ACTIVE AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Aotearoa NZ’s Youth Magazine
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STOP TORTURE. JOIN FREEDOM CHALLENGE. >ININTHIS CAPSISSUE: >> THE CHALLENGE BEGINS >> #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS > LOTS OF GOOD NEWS
EDITORIAL
Elley (second from right) at a Freedom Challenge workshop in Christchurch
A NOTE FROM ELLEY LIFE IS ALWAYS BUSY when you’re a high school student. And it seems that none are busier than the students who are Amnesty International youth group members. You are the ones that give up your lunch breaks to campaign for human rights, and more often than not you are also the students most likely to be in the environmental club, the school musical, learning an instrument and class reps. Your work for Amnesty is amazing, and it is particularly impressive to see so many rapid actions this term from youth groups around the country. Bring Back Our Girls actions in NZ were often student led and received a great show of support throughout schools. While pick-up on this issue by the NZ media was embarrassingly slow at first, young people in New Zealand certainly changed all that. Seeing how fast students can pull together actions gives me great inspiration. It also reminds me that with plenty of time to brainstorm creative actions, to get permission for larger events and to organise school-wide or even inter-school actions, you can go all out for Amnesty’s Freedom Challenge. Schools that have registered for Freedom Challenge 2014 already have great plans for August, and the exciting ideas from nationwide workshops feature in this issue. I can’t wait to see how events shape up during Freedom Challenge week and am looking forward to supporting you and being part of it.
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Elley Freedom Challenge Coordinator
INTERNS
INTRODUCING
LOUISE DAPRINI Hello all you dedicated and amazing individuals. I am so excited to be joining the Amnesty International New Zealand youth team. After finishing University I decided I wanted to move to a developing country and put my studies to some good use. Good morning Cambodia! Moving to Cambodia was by far the scariest and most exciting thing I have ever done but so incredibly worth it. I definitely recommend it as a destination to all you travel enthusiasts. I hope to meet as many of you as possible, especially as Freedom Challenge 2014 is just around the corner. I’ll put away my hat and join you in wearing creative thinking hats. Let’s make this Freedom Challenge the best yet!
Louise FAREWELLING
ADINDA MENDEL
Hi everyone, The past few months went by ‘fast and slowly’ at the same time for me. I say fast, because I feel as if I’m just getting to know all of you and the amazing things you do. But I also say slowly in a very good way, because I truly enjoyed every moment I spent working for and with you during my time as youth intern at Amnesty International. Your outrage at the injustices in this world and undying enthusiasm for activism have genuinely inspired me. June’s Freedom Challenge workshop here in Auckland was definitely one of the highlights of my internship. I spoke to a few of you about women’s rights, and it felt so wonderful to talk to such like-minded young people about this world’s future. I encourage you all to keep speaking your mind and keep speaking up for those who can’t because your opinions really do matter! Thank you all for making this an unforgettable experience and good luck with everything you have planned for this year. I can’t wait to see what you guys get up to during Freedom Challenge! Lots of love,
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Adinda
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FREEDOM CHALLENGE
STOP TORTURE. START NOW. FREEDOM CHALLENGE - 11-15 AUGUST 2014 ELECTRIC SHOCKS. Beatings. Rape. Humiliation. Mock executions. Burning. Sleep deprivation. Water torture. Long hours in contorted positions. Use of pinchers, drugs, and dogs. The very words sound like the stuff of nightmares. If you saw any of the above happening you would try to stop it, wouldn’t you? In reality you wouldn’t see it because torture happens behind closed doors. But it does happen, and unfortunately it is happening every single day in all regions of the world. Even right here in the Asia-Pacific region very few countries have effective systems in place to prevent the use of torture.
WHAT CAN YOU DO? This year students all around New Zealand will be joining together to speak out against torture. They will be calling on governments to end their torturing tactics. They will be raising their voices and putting themselves between the torturer and the tortured. Join them and take a stand against torture by getting involved in Freedom Challenge 2014.
Amnesty International recently asked 21,000 people in 21 different countries about torture in a global survey. What we found was horrifying...
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44%
82%
36%
of people surveyed fear being tortured in their own country if taken into custody.
want strong laws in place to protect them from torture.
of people globally believe that torture can be justified in some cases.
