ACTIVE Term 2 2015

ACTIVE

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - Youth Magazine

IN IN THIS THIS ISSUE: ISSUE:

> > Freedom Challenge 2015 > > The Death Penalty in 2014 > > School Youth Conference

TERM 2 // 2015

EDITORIAL

A NOTE FROM MIRIAM Kia ora tatou! impressed and heartened by the level of I am only six weeks into my role and I’m so dy displayed so far this year! passion and commitment that you have alrea numerous signatures and sent them Huge thanks to those of you who have collected of the #OpenToSyria campaign. We will through with hundreds of photos taken as part New Zealand government in June. be presenting your faces and signatures to the rights defenders with our stall at the InI recently helped our Auckland Central human c, food, languages, colours and cultures ternational Cultural Festival. The array of musi ions I had with people that afternoon at the festival was magnificent. Many conversat things about Aotearoa: our diversity, were about how such events epitomise the good try. We gathered a lot of signatures that tolerance and openness as a multicultural coun New Zealand as refugees from war-torn day. Some of the people who signed came to parts of the world. talking with these people in my commuThe happiness that came from meeting and the fact that New Zealand offers so few nity was also tinged with a deep sadness at ee quota of only 750 has not increased for refugees a home here; that our annual refug 87th in the world for hosting refugees 28 years; that the United Nations ranks us at per head of population. alleviate this tragic humanitarian crisis.

We can do so much more as a country to help do to support refugees and asylum Freedom Challenge will focus on what we can Zealand and within the Asia Pacific reseekers, many of whom are children, in New cil, New Zealand has an essential leadergion. With our seat on the UN Security Coun ship role in this issue. aign and beyond will be essential to Your activism in the Freedom Challenge camp t it on pages 6-7 of this copy of ACTIVE. helping us with this! You can read more abou Have a wonderful term!

Miriam

Youth Coordinator miriam.pierard@amnesty.org.nz 09 666 0143

cover Front

ACTIVE

TERM 2 // 2015

02

image:

ters suppor l a n io f ernat ty Int he streets o the s e n m A ark to t , to m rian head h c r a M the Sy nd in Auckla niversary of at in New n 4th a nd show th o Syria. t t a Open e conflic r ’ e d w Zealan

STOP TORTURE

You’ve got the wheel of justice spinning in New Zealand

Jerryme Corre with members of Amnesty International Philippines who delivered your letters to him in February 2015. © Amnesty International

You’ve started the wheel of justice spinning in New Zealand urging The Philippines government to finally address its appalling torture record.

We’ll be presenting your activism to The Philippines embassy and ensuring President Aquino also knows that New Zealanders want an Independent Police Complaints Commission to investigate allegations of torture and to ensure torturers are brought to justice in his country.

We know that our actions are making a difference, particularly in the lives of torture survivor Jerryme Corre and his family. Recently our colleagues in The Philippines visited Jerryme and delivered a stack of letters written by activists like you. During the visit Jerryme said he had received some letters directly and he and his wife both said they could not believe the amount of support they were getting and that this has given them hope and courage.

“I can never give enough thanks. These [letters] give me strength. It even changed the course of my case as compared to before. It also gives courage to my wife. We are not alone in this fight. Many people also seek justice for us.”

We received further good news on 27 March when Amnesty International Philippines organised a petition delivery to the Philippines police asking for an investigation into the torture suffered by Jerryme.

Immediately after the petition delivery The Philippines police informed Jerryme and his family that an investigation would be opened by the PNP Internal Affairs Service - in line with our calls, and a hearing was scheduled.

By continuing to take action on this campaign you will build awareness and pressure and can help all the other torture survivors in The Philippines. Take this campaign beyond your school by outreaching to The Philippine community, youth, sport or church groups in your community.

Please keep campaigning and make sure you get all your petitions and appeals through to us by:

Friday, 12 June.

