ACTIVE Term 4 2012

ACTIVE

Active Term 4 // 2012 1

TERM 4 // 2012

Auckland’s Aorere School students (L-R) Ronit Prasad and Alvin Narayan participate in their school’s Freedom Challenge

‘Don’t Bulldoze People’s Lives’ was the theme of this year’s Freedom Challenge and our YOUth Network campaigned to stop forced evictions in Cambodia and Israel and the Occupied Territories.

So far YOUth have generated 2906 signatures for Cambo-dia, and 223 signatures for Israel and the Occupied Terri-tories. But YOUth told us to expect a lot more to come!

We have almost reached our fundraising goal, with $19,069 raised to date! And again there is more to come! Please deposit your amounts if you have not done so already – this will help us reach our goal faster.

THERE were some amazing campaigning ideas this year. From eviction notices taped to student flats to camping in cardboard slums. YOUth did it all!

Along the way YOUth hosted mufti days, bake sales, acoustic gigs, barbershop quartet performances and much more.

Despite Forced Evictions being a new area of work for Amnesty International YOUth seamlessly engaged on the issues and encouraged thousands to sign in support of our two appeals.

FREEDOM CHALLENGE 2012: Tracks to Success


FREEDOM CHALLENGE - wow what a year!

MANY of you still have money to deposit and petitions to send in. You can bank directly into our account - ASB 12 3057 0807706 02. PLEASE use your school name as a reference so we know who has contributed what. It will allow us to receipt you appropriately.

or send a cheque to: Amnesty International Aotearoa NZ,

PO Box 5300, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141.

You can email your feedback online here http://www.amnesty.org.nz/get-involved/join-amnesty-team/join-youth-network/freedom-challenge or if we haven’t heard back from you we’ve helpfully in-cluded a feedback form and reply-paid envelope in this issue of ACTIVE, which is big enough for postcards and letters. Or you can email Sharissa Naidoo at [email protected]

Freedom Challenge — the final countdown

Great events = Great media coverage

We need all petitions returned to Freedom Challenge, PO Box 5300, Wellesley Street, Auckland by Saturday, 20 October. That way we’ll be able to send all your petitions to key decision makers. If you have sent off the letters to Israel please let us know the number you gathered. Once your team has been receipted, you will receive your Freedom Challenge 2012 participation certificate. To keep up to date on how much money and petitions we’re raising, please go to the Freedom Challenge page on our website. We will also alert you to the final totals via the Youth Network e-newsletter. (If you’re not getting those emails it’s because we don’t have your details – simply email Sharissa on [email protected] and we’ll do the rest). Freedom Challenge 2013 Yes, we’ve already had queries about Freedom Challenge dates next year. Please diarise 29 July - 2 August. And if you can, book a mufti day for Amnesty next year NOW.

Students from Auckland Girls' Grammar School were challenged to live a school day in a card-board box house, in their study hall. Student co-ordinator Gina Yukich and year 12 student Toka Utanga, were both interviewed by the media, with the school fea-turing in both the newspaper and on the radio. “We’re just a group of teenagers sitting in a box in the middle of our study hall, but it is our voices, our words and our actions that are actually creating an impact everywhere,” said Toka. They raised $407.52 and collected 176 signatures.

THIS year’s Freedom Challenge received some fantastic media coverage. The creativity of events organised and the passion of spokespeople ensured widespread pick up.


FREEDOM CHALLENGE - wow what a year!

“Yes we can” was the key message from Levin’s Horowhenua College’s events. The “Help Bob Fix Cambodia” outing (pictured below) attracted an extensive article in the local Chronicle. Students built a shack, baked cakes, hosted a sausage sizzle and collected signatures.

EXCELLENT media coverage was also generated by Waitaki Girls’ College, Oamaru, (pictured right) who did some excellent community outreach and awareness raising with a display in their town Library and local Trade Aid store. A student mem-ber Georgia Proctor, commented “The community has been shown how teens can make things happen.”

They raised $650

KINGS COLLEGE Auckland, had Chapel services highlighting the problem of forced evictions and what students could do about it. A dodge ball competition and a students vs teachers theatre sports charity event raised $200, and was very well received said group coordinator Rev. G. Walters.

