Amnesty News...

Dear Sylwia , 

Torture. Long-term detentions without charge or trial. Censorship of the internet and media. Does this sound like a country that’s trying to improve its human rights record? 

Ye Guozhu, a human rights defender in Beijing, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for taking action against forced evictions related to the Olympics. Amnesty International fears he has been tortured while in detention. He was due to be released on Saturday, July 26 but will now remain imprisoned until October, after the end of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Chinese authorities have stepped up their repression of human rights defenders in order to “clean up” Beijing. With the Olympics only 10 days away, take action and urge China to create a positive human rights legacy. 

In 2001 China made a promise to improve its human rights record if given the honor of hosting the Olympic Games. Instead, China has become increasingly repressive with crackdowns on dissent and the rounding up and arrest of human rights defenders. Citing "security", China has imprisoned individuals for doing nothing more than drawing international attention to ongoing human rights violations.

President Bush will attend the opening ceremonies of the Games on August 8. Before he leaves for Beijing, tell President Bush to make a public statement condemning the human rights violations perpetrated in preparation for the Olympics.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Adidas Women Challenge in Amnesty News

Actions

Yemen: Fatima Hussein al-Badi After an unfair trial which was exacerbated by interference from Parliament and the President of Yemen, Fatima Hussein al-Badi is at risk of execution. Take action

South Africa: Rural women living with HIV face discrimination. Treatment for HIV and AIDS requires regular visits to hospitals and clinics. Rural women living in poverty and unemployment often cannot afford the transportation. Take action

South Africa: Inadequate care and support for rural victims of sexual assault.The South African government is obliged by law to provide a means of preventing HIV infection after sexual assault. However, poverty and distance create barriers to the access of treatment. Take action

Events

Adidas Women's Challenge: 7 September 2008. The Adidas Women's Challenge is one of the UK's biggest women-only races. It takes place in London, Birmingham and Liverpool, and over 30,000 women enter. Join them as part of Team Amnnesty

You can always find out more on these and other issues on the Women's Action Network pages of our website.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Amnesty news

I'm sure that like all of us at Amnesty, you will have been deeply concerned for the thousands of people affected by the recent earthquake in China. It has been heartening to see the Chinese authorities and the international community coming together to ease people's suffering.

Now, with the Olympics drawing closer, we must continue to call for the same level of compassion for all Chinese people. Take action today and help Amnesty keep China's human rights record in the spotlight.

With best wishes

Kate Allen, Director

Take Pride: End Prejudice
	As the Pride season hots up, Amnesty is concerned about the shocking growth in homophobia across Eastern Europe. Stand up for LGBT rights at a Pride event this summer. Pride dates | Volunteering | Homophobia in Eastern Europe

Rwanda: take action for François-Xavier Byuma
	Human rights defender François-Xavier Byuma was sentenced to 19 years' imprisonment in 2007. But the presiding judge was under investigation by Byuma's organisation for a rape, completely denying Byuma a fair trial. Appeal to the Rwandan authorities

Taking Arms: Petition power
		People across the globe have signed up to stop an arms shipment to Zimbabwe. 120,000 names will be presented to South African leaders in early June, calling for an immediate moratorium on ALL arms. Control Arms campaign

Refugee Week: 10 years of understanding
	Join Amnesty from 16-22 June for a nationwide celebration of the contribution of refugees to the UK. Find out more | Organise an event

Team Amnesty: Run for Iran's women
	Get your kit on for one of the biggest women-only races in the UK. The Adidas Women challenge takes place in September, in London, Liverpool and Birmingham. Register now

Chill to the max with free student membership
	Get FREE Amnesty student membership with every student ticket for this year's Big Chill Festival: the all-round festival experience of music, performance and film from 1-3 Aug. Find out more

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Amnesty International Raffle

BUY A TICKET PROTECT THE HUMAN

Dear Supporter, The draw for the Amnesty International Spring Raffle is fast approaching, with a top prize of £3,000. The money you raise by taking part in this raffle will help us continue campaigning on a wide range of issues, including the protection of human rights defenders. One group that Amnesty is supporting is Women of Zimbabwe Arise. Their protests are always peaceful, but are regularly broken up by police. The women of WOZA have been arrested for going on a sponsored walk, for giving out roses on Valentine's Day, for praying in public, and for demanding social and economic rights. Please help us continue our work by selling as many of your remaining tickets as you can. If you need any extra tickets please call 020 7033 1777 or email raffletickets@amnesty.org.uk For a chance to win, please make sure you send your ticket stubs and the money you've raised by June 20 to: Amnesty International, RRRR-RHUC-HTZK, 3 Chapel Road, Redhill, RH1 1QD. Good luck! Genevieve O'Regan Amnesty International PS Apologies if you have recently sent in your ticket stubs and thanks for your support.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Amnesty for Women

'

Human Rights for China

Demand justice for the Tiananmen Mothers
Demonstrate on the 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Crackdown

When: Wednesday June 4 2008, 6-7pm
Where: Chinese Embassy, 49-51 Portland Place, W1B 1JL London
Nearest Tubes: Regents Park & Great Portland Street

Human rights defenders, activists and ordinary people in China are increasingly being repressed in order to ensure that they are silenced before the Olympic Games begin in Beijing - people like the Tiananmen Mothers. The Tiananmen Mothers are a group of around 130 human rights defenders whose relatives were killed or injured during the military crackdown on the 1989 pro-democracy movement in China.

On the 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown we are saying we will not be silenced - we will speak up because we want human rights for China. Visible public action is crucial now to create international pressure on the Chinese authorities.

What you can do
Please join us and bring a rose to take part in the solidarity action. Visit the Amnesty UK website for further details, as well as information on how to make a flag or headband to bring to the demo. Speakers will include Kate Allen, Director - Amnesty International UK; Wei Jingsheng - Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition; and Ze Xia - Director - Friends of Tiananmen Mothers in the UK.

Demonstrations are also planned in Edinburgh and Belfast; visit www.amnesty.org.uk/china for more information about the campaign.

Activism Hotline: 020 7033 1675
Email: activism@amnesty.org.uk'

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Mother's Day in China

'Dear friend of Amnesty,

This Sunday, 11 May, is Mothers' Day in China. Just like here, it's a day for families to celebrate the strength and love that mothers bring into our lives.

And this year, it's a chance for us to reach out to some particular mothers in Beijing who have experienced the worst thing a mother could endure - the death of their own children, at the hands of their own government.

They call themselves the Tiananmen Mothers. They are a group of predominantly Chinese women who never wanted to be activists. But when their children were killed in the violent military crackdown on the Chinese pro-democracy movement in 1989, everything changed.

All they ask is the freedom to publicly mourn without harassment, the release all those who remain in prison in connection with the 1989 protests, full public debate about the events and an independent inquiry into what happened on those dark days almost 19 years ago.

All they want is justice. Led by Ding Zilin (who was nominated for a Nobel peace prize), they face great personal risk every time they speak out. They've suffered detentions, repeated interrogations, and prolonged house arrest. It's a long, dangerous, and all too lonely campaign.

We can never restore what they've lost. But this Mothers' Day in China, we can show these brave women just how big their global family really is, and how much we appreciate their courageous stand for justice.

If you take a moment to fill out a Mothers' Day card online, we'll deliver your comments directly to the Tiananmen Mothers by Chinese Mothers' Day. Just click below to complete and send your card:

Click here to send your card

This Mothers' day in China, let's take a moment to show the Tiananmen mothers that on this day -- which has become so bitter sweet for them -- they are not forgotten. They are never alone.

Please fill out your card today.

Thank you'

Blogged with the Flock Browser