Weekly Action and News 11/11/2022
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action
Please do this action and make a difference
The resurrection of the Rights Removal Bill
Those of you who have been following our government’s attempts to diminish our human rights in the UK will know that the proposal to amend the Human Rights Act and replace it with a Bill of Rights (dubbed the “Rights Removal Bill”) was dropped after Boris Johnson resigned as prime minister. The Sunak government is now planning to resurrect this terrible bill, which, in the words of Liberty, will let the government decide who does and doesn’t have rights, let public authorities ignore your rights, and make it more difficult to challenge abuses of your rights. You may be one of the 160,000 people who have already signed the Amnesty petition calling on the prime minister to leave our Human Rights Act alone, but if not, you can sign it here. Also, Liberty have prepared a letter that you can send to your MP with a few clicks (or you can amend the letter if you wish), and you can take the Liberty action here.
Our monthly online group meeting is on Monday November 14th at 7pm.
We will be discussing ideas for campaigning strategies & actions + updates on our current campaigns. Please come along & join the discussions. New members always welcome!
The Zoom joining link will be emailed out prior to the meeting.
WRITE FOR RIGHTS 2022
Every year in November and December, Amnesty feature a few cases for a major international campaign sending messages of support to the individuals concerned and appeals to government authorities. This year the campaign focuses on the right to protest. Protest is powerful, but this precious right is under attack globally from politicians, governments and regimes who fear change and accountability. The people featured in Write for Rights 2022 were all punished for using their right to protest. You can find out more and download this year’s booklet at
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/write-rights-2022-get-started
You can take part in several ways:
- Drop into our appeal writing session at Central Library on Saturday 26th November 2-4pm. We will be featuring this year’s WfR’s cases.
- Pop into the Write for Rights event at St Margaret’s church in Whalley Range on the afternoon of Saturday December 3rd, organised by Whalley Range Peace and Justice group.
- Come along to our in-person December Group Meeting on Monday 12th December, 6 – 7.30pm, at Central Library and write your messages in good company with a mince pie in hand.
- Organise a Write for Rights session at work, church, at home with friends etc. We can provide materials, help, and support.
If you can’t make any of these events or organise one yourself, please still take part at home by writing greetings cards with messages of support and appeal letters to the authorities.
Last chance to get your tickets for the Acoustic Amnesty party on Friday, 18th November.
100% of ticket sales will go to good causes including Amnesty Manchester
Door time 6:00pm, Start time 7:30pm
Manchester 53two, Arch 19, Watson Street, M3 4LP
Click on the link below and book your ticket TODAY!
WeGotTickets | Simple, honest ticketing | Acoustic Amnesty is going electric and having a party
Other events
*****THIS SUNDAY 13th November*****, some of us will be attending a city centre protest, at 2pm in St. Peter's Square, against the government’s cruel treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. We will have a Manchester Amnesty banner and some placards. Do join us if you can. We will meet at the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in St Peter’s Square at 1:50pm.
The Amos Trust’s Christmas Tour “We are not numbers” (poetry, music, special guests)
Friday 25th November, 7pm, St Margaret’s Church, Rufford Road, M16 8AE at 7pm.
Proceeds from the evening will go towards Amos Trust’s Christmas appeal supporting their work in Gaza. Refreshments will be served and Christmas merchandise sold after the event.
For more details and to book your place check out the Trust’s Christmas Tour page and for details of their Christmas appeal and to make a donation, please visit amostrust.org/christmas-appeal.
Good news
United Kingdom – On 1 November 2022, The Council of Europe’s Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) entered into force. Amnesty International has urged the government to annul the provisional reservation placed to art. 59 on the protection of migrant women.
Singapore - On October 31, 2022, the Court of Appeal overturned the death sentence on Punithan Genasan, a Malaysian citizen of Indian descent who in the first instance, in a Zoom trial in 2020 during the pandemic, was found guilty of drug trafficking. According to the appeals court, the public prosecutor has not proven the defendant’s actual guilt.
Japan - On 1 November 2022, in the capital Tokyo, the register for the recognition of civil unions between people of the same sex entered into operation. The register applies to all citizens resident in the metropolitan area. The certificate will allow couples to live together in housing owned by the municipality.
Manchester Amnesty Subgroups and other work
If you would like to join any of our subgroups, please contact the current convenors for joining details.
UAE – Kathryn Fletcher, bussk@btinternet.com
Anti-racism – Hazel Errey, hazelerrey@gmail.com,
Refugees – Alison Wearden, alison.wearden@gmail.com
HR in UK – Matthew Sherwood, m.j.sherwood@outlook.com
Craftivism - Kathryn Fletcher bussk@btinternet.com
Other areas of work are led by:
Crisis and Tactical Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen Rebecca Shaw, r.h.shaw.7@gmail.com
Europe/ Turkey, Fatih Segmen, fsegmen@yahoo.com
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
Individuals at Risk (quarterly letter writing) Anne Walker anne.walker9@ntlworld.com
Alison Wearden
Communications Secretary
Manchester Group of Amnesty International
Please contact me with items for our Weekly Action and News email, or with ideas for longer articles for the quarterly Manchester Amnesty Group Bulletin.
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