20th October 2021 Open Meeting Minutes
Chair: David B welcomed us to the meeting.
9 people present
Apologies: Evie, Louise
Committee roles
Chair outlined roles of committee members and others.
AIUK How it works
Postponed until November.
Action Networks
North Africa
Action for Alaa Abdel Fattah and Mohamed Baker in Egypt will go on the group website.
Children’s Human Rights Network
Day of Action to Defend the Right to Asylum in Europe, 23 October 2021. Action will focus on the Italian and Maltese Embassies and the Home Office.
According to UNHCR 21% of those who reached Europe via the central Mediterranean between January and March 2021 were children, the majority unaccompanied. On 22 April 2021, up to 130 men, women and children died in a shipwreck, despite documentation from the Alarm Phone showing that the Italian, Maltese and Libyan maritime authorities were first alerted about the migrant boat in distress and its location well over a day earlier.
Feminist Network
Roz directed us to 3 online actions:
- Nasrin Sotoudeh, Iranian human rights lawyer faces 38 years imprisonment and 148 lashes.
- Loujain al- Hathloul, Saudi women’s rights defender sentenced to 5 years 8 months in 2020 currently on conditional release.
- Yulia Tsvetkova, Russia, facing criminal charges for sharing her drawings of the female body, online.
- Nazanin Zaghari Radcliffe has lost her latest appeal against a second jail sentence. She faces possible return to prison.
Proposed Rainbow Network
David Y will follow up in the new year.
Giulio Regeni
Italian authorities are pursuing a trial, in absentia, of the alleged perpetrators from the Egyptian security services.
Kashmir
Activist led campaign underway. There have been two online meetings. The group will contact us when actions have been decided and approved by AIUK.
Local news and events
Amnesty bookshop
The shop is moving this Saturday 23rd October to St Benedicts Street. AIUK sent a press release to the EDP. We’ll have a Writeathon on the day 10-5.30. David Y circulated a rota for supporters and has submitted the event to the EDP What’s On.
Peace Camp (25/9/21)
30-40 signatures collected for each letter, including Mayor and Sheriff.
Quaker vigil
First Saturday of the month 12-1 outside St Peter Mancroft Church.
Write for Rights
Saturday 11 December 10-3 St Peter Mancroft Church. Chair has invited the Mayor and MP for Norwich South. Children’s author Mitch Johnson will pop in during his lunch hour for a photo. We’ll submit to the EDP. His book Kick has been endorsed by Amnesty.
AIUK Week of Action on Human Rights
11 – 17 October Amnesty has joined with Liberty, Stonewall, Freedom from Torture, the British Institute for Human Rights. David F outlined the focus of the actions, The Police Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, The Nationality and Borders Bill and The Human Rights Act Review. David F circulated a detailed letter for MPs, based on the AIUK information. We are encouraged to send letters to a wide a circle of MPs as possible.
Possible future change of open meeting venue
Assess viability of the bookshop.
Fundraising
Quiz and Dips
Delayed until 2022
Street collection (2/10/21)
7 collectors £67 collected which include two large donations
Amnesty Christmas Cards
Cards will be on sale at St peter Mancroft Church at the Charity Cards shop. (Note EDP reports it is now open until 18 December 10.30-2.30 Monday to Saturday)
AOB
A poster Shows details of regular monthly Open meeting with space to advertise specific events. Thanks given to Matt for designing it. It will be displayed at the bookshop.
Shan B. let us know about a Peace tree to be planted in Chapelfield. Any individuals may contribute to cost.
Norwich Amnesty, along with another organization at the CXC has received a scam letter asking for money to pay for unlicensed use of photos. David F has let AIUK know and not responded to the letter