Weekly Action and News 03/03/2023
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
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Woman human rights defender, Vanessa Mendoza Cortés, could soon stand trial for speaking out for women’s rights in Andorra, including abortion rights, before a UN expert body in 2019. She faces a heavy fine and a criminal record if convicted. Amnesty is calling on the authorities to drop the charges against Vanessa Mendoza Cortés, stemming solely from the exercise of her right to freedom of expression and her advocacy of women’s rights, including sexual and reproductive rights. Amnesty further calls on the authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure access to safe and legal abortion in Andorra. Click the link below for more information and to send an email to the Andorran Attorney General, or find a template for a letter, if you prefer to write.
The next Manchester Amnesty Group meeting on 13th March at 6pm is joint with
Freedom from Torture,
and we have an external speaker,
Sergei Nikitin, former head of Amnesty International in Russia.
Venue: Manchester Central Library.
All are welcome, so please tell your friends!
We look forward to seeing you there.
The Amnesty Northern Regional Conference, 11th March 2023, 10.00-15.30, ONLINE
is now open for registration at the link below:
Amnesty UK's North Conference Live: Saturday March 11th 2023 Tickets | TryBooking United Kingdom
This is a FREE conference, although you can make a donation.
Talks, discussions and workshops on:
Amnesty UK's work to End Israel's Apartheid, Amnesty UK's Anti-Racism Campaigns and Prevent,
Human Rights in Saudi Arabia, Value driven football clubs, Getting ready for the General Election,
Community sponsorship and Local Activism.
You can sign up for the whole day or specific sessions.
All individual and group members from the North of England are welcome to attend.
The IPPR, Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU) and Praxis have published a report on the impact on people’s lives of the 10 years it takes to achieve settlement status in the UK. On Tuesday 7th March at 10am, the IPPR are hosting a FREE webinar with GMIAU and Praxis to share the findings of the report. Sign up here.
Potential press freedom/Assange subgroup
If you would like to join our member Lima Al-Iskalachi in setting up a Manchester Amnesty subgroup to work on issues around press freedom and the case of Julian Assange, please contact her limakazoor@gmail.com
Human Rights in the UK
Lancine Sacko has volunteered to coordinate our work on Human Rights in the UK. Thanks Lancine! If you are interested in joining a subgroup and working with him, please let him know sacko10@hotmail.co.uk
Good news
United States of America - On February 24, 2023, Abdul and Mohamed Ahmed Rabbani, two Pakistani citizens captured in 2002 in Pakistan, were released from the Guantanamo detention centre. They had spent 20 years in prison without trial after being handed over to US forces in Afghanistan.
Germany/Syria – On February 25, 2023, a Berlin court sentenced Moafak D., a Syrian-Palestinian affiliated with the Syrian pro-government militias, to life imprisonment. He had been found guilty of brandishing a shoulder rocket launcher and firing at a hundred people, mostly women and children lined up for humanitarian aid, killing at least four, at the Yarmouk refugee camp in 2014.
Malaysia - On February 14, 2023, an appeals court overturned, due to lack of evidence, the guilty verdict and death sentence on two brothers who had been convicted in February 27, 2020, of trafficking 986 grams of cannabis.
Iran - On February 19, 2023, Danoosh Kiaderi, a 24-year-old hairdresser accused of leading protests in the city of Sari, was released on bail. Arrested on November 2, 2022, he had been subjected to torture and his "confessions" were broadcast on television.
United States of America – On February 16, 2023, the governor of the state of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, declared that during his term of office he will not sign any execution order, as "the system [of capital punishment] is fallible and its outcomes are irreversible".
Sri Lanka - On February 22, 2023, the incumbent president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, announced that he will not sign any execution orders for death sentences issued by the state courts.
South Korea - On February 21, 2023, the High Court ordered the National Health Service to restore insurance coverage for one of the two partners in a same-sex relationship, who had had his reimbursement of health costs cancelled because he was not recognized as part of the couple.
Manchester Amnesty Subgroups and other work
If you would like to join any of our subgroups, please contact the current convenors for joining details.
UAE – Next meeting Wednesday 22nd March, 6pm, contact Kathryn Fletcher for joining link, bussk@btinternet.com
Refugees – Next meeting, Monday 6th March, 6pm, on zoom please contact Alison Wearden, if you would like to join alison.wearden@gmail.com
Anti-racism – Next meeting in April, date tbc, please contact Hazel Errey if you would like to join hazelerrey@gmail.com
Craftivism –Next meeting Sunday 12th March, 6pm, online, please contact Kathryn Fletcher if you would like to join bussk@btinternet.com . Kathryn will be stepping down as craftivism coordinator so if you would like to take on this role, please let her know.
Individuals at Risk (bi-monthly letter writing drop ins) Next session, Saturday, 25th March 2-4pm, then 4th Saturday in May, July, September, November. Manchester Central Library, café area. Contact Anne Walker for more information anne.walker9@ntlworld.com
Other areas of work are led by:
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ and Pride coordinator – Zoe Song weiyi.zoe.song@gmail.com
Europe/ Turkey, Fatih Segmen, fsegmen@yahoo.com
Alison Wearden
Communications Secretary
Manchester Group of Amnesty International
Please contact me with items for our Weekly Action and News email, or with ideas for longer articles for the quarterly Manchester Amnesty Group Bulletin.
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