Student co-ordinator Ra-chel Porteous, told Radio Free Fm. “We wanted to be part of the Freedom Chal-lenge because we feel that forced evictions are a cruel and unjust violation

of basic human rights.” The school created a flash-mob with students making a formation of the ‘peace’ sign on school grounds, they held presentations and col-lected 167 signatures.

HAMILTON GIRLS’ HIGH

MASSEY HIGH in Auckland took action by building a tent and allocating certain times when students were allowed inside to collect just a few items they would need to survive for the next week without a roof over their heads. They also had a bake sale, which raised $86 and gathered 48 signatures. Student co-ordinator, Jashil Reddy told local newspaper, The Western Leader, “No-one should ever tell you to get out of your home. You’ve created a place for your children to grow up and they tell you to get out? It doesn’t make sense.” Teacher co-ordinator, Susanna Carryer, added. “Part of our concern is helping other students know how lucky we are and as teenagers they can do something better in the world.”

BURNSIDE HIGH SCHOOL in Christchurch, held a lunchtime event involving house-shaped cookies and a "cardboard houses" game and competition. They raised $200 and collected 186 signatures.

ST CATHERINE’S MERCY CREW, Welling-ton, ran a 24 hour letter-a-thon, writing letters to world leaders including the Prime Minister of Cambodia, about human rights violations.

FREEDOM CHALLENGE 2-8 AUGUST 2010 FREEDOM CHALLENGE - wow what a year!


The group picked up both radio and print media cover-age for their inventive action in handcuffing their Assistant Principal (in charge of disci-pline), Mr Steve Boyd. Group member Alzain Ali proved a passionate advocate in op-posing forced evictions, hav-ing experienced it himself in Fiji. He said to the local newspaper, “We want to speak out for those people whose voices are oppressed.” Alzain’s story features in our latest membership magazine Flame http://issuu.com/amnestynz/docs/flameissue22012 . Aorere raised $977.10 and gathered 67 signatures.

...DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

And the winner is Aorere College, Auckland!!!

WE ran two competitions around Freedom Challenge this year: best overall cam-paign and best photo. Best Campaign was for the school that performed outstandingly in the ‘four aims’ of Freedom Challenge: campaigning, fundraising, awareness raising and recruitment.

Judges comments highlighted the integrated nature of the entire campaign. “Aorere College’s events were visually appealing, creative and fun. It took the message to the students and staff, and gen-erated interest beyond the school via media pick up. They highlighted the personal impact of forced evictions, through Alzain Ali’s story.” “The way they chose to con-vey their message was really strong. One of their key strengths was the collabora-tion between the students and the Assistant Principal, which was really good to see”.

The Best Photo was judged via the most ‘LIKES’ on our Facebook page and got to be our Facebook cover photo. Congrats to Otumoetai College, Tauranga for its group shot featuring students ready for action! Visit our page http://www.facebook.com/AmnestyNZ to see the rest of the great Freedom


FREEDOM CHALLENGE 2-8 AUGUST 2010 FREEDOM CHALLENGE - wow what a year!

A FORCED evictions action and an acoustic gig by Victoria University group kept Freedom Challenge centre stage on campus in Wellington. The group set up a slum flat for a week, which was vocally and forcibly evicted on the final day; placed faux eviction notices on student flat doors, and hosted an acoustic gig as a fundraiser. Gig organiser Chennoah Walford said, “The way I see it, human rights and music are kind of similar. Both can mean bringing people to-gether, and both can bring great happiness to people. So organising acoustic nights to raise awareness of Amnesty seems the most natural thing.” They raised $210 and collected 63 signatures.

AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL held a quiz evening, and the school’s Barbershop Group performed. A representative from Women’s Refuge visited the school, an event that sister-school St Cuthbert’s was also invited to. There was a school-wide raffle which included great prizes and raised $300. The group generated 165 signatures.

FOCUSED on human trafficking for their Freedom Challenge and hosted a guest speaker on that theme. They had a Yellow Day where the school was decorated in Amnesty’s colour yellow to raise awareness. “The cages were used to represent those trapped in the human trafficking crisis, while the yellow chain on top of it was our interactive petition with each cuff representing a person from the school showing that they are against human trafficking,” said Kimiko Withrington.

