Apologies to those living in Christchurch, but most of you are still getting used to having a new MP. And, hopefully, one with a much more progressive outlook than the person they replaced.
As an Amnesty International supporter you can help. Let your MP know you want them to commit to supporting and defending human rights in this country and internationally. You can download this pre-forma letter to edit and send. Please personalise as much as you can.
If you are not sure of your MP, check here- https://www.theyworkforyou.com/ – you can also send them a message via this site. But some of us still believe posting a letter has more impact. MPs do reply!
Still write if your MP hasn’t changed – let them know you are a supporter of Amnesty International. Ask them as your MP to commit to supporting and defending human rights in this country and internationally, both in parliament and more widely.
https://amnestyat50.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Template-for-post-election-letter-to-MP.docx
South America Newsletter September 2024
Dear Friends,
This month we bring you news from Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, and Argentina.
Highlights are:
Colombia: The UN’s Working Group on Business and Human Rights has found that ‘Colombia suffers from long-standing structural problems that have led to serious human rights violations’
Brazil: Amnesty International has launched a petition to urge the Brazilian Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship to implement the Program for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Venezuela: Mass demonstrations, following the presidential election, led to hundreds of protesters being arbitrarily detained – there is an Urgent Action
Ecuador: In a new report, and petition, Amnesty International reveals how the Ecuadorian state is failing in its duty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, allowing the operation of gas flares.
Chile: The trial preparation has at last been held in the case against a former Carabineros officer accused of blinding Gustavo Gatica, Amnesty International Individual at Risk.
Peru: There have been important developments following the publication of Amnesty International’s report, Who Called On The Shots?
Argentina: Amnesty International had sent Congress a guide explaining problems with the Argentine pension system and the need for reform that guarantees retirees a dignified life.
COLOMBIA
In a an appeal to support Colombia’s peace process, WOLA, alongside 172 individuals and organizations, calls for immediate action to resume the peace talks between the Colombian Government and the ELN (National Liberation Army) and to extend the bilateral ceasefire that expired on August 3. The implementation of the Ethnic Chapter of the 2016 Peace Accord should be prioritised. This includes humanitarian relief and protection measures for indigenous and black communities. Negotiations ended when the ELN resumed its kidnappings and other illegal activities to fund the armed group.
In another setback to President Petro’s ‘Total Peace Plan’, Colombia Reports that EMC (Former FARC) commander “Ivan Mordisco” declared war on dissident guerrilla units that decided to negotiate peace with the government without his approval. ‘The declaration of war could have major consequences in southern Colombia where the Amazonas Bloc and the Jorge Suarez Briceño Bloc of dissidents operate.’
A gathering of 4,200 representatives of indigenous communities from the Cauca, where the war between armed groups has intensified, are in Bogotá seeking to meet President Petro. They demand that the government stop the fighting. Although they have yet to meet the President, they have achieved another goal, to obtain an ATEA (Territorial and Economic and Environmental Authority) decree for the Cauca region. This will enable indigenous communities to register their land claims and strengthen their legal position in respect of third parties. [Read more…]
Group Newsletter August 2024
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Europe Newsletter August 2024
Dear Amnesty activists and supporters. The Olympic games should be a time of celebrating diversity, but the French ban prohibiting Muslim women from wearing sports hijabs is excluding French athletes from taking part. Please join the on-line campaign to end discrimination in France. For any inquiries about France please contact our coordinator for Western Europe Jovana Bosnjak Jovana.Bosnjak@amnesty.org.uk
We also have a postcard action supporting the Saturday mothers in Turkiye. Please print the attached postcard templates and send cards to the Interior Ministry of Turkiye. For further questions please contact Chris Ramsey country coordinator for Turkiye chris.ramsey@amnesty.org.uk
How we respond to refugees fleeing wars and oppression defines us as a society and civilization. On 14th of June vigils and demonstrations were held in many European countries including Greece, Denmark, Germany, France, Bulgaria, Turkey, UK and others to call for justice for the 600 people who drowned when the “Adriana”, a clapped out fishing boat packed with refugees including many children, sank near Pylos Greece. Investigations by Amnesty, Human Rights Watch and the BBC point to the culpability of the Greek authorities particularly the Hellenic coastguard for this horrendous and preventable loss of life. Just this week Amnesty released a report investigating the suffering of people detained in the EU-funded Closed Controlled Access Centres in Samos Greece. And in Finland a new law on migration is a green light for violence and pushbacks at the border. For more information please contact Ulrike Schmidt Balkan and regional team coordinator Ulrike.schmidt@amnesty.org.uk
In Poland refugees are still dying in the forests pushed back and forth by Belarussian and Polish border guards. Refugees from Afghanistan, who have often helped Western troops and are persecuted by the Taliban are not receiving the welcome that Ukrainian refugees rightly receive. Used by Belarus and forcibly returned by Polish border guards refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and other oppressive and war-torn countries are forced back and forth over the border. Many, including children have died in the swampy and unforgiving forests. Our new coordinator for Central Europe Lucja Jastrzebska is giving us overview and updates. For further information please contact lucja.jastrzebska@amnesty.org.uk
Finally Amnesty has released a detailed report called “Under protected and over restricted“ about the right to protest in 21 countries. Chris Ramsey, our coordinator for Turkey has worked through the 209 pages of the report for us and produced a more digestible summary for us. For further inquiries please contact chris.ramsey@amnesty.org.uk.