Resource

s

03

ACTIVE

If you nee Hanna G d more resour ces plea raf at y se outh.inte rn@amn email Youth In esty.org.n tern, z • - J eepney action, seeking justice f on-line action a or Jerr • yme Co nd factsheet On-line r r e action ture sur vivor Alf on behalf of P reda Dis hilippines • - O barro torur “spoo f” “Whe el of To • - B rture vid eneath eo t h e B A life-a lindfold ffirming d film abo ocumentary fo Suitable r loan. ut four for olde torture r stude nts. survivors.

TERM 2 // 2015

Amnesty representatives attended the first hearing in April and it was confirmed that the investigation was initiated based on letters sent by a human rights organisation.

Your letters do make a difference!

FREEDOM CHALLENGE

5 1 0 2 T S U G U A NGE - 10-14

E L L A H C M O D FREE Save the Date!

We are currently facing the biggest humanitarian crisis of our time, but we can do something about it!

This year’s Freedom Challenge focus is to show our openness and warmth as a country by increasing our refugee quota and offering a home to protect vulnerable people, many of them children, who are fleeing conflict and persecution.

This issue is critical as millions of refugees and asylum seekers seek shelter across the world, including in the Asia-Pacific. Yet many countries choose to turn their backs.

A young gir settlemen l at Freij informa t in Bek l tented aa V © Amnest y Internat alley, Lebanon ional

New Zealand can be a regional leader by offering more protection to refugees and urging for asylum seekers to be processed in humane conditions.

Your staunch actions, passionate voices and open hearts will influence our political leaders to step up to meet our international human rights obligations, to live up to our history of standing up for what’s right and to save the lives of individuals and families who have already experienced so much trauma.

ISIS?

CR WHAT IS THE

Some four million Syrian refugees have fled into neighbouring countries - that’s nearly the entire population of New Zealand! Almost half of them - 1.7 million - are children, your age and younger.

There are also many refugees stuck in AsiaPacific countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Today more than 100 children are being held in Australia’s detention centre on Nauru and 60 more in Australia who could be returned to Nauru at any time. Some are only babies.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is calling on countries to live up to their commitments to human rights by saving and resettling more refugees.

ACTIVE

TERM 2 // 2015

04

While this situation might seem overwhelming, New Zealand can and must provide the leadership that is badly lacking globally. There is a lot that we can do to help, and with your actions during Freedom Challenge there is a lot that YOU can do to help!

WHY SHOULD NE W ZEALAND BE MORE OPEN TO R EFUGEES? New Zealand has often punched above its weight in international humanitarian issues. However, we’re not doing very well on refugee resettlement - our quota has not increased in 28 years!

We currently accept only 750 quota refugees per year. The United Nations ranks New Zealand at only 87th in the world for hosting refugees.

We’re in a unique and influential position with our seat on the United Nations Security Council for the next two years. This puts us in a position of responsibility, charged with ensuring global peace and security. If New Zealand wants to send a strong message of cooperation and willingness, then taking a leadership role in sharing the responsibility to protect refugees is essential!

Let’s take action to advocate for the rights and lives of refugees by doubling our annual refugee quota and encouraging our region to step up to its responsibilities. New Zealand can be a welcoming home for those who need one the most.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

FREEDOM CHALLENGE This is what Zaa tari refugee cam p in Jordan look s like

#OpenToSyria will continue until 20 June - World Refugee Day - so keep your petitions and photos coming in and see page 6-7 for more information. We will send out Freedom Challenge kits to you shortly, with some clear calls, but in the meantime learn as much as you can about refugees and asylum seekers!

ed! t r a t s u o t y e g o t s p te six easy s st 2015 10-14 Augu Challenge is on m do ee Fr ST FIR lendars now! put it in your ca

read ACTIVE in your group to y od yb er ev et G NOW um seekers fugees and asyl re t ou ab e or m Learn AFTER THAT allenge next for Freedom Ch ed ar ep pr lly fu be so that you can r resource kit! t the links in ou ou ng ki ec ch term. Start by y ur next Amnest brainstorm at yo THEN - Have a with actions ting to come up ee m p ou gr l na Internatio refugees in New take to support n ca p ou gr ur that yo od e if there’s a go your ideas to se k ec Ch d. an al Ze mmunities brity, refugee co le ce l ca lo a e media angl ink big! opportunity? Th o ot ph or , ol ho in your sc nge kits Freedom Challe e th r fo t ou e KEEP an ey updates on way along with ur yo nd se ill w that we that we will lenge workshops al Ch m do ee Fr the lington, Christ, Hamilton, Wel nd la ck Au in st ho orkshop takes edin. The first w church and Dun ge 10 for May 24. See pa on on gt lin el W place in