HERE’S HOW YOUth GOT US THIS FAR! MORE

FREEDOM CHALLENGE

HIGHLIGHTS

Amnesty members Jasmine, Natalie and Chennoah at their forced eviction flat

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

WITH its first Freedom Challenge outing PUTARURU COLLEGE, in the heart of the Waikato, built a model “of the bulldozed houses they have been forced out of and the slums that they are forced to live in” said year 10 student Melanie Crosbie. She went on to advise that “our model…. has been displayed in the public library for three days”. The display incorporated general background information on forced evictions.


FREEDOM CHALLENGE- wow what a year!

TAUPO-NUI-A-TIA COLLEGE, did it all during a one-day whirlwind of activity. Teacher Megan Marshall said: "We had our day of action and the students had a speech and powerpoint in assembly, sold cupcakes and merchandise at inter-val, stickered people, handed out bro-chures, did an enactment of an eviction in the quadrangle and a lock out of one of the blocks. Other students went into classes and explained the issue utilising a video they had made”.

GREEN BAY HIGH’S PEACE GROUP, Auckland, created a ‘Favourite Things’ banner. Teacher co-ordinator Rose Woolford, said, students were invited to draw their favourite possessions on the banner. They signed 32 Cambo-dian postcards and raised $864.20.

Students holding the ‘These are a few of our

favourite things’ banner.

MARIST COLLEGE, Auckland, created a skywrite out of students say-ing ‘Freedom Week’ and a peace sign. They also created a hand print banner showing their support for Cambodia.

HAGLEY COLLEGE, Christchurch, had a Ginger-bread House raffle for staff and one for students. They also had a house of cards building competi-tion, which raised $75. Teacher coordinator Alastair Crawford said, “We held our house of cards building competition as a light, fun way to symbolize loss of homes.” And this from a city where loss of homes is a reality for far too many due to the earthquakes.

EPSOM GIRLS’ GRAMMAR, AUCKLAND,

fundraised through bucket runs and a bake sale. They also raised awareness through a movie screening and raised $350. A student leader, Jahnavi Manubolu, said, “We have really enjoyed fundraising for Amnesty this year and hope to continue to do so next year”. Margaret Taylor and Sharissa Naidoo were recently at the school where they were handed the cheque for the funds raised during Freedom Challenge. Pictured be-tween them are Anurati Mathur, Ms Fer-gusson and Jahnavi Maubola.


RESPECT MY RIGHTS

MT ALBERT GRAMMAR, Auckland, did their famous prefect auction which raised an amazing $2,824.20.

INCEDO WAIKATO, Hamilton spent a weekend serving newly arrived refu-gees in the city. People not just evicted from their homes but also their coun-tries! Group leader Gus Row advised “About 40 of us gathered and did a reflection based on the evictions in Cambodia - creating a large wall chart of responses, and signing postcards. Then on Saturday we broke into teams and spent the day digging gardens, mowing lawns and delivering house and gardening tool kits to refugee families.”

THANK YOU to everyone who put in their hard effort and time to support those facing forced evictions. Many of you did an outstanding job creating awareness and raising funds. I was extremely impressed by the enthu-siasm of the students and to see how powerful their actions could be. I feel really lucky to have been a part of this year’s challenge! It has been an experience I will never forget,” said Sharissa Naidoo, Youth Activism

“AS A veteran of seven Freedom Challenges it’s been wonderful to see that the creativity and passion of student activists continues to impact and amaze. My thanks to every single one of you for activism that we will make sure reverberates with decision makers in Cambodia and Israel,” added Activism Support Manager Margaret Taylor

New digital platform for youth on Forced Evictions THE work you’ve undertaken to end forced evictions in Cambodia and Israel and the Occupied Territory will make your contributions to the recently launched website www.respectmyrights.org very relevant. Amnesty’s global interactive website currently features the story of 16-year-old Marius – a Romani living in Italy who in one year has been evicted from his home eight times. The first time his home was bulldozed before he even had a chance to pack his suitcase. Marius lost everything - cards, identification

documents, pictures, toys… The only thing he was able to take were his shoes. Imagine you were evicted from your home and had only seconds to collect your belongings...what is the one thing you would take? Take part and upload a picture of your-self with the one thing you would take and tell us why everybody needs it to make their house a home. Amnesty will feature the most inspiring