Torture is barbaric and inhumane. It can never be justified. Yet governments continue to use it. So we’re asking you to stop torture, starting now with
FREEDOM CHALLENGE
FREEDOM CHALLENGE
WHAT IS N!DA? N!DA IS A YOUTH ORGANISATION campaigning for human rights and democracy in Azerbaijan and against the widespread corruption there. “Nida” means exclamation in Azerbaijani. In February last year, a group of N!DA members created a Facebook event calling for a peaceful protest against injustice in the country. In March the protest went ahead and was peaceful until it was forcibly broken up by police who used rubber bullets and water cannon to disperse the crowd. Soon afterward N!DA activists Shahin Novruzlu, Bakhtiyar Guliyev, Mammad Azizov, Rashad Hasanov, Rashadat Akhundov, Uzeyir Mammadli, Zaur Gurbanli and Ilkin Rustamzade were arrested and imprisoned. Some of them were tortured. They were charged with the illegal possession of drugs and explosives and with intending to cause public disorder. In May 2014, Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced them to between six to eight years in prison. Amnesty International believes that the charges were made up and considers all eight members of the N!DA youth movement to be Prisoners of Conscience, imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression. “N!DA has always been a supporter of peaceful resistance. Our fight has always been lawful, peaceful and democratic,” said group member Uzeyir Mammadli. “It’s why I chose N!DA because it chooses the way of peaceful resistance,” adds Rashad Hasanov.
WHERE ON EARTH IS AZERBAIJAN? Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region with the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west and Iran to the south. More than half of Azerbaijan is mountain ranges. It has a population of over nine million; 95% are Muslim. It was part of the former Soviet Union but has been independent since 1991.
AZERBAIJAN Baku IRAN
SHAHIN NOVRUZLU 17 AND TORTURED
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Shahin Novruzlu was 17 at the time of arrest and was interrogated without the presence of a legal guardian, parent or lawyer. He was beaten severely to the point where he was unable to breathe and lost four of his front teeth. He was forced to sign a confession that the authorities wrote for him.
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When I was interrogated, my parents were not with me. The testimony was written by those questioning me, and I was only asked to sign it. Police threatened me that if I did not sign the testimony, something bad would happen to my family members.
FREEDOM CHALLENGE
TAKE ACTION FOR N!DA
REGISTER FOR FREEDOM CHALLENGE NOW! It’s not too late to register - just head to: www.amnesty.org.nz/freedomchallenge And remember if 11-15 August doesn’t work for you simply pick a date that does and let us know. Then organise your Freedom Challenge events to spread our Stop Torture. Start Now. message far and wide and keep the N!DA activists free from torture until they are released. You can write to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, get everyone you know to sign our petition and take part in our Dislike Torture photo action. Remember, if you are taking part in the photo action please photograph one person at a time - we’ll put your image behind bars and then send on to President Aliyev as a ‘get N!DA activists out of jail’ call.
SEND A SOLIDARITY MESSAGE TO N!DA Create banners, signs, videos or other messages that we can send on to the N!DA activists to let them know they are not alone and that we’re continuing to campaign for them. All the resources you need for these actions are included in the Freedom Challenge kit your groups should have received by now. And you can also grab them here: www.amnesty.org.nz/get-involved/ youth-activism/freedom-challenge/resources Whatever you’re getting up to, go out there and have fun and generate thousands of actions. Please make sure you send us updates and photos, and if you have not received your Freedom Challenge kit, if you have any questions or need media support please contact your youth team. Elley Parkes: Freedom Challenge Co-ordinator freedomchallenge@amnesty.org.nz Louise Daprini: Youth Intern youth.intern@amnesty.org.nz Margaret Taylor: Activism Support Manager margaret.taylor@amnesty.org.nz
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FREEDOM CHALLENGE
SOME GREAT IDEAS FROM YOU! We have already heard about some fantastic Freedom Challenge events being planned by Amnesty youth groups around the country. Here are some ideas to get you thinking creatively: Azerbaijan is famous for soccer and chess. Why not organise a soccer match against a rival school? Or if your school has a chess club then organise a competition. Individuals are most at risk of torture when detained by police, in detention centres or prisons. • Find some awesome teachers who are willing to be locked up on the school grounds for their lunch break. An action like this is likely to attract a good audience from whom you can seek signatures and donations in return for Amnesty badges and the release of staff. Don’t forget to set targets. • If your school has iron railings that look like jail bars use those to take photo actions - or get creative and construct a jail cell on your school grounds? We’ve heard of one school that is planning to make one out of milk bottles! Better start collecting those resources now. • Make a pinata shaped-cage and fill it with jelly babies. Let your classmates break through the secrecy that contributes to torture in places of detention. What about random acts of tenderness/kindness to counter brutal acts of torture? You could go into the classes during school and spread some kindness to your fellow students by giving them hugs, treats, or little messages of happiness, for example. Host a quiz, with those giving the wrong answer having to eat brussel sprouts (or other foods you love to hate). Run a competition asking for worst songs ever written. Put together a soundtrack of those songs and say you can only liberate people from the torment of bad music in return for a donation or signature.
