Shrinking Spaces for Human Rights in Europe

We are delighted to announce we have booked Ulrike Schmidt for a talk on a topic that is too often overlooked, human rights infringements in Europe. Ulrike is the Amnesty county coordinator for Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and Romania. Ulrike is a teacher and a human rights activist based in London. Originally from Germany, she has worked with Amnesty International for many years on various local and international campaigns.

Ulrike will draw examples mainly from Poland, Hungary and Italy. She will report on the harassment of Polish judges who are still standing up for human and civil rights, often in defiance of the government, as well as the rolling back of women’s and LGBTI rights.

Ulrike will describe similar threats to the independence of the judiciary in Hungary and the criminalisation of human rights defenders in countries such as Hungary and Italy. Finally, she will discuss discrimination, demonisation and persecution of Roma people in several countries, particularly Italy under Salvini.

Saturday September 21st  at  Branksome Liberal Club, 1 Salisbury Road, Poole   BH14 0DP

This is a free talk followed by a simple buffet lunch (suggested donation: £3). Doors open 12 for 12.30 start.
This is the first speaker we’ve had for some time. Please help us organise by booking your ticket asap – and letting us know if you will be staying on for lunch.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shrinking-spaces-for-human-rights-in-europe-tickets-70470748907

Bourne Free 2019

We had another successful Bourne Free stall in Bournemouth Gardens, as well as taking part in the parade. We had 96 cards signed to continue our campaign for justice for Marielle Franco. Many people posed with our “Love is a Human Right” selfie frame – most taken on their own phone. There is an excellent video we have posted on our site relating to the “Justice for Marielle” campaign,
https://amnestyat50.co.uk/bourne-free-2019

South America Newsletter August 2019

This is posted on our site. As we flagged up last month, Human Rights Defenders (HRD) in South America are putting their lives (and those of their families) at risk all over the continent. Whilst the environmental damage of the deforestation of the Amazon Forests has very much been in the news the past weeks, HRDs have been campaigning for years against the intimidation of communities for commercial gain.
Many Indigenous communities are increasingly pitted against illegal loggers, miners and cattle ranchers who want access to their land and resources.