LONG BAY COLLEGE, Auckland, did a fantastic job raising $1,991 through their yellow themed mufti day and bake

>>>>THANK YOU!<<<<

items on Facebook and Twitter. You’ll also be able to take action by signing a petition calling on Italy’s Prime Minister Monti to end segregation and forced evictions of Roma in Italy, and end the discrimination of Roma. Wherever you are in the world, you can help us create a community that shares stories and ideas, where we respond to some of the most urgent human rights challenges of today. Dive in and help us build the community!

OMAR KHADR - FINALLY HOME IN CANADA CHILD SOLDIERS


FORMER child soldier Omar Khadr was returned to Canada at the end of September – a full decade after he first arrived in Guantanamo as a sixteen year old. He is believed to be the only child soldier to ever be put on trial in modern history. Now 26 years old, Canadian Omar Khadr was transferred from Guan-tanamo Bay to Canada at the end of September. Held by the US military since his detention in Afghanistan at the age of 15 in 2002, Omar was subjected to torture or other ill-treatment and then prosecuted in Guantánamo’s military commissions system, a sys-tem that fails to meet international fair trial standards. “Khadr's tragic story underscores why Guantánamo should close – not tomorrow, but today,” said Suzanne Nossel, Amnesty International USA's Executive Director. “Omar Khadr’s case stands out as one of the Canadian authorities’

most spectacular failures to stand up for a citizen,” adds Alex Neve, Am-nesty International Canada’s Secretary-General. “Canada now has the chance to right some of these wrongs – there must be a full and impartial investigation into Khadr’s allegations of torture and other ill-treatment, and remedy for the human rights violations he suffered.

YOU can send a solidarity message to Omar via Amnesty International Canada’s website www.amnesty.ca Write to Vic Toews, the Minister of Public Safety, calling on him to explain why it took so long to approve Omar Khadr’s transfer to Canada. Call on him to provide a remedy for the out-standing human rights violations in the case.

Please Write To: The Honourable Vic Toews Minister of Public Safety House of Commons Ottawa ON K1A 0A6 Canada Fax: 613-995-1049 Email: [email protected] Salutation: Dear Minister

BUT STILL DETAINED

>> TAKE ACTION

BACKGROUND - OMAR was seriously injured and captured by US forces in a firefight in Afghanistan on July 27, 2002. He has been in US custody ever since. At 15 years old, he never should have been on a battlefield in the first place, nor held in Guantanamo. Canadian officials were also found to have violated Omar’s rights when they continued to interrogate him in Guantánamo despite the fact that his detention and treatment violated international law. Amnesty International believes that no one under 18 years old should ever have been transferred to Guantánamo, and that no Guantánamo detainee, let alone one who was a child at the time of his alleged crime, should be subject to a military commis-sion trial.

Victims of human rights violations should not have to go to court to force action in cases where the human rights violations are as blatant as they have been in this case.” Amnesty International also calls on Cana-dian authorities to ensure he receives appropriate rehabilitation in preparation for his eventual release.


CHILD SOLDIERS

MYANMAR RELEASES 42 CHILD SOLDIERS IN a special ceremony in Yangon on 3 September, army officials handed over 42 child soldiers to their parents and guardians. The children’s “resignation” follows the signing on 27 June of an Ac-tion Plan between the Government of Myanmar and the United Nations. The plan sets a timetable and measur-able activities for the release and reinte-

gration of children associated with Gov-ernment armed forces, as well as the prevention of further recruitment. The aim is to ensure that at the end of 18 months there are no under 18 year olds in the Government armed forces. This is a major step as Myanmar has had the largest army of child soldiers estimated at some 60,000 children.

MEET LEILA ZERROUGUI…

The Action Plan also refers to the possibility of opening up dialogue on similar commitments with armed groups also listed in the annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict.

