Active Term 3

ACTIVE

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Aotearoa NZ’s Youth Magazine

Freedom Challenge 2013:

Chalking Like Egyptians...

IN THIS ISSUE > STAND UP FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS > SRI LANKA: TELL THE TRUTH > BIRTHDAY ACTION FOR BRAVE BOY

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UPDATES

A note from Kristian TERM three has started and the end of the year is bearing down upon us like so many grizzlies.

Here at Grafton we’ve recently recycled interns; it’s something we do every five months, just to keep things fresh. I know a few of you are interested in being interns here and it warms my heart, maybe I’ll see you in not-so-long.

I was once an intern. I finished, it’s sad, I know. But I’m Freedom Challenge Coordinator now, so I still get to go on trips and whatnot. I wish I could talk to you about all of the places we’ve visited, but I can’t, because: space. But universally you’re fantastic company.

We visited Columba College in Dunedin a while back. We were brought in by seniors Monica Bae and June Intana, they do a great job, and so does their teacher Mr Corbishley. The rest of their group were younger. Well, they were 12. But they were also geniuses; every time we brought up something new they told us all about it before we had the chance. So we were just left kinda watching each other and doing not-so-much.

As we stared at each other they took to coming up with some amazing ideas for events. They also enjoyed poking fun at each other and threatening other members of the group with over the top costumes and town parades. Which is a good idea, by the way.

Most of you just want to know how to do something about the issues we deal with. An important thing to remember is that activism always has a point. Draw people in any way you can, give them info, and make sure you get your point across.

Chur, see you soon.

Kristian

Hi I’m Kristin the new Yout h Intern. are I hope you all enjoyed school holidays and It’s ready for an awesome Freedom Challenge. shaping up to be an amazing week! inally A bit about me.. .I’m from Christchurch orig kpackbut I caught the travel ling bug after a bac nI ing trip thr ough Italy in Year 13. Since the my have been travel ling on and off as much as wuniversity studies (and budget) would allo l and mainly thr oughout Europe, Asia and Centra North America.

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I just moved to f or ward t o Auckland in July so am explo loo I was inv o lv r ing t he cit y w hile I’ king m he ed w was living in it h Amnest y Inter nat re as well. iona So C hr istchurc ut h K orea and was als l w hile I hR o part of t h e It’s reall y e egional Team. xcitng t o w or k Y out h Net w or k in New wit h t he Amnest y Zea t o see all of t he act ivit land. It is so impressiv ies e t oget her. Y o ur c ommitm t hat ever yone has put ent is awes ome!

If you need help with anyt hing (questions you’re unsure about , campaigning ideas, resources etc) or if you’d like to say hi or let us know what your team has been doing, I’d love to hear from you.

Just send me an email (yout h.intern@amnest y.org. nz) or phone me (0800-266-378) ext 216).

Cheers, Krist in

FREEDOM CHALLENGE

STAND UP FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS STAND UP WITH THE PEOPLE OF EGYPT There’s never been a more important time to stand up for women’s rights in Egypt and to stand alongside Egypt’s people as they face more political unrest and uncertainty.

JUST one year after he was elected into power in the country’s first democratic election President Morsi was removed by the military in July.

The coup followed days of protests, as millions took to the streets of Egypt, both in support and in opposition to President Morsi’s rule.

The protests resulted in many deaths, injuries, attacks and harassment. One of the particularly terrible things that happened during the protests were the attacks on women and girls protesting in and around Tahrir Square. This all happening while authorities stood by taking no action.

The attacks on women have been so frequent that women’s groups advised women to stay away from a main protest site Tahrir Square in the capital, Cairo. It is simply not safe for them to be on the streets peacefully protesting.

While some of the leaders might have changed, what we need to tell them hasn’t!

Egypt’s political leaders must condemn sexual violence and press for actions to end it. Any strategy to end it must be developed in full consultation with women’s rights groups and the National Council for Women.

