Carol Concert – last chance to buy tickets

AIUK Human Rights Action Centre Open Day

LGBT Rights in Eastern Europe

Last Wednesday along with other AI volunteers I hosted a stall on LGBT Rights. The occassion was a talk by Peter Tatchell on gay rights and a film entitled ‘Beyond the Pink Curtain’ which highlighted homophobia and a lack of protection from discrimination for the LGBT community in Eastern Europe. The main action at the stall was a postcard to the Lithuanian embassy opposing the homophobic legislative amendments have been put forward for consideration in Lithuania to criminalise the ‘promotion of homosexual relations in public places’. You can take action on this issue by visiting http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=629

I would like to say thankyou to the organisers of the SHOUT Festival in Birmingham for inviting us to have a stall.

World’s biggest arms traders promise global arms treaty

Recently at the United Nations after years of discussions and debates, the vast majority of governments – 153 in total – agreed a timetable to establish a “strong and robust” Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) with the “highest common standards” to control international transfers of conventional arms. There is currently no global Treaty on the conventional arms trade.

See http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=18479 for more info

A Concert of Music for Christmas

A CONCERT OF MUSIC FOR CHRISTMAS

 In Aid of Amnesty International

 On Saturday 12^th December 2009 

 starting 7.30pm

 at St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury

For more information please see Poster for Download

Christmas Concert for Human Rights

Date and Venue set for National Conference

Next year’s Amnesty International UK’s will be held at Warwick from the 9th to 11th of April. Please mark in your diaries and watch out for further details. I do hope we’ll have a good turnout with it being held locally.

Guardian coverage of No Recourse lobby

The Guardian online did a short film of the No Recourse lobby and spoke to one of the women affected by it. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/video/2009/nov/06/domestic-violence-amnesty-no-recourse-to-public-funds

Report on Asylum Forum in Malvern

An audience of about 300 were uplifted and empowered at the Asylum Forum in Malvern on 26 October. Clear presentations were packed with information as different aspects of the UK asylum process were expertly and critically assessed by AIUK Director Kate Allen, Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association Legal Officer Steve Symonds, head of Medical Services at the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture Dr Juliet Cohen, and co-founder of Medical Justice Harris Nyatsanza.

No Recourse Lobby

I attended the Amnesty International UK ‘No Recourse’ lobby earlier. The aim is to persuade MPs to ensure there is funding for shelter and support available for all women who have experienced violence including those whose immigration status is insecure. I lobbied John Spellar MP who is my local MP. He understood the issues but was quite non-commital and on balanced minded not to support our campaign. However, he did give me the courtesy of engaging in debate on the issues concerned, but ultimately felt the potential to attract further illegal immigration meant that he couldn’t fully support our campaign. However, he did feel it right to do something in genuine cases of domestic violence. Overall 60+ MPs were engaged by hundred of AI activists with the exercise a really positive experience. All parties have already made supportive gestures and we are optimistic they will ultimately back this campaign. For further information see www.amnesty.org.uk/norecourse