A young bo y at Freij informal te settlement nted in Bekaa Val © Amnest y Internati ley, Lebanon onal

“My son’s health situ ation is de I would re teriorating ally like to and treat him. put me forw The UN h ard for rese as know if I a ttlement b m going to ut I don’t be resettled” - Yara - A Syrian refu in Lebano gee who is n with her now four child ren.

more details.

© Bidna Capoeira via Flickr

ACTIVE

!!

And... get excited

05

TERM 2 // 2015

and email oser to the time cl s te da up r fo et to check here nesty.org.nz AND - Don’t forg iriam.pierard@am m on d ar er Pi dinator Miriam your Youth Coor s you have! ns and cool idea tio es qu y an ith w

#OpenToSyria

SHOWING NEW ZEALAND WE

’RE OPEN TO SYRIA

We asked if you were #Open to Syria in last term’s ACTIVE and you showed us that you certainly are - the response has been fantastic!

refugees who are especially vulnerable - including torture survivors, people persecuted for their sexuality and women and girls at risk of abuse.

We’re asking governments to be #OpenToSyria and share the responsibility of Syria’s refugees with countries in the region. They can make a huge difference by welcoming 380,000

Here in New Zealand, we’re asking the Government to step up and do its bit to help Syria’s most vulnerable refugees by immediately accepting 100 Syrian refugees for resettlement and

doubling the annual refugee quota.

We’ve received hundreds of pictures and signatures from Western Heights High School, Rotorua; Auckland Grammar School, Nelson College for Girls and Pakuranga College, Auckland.

Students from Massey High School created beautiful banners.

Nelson G irls’ & friends

Nelson Girls’ co-leader Poppy Postance said they were delighted with the response - gathering 226 signatures, about 150 pictures, and the attention of the Nelson Mail who came along to interview them.

“We wanted to get as many pictures as possible to impact on the New Zealand government, and to illustrate that school students care about this issue, especially as many of the refugees are children missing out on an education,” said Poppy.

hts g i e H n r e t s We Western Heights Amnesty Vice President Allie Livingston said, “Our club is passionate about making a change and also making the people in our school aware of what Amnesty does.

We are so proud to be able to support such an amazing campaign.”

ACTIVE

TERM 2 // 2015

06

#OpenToSyria So it’s n ot too lat action f or Open e to take To the pet ition onli Syria - Sign n e, or ph copy an o d collec t signat tothe har u r es on d copy ver in your ACTIVE sion enclosed c some cr eative O opy, make p enToSyria take yo ur sig crazy!!! camera and go ns,

by Scarlett Parkes Auckland Girls’ Grammar School What do you think of when you hear the word refugee? I think of piteously skinny children with dirty clothes. I think of cramped, uncomfortable tents that flap in the dry wind, with nothing inside them except a hard dusty ground for their occupants to sleep on. I think of a desert lined with huts in a far-off land.

But this picture in my head is not clear. It is a hazy image made up of my own imaginings and one short snippet that I saw on the news a long time ago. Even the news item holds no weight in my mind, though. Because we are far away from these situations here in New Zealand. As much as I think I know things about refugees, I don’t, not really. Because I haven’t been in that situation. I haven’t seen those people. Although we are by no means all rich here, we are rich enough that these situations are about as foreign as things can get.

Pakuranga College

07

ACTIVE

View more Open to Syria images here

And that is what Syria needs. Some arms reaching out, some hearts open, to receive the people who have endured so much. There are over 4 million people living in New Zealand. 100 more isn’t much of a change to the country as a whole, but to those 100 people, it is everything.

TERM 2 // 2015

Jaffar Bui, student leader at Pakuranga College said, “I look forward to see the result of the campaign on World Refugee Day! I hope to give my team good news of the resettlement of the Syrian refugees.”

