Held at the HRAC, the first item on the agenda was a Write for Rights event, featuring the case of Rocky Myers, who has spent nearly three decades on death row, seeking justice. His case was presented by Rocky’s lawyer, Kacey Keeton, live from the USA. Other supporting speakers were Lise Rossi (AIUK Country Coordinator for the USA) and Jermaine Gregory (AIUK Anti-Racism Network Committee Member).

The conference then broke out into workshops. Our Chair attended “Community Organising Skills 1: Power and Community Organising”, run by Hannah Stokes (Community Organiser: Students, AIUK) and Holly Harrison-Mullane (Community Organiser: Trade Unions & Disability, AIUK).

After lunch, the CEO and representatives from the AIUK Section Board and the AIUK Charitable Trust Board faced questions from the floor for 30 minutes, followed by a presentation “Human Rights Successes from 2022-2023” from Felix Jakens (Head of Priority Campaigns and Individuals at Risk, AIUK).

Ilyas Nagdee (Racial Justice Lead, AIUK) and Tiffany Hui (Member of AIUK Anti-Racism Network) launched the AIUK Report on Prevent.

Our Chair then participated in another breakout session, this time entitled “Protect the Protest: What is the Torture Free Trade Treaty, and Why is it So Important?”, run by Oliver Feeley-Sprague (Programme Director: Military Security and Policing, AIUK) and Rebecca Shaw (Research Associate, The Omega Research Foundation).

Sacha Deshmukh (CEO, AIUK) then gave a speech on AIUK Campaigning and the General Election, and the rules governing lobbying of parliamentary candidates.

The highlight of the day was a moving performance by PalArt x AIUK: Creative Arts and the Fight for Human Rights in Palestine, featuring Faris Ishaq (World-Renowned Nay Master, Global Jazz Flutist, Percussionist and Composer), Farah Chamma (Spoken-Word Poet and Performer), Ahmed Masoud (Award winning Author, Director and Co- Founder, PalArt) and Kat Khoury (Co-Founder, PalArt).

A Palestinian buffet supper was provided by Hiba Express.

An excellent day out, made all the more valuable by the opportunity to network with other Amnesty activists, groups, networks, AIUK staff and Board members.