School Action Pack - February 2012

SCHOOL ACTION PACK FEBRUARY 2012

Thumbs up for women in Egypt Learn about the global arms trade Keep up the pressure for homelands Amnesty International Australia | www.amnesty.org.au

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ACTION PACK FEB 2012

Contents SECTION 01

01.1

Updates and news

SECTION 02

CAMPAIGNS 02.1 Learn about the global arms trade 02.2 Thumbs up for women in Egypt 02.3 Keep up the pressure for homelands 02.4 You've got mail on refugees!

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CAMPAIGN ACTIONS: AT A GLANCE Campaign

Action

Target

Arms Trade Treaty

Take part in the 100 days of global action

Friends, classmates, teachers

Crisis response

Add your thumbprint and demand Egyptian women’s rights

The Egyptian Government

Homelands

Write a letter asking the government to fund homelands

Treasurer Wayne Swan

Rethink refugees

Start planning your event for Refugee Week

Friends, classmates, teachers

Cover: People take action for Egyptian women's rights at Harvest music festival, Melbourne, November 2011. Š AI

Amnesty International is part of the global movement defending human rights and dignity. We work with people in Australia and our region to demand respect for human rights and protect people facing abuse. We campaign, conduct research and raise money for our work. Our active members, such as school action groups, play a vital role in achieving our aims through writing letters, sending online actions, organising creative awareness-raising activities and fundraising in their communities.

UPDATES AND NEWS

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ACTION PACK FEB 2012 | SECTION 01.1

Welcome to 2012 Welcome to the first School Action Pack for 2012!

I hope everyone had a safe and fantastic break – lots of sun, surf, friends, good food and good presents I hope?

I’m sure you are all raring to get back into the thick of human rights, so don’t worry, 2012 will offer some new and interesting opportunities for students to take action. Yep, I’m as excited as you are, so let’s get started!

There will also be some cool changes to the school pack in 2012, so please read on – I’d love to hear your feedback. Please send any questions to youth@amnesty.org.au Have a great year!

Cheers, Dan Youth Coordinator

Sydney Distance Education sent through these amazing write for rights action cards – thank you for giving hope to those in need.

THE SCHOOL ACTION PACK WILL BE EVEN BETTER IN 2012 In 2012 we are trialling different ways of producing and delivering the School Action Pack. We will be sending electronic versions of the pack in term two and four – and saving some trees along the way.

STAY TUNED FOR SCHOOL OUTREACH TEAMS Throughout 2012 we will be establishing school outreach teams in every region. Once rolled out, the school outreach teams will be a network of volunteers working to build and engage school action groups.

School outreach teams are currently being established in Victoria, NSW, South Australia, NT and Western Australia. But other states needn’t worry about missing out – we’ll be setting up your school outreach teams later in the year. Please email us if you’d like to know more or if you are interested in registering your school.

Term three’s pack will be sent through snail mail, but we’re creating an extra exciting, jampacked issue to make up for all the snails’ hard work!

To make sure that the school pack is the best it can be, and that we have your correct delivery details, please fill out the form on the next page, scan and email it to youth@amnesty.org.au or post to Youth Coordinator, Amnesty International, Locked Bag 23, Broadway NSW 2007, or use the enclosed reply paid envelope.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ACTION PACK FEB 2012 | SECTION 01.1

CAMPAIGN UPDATES STOPPING THE SPIN ON BOATS In 2011 we received hundreds of conversation cards, badges, pictures and Christmas cards for asylum seekers from students. Thank you to everyone who helped change the conversation about asylum seekers and refugees who arrive by boat.

We’re not done yet – in 2012 we’ll continue to change the conversation and work towards ensuring refugees and asylum seekers are treated with dignity and respect. Find more information in section 2.4.

CRISIS WORK CONTINUES Last term students made paper roses to show solidarity with the Syrian people, who are suffering serious human rights violations. If there are any roses you’ve forgotten to send us, it’s not too late – post them or send us a photo today.