There are many ways to love a country. I love France and Italy as a tourist. I love Australia as a neighbour, and the Cook Islands, as a sister. But New Zealand, I love as its child.

Because that is what I am. The country of your birth will forever be in your heart, in some way or another. But it will not always stay as your home. There are circumstances which many people all around the world have to leave their home countries. Sometimes they choose, sometimes, there is no choice.

And if, in that circumstance, another country opens its arms to you, and the people open their hearts to you, then that country also will live forever in your heart.

DEATH PENALTY

14

0 2 N I Y T L A N E P H THE DEAT In 2014 governments resorted to using the death penalty to tackle crime and terrorism.

That’s what we found in our annual death penalty report which looks at trends on the death penalty globally.

Most executions took place in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the USA – in that order.

There was an increase in death sentences recorded last year due to mass sentences in Egypt and Nigeria.

In Pakistan, the government lifted a six-year moratorium on the execution of civilians following the horrific Taliban attack on a school last December. More than 50 people have been put to death since.

Other governments – including Indonesia – have used executions as a solution to surging crime rates and drug trafficking. Indonesia has already executed six people this year, a further 11 are at imminent risk.

THE GOOD NEWS

Despite those statistics, the global trend is clear – the world is turning its back on the death penalty with 140 states abolitionist in law or practice.

- All regions, except Europe and Central Asia, saw fewer executions than the year before.

- The Pacific continues as the only region to be execution free.

- Executions in Sub-Saharan Africa have dropped by 28 per cent 46 compared to 64 in 2013.

TAKE ACTION Recent actions we’ve taken have seen delays in executions occurring in Iran and Indonesia. That gives us time to keep on campaigning.

Now help us stop the execution of Shafqat Hussain

ACTIVE

TERM 2 // 2015

08

Shafqat Hussain, is a Pakistani who was just 14 years old in 2004 when he was sentenced to death, is due to be executed at the end of April. He was given a reprieve just hours before his planned hanging on 19 March, after a campaign by his lawyers and human rights

groups including Amnesty International pointed out the possibility of a mistrial.

According to his lawyers, Shafqat Hussain was convicted based on a ‘confession’ after being tortured for nine days. He did not receive a fair trial, there was no evidence, and the fact that he was a child at time of offence was not raised. He was sentenced to death for kidnapping and involuntary manslaughter.

Write to the President of Pakistan and urge him to: • halt the execution of Shafqat Hussain, as he was a child at the time of his alleged crime • return to a moratorium on all executions.

Send your letters to:

President of Pakistan Honourable Mr Mamnoon Hussain President’s Secretariat Islamabad, Pakistan Fax: +92 51 920 8479 Twitter: @Mamnoon_hussain

INSPIRATIONAL YOUTH Knowing that you are making a difference and introducing others to a world of standing up for others have been huge parts of why I love being a Youth Activist

MEET KEEARA OFREN! Amnesty International’s youth intern Hanna Graf caught up with Keeara Ofren, youth activist and Amnesty International group leader from Baradene College, Auckland and asked her about where it all started.

Q.When did you first become involved with Amnesty International, and what made you interested in joining a Human Rights group?

My introduction to human rights began in a lesson that started as any other in year 10 Social Studies. But as we began to get into the history of human rights, their applications and how we all have the same rights and responsibilities, I understood that with all the suffering in the world, as global citizens we not only can do something about it but we must try to do something about it.

In year 12 upon surfing the web, I stumbled upon the Freedom Challenge site and I thought that it would not only be an amazing opportunity to lead and organise an Amnesty International group around school but would be a chance to empower young women to use their creativity and talents to contribute to a better world.

Q. You are the leader of the Amnesty International group at your school, Baradene College. What is it like to coordinate such a huge group? What are your group’s plans for this year?

Q: Which of our current campaigns or issues are you most passionate about and why?

