After getting involved for the first time last year, we again had a strong presence at Bournemouth’s LGBTI Pride Festival “Bourne Free”. Our “Love is a Human Right” placards were very popular and we ended up with just two! Our stall was straight across from the bandstand, so competing with the music was somewhat difficult. But many stopped by and several agreed to be photographed with the placard to be used as a show of solidarity in support of Tunisian LGBTI organisations and activists who are being persecuted and abused. We also raised £26 in donations.
AmnestTea in Southbourne June 2016
Our secretary Lucy Freeman held an “AmnesTea” at her home last Sunday, 26th June. We’d like to give our thanks to Lucy and her family for hosting and providing a marvelous variety of cakes. Lucy has since said…
“thanks to everyone who came along and supported the Amnestea yesterday. We raised a total of £113 which I have now paid in. This will be matched by government funding which Amnesty accepts for its’ education programmes; the money we raised will support education and community engagement projects against forced marriage and FGM in Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso.
Please could you pass on thanks to your family and friends gave their support.”
Thanks again Lucy
South America Newsletter July 2016
This month we ask you to sign and publicise a petition, asking the Brazilian authorities to safeguard rights and life ahead of the Rio Olympics, as well as Urgent Actions on behalf of Belén, the Argentine imprisoned after suffering a miscarriage in hospital, and on behalf of Venezuelan HR defenders Raquel Sánchez and Oscar Ríos, who were attacked 6 June.
We bring you the latest report Violence Has No Place in These Games, with suggested actions you can take to the Brazilian authorities. There is good news from Colombia and we analyse the historic ceasefire and disarmament agreement between the FARC rebels and the government. We report on the OAS’s resolutions on human rights for the Americas and other news from the region.
REGIONAL
On 13 June the Organization of American States (OAS) informedcivil society organizations (CSOs) that “due to space limitations at the venue of the General Assembly, they would not be able to access the premises of the OAS General Assembly” being held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Registered CSO participants were invited to follow the plenary sessions on television screens located in a hotel in the city. Amnesty said that this exclusion of civil society showed an unprecedented lack of respect that left over a hundred people who travelled to Santo Domingo to witness and participate in the plenary sessions to watch the proceedings in front of screens. Details here.
However, on 17 June the Assembly approved a resolution on human rights which includes agreements on the prevention and reduction of statelessness and the protection of stateless people in the Americas, as well as measures to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishments with a gender perspective. Amnesty has commended this as an important step forward. Details here.
BRAZIL
As Rio de Janeiro sets up its final preparations for the Olympics, Amnesty has released a new Report highlighting the risk of increased human rights abuses in the context of the public security operations entitled, “Violence Has No Place in These Games.”
With the experience of major sports events hosted in the country, alongside the human rights violations committed by the Brazilian security forces which disproportionately affect young, black, males living in favelas, Amnesty is increasingly worried about these games and therefore calls you to action. [Read more…]
What has the Europe Convention on Human Rights ever done for us?
Please take action to save the Human Rights Act
South America Newsletter May 2016
In this month’s newsletter we have updates on Colombia’s peace process and Urgent Action required to help protect Human Rights Defenders and Trade Unionists in the South-West of the country. We also have updates from the Team’s meeting with the All Party Parliamentary Group for Latin America where we discussed issues relating to Territorial, Land and Environmental Rights Defenders. Abuses by security forces remain a serious issue in the region with accusations of human rights violations by Chile’s security forces and accounts from the Amnesty staff in Rio on killings by military police ahead of the Rio Olympic games. We also have some good news regarding the rights of LGBTI people and the Arara Tribe in Brazil.
REGIONAL
On 20 April, we visited parliament for a meeting with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for South America. Accompanied by Tilly Lavenas from the Mexico and Central America Team and Kieran Aldred from the AIUK office, we had a very useful discussion, focused especially on Land, Territorial and Environmental Rights Defenders, and identified ways in which we can work together to promote human rights in the region.
CHILE
We have sent you a copy of a new Amnesty report about the failure of military courts in Chile to deal adequately with allegations of human rights abuses by the Chilean security forces, especially those committed by the carabineros, the militarised police force responsible for maintaining order during public demonstrations. You can still access it here.
We are seeking a meeting with the FCO to discuss this and you can still sign the petition on Amnesty Chile’s website here. [Read more…]
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