Our crisis work continues this semester – vote with your thumbprint and ensure Egyptian women participate in their new democracy (see section 2.2).

Perth College Amnesty International school group takes action in support of the Syrian people.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ACTION PACK FEB 2012 | SECTION 01.1

tell us what you think… turn over for our survey

☞

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ACTION PACK FEB 2012 | SECTION 01.1

SCHOOL ACTION PACK SURVEY School name: ____________________________________________________________________________________ School address: __________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ Postcode: __________________ I prefer email! Please send my electronic School Action Pack to: |___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___|___| 1. I am a:

■ ■

teacher ■ student ■ parent ■ community member other (please specify) ________________________________________________________________________

2. At our school we have:

■ ■ ■

an Amnesty International School Action Group ■ a Social Justice Group a teacher who uses this pack in the classroom other (please specify) ________________________________________________________________________

(If you have a group please answer question 3. If not, go to question 4) 3. My group meets:

■ ■

occasionally ■ regularly ■ monthly ■ weekly other (please specify) ________________________________________________________________________

4. I find the School Action Pack:

■ ■ ■

excellent, I use it all the time ■ a good resource, I use it sometimes a good resource, I use it occasionally ■ could use improvement school action pack, what’s a school action pack?

5. How often should we send you the pack?

■

each term

■ three times a year ■ twice a year

6. How many campaigns do you work on in each pack? ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. Which campaigns did you work on in 2011 and why? ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. What would you like to see in the next pack? ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. Have you got any other comments about the School Action Pack or the network in your region? ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________

important:

Please send to: Youth Coordinator, Amnesty International, Locked Bag 23, Broadway NSW 2007, or use the enclosed reply paid envelope, or email youth@amnesty.org.au

CAMPAIGNS : INFORMATION AND ACTION

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ACTION PACK FEB 2012 | SECTION 02.1

Learn about the global arms trade In Australia we are very fortunate to live in a peaceful society – one where our lives are rarely challenged by arms and weapons, except on the TV screen. But in other places in this world, people – children, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers – live in fear of war and armed violence.

THE PROBLEM Currently there are no regulations about when and where governments can sell arms, so they can send them to countries even when there is a substantial risk that the arms are likely to be used to commit serious human rights violations. Some countries may be war-torn or suffer from political unrest.

In places like these, small arms are likely to be used and innocent civilians may be hurt or killed.

SUCCESS SO FAR In October 2003, Amnesty International, Oxfam and IANSA came together to develop the Control Arms campaign calling for a global arms trade treaty.

By June 2006 the campaign had gained the support of more than a million people.

In December 2006, The UN General Assembly voted to develop common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms – a historic step toward an Arms Trade Treaty.

i Small arms and light weapons are portable firearms, especially rifles, pistols, and machine guns.

International launch of the 'Control Arms' campaign, Trafalgar Square, 9 October 2003.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ACTION PACK FEB 2012 | SECTION 02.1

Arms Trade Facts and Figures1 Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes, thousands are killed and many are injured because of the irresponsible trade of weapons.

•

128 armed conflicts since 1989 have resulted in at least 250,000 deaths each year. In addition, there are an estimated 300,000 armed killings outside of conflict each year.

•

Injuries are likely to be even more numerous than deaths in conflict and armed violence.

•

About 60 per cent of human rights violations documented by Amnesty International have involved the use of small arms and light weapons.

•

At the end of 2008, armed conflict had internally displaced 26 million people worldwide (internally displaced people have been forced to flee their home, but remain in their country).

•

All of the top six countries of origin for refugees in 2008 were locations of armed conflict.

•

Child soldiers (people as young as you) have been actively involved in armed conflict in government forces or non-state armed groups in 19 countries or territories since 2004. Child soldiers are forced to join oppressive armies and battles whether they like it or not, and are victims of a poorly regulated global arms trade.

