Welcome

Welcome to the Cambridge City group of Amnesty International, doing our bit to stand up for human rights. We are an active group and have monthly speaker events and letter writing evenings, as well as holding events throughout the year for the campaigns we're involved in.

To find out more about what we do, or how you can get involved with our group, please click on the tabs above. You can also keep up to date with our group's activities by joining our mailing list or finding us on facebook.

COMING UP

Thursday - May 10 - Amnesty International Cambridge City Group AGM & report from AIUK AGM - 7.30pm

Looking back at a year of campaigning, the Cambridge City Group will report on its achievements and elect the officers for the next year. There will also be a report from those who attended the AIUK AGM in Manchester on 13-15th April.

Thursday, March 10, 7.30pm for 7.45pm, Jesus Lane Friends’ Meeting House

Thursday - May 10 - Arms Trade Treaty Campaign meeting - 8.30pm

  After years and years of campaigning by many organisations including Amnesty, this July, world leaders will meet in New York to draw up an historic document: the first ever international Arms Trade Treaty. Millions of people are killed, injured, raped, repressed and forced to flee their homes every year as a result of the irresponsible and poorly regulated arms trade. The world needs a strong Arms Trade Treaty that will prevent arms transfers if they are likely to contribute directly to serious human rights abuses or poverty. The Treaty must cover all conventional arms.

Amnesty’s campaign currently focuses on the UK government, calling upon them to commit to lead the way in securing a bulletproof Treaty. Visit Amnesty’s website for more information.

Thursday, March 10, 8.30pm, Jesus Lane Friends’ Meeting House 

 

Wednesday - May 23 - South Cambs Arms Trade treaty campaign meeting -  7.30pm

This meeting is for all those living in the South Cambs constituency, who wish to find out more about the Arms Trade Treaty and how to campaign on this issue. After years and years of campaigning by many organisations including Amnesty, this July, world leaders will meet in New York to draw up an historic document: the first ever international Arms Trade Treaty. Millions of people are killed, injured, raped, repressed and forced to flee their homes every year as a result of the irresponsible and poorly regulated arms trade. The world needs a strong Arms Trade Treaty that will prevent arms transfers if they are likely to contribute directly to serious human rights abuses or poverty. The Treaty must cover all conventional arms.Amnesty’s campaign currently focuses on the UK government, calling upon them to commit to lead the way in securing a bulletproof Treaty. Visit Amnesty’s website for more information.
At this evening we will also explore the possibility of setting up a South Cambs Amnesty group.

Wednesday 23rd May, 7.30pm, location TBC, Please contact Liesbeth liesbet7200 >> a t << googlemail.com if you wish to find out more about the Arms Trade Treaty, the meeting or the South Cambs AI group.

Wednesday - May 30 - Letter writing meeting: focus on human rights defenders in the former Soviet Union - 8pm

Get involved: Write letters on behalf of individuals at risk and prisoners of conscience in countries of the former Soviet Union, especially Azerbaijan. Four days after the Eurovision Song Festival we will be awarding nil points for this year’s host nation, Azerbaijan, where speaking out against the government can lead to beatings, arrest and imprisonment. By writing a letter, you can challenge the practices that lead to human rights violations and bring about deep and lasting change. Newcomers are especially welcome - no previous letter writing experience is required!
Wendesday 30th May, 8pm. CB2 bistro on Norfolk Street (just off East Road, opposite the Grafton Centre) We’ll be upstairs as usual.

Contact: Liesbeth ten Ham, liesbet7200 >> a t << googlemail.com

 

You can find out about all our events by clicking here. 

Current Petitions

North Korea update

Green Shoots Offer Hope

Following the sudden demise of the North Korean ‘Dear Leader’, Kim Jong Il on the 17th of December 2011, the ascension of his youngest son, Kim Jong Eun to the office of Supreme Commander has on the face of it resulted in a consolidation of the power of the Kim family dynasty and a continuation of the regime's brutal politics of repression and inhumanity. However, amidst this gloomy scene, a few green shoots of hope (limited though they might be) have appeared at the turn of the year; developments which give the concerned Human Rights Campaigner some cause for optimistic thought and increased resolve.

On the 5th of January, an amnesty for convicts was issued by decree to mark the centenary of the birth of Kim Il Sung and the 70th birthday anniversary of Kim Jong Il. The transcript of the decree as reported by state-run agency of the Democratic People'sRepublic of Korea, KCNA is reproduced in full below:

Amnesty to Be Applied to Convicts in DPRK

Pyongyang, January 10 (KCNA) -- The DPRK will apply amnesty to convicts from February 1 on the occasion of the centenary of birth of President Kim Il Sung and the 70th birth anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il, according to a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK on Jan. 5.
The Cabinet and relevant organs will take working measures for those to be released thanks to the amnesty to work and live under stable conditions.
It is the steadfast will of the Workers' Party of Korea and state to embody generation after generation the noble, benevolent and all-embracing politics of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il who energetically worked till the last moments of their great lives, undergoing all sufferings for the people's happiness throughout them, always finding themselves among them, the decree said’

[The BBC report on the proposed amnesty can be found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16481003 ]

The press release made no mention of the number or indeed the ‘class’ of prisoners to which this amnesty applies but it has been rumoured by some sections of the South Korean press that it pertains in part to repatriated refugees (failed defectors arrested trying to cross over the border into China) detained in holding interrogation centres.

This amnesty, should it prove to be authentic will mark the first of such since 2005 when a number of convicts were released as part of the celebrations surrounding the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Korea from Japan. On the face of it, it represents an effort by the new leader, Kim Jong Eun to shore up popular support for his fledgling government as well as to ward off calls from the International community to address the previous government’s poor human rights record. It may not altogether represent a damascene conversion of the North Korea’s government stance on human rights and their universal nature, but it is nevertheless very encouraging news to the interested human rights campaigner as it represents the first piece of good news to come out of North Korea in a long while.

Kenny Latunde-Dada
North Korea Campaign Coordinator for the AI Cambridge City Group

 

Recent events

Dec 10: Market Stall

The Market Stall on International Human Rights Day, December 10th., was another opportunity for
people to send these vital messages of support, but it was also Write for Rights day.  Members of the public signed letters to those in authority written on behalf of ten cases from the Greetings Card Campaign.  Letters urged those in authority to stop human rights violations, be it by freeing a prisoner of conscience, ending the harassment of a human rights defender, or by bringing to justice perpetrators of abuse.  As a result of this international Write for Rights action day they will receive thousands of letters.

The Greetings Card Campaign continues until the end of January.  Come to our Market Stall on Saturday January 14th., 10am - 1pm, and send a message to someone who needs and deserves our support

 

Dec 5 to Dec 11: Library Exhibition

The Exhibition was part of Amnesty International's 50th anniversary celebrations that will continue until our next anniversary in May this year.
Members of the public helped themselves to Amnesty literature and took part in Amnesty's annual Greeting Cards Campaign by sending
simple, personal greetings to individuals facing humans rights abuse, prisoners of conscience, families whose relatives have disappeared, people in danger for defending human rights.  The effect of receiving hundreds or even thousands of cards from around the world is not only profoundly uplifting for these individuals but it can also prompt the authorities to improve conditions of detention, cease ill-treatment and torture and even sanction a prisoner's release

...below two images of our exhibition celebrating 50 years of Amnesty International!

 

 

News & Features