Campaign centre

People fleeing conflict and persecution should not be left impoverished in the UK. Write to or meet your MP, take the £5 a day challenge, or raise awareness with a quiz.
Resources: Action briefing (pdf) | Briefing for MPs (Word)  

On her way home from school on 9 October, 14 year-old Malala Yousufzai was shot in the head by the Taliban. Why? For asserting a girl's right to go to school. No one should fear for their life for standing up for basic rights.

• Student campaign briefing (pdf)
• Call on Pakistan to protect human rights defenders 

THIS MONTH'S CAMPAIGN:
CRISIS AND TRANSITION IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA (pdf)

Since our last mailing in November, significant events in countries across the Middle East and North Africa have continued. We have seen the National Transition Council assume control in Libya and the death of Colonel al-Gaddafi. In Syria, despite Arab League monitors, the situation remains dire. The violent crackdown continues, with the death toll of protestors now over 12,000. And in Egypt, elections began in December amidst renewed protests demanding an end to military rule, which were met with a violent response from the military.

In this briefing:

• A look back at the work Amnesty has done over the past 12 months
• Our plans for 2012
• Take action to protect protestors and end military trials in Egypt

 WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN 

Ten years since the oppressive Taleban regime was overthrown, there have been significant advances in women's rights and gender equality in Afghanistan - but there is a very real worry that these hard-won gains will be traded away in the name of peace.

Many Afghan women fear that women's rights will be sacrificed as the Afghan government and its international partners (including the UK Government) commence peace negotiations with the Taleban.

On 5th December 2011, the Afghanistan peace process will be discussed at the Bonn conference in Germany by delegates including UK Foreign Secretary William Hague and representatives from the Taleban.  

TAKE ACTION: Now is the time to put pressure on Hague to stand up for women's human rights at the Bonn conference. If you already designed 'kites for women's rights' at your freshers fair, you can write to your local MP, try to get media coverage in your local or student paper, or organise a kite-flying flash mob!

RESOURCES:

• Action briefing (pdf)
• Photocopiable kite template (pdf) 
• Large kite (pdf)
• Action cards (pdf)

 AMNESTY STUDENT CONFERENCE 2010 FILMS 
Watch expert speakers debate human rights issues including Burma, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, forced eviction, unlawful detention and more. Watch the films | Conference photos on Facebook