PLEASE write to the Government of Myanmar:

President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Thein Sein Ministry of President’s Office Ministry of Defence Nay Pyi Taw UNION OF MYANMAR Salutation: Dear President Ambassador accredited to New Zealand and Australia His Excellency Mr Paw Lwin Sein Embassy of the Union of Myanmar 22 Arkana Street Yarralumla Canberra, ACT 2600 AUSTRALIA Email: [email protected] Salutation: Your Excellency

Welcome the signing of the Action Plan with

the UN to ensure that under-age children do not serve in the Government armed forces in Myanmar;

Thank him for the recent release of 42 chil-

dren from the Tatmadaw as evidence of that commitment;

Urge that similar releases occur to ensure all

under-age recruits from the armed forces are released by December 2013;

Call on the Government of Myanmar to ratify

the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child to ensure children will never again be involved in armed conflict in his country.

>>TAKE ACTION ALGERIAN Leila Zerrougui was appointed the new Spe-cial Representative for Chil-dren and Armed Conflict by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, in July. She replaces Radhika Coomaras-wamy. At the time of her appoint-ment, she was Deputy Spe-cial Representative of the Secretary-General and Deputy Head of the United Nations Organisation Stabilization Mis-sion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Since 2008 there, she has spearheaded the Mission’s ef-forts to strengthen the rule of law and protection of civilians. Having served in the DRC, she will be familiar with the prob-lem of the recruitment and use of child soldiers. One of her first addresses highlighted the deliberate targeting of children in the conflict in Syria, which she described as a “dire” situation. She told the Security Council that UN agen-cies had "documented government attacks on schools, chil-dren denied access to hospitals, girls and boys suffering and dying in bombardments of their neighbourhoods and also being subject to torture, including sexual violence." Leila also cited reports of the opposition Free Syrian Army using children in its forces. Her comments came during a special Security Council session devoted to naming and shaming governments and armed groups that recruit, attack, or kill children. The council voted 11 to 0 to name 52 such governments and groups, including Syria. Sadly, Russia, China, Pakistan and Azerbaijan sought to re-strict the scope of the envoy’s enquiries and refused to back an annual UN Security Council resolution condemning the use of child soldiers and the deaths of children in conflict.

© UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras


WHAT’S HAPPENING IN TERM 4 - WHITE RIBBON DAY & 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM

The celebrated visual artist David Shrigley has created a new de-sign in support of jailed members of the Russian protest band Pussy Riot, as part of Amnesty International’s campaign for the three imprisoned members of the band. Design by David Shrigley.

WE know that most of our Youth Network groups are affected by exams, and study leave at this end of the year. Which is why we’re providing a range of easy-to-take actions for younger leaders and also will supply additional campaign resources on request only. But we’re never short of human rights issues you can draw on in your campaigning and outreach if you have extra capacity. Out-side of our White Ribbon Day and Write for Rights engagement, you’ll always be able to draw on our website www.amnesty.org.nz for campaigning opportunities. Such as: 1. Our e-Action Network which sends out e-Actions to members on a fortnightly basis. From calling for the release of Russian punk rocker Pussy Riot band members to challenging attacks on asylum seeker rights here at home the e-Action Network offers easy-to-take actions on the burning human rights issues of the day. For more information or to join (and all members on our Youth Network email list are automatically added to the e-Action Network) visit http://www.amnesty.org.nz/get-involved/take-action-online 2. Our Urgent Action Network daily puts out appeals on behalf of individuals or communities at risk. Visit http://www.amnesty.org.nz/get-involved/join-amnesty-team/join-specialist-network/urgent-action-network for more information and a link to appeals and a letter writing guide. Please contact Sharissa Naidoo

[email protected] with any requests or queries regarding additional campaigning options or being added to the Youth Network.

FOR the previous two years our campaigning within the 16 days has centred around calling on Pacific leaders to address the high levels of violence against women in this region. Pacific leaders in August maintained that strong commitment to improving women’s rights within the Gender Equality Declara-tion adopted by Pacific Island leaders who met at the 42nd Pacific Islands Forum. The Forum com-muniqué acknowledged that gender inequality in the islands “is imposing a

Pacific maintains commitment to address violence against women

high personal, social and eco-nomic cost on Pacific people and nations.” Amnesty International contin-ues to call on Pacific Island leaders to implement the

commitments they have made by adopting laws, poli-cies and practices to end violence against women and to eliminate all other forms of discriminating against

16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENEDER VIOLENCE

Delegates at the Pacific Islands Forum (c) US Department of State/Ola Thorsen

them. They must also take active measures to promote women’s economic and social status and to address gender stereotypes.


