Group Newsletter October 2025

October 15, 2025 by zarganar

Welcome to the latest newsletter. Our next meeting is on Thursday, 6th November 2025, from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm at Moordown Community Centre. We will have updates on campaigns, letter writing and planning future events. However, don’t forget that this Thursday, the new Amnesty South West Network is launching with a webinar…

Thursday 16th October, 7.30 pm, Breaking the Silence will expose the reality of life for Palestinians in the West Bank. Founded in March 2004, Breaking the Silence is an organisation of veteran soldiers who have served in the Israeli military since the start of the Second Intifada and have taken it upon themselves to expose the Israeli public to the reality of the horrendous conditions faced by the Palestinians in the West Bank. They endeavour to stimulate public debate in Israel about this and, through their work, aim to bring an end to the occupation. Free tickets to the webinar are now available. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1659755616729?

Friday November 21st 8.00 pm

Yes, it’s back. Get ready for an evening packed with trivia, fun and friendly competition! Test your knowledge on a broad range of topics – from current events and TV, to history and everything in between. We always start with a picture quiz. Enjoy a night of head scratching, frustration, joy and groaning out loud!

Our quizzes are informal but competitive! We are returning to one of our favourite venues, The Brunswick Hotel (199 Malmesbury Park Road, BH8 8PX). Please help with planning by reserving your tickets via Eventbrite. As always, payment is due on the night, but we need to ensure we don’t exceed the room limit – teams of up to 6 are allowed, with an entrance fee of £5 per person. If you aren’t in a team, they can be adjusted/formed on the night to ensure no one’s on their own. As ever, we will have a raffle (prize donations very welcome).
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/amnesty-international-quiz-night-tickets-1794213022449

[Read more…]

South America Newsletter October 2025

October 9, 2025 by zarganar

This month, we bring you news from Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina and Chile. We also welcome Carolina Beresford as the new Country Coordinator for Colombia and Brazil.

Highlights are:

Colombia: Two Urgent Actions are calling for the protection and ending of harassment of FEDEPESAN and its members, and for health authorities to control a severe health outbreak threatening the Bari people urgently.
Brazil: Brazil has passed a landmark law to protect children online.
Venezuela: Human Rights Watch has issued a new report outlining that dozens of political prisoners have been held incommunicado for weeks, months, and some for over a year.
Ecuador: A new Amnesty International report reveals how a massive deployment of the Armed Forces has facilitated enforced disappearances, leaving entire families in limbo
Argentina: Argentina has renounced its candidacy for the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Chile: A UN committee has questioned how the State will guarantee indigenous peoples’ rights to land and ensure access to safe drinking water and sanitation

COLOMBIA

Amnesty International has issued a new Urgent Action calling for the protection of the Federation of Artisanal, Environmentalist, and Tourist Fishers of Santander (FEDEPESAN) and its members, and to end the harassment suffered by the fisher community. Between June and August, 26 fisher families from the area of San Silvestre, Barrancabermeja, were forcibly displaced after threats to their safety. The FEDEPESAN president, Yuly Velásquez, received direct death threats to her phone. Despite ongoing legal actions, FEDEPESAN member Janeth Millán was evicted from her home and assaulted by police. The Urgent Action is now on the AIUK site.

Another new Amnesty Urgent Action calls on the Colombian health authorities to urgently control a severe health outbreak with measures that respect the Bari People’s rights to health and informed, prior consent. In the Bridikayra settlement of the Bari Indigenous People in Catatumbo, dozens are suffering from fever, pain and haemorrhages, and in August, a child died after showing these symptoms. Living far from urban centres and not being provided with health services puts them at further risk. The Urgent Action is now on the AIUK site. With both actions, please copy in the Colombian Ambassador to the UK. [Read more…]

Europe Newsletter October 2025

October 5, 2025 by zarganar

We are living in dangerous and precarious times. The times of a consensus on the importance of universal human rights are seeming to become distant memory and the challenges at home and across the globe are huge. As human rights activists we have to hold on to the candle and defend the human rights of all. At the sharp end again are the most vulnerable: refugees who had to flee persecution at home and are dehumanised demonised in their host countries and at the borders. It is on us to defend the people and principle against the tide of disinformation and hate.

Poland

by Lucja Jastrzebska

LGBTQI Rights Urgent Action

Amnesty Poland are currently carrying out an urgent campaign action aimed at exposing and challenging X’s (formerly Twitter) failure to prevent and mitigate technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TfGBV), particularly targeting LGBTI communities.

Together, we can amplify the voices of those affected and demand that governments act to regulate Big Tech and uphold human rights online.

Campaign Overview

On 25 September, activists around the world, including LGBTI advocates in Poland, took part in a coordinated Twitter storm. Participants posted campaign visuals or videos using the hashtags #MakeItSafeOnline and tagging relevant regulatory authorities. [Read more…]

South West Network

September 14, 2025 by zarganar

A new initiative is being launched next month – Amnesty South West England Network. This aims to enhance human rights activism and awareness across South West England, encompassing both national and global issues. Local groups have been at the heart of Amnesty International UK from its inception and have been a vital part of its activism. Unfortunately, the number of local groups has declined gradually, leaving parts of the country without a means to connect with others and participate in campaigning. The Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch group is now the only local group left in Dorset.

What are the benefits of being part of the network?

Being more informed about human rights issues
Meeting and working with people who also care about these issues
Gaining support for issues you already work on and care about
Feeling you can help to make a difference

Similar initiatives have already been successfully launched in Kent and Central England, primarily online, enabling potential activists to meet, listen to speakers, plan regional campaigns, and coordinate location-specific actions. As well as existing Amnesty members, these networks aim to attract people who may not be Amnesty members but who are interested in human rights issues and/or may not have the time or inclination to join traditional local groups or come to meetings. Networks are a response to societal and lifestyle changes, making it easier for more people to participate in a movement for positive change.

Amnesty South West England Network isn’t going to replace local groups. Apart from our group, there are currently twelve other Amnesty Local Groups across the South West. The network should enhance local groups as a way of publicising our campaigns and events. In both Kent and the Central Midlands, it has led to the establishment of new groups.

How will the Network work?