THE SOLUTION Fortunately we have the power to stop this injustice. In 2012 we are launching a global campaign asking that governments agree on and adopt a strong arms trade treaty. You can help encourage them.

What is an Arms Trade Treaty?

A treaty is a binding agreement between governments about how they should operate. So an arms trade treaty would be an international agreement about how weapons and ammunition will be traded between countries. If countries have to abide by the set of rules in an arms trade treaty, they won’t be allowed to sell arms to countries that don’t respect human rights.

For years, loopholes in national regulations about transferring weapons internationally have permitted arms to be supplied to those violating human rights and international humanitarian laws. However in 2012, governments from around the world will meet to discuss an international arms trade treaty. This is the perfect opportunity for us to act and encourage governments to develop a strong and robust agreement.

Amnesty International is calling for an arms trade treaty that ensures no arms transfers are approved if there is a substantial risk that the arms will contribute to serious human rights violations.

In Australia, Amnesty International will be supporting the global movement by encouraging the governments in the Asia-Pacific region to adopt a strong arms trade treaty.

Control Arms event, India, 13 September 2008. The event was part of the Control Arms campaign week of action in support of an arms trade treaty. © AI 1 Killer Facts: The Impact of Irresponsible Arms Trade on Lives, Rights and Livelihoods AI (2010)

ACT NOW>> You can do so much to help – you’ve taken the first step by reading this article. Your support is vital to our campaign, because we need every voice to get behind the arms trade treaty. So spread the word!

Amnesty International will be holding 100 days of events to show support for an arms trade treaty.

The 100 days will be kicking off on 23 March.

Schools students are encouraged to hold events and add their weight to the global action!

If your group wants to help encourage governments to adopt a strong arms trade treaty, or you'd like to know more, please let us know by Friday 9 March.

Email the below details to youth@amnesty.org.au •

School name

•

School location

•

The best contact person at your school and their email address or phone number.

CAMPAIGNS : INFORMATION AND ACTION

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ACTION PACK FEB 2012 | SECTION 02.2

Thumbs up for women in Egypt Who can forget the massive revolutions that swept the Middle East and North Africa in 2011? We definitely can’t, and our crisis response team is determined to help human rights gain a foothold in the volatile region.

That’s why in 2012 we are focusing on Egyptian women’s right to equality – especially their right to participate in their country’s politics and future.

i

Now is a time of great reform for Egypt. Former President Hosni Mubarak stepped down from the presidency in March, and democratic elections are being held in Egypt as we speak. This is why it’s so vital that we act now to ensure that women participate, and have equal say, in the developing democracy that will govern them.

Article Seven of the

Women were an integral part in the activism that led to the regime change, but they suffer significant discrimination in Egyptian law. The penal code does not adequately protect women from domestic violence and it is lenient towards men who commit ‘honour killings’ against women.

equal before the law and

Universal Declaration of Human Rights: All are are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.

Egyptian women pose with their inked fingers after voting at a polling station in Cairo, Egypt, 29 November 2011. © AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ACTION PACK FEB 2012 | SECTION 02.2

Amnesty International is calling on Egypt’s interim Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, and any newly-elected government, to support Egyptian women’s demand for equality. We are asking them to ensure that: •

Women and women's rights activists form part of any reform process, and that human rights, non-discrimination and equality are at the heart of reforms during and after elections.

•

Women can vote in all elections and referendums and run for public office on an equal basis with men and without facing restrictions, harassment or coercion.

•

Women can participate in the formulation of government policy and that barriers to equality are removed in existing legislation.

ACT NOW>> Did you know that after voting, Egyptians dip their thumbs in colourful ink and stamp them on registration forms to show that they have voted?

It’s true – Egyptians walk away from voting booths with bright red, purple and pink ink on their thumbs, a tangible reminder that they’ve just had a say in their country’s future.

Now it’s your turn to make your mark and help ensure Egyptian women are treated as equals!