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NIGERIA
#BRINGBACKOURGIRLS IN APRIL the horrific news reached us that more than 240 schoolgirls had been kidnapped in Nigeria. Taken from their beds as they slept by a group called Boko Haram. As momentum for their release grew, it was New Zealand students who took the #BringBackOurGirls message and gave it life here. Youth led the march up Queen Street in Auckland, “It could have been my daughter, my sister” read their signs, Bring Back our Girls they chanted as the media filmed and photographed them and people in the street stopped to watch and occasionally clap and cheer. In Wellington a march to the steps of Parliament came to life as more than 300 students from Wellington Girls’ College arrived chanting and making their voices heard. White ribbon actions took place at schools around the country, solidarity photos and videos, and sit ins to stand up for the girls took place in Dunedin and Auckland. It
Bring Back Our Girls Protest in Auckland
was students who were on the news, telling the rest of New Zealand why they should care about this issue. Your activism and support of this issue was inspiring. Along the way more than 3300 letters and petitions have been collected and sent. Top collecting honour goes to Auckland’s Mt Roskill Grammer getting 742 letters signed, and Rotorua’s Western Heights High School 418. And this fantastic video was made by Palmerston North Girls’ High School and has featured on Amnesty International’s Nigeria Facebook page: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=CP-ewzQHwh4&feature=youtu.be Unfortunately the girls are still not home and Boko Haram continue to attack churches, schools and villages in North Eastern Nigeria. We will not give up though and urge you to continue keeping the pressure on to bring the girls home. Encourage as many people as possible to take action!
www.amnesty.org.nz/takeaction
SPOTLIGHT ON MA STUDENTS POURED into the quad at Macleans College in their hundreds to stand in solidarity with the Nigerian girls. The event was organised by Amnesty International group co-leaders Bronwyn Tinley and Nadya Fauzia who asked students to sign their names and write solidarity messages on the ground with chalk. “The number of people there, writing heartfelt messages was heart-swelling. The local paper sent a reporter and we had official school photos taken. Signing ran over-time,
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and at last count we had 280 letters,” said Bronwyn. “I think the moment which confirmed to me that the campaign had meant something; had driven the message home, was as my colleague Saffron and I were returning the desks to class. A lab technician stopped us on our journey and said ‘Did you girls do this? I’m sorry to say it moved me to tears this morning’.
CLEANS COLLEGE
WHO IS
BOKO HARAM?
NIGERIA
DON’T FORGET
THE GIRLS
Boko Haram translates as “Western education is forbidden”. It wants a pure Islamic state and Shariah law. Since January 2013 around 30 schools have been burnt, damaged or destroyed by Boko Haram. At least 1,500 people, over half civilians, died in the first three months of 2014 from their attacks.
2002 Officially founded by Mohammed Yusuf who was offering schools and religious education for poor Nigerians. Also preaching against poverty, corruption and police/army violations.
2009 Was a largely peaceful organisation for many years, but following a Nigerian government investigation, which found that Boko Haram was arming itself, there was a government crackdown. Yusuf was picked up and died in police custody.
2009-2012 Some 900 deaths were attributed to Boko Haram during attacks on churches, schools, police stations, tourists and Muslims who spoke out against them.
2011 Abubakar Shekau announced as Boko Haram’s new leader.
2013 Due to Boko Haram activities a state of emergency was declared in North Eastern Nigeria by President Goodluck Jonathan.
