Dear All,
The Amnesty Norwich Committee have decided in view of the Covid situation and with regret to cancel the Open Meeting on Wednesday 15th December.
A brief summary of what would have been discussed at the meeting will be issued on Wednesday.
The Committee will make a decision about the January meeting after the holiday.
I can report that the Write for Rights event on Saturday was a success with lots of letters and postcards sent.
David Bissonnet
Chair
Amnesty Norwich
Please read these details we have received from Amnesty International about Palestine and take action on this if you wish.
Six Palestinian civil society organisations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory labelled ‘terrorist’ groups under 19 October military order .
Even publicly expressing support for the groups is now prohibited
Amnesty International are proud to work with their Palestinian partners … and stand with them in challenging this outrageous decision
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned a military order issued by the Israeli Defense Ministry declaring six Palestinian civil society organisations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to be “terrorist” groups.
The groups are Addameer, al-Haq, Defense for Children Palestine, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, Bisan Center for Research and Development, and the Union of Palestinian Women Committees.
The designation, made on 19 October pursuant to a 2016 Israeli statute, effectively outlaws the activities of these civil society groups. It authorises the Israeli authorities to close their offices, seize their assets and arrest and jail their staff members, and it prohibits funding or even publicly expressing support for their activities.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, both of whom work closely with many of these groups, said in a joint statement:
This appalling and unjust decision is an attack by the Israeli government on the international human rights movement.
For decades, the Israeli authorities have systematically sought to muzzle human rights monitoring and punish those who criticise its repressive rule over Palestinians.
While staff members of our organisations have faced deportation and travel bans, Palestinian human rights defenders have always borne the brunt of the repression.
This decision is an alarming escalation that threatens to shut down the work of Palestine’s most prominent civil society organisations.
The decades-long failure of the international community to challenge grave Israeli human rights abuses and impose meaningful consequences for them has emboldened Israeli authorities to act in this brazen manner.
How the international community responds will be a true test of its resolve to protect human rights defenders.
We are proud to work with our Palestinian partners and have been doing so for decades. They represent the best of global civil society. We stand with them in challenging this outrageous decision.
Israeli authorities declared 6 Palestinian civil society organizations to be “terrorist organizations.” This appalling decision is an attack on the int'l human rights movement.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/10/israel-opt-designation-of-palestinian-civil-society-groups-as-terrorists-a-brazen-attack-on-human-rights/
and
For decades, Israel has systematically sought to muzzle human rights monitoring and punish those who criticize its repressive rule over Palestinians. How the int'l community responds will be a true test of its resolve to protect human rights defenders.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/10/israel-opt-designation-of-palestinian-civil-society-groups-as-terrorists-a-brazen-attack-on-human-rights/
You can visit the AIUK Middle East and Gulf Facebook page at – https://www.facebook.com/AmnestyMEG.org.uk/
The Amnesty Bookshop in Norwich recently moved to its new premises in St Benedicts Street, opposite the Arts Centre.
As part of its open we held a Writeathon on the day.
You can visit them to buy/donate Books as well as volunteering positions being available.
More information including opening times is available at https://www.amnesty.org.uk/books-amnesty-norwich
The Amnesty Bookshop
82 St. Benedict’s Street,
Norwich,
NR2 4AB
Email: norwichbookshop@amnesty.org.uk
Tel: 01603 627078
Chair: David B welcomed us to the meeting.
9 people present
Apologies: Evie, Louise
Chair outlined roles of committee members and others.
Postponed until November.
Action for Alaa Abdel Fattah and Mohamed Baker in Egypt will go on the group website.
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.
Roz directed us to 3 online actions:
David Y will follow up in the new year.
Italian authorities are pursuing a trial, in absentia, of the alleged perpetrators from the Egyptian security services.
Activist led campaign underway. There have been two online meetings. The group will contact us when actions have been decided and approved by AIUK.
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.
30-40 signatures collected for each letter, including Mayor and Sheriff.
First Saturday of the month 12-1 outside St Peter Mancroft Church.
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.
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.
Assess viability of the bookshop.
Delayed until 2022
7 collectors £67 collected which include two large donations
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)
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
We are pleased to announce that our monthly meetings at Charing Cross Centre in Norwich will be restarting on 15th September.
We will be emailing out details to our members shortly regarding COVID precautions and the Agenda for this meeting.
For more details please visit our Monthly Meeting Page and if you are not signed up already, do sign up to our email list to receive details directly to your mailbox.
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