Simply fill out your own ballot card below and add your thumbprint using stamp ink.

Please send it back to us and we will pass it on to the Egyptian Prime Minister.

Please send to: Youth Coordinator, Amnesty International Locked Bag 23, Broadway NSW 2007 or use the enclosed reply paid envelope or email youth@amnesty.org.au

People at the Harvest music festivals in Brisbane and Melbourne take action for Egyptian women's rights. © AI

PLACE YOUR THUMBPRINT HERE

I VOTE FOR THE EQUAL RIGHTS OF WOMEN

FULL NAME:

DATE OF BIRTH:

EMAIL:

POST CODE:

MOBILE:

YOUR COMMENT (KEEP IT POSITIVE AND POLITE):

Please leave your details to be contacted by Amnesty International with campaign updates or for marketing purposes.

CAMPAIGNS : INFORMATION AND ACTION

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ACTION PACK FEB 2012 | SECTION 02.3

Keep up the pressure!

In August last year Amnesty International launched a report on Aboriginal homelands in the Northern Territory.

Titled ‘The land holds us’: Aboriginal Peoples’ right to traditional homelands in the Northern Territory, the report highlights the efforts of the Alyawarr and Anmatyerr Peoples of Utopia in central Australia to live a healthy life on their homelands – despite policy changes that are starving Aboriginal communities of essential services.

The government is currently deciding whether they will fund essential services on Aboriginal homelands in the next Federal Budget.

Above: Leevina Kngwarrey on traditional homelands. © AI. Photo credit: April Pyle Left: Elders Rosalie Kunoth Monks and Bob Randall with Amnesty International National Director Claire Mallinson in Canberra for the launch of The Land Holds Us report, 9 August 2011. © Andrew Taylor/AI

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ACTION PACK FEB 2012 | SECTION 02.3

ACT NOW>>

WHY SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT FUND HOMELANDS? Amnesty International believes that the government needs to fund homelands for many reasons. Nearly one-third of Indigenous people in the Northern Territory live on homelands. Research shows that with proper services, people can be happier, healthier and live longer on homelands.

Living on homelands allows Aboriginal people to maintain their spiritual and economic connection to their land and raise their families with their traditional culture.

James Anaya, the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Rights, said that “homelands are widely understood to have lower levels of social problems, such as domestic violence and substance abuse ... the health of Indigenous people living on homelands is significantly better than of those living in larger communities.”

Despite this, current government policy to date has been to strip funding from essential services on homelands – effectively forcing people off their lands and into larger towns and cities.

Ask Treasurer Wayne Swan to prove the government's commitment to homelands by allocating adequate funding for them in the Federal Budget.

Take two minutes to write your own handwritten letter to Treasurer Wayne Swan. You don't have to be a policy expert to write a letter – with just a few sentences you can let the government know you care about homelands.

Here are some key points to start you off: •

The government needs to equitably distribute funding to Indigenous communities – including traditional homelands – where nearly one-third of Aboriginal Peoples in the Northern Territory live.

•

Research shows that Aboriginal Peoples can be happier, healthier and live longer on homelands.

With proper investment and a partnership approach, the government can ensure homelands remain vibrant and healthy communities.

•

The government has no right to abandon Aboriginal Peoples for choosing to live on their homelands.

•

The government must respect Aboriginal Peoples’ connection to country and culture.

The government has repeatedly claimed that it supports homelands.

Now they have the chance to prove their support by funding essential services on homelands in the next Federal Budget.

Send us your letter and we will forward them (on your behalf) to Wayne Swan.

Please send to: Youth Coordinator, Amnesty International Locked Bag 23, Broadway NSW 2007 or use the enclosed reply paid envelope or email youth@amnesty.org.au

Above: Kids from Soapy Bore enjoy the beginnings of a day gathering bush tucker and bush medicines. (Left to right) Rosiah Jones Kngwarrey, Justin Long Pwerl and Ethan Jones Kngwarrey. © AI. Photo credit: April Pyle Right: Joseline Kemarr on traditional homelands. © AI. Photo credit: April Pyle

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CAMPAIGNS : INFORMATION AND ACTION

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ACTION PACK FEB 2012 | SECTION 02.4

You've got mail on refugees!