No one should have to be exempt from their human rights based on where they are born, their personal identity or who they are. Considering the fact that the main victims of the Syrian conflict are children, it is important to protect the rights of those most vulnerable. Children will be the next leaders, peacemakers, innovators of our world and with children growing up with their safety and survival at a severe compromise, there is a situation of injustice at hand which is why I take great interest in the ‘Open To Syria’ case.

Being a person of Filipino descent, the ‘Stop Torture in The Philippines’ is also very important to me. Corruption and extrajudicial punishment are huge problems and seeing the effects of this in reality with poverty in the Philippines has a harrowing effect.

Q: In one word, what does Amnesty mean to you?

To be part of something that brings people together to help others and effectively change the world, is truly and essentially love. Love is most powerful, most special. I am proud to be part of a global movement of justice, of integrity, of compassion, of courage, of ingenuity, of solidarity and most importantly of love.

09

ACTIVE

Oceans away, the efforts of high school students in New Zealand had culminated into a powerful voice for the vulnerable.

- Keeara talking about the impact of Freedom Challenge 2014 and the news that some of the N!DA activists had been freed.

TERM 2 // 2015

Amnesty International Baradene has been one of the fastest growing groups in our school. Going from 30 members in 2014 to about 100 this year, starting up and leading this group has been quite a journey. Leading an enormous group has its cons at times, it can be difficult to delegate roles and keeping enthusiasm and involvement up is challenging with the flurry of assessments, extracurricular work and personal matters for each member.

Nevertheless, I constantly find myself taken aback by the generosity and conscientious spirit of the students in my group.

- Keeara Ofren - Baradene College

YOUTH EVENTS

AUCKLAND SCHOOLS’ YOUTH CONFERENCE! We are very excited to announce an Amnesty International New Zealand schools’ conference for Aucklanders on the theme of Stop Torture.

Our youth team is working in partnership with the fantastic St. Peter’s College Amnesty Group to host the conference. We hope that other schools in Auckland and around the country will pick up the mantle and organise future events with our support.

When: Sa turday an d Sunday, 9-10 Ma y Where: St . Peters College S ch 23 Moun ool Hall, tain Roa d, Grafton, Auckland Theme: St op Cost: $20 Torture per stude nt

This schools’ conference is an opportunity for young activists to meet and socialise, listen to informative speakers, engage with ethical questions and most importantly present to and learn from each other!

We can provide some speakers, but we encourage you to choose a topic that you are especially interested in that’s related to the theme, create a presentation or a workshop and present it to fellow students. We have already had some great proposals for presentations sent to us.

We’ll shortly set up an on-line registration form, but until then if you have any questions about this conference, would like to present, or consider hosting this conference in the future please email your Youth Coordinator Miriam Pierard on miriam.pierard@amnesty.org.nz.

L-R: Miriam, Warren Rodricks from St Peters and Hanna getting organised for the conference. © Amnesty Interntional

Shetty etary General Salil cr Se l’s na io at rn Amnesty Inte 4 June. ew Zealand on 3will be visiting N e carved out an ht schedule we’v h on the Within his very tig time with our yout d en sp to lil Sa r hour or so fo ckland. We’ll be sday, 4 June in Au afternoon of Thur rmed times. ce we’ve got confi back in touch on right to edulking about your ta lil Sa h tc wa Until then =U8UBuEEdbk4 ube.com/watch?v cation: www.yout

ACTIVE

TERM 2 // 2015

10

rnational’s Portugal Salil Shetty with Amnesty Inte rnational Inte ty nes Am youth network. ©

Youth at last year

ETARY

AL’S SECR N IO T A N R E T IN Y AMNEST NZ GENERAL TO VISIT

’s skillshare

SPEAKERS, WORKSHOP, ACTION

You’re invited to our Annual Meeting and Skillshare in Wellington on the weekend of 2 3-24 May. A chance to he ar from intere sting speakers, mee t with fellow hu m rights defend ers, take action an and take part in worksho ps including on this year’s Freedo m Challenge.

Register here for either one or both days. A charge applies to the Annual Meeting, but the skillshare da y is free.

The Youth team will shortly be in touch with Wellington sc hools to arrang e a visit to your team befo re or after this meeting.