Malta
El Hiblu update :
Apologies to all the groups who expressed an interest in adopting the El Hiblu 3. The Action circular on the case has still not been issued, and I finally received an answer from the research team: The courts in Malta are currently hearing preliminary issues, following the attorney generals decision to indict the El Hiblu 3. The first preliminary issue is that they are examining whether Malta has jurisdiction over the case. At the moment all we can do is wait. I will keep you updated as soon as I receive more information. In the mean-time all we can do is continue to write solidarity messages. [Read more…]
South America Newsletter August 2024
Dear Friends,
This month we bring you news from Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador and Brazil.
Highlights are:
- Colombia and others: Amnesty has a new petition directed at governments to support a Torture-free Trade treaty.
- Argentina: An Urgent Action demands that charges against 33 people opposed the controversial ‘ley de bases’ be dropped.
- Argentina: A second Urgent Action demands that charges against Pierina Nochetti for painting graffiti be dropped.
- Peru: A new report with an Urgent Action identifies the former President’s responsibility for the killings and injuries in last year’s protests.
- Paraguay: Amnesty has issued an Urgent Action calling on the Chamber of Deputies to reject a bill limiting freedom of assembly..
- Venezuela: following the controversial re-election of President Maduro, Amnesty is calling on a commitment to human rights and the release of three political prisoners.
- Chile: Amnesty is calling on the government to decriminalize voluntary abortion in all circumstances.
- Ecuador: Human Rights Watch have released a new report calling on the Ecuadorian Government to accelerate measures to end sexual violence in schools.
- Brazil: Amnesty is denouncing the dropping of charges against 3 policemen accused of murder of a child.
COLOMBIA
Amnesty International has launched a campaign to demand that governments support a Torture-Free Trade Treaty to regulate the trade in policing equipment to ensure it does not end in the hands of abusive police forces. They cite the excessive use of violence using non-lethal weapons by Colombia’s police in response to the National Strike in 2018. Please sign the petition, which for UK residents will be redirected to the British government. Accompanying this demand is the first hand account by Leidy Cadena, the first person to be blinded by police in 2018, who has been forced to leave Colombia.
The Washington based human right advocacy group WOLA condemns the ‘vile attack’ on indigenous Wayuu leader Javier Rojas Uriana 2 July. They demand that the Colombian authorities and the National Protection Unit guarantee the protection of Mr. Rojas Uriana, his family, and the Association of Shipia Wayuu members. ‘They should guarantee that these crimes’ intellectual and material authors are brought to justice. Additionally, these entities should investigate why the regional prosecutor’s office of Cesar and the SIJIN have refused to accept the complaint the victim tried to file.’
Leaders of dissident FARC guerrillas known as the EMC, who were travelling in armoured cars provided by the National Protection Unit, were arrested at a military checkpoint in Cisneros. They were on their way to peace talks. Seven remain in custody. The EMC has been blamed for a series of bombings and shootings around Cali and they threatened to disrupt the COP 16 negotiations which are due to begin in Cali in October. They have since withdrawn this threat and have called for the arrest warrants to be revoked.
Peace Brigade International Colombia’s annual report records the NGO’s invaluable role in protecting communities at risk in Colombia. This includes the presence of 26 field volunteers, some of whom protect Amnesty’s IAR Casefile Peace Community of San José de Apartadó. The report includes the testimony of one field worker in the country. They note that ‘Even though violence and human rights violations decreased slightly in 2023 according to figures from Indepaz, there were still 188 murders of human rights leaders and defenders, 94 massacres with 303 victims and 167,540 victims of forced displacement.’ [Read more…]
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