Being able to make your own decisions about your body, your life and your sexual and reproductive health is a basic human right. But for millions worldwide – many of them young people – this right is denied on a daily basis.
Please take a moment to sign the My Body, My Rights petition and call on World Leaders to stand up for the health and human rights of young people everywhere.
This is Hakamada Iawo as a young man. He is now 77 years old and is the world’s longest-serving death row prisoner. He has spent 45 years in prison since his trial in 1968 and always maintained his innocence.
The main evidence used to convict Hakamada was a confession, allegedly obtained under torture and later retracted. One of the trial judges, Kumamoto Norimichi, maintains that Hakamada is innocent and believes that he should not have sentenced Hakamada to death on such limited evidence.
Despite such grave doubts, Hakamada continues to await execution every day. New DNA evidence could finally prove his claim of innocence right. Click here to ask Japan to grant him a retrial.
Our last Taunton Amnesty meeting of 2013 will be an informal seasonal one.
Join us at 8pm on Tuesday 10th December at the Silver St Baptist Church, for festive food & drink and the opportunity to send messages of hope to those suffering human rights abuses around the world. This year, Dr Tun Aung (the group’s adopted prisoner of conscience) features in the Write for Rights campaign.
We would like to thank everyone for their continued interest and support throughout the year.
Wishing you all a joyful festive season and peaceful New Year.
About Write for Rights: Every year during November and December, Amnesty International asks people to write a letter and send a message of hope to someone suffering human rights abuses. Presidents, police chiefs and prison governors do take note when they receive hundreds of appeals to release a prisoner, stop the harassment of an activist or change an unjust law. For more information on this year’s cases please click here.
Join Pat on Tuesday 17th December and sign cards to support prisoners of conscience worldwide.
Sessions take place:
10am-12pm
2-4pm
6-7pm
14 Georges Mews, Dunkleys Way, Hillyfields, TA1 2LX
Tel: 01823 332773
£1.50 donation per card and stamp.
Tea,coffee and mince pies too!
About Write for Rights: Every year during November and December, Amnesty International asks people to write a letter and send a message of hope to someone suffering human rights abuses. Presidents, police chiefs and prison governors do take note when they receive hundreds of appeals to release a prisoner, stop the harassment of an activist or change an unjust law. For more information on this year’s cases please click here.
Just a reminder that our monthly group meeting takes place on Tuesday 12th November from 8PM at Silver Street Baptist Church, Taunton. Click here to view location on a map.
We hope to see you there!
Amira is a civil engineer and women’s rights activist. She is charged with being in public with her head uncovered, and will soon go on trial in Sudan. If convicted, she could face 40 lashes.
Text SUDAN1 and your full name to 70505 now to call on Sudan to drop the charges against Amira.
Our next monthly group meeting takes place on Tuesday 12th November from 8PM at Silver Street Baptist Church, Taunton. Click here to view location on a map.
All are welcome to come along and discuss human rights, receive campaign updates, and take part in letter writing and other actions to promote human rights.
As Sri Lanka gears up to host the leaders of the Commonwealth from 15-17 November, it’s time for the Sri Lanka Government to come clean about torture and countless other abuses.
Follow this link to call on the UK Foreign Secretary William Hague to send a clear message that Sri Lanka’s human rights abuses will not be given a Commonwealth seal of approval.
The Journalist Who Disappeared: Prageeth Eknaligoda, journalist and cartoonist, disappeared on his way home from work in Sri Lanka in January 2010. He has not been seen or heard of since. His wife believes his work displeased someone in power, and he has been ‘disappeared’. His fate? Unknown.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government meet in Sri Lanka next month, and our Action this month has been to write to the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, and to the Commonwealth Secretary General to draw their attention to the dismal human rights record of the Sri Lankan government, and urge action.
We discussed affairs in the Middle East, North Africa, Burma and China, and the continued use of the death penalty, and signed letters written by Group members on a selection of these topics.
Don’t forget our fund-raising concert later this month: the Taunton Deane Male Voice Choir, together with the Farey family, are putting on a concert at St Michael’s Church, Galmington, at 7.30pm on Saturday 26th October, in aid of the Church and of the Taunton Group of AI. Tickets £10 from the Group Treasurer (01823 284001) or from the Church Office (01823 332371). It sounds like a rousing evening. Hope to see you there!
The Group meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 8pm in the Silver Street Baptist Church. Interested in human rights? Do join us there.
Amnesty International Taunton Local Group 