A life-size stone figure looking out from the steps of London's St Paul's Cathedral is designed to highlight the plight of people suffering for their religious and political beliefs.

Ecce Homo, by renowned sculptor Mark Wallinger, has been installed in collaboration with the cathedral and Amnesty International and will remain there for six weeks.

The life-size sculpture shows the figure of Jesus Christ, hands bound behind his back and wearing a crown of barbed wire, as he awaits judgment moments before he was sentenced to death.

Famously the first sculpture to appear on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square in 1999, Ecce Homo presents Christ as a lone man standing before a hostile crowd, being judged for his beliefs.

Wallinger, who won the Turner Prize in 2007, said: 'This vulnerable figure stands at the top of the steps outside the entrance to St Paul's Cathedral as we approach Easter to highlight the plight of people around the world who are imprisoned and whose lives are threatened for speaking the truth, for what they believe.

'It is an enormous privilege to work with St Paul's and Amnesty International to shine a light on human rights abuses.'

Canon Mark Oakley, Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, said: 'The phrase "Ecce Homo" means "Behold the man", and as we behold the sculpture of Jesus of Nazareth, so we also urgently bring to mind people in our own day who are imprisoned and under sentence of execution for their belief and conscience.

'Amnesty has a long history of opening the world's eyes and hearts to those whose human dignity is being abused in this way. We are delighted to join with them in enabling Mark's remarkable work to be placed at St Paul's both for quiet reflection and as a call for justice.'