And we’re asking that you write and gather solidarity messages which we can deliver to women’s groups working to end sexual violence. At this critical time Egypt’s women need to know they are not alone.

You have the ability to influence the course of history half a world away.

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So, are you ready to Chalk like an Egyptian and stand up for women’s rights?

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Testimonies from survivors and those attempting to help describe a pattern of terrifying attacks. Tens if not hundreds of men were surrounding the women with countless hands tearing-off clothes and veils, and groping them.

Rapes were also reported.

Women’s groups reported over 90 such attacks in protests from 30 June to 2 July. A further 80 attacks were reported on the night of 3 July.

FREEDOM CHALLENGE

UPDATED RESOURCES WE’VE updated our website with all the latest information here: http://www.amnesty.org.nz/our-work/crisiscampaigns We’ve also enclosed an updated petition for you to circulate and collect signatures on. You can also find and download it from the Freedom Challenge website www.amnesty.org.nz/freedomchallenge. This will replace the postcard which we previously promised, and targets all political leaders in Egypt.

The situation in Egypt is very fluid so our website will be the best place to visit for updates. We will also be keeping you informed via Youth Network updates with any breaking news to help you host a great Freedom Challenge.

Student co-coordinator at Wellington East Girls’ Shannon Denham, says they have plans to ‘Steal’ people from classrooms, then ‘chain’ them up somewhere popular using paper chains, one paper chain will be cut for every few signatures they collect.

SOME

GREAT

IDEAS FROM

YOU!

A hieroglyphics workshop is just one idea from the South Island’s largest school, Burnside High.

WE’VE been hearing some fantastic ideas at workshops and through Freedom Challenge registrations.

While at Auckland’s McAuley College, a pledge of silence is planned from period one until lunchtime.

Kapiti College’s Sarah Mackenzie, says they plan to have both the guys and girls being made up with Isis eyes for a day.

Student co-ordinator Makarita Loto adds they will seek donations and sponsors for students “who make a pledge to stay silent for the morning. Students will wear signs to raise awareness of women who do not have a voice in Egypt.”

In its first year, Mt Roskill Grammar, Auckland, is organising a quiz based on facts put in lockers, and will also have mummy/Egyptian figures out and about at lunchtime.

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IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO REGISTER!

Horowhenua College is planning to use street drama to get their message

across, while a little further south at Wellington’s Tawa College, they will host a scavenger hunt with red flags and street art clues.

And at the final workshop in Auckland in July some of the ideas being thrown around included - Egyptian flash mobs, fortune telling, setting up an Egyptian bazaar, and a conga line doing the Egyptian walk.

Whatever you are getting up to, go out there and have fun and generate thousands of signatures and solidarity messages that we can use to help create a more positive future for all Egyptians.

Please make sure you send us updates and photos, and if you want us to help you get media coverage please gives us lots of notice and exact details of where, when, who and how. We’ve got a template available on the website, please fill it out.

You can still register and be part of this year’s Freedom Challenge And remember if 5-12 August doesn’t work for you simply make a date that does.

You and your team should have received your resources - but if you haven’t please phone Freedom Challenge Co-ordinator Kristian Rusten or Youth Intern Kristin Williams on 0800 266 3789 to request them.

Resources include petitions, badges, wristbands and stickers. Please note the postcards we’ve previously offered are now out of date because of the coup. We’ve instead created a petition for you to circulate and collect signatures on.

FREEDOM CHALLENGE

Freedom Challenge launched by AUCKLAND GIRLS’ GRAMMAR

Year 10 Dean, Kathleen Becker, aka Cleopatra, gets the finishing touches on her makeup by Group Leader Giyatri Adi. © AI

AUCKLAND Girls’ Grammar School’s Peace Group drew on every piece of Egyptian symbolism possible to launch Freedom Challenge for us in July.

Cleopatra, silenced protesters, powerful Egyptian women, places to get information, donate, and take action saw the school hall overflowing with students.