And hers is certainly an impressive stride. When we tried to get in touch with Dawape for an interview for ACTIVE she was in Scotland attending the Commonwealth Youth Summit. But when she returned she did thankfully manage to fit us in between stints in the recording studio for her media class and other exams. Dawape is in her final year of school at Wellington Girls’ College. She was born in Nigeria but left aged five with her family, bound for Canada where she lived until early last year when they made the move to New Zealand. When we first spotted her, she was being interviewed on TV3’s Firstline programme, and we were certainly impressed! The issue of the kidnapped girls is one Dawape feels really passionate about. “It wasn’t just about the fact that they were from Nigeria,” said Dawape. “It was also that they were schoolgirls. I get to go to school and every child has the right to be able to do that. I couldn’t not do anything about it.” Dawape had aimed to get 270 girls from her school together, to represent the number of girls kidnapped, but she exceeded expectations with 300 turning up on the day. Her main concern is that now media focus has moved away from the issue people are forgetting about the fact that the girls are still missing. “I feel like it was just a ‘fad’ for some people. They certainly had sympathy but now they are simply moving on with their lives,” said Dawape. “We should be still talking about it. Until the problem is solved we can’t just move on.” Dawape certainly isn’t, she plans to raise money for girls’ education in Nigeria and hopes that there may be another protest in the pipeline sometime soon. In the meantime she highlighted the importance of youth making their voices heard. “It’s not just about being the next generation, it’s to do with your own identity. There are people in the world who don’t have a chance, who’ve had their voices taken away. And so it’s our responsibility to use our voices and we shouldn’t waste that,” said Dawape.
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Boko Haram deemed a terrorist organisation with links to Al Qaeda by the United Nations.
ORGANISING 300 schoolgirls to march through the streets of Wellington, chanting together and turning up on time is no easy feat, but Dawape Isekeije simply takes it all in her stride.
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MAY 2014
Dawape Isekeije speaking at the Bring Back Our Sisters protest in Wellington. © Java Katzur
CAMPAIGNING
DAY OF SILENCE
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
School students around New Zealand gave up talking for a day in June to highlight the effect of bullying and discrimination has on many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. It was the first time the Day of Silence had been hosted in New Zealand and Amnesty International groups supported the initiative. The Day of Silence started in 1996 at the University of Virginia and has since been held in over 70 countries across the world.
by Scarlett Parkes
AT AUCKLAND GIRLS’ GRAMMAR (AGGS), there is an unspoken belief that stands above all others; AGGS girls can do anything. Anything at all. But not talking? Silence for an entire day? That could just be the only thing which stumped us. We were aiming to participate in the Day of Silence, a day to highlight the effect of bullying on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students in school. We’d committed to participating, and asked permission from our Dean and other teachers, so we knew we were allowed to take part, but there was another doubt (in my mind at least) about how we would be received. How students would react could be a very different story. Many students at AGGS belong to religions that are not always supportive of gay rights, so I expected to receive a few unsupportive comments, as well as some nice ones. But that was not the case at all. As soon as we arrived at school, students asked us about the rainbow coverings over our mouths, and as they read our signs, their enthusiasm grew. We received so many comments, high-fives and hugs throughout the day as people realised what we were doing that I lost count. Some students were even enthusiastic and passionate enough to join us when they found out. We had at least another two join early in the morning for the full day, and a few who did half-days, or stayed silent during one class. (Although that may have been because of the spoken assessment some students had…) So overall, the AGGS Day of Silence can be summed up as follows: Participation: Awesome Enthusiasm and support: Through the roof!
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10 Pictured: Amnesty group leader at Hastings Girls’, Amy Richardson above and top with fellow students.
Despite the doubt, we did it. We were silent for an entire day, using mime, notebooks and cell phones to ‘talk’ to friends and teachers. And it certainly raised awareness in our school. (Scarlett is a Year 10 student at AGGS)
CAMPAIGNING
ST HILDA’S STAND UP FOR SYRIANS
THE DESPERATE SITUATION facing the people of Syria spurred the Amnesty International group at St Hilda’s, Dunedin, into action. They raised awareness on the issue by speaking at chapel at the end of May and also called on the New Zealand government to do their bit. “We spoke about the crisis in Syria and how New Zealand can do their part by accepting more refugees. We are going to send the photo to the New Zealand government alongside a letter,” said group leader Claudia Paterson.