WHAT’S HAPPENING IN TERM 4 - WHITE RIBBON DAY & 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM

END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Afghani women weep as they are removed forcibly from their homes in Kabul © R. LeMoyne/UNHCR WHITE Ribbon Day (25 November) always launches our

16 days of activism to end gender violence. The date actually marks the International Day to Elimi-nate Violence against Women – and nationally many or-ganisations including Amnesty International hand out white ribbons as a visible sign that we say NO to gender violence. Because there will be lots of attention in the media on White Ribbon Day this is an easy campaign to host – and particularly as senior leaders of the group are on study leave or undertaking exams. And remember if the date doesn’t suit – pick a date that does. We’ll be able to pro-vide you with white ribbons and actions to use on the day that works best for you. The theme for this year’s campaign is “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence against Women". We’ll provide appeals for you to take action on:

Afghanistan: Calling for human rights, including women’s rights to be guaranteed and monitored in the reconcilia-tion and reintegration process, and for women’s groups to be represented in reconciliation negotiations.

Japan: Calling on the Prime Minister to ensure justice for the survivors of Japan’s military sexual slavery system in the Asia Pacific region from 1932-1945. This is an issue we’ve previously asked our Youth Network to campaign on.

The 16-days will also provide us with an opportunity to re-mind states that gender-based violence must be included in any future Arms Trade Treaty negotiations. Please let us know how many white ribbons, appeal letters and fact sheets you’ll need and by when, and any White Rib-bon events you have planned to Gopika Dasi [email protected]

THE first White Ribbon Campaign was launched by a group of men in Canada in 1991 after the brutal mass shooting of 14 female students at the University of Montreal. The White Ribbon is a symbol of hope for a world where women and girls can live free from the fear of violence. Wear-ing the ribbon is about challenging the acceptability of violence – by getting men involved, helping women to break the silence, and encouraging everyone to come together to build a better world for all.

THE starting date was chosen in hon-our of the Mirabal sisters, political ac-tivists from the Dominican Republic who were assassinated on the same day in 1961. The three sisters were murdered for their efforts to oppose dictatorship in their country, and their legacy of brav-ery and compassion has made them national and international heroines.

SIGNIFICANCE OF 25 NOVEMBER

HISTORY OF THE WHITE RIBBON


WHAT’S HAPPENING IN TERM 4 - WRITE FOR RIGHTS!

USA: Hussain Salem Mohammed Almerfedi. In Guantanamo Bay since 2003

EGYPT: Azza Hilal Ahmad Suleiman Attacked by soldiers

NIGERIA: Residents of Bodo An oil spill in the area has gone unpunished.

CHINA: Gao Zhisheng Human rights lawyer who has been tortured.

LIBYA: The Displaced People of Tawargha The town was destroyed by militias

WRITING letters that set human rights defenders free and give hope to those who remain detained is some-thing that Amnesty members are ex-perts at. It’s why we are keen to ensure that every single member uses the power of the pen to shine a light on a bad situation or to lessen the suffering in a prison cell. Our global Write for Rights letter writ-ing campaign features cases from around the world that will allow you to write on behalf of, or send solidarity messages to prisoners of conscience and individuals and communities at risk. Including the community of Bodo in Nigeria who we’ve worked alongside all year within our cam-paign calling for Shell to Own Up, Pay Up, Clean Up. While Write for Rights officially takes place from 2-12 December we have cases and letter writing kits ready to go anytime in Term 4 to al-low you to organise what is likely to be the last action of the year. And because our student members have had an extraordinary year of ac-tivism – we think any event you organ-ise should be a celebration. Why wouldn’t fellow students want to par-ticipate – writing letters that save lives is a powerful thing!


WHAT’S HAPPENING IN TERM 4 - WRITE FOR RIGHTS!

So how about committing to any of the following: 1. Toast to Freedom – offer a toast breakfast in return for getting a team sitting down and taking action before school.