“Their event had all the aspects of incredibly powerful campaigning, and some amazing costumes and art to boot,” said Freedom Challenge coordinator Kristian Rusten.

When asked why they were taking action here’s what students from Auckland Girls’ said: Kayla Lines said an awareness of human rights abuses can go a long way to ending and preventing the situations we campaign on. “Women are being oppressed for standing up for their rights, people have to hear about it.”

Ashia Shah simply posed the question “We’re humans as well, so why can’t they have the rights that we have?”

Julie Lam added we’d all make greater progress “If more countries and schools do this then women’s rights will improve all over the world”.

The leader of the group, Gayatri Adi, confirmed that women’s rights always strike a chord at the school. “The treatment of women in Egypt has been shocking, so we’ve made this our focus for the rest of the term.”

During his visit, Kristian says he was blown away by the level of support the students received, including having Associate Principal Di Hatch in attendance.

“Cleopatra was no ordinary Cleopatra, she was the Year 10 Dean, Kathleen Becker. Despite being a self-confessed introvert, she emphasised the need for teachers to support students in becoming aware of human rights and to aid them in developing into ‘fantastic human beings’ like the Peace Group”, said Kristian.

maker and aspiring design maestro and student Harriet Johnson.”

Group teacher co-ordinator Esther Graham, who was also in costume, saithey drew on readily available materials, “I’m wearing a school tablecloth, we’ve also used white sheets from the school nurse”.

We’ve also received this report from Drew Manning, a year 10 student at Feilding High School, who’ve already accepted the Challenge.

Drew wrote, “Our class have carried out tasks and actions including signing a postcard to send to President Morsi expressing our concerns for women in Egypt. Other students did chalk drawings in the quad at school so other students would be aware of the happenings in Egypt. Many other different tasks were carried out and each student enjoyed being able to be a part of making social actions, fighting for Women’s rights in Egypt.”

“And it helped that her costume was awesome, the work of serial costume

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SRI LANKA

SRI LANKA: TELL THE TRUTH Sandya Eknaligoda, wife of disappeared journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda with with their two sons Sathyajith Sanjaya and Harith Danajaya, Sri Lanka, 10 January 2011. © Private

IT’S been four years since the armed conflict ended in Sri Lanka.

Since then the Sri Lankan authorities have tried to create an image of human rights progress in a country where torture, crushing dissent, and impunity are instead an everyday reality.

Journalists, lawyers, grassroots activists – anyone who dares to criticize the authorities – can be picked up under outdated and severe security laws, including the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and detained for years without access to the outside world.

Sometimes the authorities simply bypass legal avenues, resorting to anonymous harassment and assaults. Reports of people being bundled into white vans and later dumped, or never seen again, are alarmingly frequent.

A MEETING OF

COMMONWEALTH LEADERS

Family members protest against the disappearance of their relatives in Colombo Sri Lanka, 24 January 2012. © Vikalpasl

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THE authorities claim that their human rights record has improved – a claim reinforced by the confirmation that Sri Lanka will host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November 2013.

This meeting is our opportunity to stand up and demand accountability in the country. As New Zealand is a Commonwealth Nation we have a real chance to get our government to say something.The build-up to the meeting and the meeting itself provides Amnesty with an opportunity to shine an international spotlight on the situation in Sri Lanka and call for effective action to hold people accountable, bring justice to victims and end the crackdown on dissent.

THE

SRI LANKA

CONFLICT

DURING the final days of the brutal 26 years long conflict in 2009, between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), gross human rights abuses were committed by both sides.

Tens of thousands of civilians were killed.

Civilians trapped between Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka, May 2009, during the last

Sri Lankan armed forces used month of the war. © Private heavy weaponry to launch indisThe LTTE forcibly recruited children as soldiers, used criminate attacks on the “no fire civilians as human shields, and shot civilians who tried to zones” where they had told civilians to move and which flee. they knew were densely populated by civilians.