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MOTHER’S DAY ACTION FOR THE WOMEN OF
PNG
EXPO A BIG SUCCESS AT MACLEANS HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS swarmed around the NGO (Non Government Organisation) stalls tables at Macleans College inaugural NGO Expo in June.
FOR FIVE GIRLS FROM Napier Girls’ High School Mother’s Day seemed like the perfect opportunity to raise awareness and funds to keep mums and girls in Papua New Guinea (PNG) safe.
Co-leader of the Amnesty International group Nadya Fauzia said they were delighted with the turnout, both from the number of NGOs participating and the student response.
The students held a sausage sizzle because they felt so outraged that in PNG, sorcery, or being accused of being a witch, is often used as an excuse to mask abuse of women. Amnesty International has received reports of children as young as six being attacked and accused of sorcery. The response was so positive the students hosted a second sausage sizzle a few weekends later.
“Too often youth are mistaken for being apathetic - we wanted to give them a platform where they can learn about different organisations they can be involved with. As a result, we believe that students were inspired to take action of their own and learn about the issues that matter to them,” said Nadya.
IMAGINE STUDYING FOR EXAMS IN PRISON “To all humans, to every person out there who has children enjoying their studies, life and school, please see they are not unjustly treated. Please see they are humans, they are children. Thank you so much for your support.”
they were sentenced to 10 years in prison. The Amnesty delegation also went to the prison to meet with Jehad and Ebrahim. The boys spoke about wishing to have a quiet space to allow them to prepare for their exams.
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That thank you is from Jehad’s father during a meeting he had with Amnesty International “Jehad does not have a room to study in the when they visited Bahrain in May. prison, he needs to study in his cell and he has no tutors there, so it is quite hard for In 2012 Jehad and Ebrahim, (both aged him to concentrate, also with what he went 15 and whose full story was featured in through. He already missed a year,” said the last issue of ACTIVE) left their homes Jehad’s father. to attend an anti-government protest. They were caught in the middle of a mass of angry If you still have any outstanding petitions on protesters, arrested, beaten, accused of many behalf of Jehad and Ebrahim please return crimes and then interrogated without any them asap to Amnesty International, PO Box Top: Ebrahim, Bottom: Jehad © Private lawyers or family members present. In 2013 5300, Wellesley Street, Auckland.
GOOD NEWS
AWARD FOR FIGHT AGAINST INJUSTICE HE WAS IN the Guinness Book of Records as the longest serving prisoner on death row for 46 years. Former boxer Iwao Hakamada was released in March pending a retrial. On 19 May the East Japan Boxing Association awarded him an honorary world champion belt for his fight against injustice. Hakamada attended along with his sister Hideko and representatives of Amnesty International Japan. Read this moving blog by Amnesty Japan Director Hideki’s experience working on Hakamada’s case. blog.amnesty.org.nz/seizing-the-momentum/
Iwao Haka m
ada
ded with Iwao awar
champion
belt
TIBETAN FILMMAKER FREED AT THE START of this year we asked our Youth Network members to make Freedom origami birds to send to detained Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen. So many of you did and the birds were delivered to the prison. We heard the fantastic news in June that Wangchen was released after six years in detention. In 2008 Wangchen was imprisoned for making “Leaving Fear Behind,” a film that interviewed Tibetans about their views on the thenupcoming Beijing Olympics, the human rights situation in Tibet, and Tibet’s spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. It was Dhondup Wangchen’s first film. “I would like to express my feeling of deepest gratitude for all the support I received while in prison, and I want to be reunited with my family,” Wangchen said.
Dhondup W
angchen
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His thanks go to every single one of you who made and sent a bird.
AMNESTY CAMPAIGN SEES REDUCTION IN SENTENCE DR. TUN AUNG, a Prisoner of Conscience in Myanmar has had a series of sentence reductions that could see him released in just over a year thanks to support from people like you. A letter from the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) stated in May that they had received many letters from Amnesty International supporters around the world requesting the immediate release of Dr. Tun Aung. The Commission handed the letters over to the authorities for careful consideration.
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Dr Tun Aung
The MNHRC also advised that Dr. Tun Aung should receive regular medical attention, including specialist medical treatment, while in prison and that his family can visit him while he is detained. This is a really positive step that we believe came as a result of ongoing campaigning for his release by Amnesty International supporters including the over 100,000 appeals that were sent as part of last year’s Letter Writing Marathon.