Group Newsletter January 2019

Welcome to the latest newsletter.
The next meeting  is on Thursday 10th January 2018, 7.30pm  at Moordown Community Centre. On the agenda  –  Review of campaigns; planning for 2019; letter writing,

Write for Rights
Thanks to everyone who turned out for our Write for Rights events – in Bournemouth centre and Moordown Community Centre. We sent about 70 cards to the various human rights defenders featured.

Our first date for the new venue in Old Christchurch Road was washed (and blown) out. We hope everyone got the message postponing it. Fortunately it was dry and sunny when we turned out the following week. As ever it’s very difficult to get passing shoppers to pause and talk to us, let alone sign a card. But two of those who did stop are now receiving this newsletter – so welcome to you.

Marielle Franco 
On the night of 14 March 2018, Marielle Franco – human rights defender and councillor of Rio de Janeiro was shot dead in a drive-by shooting in Rio de Janeiro’s Estacio neighbourhood, after having participated in a debate with a group of young black women, entitled “Young Black Women Moving Structures”. Her driver, Anderson Gomes was also killed.  

For 10 years Marielle worked tirelessly to promote the rights of black women, LGBTI and young people in Rio. As a member of Rio de Janeiro’s State Human Rights Commission, for more than 10 years she publicly denounced extrajudicial executions and other human rights violations committed by state officials.  In Brazil dozens of human rights defenders are killed every year. In 2017 at least 70 HRDs were killed in this country.

Marielle was featured in Write 4 Rights and we sent several cards to her family. We have decided to adopt Marielle Franco as one of our new case files and campaign for a prompt, thorough, impartial and independent investigation of her killing. We also hope to draw attention to the problems of extrajudicial executions, unlawful killings and impunity for  these crimes in Brazil.

More about the case here:-
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/brazil-authorities-must-bring-those-responsible-marielle-francos-death-justice

South America Newsletter
The January edition of the South America Regional Newsletter is now on our blog. Our group has focused on South America since its inception, which is also reflected in our new case file – see above. The 3 volunteers who run the network for AIUK – and produce the newsletter – do a huge amount of work on our behalf. 
https://amnestyat50.co.uk/

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
The plight of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been ongoing since April 2016, sentenced to 5 years imprisonment on “espionage” charges. A bizarre 3 day release last August raised hopes of her permanent release, but were sadly dashed. 
Throughout her captivity concerns have been raised about her physical and mental health. She has just announced she (and another prisoner) will start a hunger strike on 14 January after being refused access to urgently needed medical care. Read more about this here
https://news.sky.com/story/nazanin-zaghari-ratcliffe-to-go-on-hunger-strike-over-prison-treatment-in-iran-11597600
You can take a quick action here
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions/help-get-nazanin-zaghari-ratcliffe-home