Weekly Action and News 05/04/2024
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
Amnesty International UK are about to launch a campaign highlighting how the economic social and cultural rights (ESCR) of people in the UK have taken a battering over recent years, alongside the more widely recognised deterioration in civic and political rights (e.g. protest, voting, citizenship rights). The ESCR campaign, based on extensive research in vulnerable communities, will highlight how loss of the rights to housing, health care, education, transport and properly regulated work all interact and destroy people’s ability to live a decent life with their families. Please watch the video at the link below and share it widely. You can find out more about the new campaign here, and read more about ESCR here
Our April group meeting will take place in person on
Monday 8th April, 6pm, third-floor meeting room, Manchester Central Library.
***THIS EVENING*** MANCHESTER AMNESTY SILENT VIGIL
Silent vigil calling for a permanent ceasefire
and the protection of all civilians in Palestine and Israel
St Peters Square, Manchester, Friday 5th April, 5pm to 6pm
Meet in front of Central Library
Please dress warmly, wear black/dark colours
and please do not bring placards, banners or flags.
We will provide placards with Amnesty’s messages and tealights. Feel free to bring your friends.
We will continue with the weekly vigils until further notice.
AIUK have put out a call for nominations (including self nominations) for the roles of regional activism reps, and the nomination procedure is now open.
You can find out about the role and how to nominate here.
Ahead of the anticipated General Election in the UK, AIUK have published a new
Human Rights Manifesto, outlining Amnesty’s demands for human rights-based approaches in both foreign and home affairs. You can access all the documents here.
Non-Amnesty events
VOICES OF RESILIENCE at HOME Manchester
A celebration of Gazan writing
With performances by Kamila Shamsie, Maxine Peake, Kingsley Ben-Adir and many others.
Thanks to everyone who wrote to HOME to protest when this event was cancelled.
It has now been reinstated, with the new date and details to be announced.
Read the statement from HOME here.
We will provide more details when we have them.
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and other organisations
Rise up with Palestinian Women. Stop the Gaza Genocide.
Demonstration, Saturday 6th April, 12 noon, St Peter’s Square.
Whalley Range Peace and Justice Stand with Palestine
Each Wednesday 4.30-5.30 at Brooks Bar (junction Upper Chorlton Rd/Moss Lane East/Withington Rd)
Please support these events, but please do not take Amnesty banners.
Your last chance to see the
Material Power Palestinian Embroidery exhibition at the Whitworth Art Gallery
The exhibition, which is free, closes on Sunday April 7th . It charts the evolution of embroidery in Palestine over the past century, showing how it has become a powerful symbol of resistance, and has come to embody personal and national resilience. The beautiful exhibits are on display in the UK for the first time in over 30 years and are well worth seeing!
FREEDOM FROM TORTURE – THE NEIGHBOUR MOVEMENT
What are the issues facing refugees and asylum seekers?
A day of engagement and discussion with local communities.
Saturday 13 April, 10:00-17:00, St Aidan's Centre, 230a Wythenshawe Road, M23 0PH
More information and register here.
Good news
United States of America - On March 25, 2024, the Texas State Court of Appeals sentenced Randall Mays to life in prison in a new trial, after acknowledging that the inmate's mental disability would have made the execution of the death sentence, originally issued in 2008 for a double murder, unconstitutional.
Thailand - On March 27, 2024, the lower house of parliament approved the law establishing marriage equality by an overwhelming majority.
Argentina - On March 27, 2024, a court in La Plata sentenced 10 former members of the military dictatorship to life imprisonment and one to 25 years in prison for crimes against humanity, including for the first time that of sexual violence against trans women.
Poland - On March 28, 2024, Elżbieta, Anna and Joanna, three activists who in 2019 had been accused of "offending religious feelings" after they had put up posters depicting the Virgin Mary with a halo painted in the colors of the rainbow, were definitively acquitted by the Supreme Court.
Italy - On March 28, 2024, the Court of Appeal of Milan denied the extradition to Hungary of Gabriele Marchesi, accused of assault and belonging to an extremist group, as there is a "real risk of inhuman and degrading treatment" in Hungarian prisons and "there is well-founded fears of real risks of violation of fundamental rights".
Manchester Amnesty issue and campaign coordinators
Anti-racism –Hazel Errey hazelerrey@gmail.com
Craftivism – Lima Al-Iskalachi limazakoor@gmail.com
Europe/ Turkey Fatih Segmen - fsegmen@yahoo.com
Human Rights in the UK Iona Bruce – ifbruce99@gmail.com
Individuals at Risk (bi-monthly appeal writing drop ins and Write for Rights in Nov/Dec) – Anne Walker is stepping down. Please contact her if you are interested in taking over the role anne.walker9@ntlworld.com
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians - Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ and Pride – Zoe Song weiyi.zoe.song@gmail.com
Press freedom and Julian Assange – Lima Al-iskalachi limazakoor@gmail.com & Danny Jones dannyj644@gmail.com
Refugees Whatsapp group – Alison Wearden alison.wearden@gmail.com
UAE – Kathryn Fletcher bussk@btinternet.com
Our website Manchester | Amnesty International UK (managed by Alison Wearden)
X/Twitter @amnestymanc (managed by Steve Lindsay – stevenjameslindsay@gmail.com)
Facebook Manchester Amnesty Group
Instagram @amnestymanchester (managed by Sara Baptista - sarabm6@gmail.com)
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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