2. Organise an AmnesTEA – a chance to gather at lunchtime over juice, tea or coffee – and get letters written during

the lunch-hour and after school.

3. Collect solidarity messages for individuals and communities at risk and display every message on a Christmas Tree. People will get a sense of just how many letters and messages are being signed and sent. Solidarity messages send a message of hope to those experiencing human rights abuse and lets them know they are not alone in their struggle.

YOUTH Network members made up the bulk of those who attended four re-gional training days in Christchurch, Wellington, Kapiti Coast and Hamilton in September and October. “Engaged, opinionated and in-

AMNESTY YOUTH IN ACTION!

We can provide you with a Write for Rights Kit that comes complete with cases, posters, a sponsorship form, and a letter writing guide.

Please contact Campaigns Intern Gopika Dasi at [email protected]

or by phoning her on 0800 266 378. If

calling from Auckland, phone 303 4520.

Image: Just some of the tal-ent at the Hamilton training session in October.

formed – it was fantastic to spend quality time with youth members who not only made up the majority of at-tendees but were the most impres-sive in their contributions. Whether commenting on our soon to-be-launched Child Poverty Campaign

through to drafting and sending submis-sions in support of Louisa Wall’s Mar-riage (Definition of Marriage) Amend-ment Bill the calibre of their engage-ment was fantastic,” said Activism Support Manager Margaret Taylor.


AMNESTY YOUTH IN ACTION

FOCUS GROUPS PROVIDE GREAT SUGGESTIONS

AMNESTY was there to highlight how youth can take action on human rights. The theme was Respect ‘n’ Represent and the conference attracted ethnic youth mostly from Auckland but other parts of the country too. Attendees shared their diverse stories; discussed how young people get and give respect, and how they can challenge the acceptance of violence in the community. Activism Support Intern, Sneha Venkatesh said, “Channel your anger into something positive, were wise words from the Director of the Office of Ethnic Affairs, New Zealand; Mervin Singham. His experience as a youth would have been enlightening for the youth who come from varied backgrounds to New Zealand.”

YOUTH Activism Intern Sharissa Naidoo has been con-ducting focus groups in Auckland to find out how we can better support your engagement. “This was a great opportunity for me to hear suggestions from our youth activists to improve the way we work with you. We look forward to incorporating your good ideas in our future work.” – said Sharissa.

We’ve found that a lot of our Youth Network members are outside information loops because we haven’t received their contact details via registration requests. You can help us ensure you get the information you want by sending in your

contact details to Sharissa at [email protected]

JACK Wright, Rosie Polaschek and Sarah Scott, from Amnesty on Campus at Auckland University, along with advocacy intern Sophie Pollack participated in the EmpowerNZ conference in Wellington in August. The conference on New Zealand’s constitutional review aimed to empower young people to shape the long term future of New Zealand. Some 50 participants between the ages of 16-28 years old attended. Sophie said the Amnesty members were able to contribute a human right’s perspective, and led discussions about including economic, social and cultural rights in the constitution. “It was really interesting hearing perspectives from different young people in New Zealand about constitu-tional issues. One thing that I took from it was that the drafted constitution reflects forward thinking, including issues like sustainability, for New Zealand’s future genera-tions”.

RESPECT ‘N’ REPRESENT

EMPOWERNZ CONFERENCE

Interns Sneha, Sharissa and Gopika attended the Multicultural Youth NZ Conference.

Those good ideas included: * Creating opportunities for more social and multi-group events and greater collaboration between teams in the same region * Actions to take and share with friends, such as on-line petitions * More print copies of ACTIVE provided * Short quick updates on our Facebook page


GOOD NEWS

International Criminal Court (ICC)

NEW ZEALAND: MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL PASSES ITS FIRST READING LOUISA Wall’s Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill passed its first reading in NZ parliament on August 29th. The bill seeks to amend the Marriage Act to clarify that a marriage is be-tween two people regardless of their sex, sexual orientation or gender iden-tity. Amnesty International supports this Bill as it would end the discrimina-tion and inequality inherent in the existing Act. More details on Amnesty’s position can be found here: http://www.amnesty.org.nz/our-work/marriage-equality

USA: STAY OF EXECUTION ON LETHAL INJECTION THE Supreme Court of the US state of Georgia granted a stay of execution to Warren Hill a few hours before he was to be put to death on the evening of 23 July. The stay was on the basis of the state's recent switch to a single drug for lethal injections. On 17 July, the day before Warren Hill was originally scheduled to be executed; the Georgia Department of Corrections announced that, with immediate effect, the prison authorities were switching from a three-drug lethal injection process to a one-drug protocol. The stay of execution is indefinite.