Hospitals were shelled, causing death and injuries among patients and staff, and civilians were denied access to humanitarian aid, including food, water and medical supplies.

In September 2008, international humanitarian organisations were removed from the conflict zone, while independent journalists were denied access. This was widely seen as an attempt to prevent witnesses in the final months of the conflict.

The ‘Trinco Five’ RAGIHAR Manoharan, along with four other students all aged 20, were killed by the Sri Lankan security forces in Trincomalee on 2 January 2006.

Another youth who survived the attack said the killers were members of the Special Task Force (STF), an elite police commando unit.

The students had gathered for a chat near the seafront when a grenade was thrown at them. At least three of them were injured in the explosion. A short while later a group of 10 to 15 officers in uniform arrived. They put the injured students into their jeep and beat them with rifle butts, and then pushed them out onto the road. According to a witness, the security forces personnel then shot five students dead, including Ragihar Manoharan.

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In July this year there were reports that 12 members of

An investigation in 2006 of STF members failed to deliver justice, and several witnesses were too scared to testify in court. Ragihar’s father, Dr Manoharan, gave evidence during the investigation, and received death threats and intimidation. He has been the only member of the five families to continue to speak out and that activism has forced him and his family to flee Sri Lanka.

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To date, no one has been brought to justice for the five killings, despite Ragihar’s father’s relentless fight for justice. This is just one example of the lack of accountability that plagues Sri Lanka.

the STF had been arrested in relation to these unlawful killings. This sounds like a positive development, but would not necessarily lead to a meaningful investigation which would ensure justice for the victims’ families.

SRI LANKA

>> TAKE ACTION!

In September, we will take your signatures to representatives of the Sri Lankan government at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

So the deadline for the return of the Sri Lanka petition is 1 September. Please circulate directly after your Freedom Challenge campaigning is complete and return to us in either the enclosed reply paid envelope or scan and email your petition sheets to Kristin Williams youth.intern@ amnesty.org.nz before that date.

Or visit www.amnesty.org.nz/srilanka to sign and share our online petition!

And keep an eye out for a Twitter action planned for 8 August, marking 100 days to CHOGM.

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Family members protest against the disappearance of their relatives in Colombo Sri Lanka, 24 Jan 2012. © Vikalpasl

© Finn Andres

PLEASE circulate and collect signatures on the enclosed petition calling on President Rajapaksa to Tell the Truth on what happened during the war, to tell the truth around the lack of effective progress and to take genuine steps to improve human rights in Sri Lanka.

Quick facts about the Commonwealth • There are 54 countries in the Commonwealth.

• Most are former British colonies, or dependencies of these colonies.

• Fiji remains a suspended nation of the Commonwealth in response to its fourth coup in 2006.

• CHOGM stands for Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which occurs every two years and agree collective policies and initiatives.

• CHOGMs act as the principal policy and decision-making forum to guide the strategic direction of the association.

• CHOGM Sri Lanka takes place from 10-17 November, in Colombo.

BIRTHDAY

CHINA

ACTION

FOR A BRAVE BOY

Gao Zhisheng’s son, Tianyu, was only three years old when his father was first detained by the Chinese authorities as a result of his human rights work.

Tianyu will turn 10 in August - and we’re asking you all to send birthday cards to him.

Gao Zhisheng and his son in December 2006. © Private

Gao Zhisheng is one of China’s most respected human rights lawyers. He has been subjected to enforced disappearance, torture, illegal house arrest and detention as a result of his work. He is currently imprisoned in Shaya county prison in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in northwest China, after being sent to prison in December 2011 for apparently violating the conditions of his suspended three-year sentence.

Before this his whereabouts had been unknown for almost 20 months. He has been repeatedly tortured since 2006, and continues to be at high risk of further torture. In 2009, Gao Zhisheng’s wife, Geng He, escaped to the US with Tianyu and his older sister.

We’re asking you to organise a solidarity action for Tianyu’s tenth birthday, to show our support to him and his family. Tianyu’s birthday is on 27 August.

