Weekly Action and News 15/09/2023
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
Our group is collaborating with several Human Rights groups in the Middle East to raise awareness about human rights concerns in the UAE. We are hoping that COP28, to be held in Dubai in November, will allow us to shine a light on these pressing issues. A key partner in this initiative is SANID: Stand up for UAE detainees. Given Manchester's close ties with the UAE, our voices hold significant weight in this matter. This campaign is not only pivotal for human rights but also for addressing the intertwined challenges of the climate crisis.
There is a template letter attached to this email, which we are asking you to send to your MP. You can personalise it but please retain the main message. The template can also be accessed at the Take Action link below. You can find out how to contact your MP here.
Refugees: The Lived Experience اللاجئون، واقعهم وحياتهم
An online talk presented by Rethink Rebuild Society, Wednesday 20th September, 19:30-20:45
Researcher Marie-Claire Balaam from UCLAN will speak about insights gained from the Health for Asylum Seekers and Refugees Project (HARP) in the north of England, and the benefits of volunteering to the health and wellbeing of refugees and those seeking asylum.
In English with Arabic translation. Please register to attend, and obtain zoom link, here
Amnesty UK is planning a campaign to secure a Torture-Free Trade Treaty and is hosting an online talk about the campaign on Wednesday 27 September at 6pm. This will be led by Olly Feeley-Sprague (Programme Director, Military, Security and Police) and Lydia Parker (Campaign Manager, Protect the Protest). If you would like to attend, please register here:
Assiduous readers of the quarterly bulletin will have noted that we will be running another craft stall focused on COP 28 and human rights in the UAE at the People’s History Museum. The date given in the bulletin was wrong. This stall will take place on 25th October 11-3pm. All welcome. Please let us Kathryn know if you can help out bussk@btinternet.com
As we start to think about the 2023 Write for Rights Campaign, which will take place in November and December, Anne Walker, is asking for suggestions of places where we can have a Write for Rights stall. Please let Anne know anne.walker9@ntl.world.com if you have a venue available or just an idea for one!
A useful little video (8 minutes) from Netpol about the Police Act and the Public Order Act (and our right to protest) can be found here: Netpol - Protest Restrictions - 01 New Laws - YouTube
Good news
Vietnam - On 30 August 2023, on advice from the Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court, President Vo Van Thoung commuted 11 death sentences to life imprisonment.
United States of America - On September 5, 2023, Jesse Johnson was released from prison, after the prosecution declined to ask for a retrial. Originally sentenced to death in 2004, Mr Johnson’s sentence was commuted in 2011 when the then governor declared a moratorium on executions. In 2021, the Oregon state appeals court found that Mr Johnson’s original defence had failed to call a critical witness in support of his innocence, and ordered a retrial.
Sexual and reproductive rights Mexico - On September 6, 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that "the legal system that criminalizes abortion in the federal penal code is unconstitutional as it violates the right of people to make autonomous decisions about gestation." A week earlier, Aguascalientes had become the twelfth Mexican state to decriminalize abortion.
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 Lancine Sacko - sacko10@hotmail.co.uk
Individuals at Risk (bi-monthly appeal writing drop ins) - Anne Walker anne.walker9@ntlworld.com
Manchester Central Library café, 2-4pm 4th Saturdays September, November, January, March, May, July
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians - Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ and Pride coordinator – Zoe Song weiyi.zoe.song@gmail.com
Press freedom and Julian Assange – Lima Al-Iskalachi limazakoor@gmail.com
Refugees – Alison Wearden alison.wearden@gmail.com
UAE – Kathryn Fletcher bussk@btinternet.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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