Nearly one-third of the 103 workers at Amnesty International Nederland are to lose their jobs as the human rights group copes with a 10% drop in income.

It is the first time since its foundation in 1968 the Dutch arm has been hit by falling income and membership numbers.

This year the organisation faces a shortfall of €2.65m on its annual budget of €25m. Amnesty International Nederland membership has fallen by 16,000 this year and it has also had €1m less than expected in donations and legacies.

The organisation still has 265,000 members in the Netherlands, making the Dutch operation the biggest national branch.

The Dutch organisation will give priority to a limited number of issues in which it specialises, said local director Eduard Nazarski. These include police and human rights abuse in Russia, alongside international campaigns.