Amnesty supporter Melissa Deiner taking action for Gao Zhisheng during Write for Rights 2012. © AI

>> TAKE ACTION! PLEASE create your own birthday cards and encourage others to sign them. If you have 10-year-old brothers and sisters please also ask them to create and send birthday cards to Tianyu.

They can be as creative as you like and include messages wishing Tianyu a happy birthday, and offering encouragement to him and his family. Messages can be sent in English or Chinese.

WHERE SHOULD THE CARDS BE SENT?

FEEDBACK

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Please let Kristin Williams youth.intern@amnesty.org. nz know if you will be taking part in this action and also let her know how many cards/drawings have been sent to Amnesty’s Regional Office for Tianyu.Send us photos of your cards and you making them. We would love to use them on our website and in our publications.

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Please send cards to the Asia Pacific Regional Office in Hong Kong, and they will be mailed to Gao Zhisheng’s family from there:

GAO ZHISHENG SOLIDARITY ACTION c/o Amnesty International Asia Pacific Regional Office 16/F, Siu On Centre, 188 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong SAR

YOUTH UPDATES

GREAT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE Amnesty’s Youth leadership area !

WE’VE got lots of exciting announcements about youth and leadership with Amnesty.

First up former Tauranga Girls’ High group leader and current co-co-ordinator of the Victoria University Amnesty group Chennoah Walford has been co-opted onto our Governance Team.

She’s Amnesty New Zealand’s first Governance Youth co-optee.

Once Chennoah has had a chance to settle in we’ll interview her and introduce her to you properly.

last year alford during Chennoah W

hallenge

’s freedom C

introduce you to our latest Youth Liaison people in Dunedin Alena Plaksina and Jackie Milford; and in Christchurch Michael Koefman.

All have a long-standing history with Amnesty International dating back to high school and bring a wealth of Amnesty and human rights experience to their roles.

“All have a passion for supporting young New Zealanders make the world a safer more just place,” said Activism Support Manager Margaret Taylor.

We’re also delighted to

N O I T A S R E V N O C t n oup join an importa

Otago Uni gr

A YOUTH-friendly session to discuss the Constitutional Review was organised by Otago University’s Amnesty group leaders Lena Plaksina and Jackie Milford.

“The group was small, however the discussion was very rich and robust. We talked about the Bill of Rights and touched a bit on the lack of economic cultural and social rights protection harming our children, students, living conditions, etc,” Lena said.

“There was also a really interesting discussion around Maori electoral representation and the Treaty of Waitangi and I was very pleasantly surprised by the intensity and engagement of the people who were there, as well as their awareness and sensitivity to a wide range of domestic issues. Fantastic discussion.”

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Pictured L-R - Du nedin Youth liaiso ns Jackie Milfor and Lingshu Liu d and Lena Plak from Kristin Colle sina ge, Auckland, at Rights Conferen Amnesty’s Hum ce in May. an

FOR more information on what Amnesty has been seeking in regard the Constitutional Conversation and its ongoing campaign to ensure all our rights are adequately protected under New Zealand law visit www.amnesty.org.nz/makerightslaw

You let your HAIR D

OWN

YOUTH UPDATES

IN the last issue of ACTIVE we ran a piece on Hair Protest, the photo petition started by Amnesty Poland targeting the hairstyle limitations in North Korea.

So many of you took to this action - it was awesome. When something as basic as how you wear your hair can be considered a crime in another part of the world, it’s very easy to point out how lucky we’ve been with the protection of our freedom of expression. And it’s also easy to point out why we need to be aware of our freedoms, rights, and responsibilities so we never find ourselves in the position of being denied them.

Agrani Ratnayake from Hastings Girls’ told us why her group took action.

“The way we express ourselves makes us who we are. We are really lucky to be able to really express ourselves; it should be the same in all countries.”