CAMBODIA: FORCED EVICTIONS ACTIVIST WINS HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER AWARD A CAMBODIAN monk working to prevent forced evictions has won the Martin Ennals Award. The Jury of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA), met in Geneva in early October and selected the Venerable Luon Sovath as this year’s winner. The Venerable Luon Sovath, a Buddhist monk from Siem Reap, Cambodia witnessed his family and fellow villagers being forcibly evicted from their homes in 2009. Since then he has been a strong advocate against forced evictions, which remove families from their homes, often violently and with little or no compensation. Despite threats to his person, of arrest and disrobing, the Vener-able Sovath, a non-violent Buddhist monk, uses videos, poems and songs to defend the right to housing. His advocacy touches powerful economic interests. The threats against the Venerable Sovath are very real. Venerable Luon Sovath winner of the prestigious Martin Ennals Award

(MEA) with Peter Mulrean, Deputy Permanent Representative of the US

GOODNEWS

THAILAND: DEATH PENALTY ABOLISHED FOR YOUTH THAILAND has abolished the death penalty for persons under the age of 18 in July. Persons under 18 can also no longer be sentenced to life imprisonment, as this sentence will automatically be reduced to 50 years imprisonment.


GOOD NEWS

WE recently received word that a speaker of the Palestinian parlia-ment held in in-definite adminis-trative detention since January has been released. Aziz Dweik was

released on 19 July after spending six months in an Israeli prison held in administrative detention. He said that the thousands of letters sent by Amnesty International supporters around the world helped secure his freedom: "The international pressure made a real difference. I could see the Israelis felt under pressure and my lawyer said so too. Really I am in debt to you, each and every one, Amnesty International, and other international organisations, and local organisations, for my freedom.” Administrative detainees are held on the basis of “secret evidence” and so neither they or their lawyers are able to challenge the reason for their detention, which denies them the right to a fair trial.

A CIVILIAN court’s conviction in August of a Colombian junior army officer for the murder and rape of a girl is a rare victory for those campaigning against impunity for sexual crimes committed during the country’s decades-old armed conflict. Sub-Lieutenant Raúl Muñoz Linares was sentenced to 60 years in prison for the rape and murder of 14-year-old Jenni Torres, as well as the murder of her brothers, nine-year old Jimi and six-year-old Jefferson, and the rape of another girl, in Tame – in north-eastern Colombia’s Arauca region – in October 2010.

© Solidaritas Korban Pelanggaran HAM Papua

GOODNEWS COLOMBIA: CONVICTION FOR CONFLICT RELATED RAPE AND MURDERS A ‘RARE VICTORY

A colourful awareness mural on the streets of Mocoa bears the mes-sage: "Woman is like Mother Earth. Her nature must not be violated." (c) UNHCR/L.Badillo

PRISONER of conscience Filep Karma received medical treatment on 17 September after the Abepura prison authorities allowed him to travel from Abepura prison in Papua province to a hospital in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital. Reliable sources have said that Filep Karma was treated well at all times and that he was kept in the Cikini hospital to re-ceive treatment until returned to Abepura prison on 26 Sep-tember. Local and international groups have been highlighting Filep Karma's case over the last few months. Many contributed to a fund to enable him to receive medical treatment. The authori-ties in Papua had refused to cover the cost of his treatment and travel, even though they are obliged to under national law and international standards. While Amnesty International welcomes the news that Filep Karma has received medical treatment, we continue to call for his immediate and unconditional release, and the release of all prisoners of conscience in Indonesia.

INDONESIA: PAPUAN PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE RECEIVES TREATMENT

ISRAEL: RELEASED PALESTINIAN LEGISLATOR THANKS AMNESTY

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ACTIVE Term 4 2012