Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Truro Cathedral has been so supportive with our 50th anniversary events.

“Amnesty at 50 is a once in a lifetime opportunity to really promote the work of Amnesty International and engage with the community about the myriad of human rights abuses that still plague the world.”