“We always just watch unfairness happening all around us, we see it on TV, in the news-

paper, and at school, but as a teenager you don’t really have the resources to do much about it. Amnesty lets you fight for the rights of others and get involved.”

“It’s a great organisation to be a part of.”

IMAGES: Students at Hastings Girls’ let their hair down, and up!

VIC UNI pick up their pens!

ALONG with the radio program HumanFM 88.1 we told you about in last term’s ACTIVE, the awesome folk at Vic Uni have started up a Write 4 Rights Group.

The group meets every monthon Fridays to pick up their pens and write for the release of prisoners of conscience and other Amnesty action cases.

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At the moment group are writing a submission as part of the Constitution Conversation with a focus on the incorporation of economic, social and cultural rights into the Bill of Rights Act. “It is time to show human rights leadership again and make our rights law,” said Chennoah. To get involved contact amnesty.at.vic@gmail.com

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The group’s co-co-cordinator Chennoah Walford said, “We all have different strengths, and people exercise their activism in different ways. Writes 4 Rights is about moving away from our previously event planning and discussion based meetings to give people the opportunity to fight for freedom through their writing if that’s where their talents best fit”.

GOOD NEWS

PAKISTAN: MALALA SPEAKS AT THE UNITED NATIONS ABOUT EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN IN October last year Malala Yousafzai was fighting for her life – shot in the head by the Taliban for supporting education for girls in Pakistan.

On her 16th birthday in July she spoke to the United Nations about the need for education for all children - her first public speaking engagement since being shot.

In a report from the BBC Malala is reported as saying, “The extremists were, and they are, afraid of books and pens, They are afraid of women.”

She called on politicians to take urgent action to ensure every child has the right to go to school.

“Let us pick up our books and pens. They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first.”

Malala, who has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, received a number of standing ovations during her speech. Watch it here: http://amn.st/1aLOwV8

© REUTERS © Payvand.com

AUSTRALIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA: CHILDREN REMOVED FROM MANUS ISLAND THE detention of asylum seeker children on Manus Island has ended.

On International Refugee Day, 20 June, a plane carrying 70 asylum seekers: 30 vulnerable men and 40 family members; men, women and their children left the substandard island detention centre. Reports that followed confirmed that all the families who have been locked up on Manus Island would be flown to Australian territories within a week. For more details visit: http://bit.ly/1arqej7

INDIA: PREGNANT ACTIVIST RELEASED ON BAIL THEATRE activist Sheetal Sathe, who was arrested in Mumbai, India, on 2 April 2013 has been released on bail.

Sheetal Sathe, is eight months pregnant, and had previously been refused bail. Amnesty has been campaigning on her behalf raising concerns about the risks to her health and the well-being of the baby if it was born in prison.

In June the Bombay High Court granted her bail, and she was released from Mumbai’s Byculla prison on 29 June.

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Shetal is a member of Kabir Kala Manch (KKM), a group which uses protest music and theatre to campaign on human rights issues, including Dalit rights and caste-based violence and discrimination the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

IRAN: HONORARY DEGREE AWARDED TO NASARIN SOTOUDEH SHE is one of Iran’s best known human rights defenders.

But lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh is detained simply for protecting and promoting human rights. She has been at the forefront of many struggles in Iran, and including challenging the execution of child offenders. She is currently held in Iran’s infamous Evin Prison with limited access to family, lawyers, who are also facing harassment.

In June she received an honorary degree from Canada’s York University on 12 June. Iranian lawyer and human rights activist Karim Lahidji, president of the International Federation for Human Rights, accepted the distinction on her behalf and read out the message she had written from Prison for the occasion.

In her speech Nasrin said: “I have asked myself many times in prison: how did my life unfold as it has? I knew that there was no escape from it, but a suffering deep inside obliged me to protest; to protest at the persistent violation of human rights in a society, where I, my family and millions of other people, whom I love, live.”

Nasrin is our quarterly hero. You can take action to help free her here: www.amnesty.org.nz/helpme