YOUTH IN ACTION

ICECREAM, CAGE, ACTION! ar m m a r G d n Auckla on the atures nd n g i s t c a to colle s from Auckl ch it was y u y g s W a e . e th le at w out ho etition when ice-cream sa k c e h C p n e Corre l organised a Jerrym o o h c S ar rs for Gramm cool video! te lette Open o r y w r e d v n their well as y tures a f signa uthorities as o s e ver d a o who ar -ordinaed l ne a i t s c p r e p e l i l l b i o We c he Ph 0 mem Teacher co ver 10 e and T es!” Jerrym ics. I have o ts issu h p g i a r i r y n to S huma ted in interes is. ah Dav tor Sar

ollege C s ’ r e t e P t S At St Pete r’s Colleg eh alongside caged stu aving the wheel o f justice dents gag jumpsuit sd ged and wearing of attenti uring the school fa on. ir attracte d lots “It really issued th e importa in the sc nce of th hool,” sa e id Group Rodricks co-leader group .

Warren

MESSAGES TO LIGHT A PRISON CELL Miriam and Hanna went on their very first school visit for Amnesty International on 19 March. Exciting!

t

dents a

to stu eaking p s m ia Mir n Girls.

Diocesa

After a presentation on the Power of Letter Writing , students from Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland, wrote letters of solidarity to Jerryme Corre, torture survivor in The Philippines.

“Your story has definitely touched our hearts. We would like you to know that aside from us, many people from our school, our country and from all over the world are here to offer our support.”

11

ACTIVE

“Kia Kaha, stay strong!”

TERM 2 // 2015

“Their messages have the power to light up his dark prison cell and give him new hope in his fight for justice!” says Hanna.

Some of your inspiring words: “Know that you will never be alone.

Know that if nothing else, the sun will set and rise, and a new day will begin”

GOOD NEWS PACIFIC NATIONS MAKE HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRESS Fiji and Tonga have both taken steps to improve their human rights by committing to international treaties and conventions. Amnesty International has systematically campaigned for all of the following three outcomes.

• Fiji - announcing its intention to ratify the Convention against Torture (UNCAT). On 13 February, we also woke up to the good news that Fiji had scrapped the death penalty. This brought the number of countries who have completely ended the ultimate cruel and inhuman punishment to 99, exactly half of all states in the world.

• Tonga – announcing its intention to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Kids play in a park. Suva, Fiji.

Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). © Vlad Sokhin Listen in: Amnesty International’s Pacific Researcher, Kate Schuetze discusses the impact of Fiji’s ratification of UNCAT

PRIVACY ISSUES IN THE SPOTLIGHT MORE N!DA ACTIVISTS RELEASED As the eyes of the world turn to Azerbaijan for the European Games 2015, two prisoners of conscience were released as part of the president’s pardon.

Orkhan Eyyubzade (19), a N!DA member was imprisoned after peacefully protesting the arrest of eight fellow pro-democracy N!DA activists. He was beaten by the police and there was no evidence to keep him in jail.

Another prisoner of conscience, Bashir Suleymanli who is the head of the Elections Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre, was also released after being jailed for reporting electoral violations during the election in 2013.

Revelations of mass surveillance and governments watching our every move have continuously appeared since Edward Snowden first released classified documents two years ago.

Amnesty International has said it’s time to watch the watchers and in the last few months we’ve seen several instances of good news.

In February there were historic victories in the age-old battle for the right to privacy and free expression: the USA and UK’s past intelligence-sharing on communications surveillance was ruled illegal.These landmark rulings, in which Amnesty International were co-claimants, should mean there are more significant positive changes ahead.

In March the United Nations Human Rights Council set up a new privacy watchdog, a ‘special rapporteur’ in response to efforts to expand surveillance powers and bulk collection of personal data.

And in New Zealand following revelations that our own Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) is conducting surveillance on our Pacific neighbours as well as other countries, an inquiry was launched by the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security. Amnesty International certainly welcomes this as a step forward in overcoming the lack of transparency surrounding the issue.

ACTIVE

TERM 2 // 2015

12

© REUTERS/Zoran Milich