Last year you helped changed the conversation about refugees and asylum seekers who arrived by boat. Alex Pagliaro, Amnesty International’s refugee campaign coordinator, wanted to send you a very special thank you and let you know what the next steps are.

Hi there, My name is Alex and I help run Amnesty International’s refugee campaign.

Last year Amnesty International and all our supporters did some amazing work starting new conversations about refugees in Australia. We all worked hard to inject facts into the public debate about ‘boat people’.

Over and over again we reiterated that: • • •

it is not illegal to seek asylum the number of boat arrivals is actually quite small, and most asylum seekers who arrive by boat are genuine refugees fleeing terror and violence.

Together we wrote letters to newspaper editors, talked to our friends and family, called our members of parliament and collected petition signatures – all vital work that we’ll continue this year.

We also focused on helping individual asylum seekers in detention centres. Our casework team visited and talked with people in detention and our supporters, including school students, wrote asylum seekers messages of support. For an asylum seeker who is feeling alone and forgotten by Australia, these messages offer much needed hope.

Together, we also worked to ensure that the government didn’t start sending asylum seekers to Malaysia, a country where asylum seekers and refugees are subjected to caning, exploitation and sexual and physical abuse.

It worked! At the end of last year we celebrated when the government ditched offshore processing and conceded that asylum seekers who arrive in Australia must be looked after in Australia.

But we still have a long way to go.

PTO…

Top: Zohal Dad (left) and big sister Farida Dad fled Afghanistan with the rest of their family, in fear for their lives.

They now live happily in Australia. © Hamish Gregory/AI Above: The Wazefadost siblings are Afghan refugees now living in Australia. (Left to right) Madhi, Najeeba, Raihana and Nooria Wazefadost. © Hamish Gregory/AI

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ACTION PACK FEB 2012 | SECTION 02.4

ACT NOW>> In 2012 we’ll continue to push for changes to the way asylum seekers are treated in Australia. Like you, we want a refugee system we can be proud of, one that reflects Aussie values, such as helping people in need and a fair go for all. If we are to live up to our international responsibilities and give these future Australians the best chance of becoming happy and productive members of our society, we need to allow refugees to live in the community after their health and character checks are completed.

Many refugees are already processed in the Australian community, and we know that this is cheaper, fairer, and more beneficial to Australia. We are asking that all refugees are processed using this better system.

Please help us demand that the government ends indefinite mandatory detention and instead allows most asylum seekers to live in the community.

Alex P.S. Have you ever wondered what it’s like in a detention centre? This term I will be visiting detention centres around Australia, including Christmas Island. There are currently over 4000 men, woman and children in detention centres.

Follow me at www.amnesty.org.au/detentiontour

This term the action is simple. We are asking each student to make a pledge to hold an event during Refugee Week, 17 June to 23 June – that’s still a few months away, so you have plenty of time to get prepared!

There are lots of things you can do at your school for Refugee Week: •

A flash mob – think of a creative way to tell people at your school the facts about asylum seekers and refugees.

•

Set up an Amnesty International stall.

•

Speak at your school assembly.

•

If there are other ideas swimming around in your head, give them a try and let us know what you’re planning. You are only limited by your creativity!

Let us know what your school is doing by emailing the details below to youth@amnesty.org.au.

•

School name.

•

School location.

•

Your school’s action for Refugee Week.

•

The best contact person at your school.

Young Sri Lankan asylum seekers look out from the Australian Customs and Immigration Fisheries Patrol vessel anchored off Indonesia's Riau Island of Tanjung Pinang, 27 October 2009. © AFP Photo/Roslan Rahman