Amnesty International Information

Index

Click the link below for the page index

______________________________________________________________________

Amnesty International Scotland and Men’s Health Forum Scotland


MEN WANTED! - LAUNCH OF WHITE RIBBON SCOTLAND CAMPAIGN

Violence against women will not stop unless men are part of the campaign to stop it.

The First Minister of Scotland Jack McConnell with Rosemary Burnett from Amnesty International

Members of the Scottish Parliament supporting the White Ribbon

MSPs at photocall: Malcolm Chisholm, Nicol Stephen, Patrick Harvie, Robin Harper, Bill Butler, Tommy Sheridan, Stewart Stevenson, Lord James Douglas Hamilton, Mark Ruskell, John Farquhar Munro, Kenneth Macintosh,  Richard Baker, Donald Gorrie and John Scott.

As Scotland marks the 16th year of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, an innovative campaign is being launched to involve men in campaigning against violence against women.

Today (30 November) Amnesty International and Men’s Health Forum Scotland are launching the White Ribbon Scotland Campaign at the Scottish Parliament with all of the male MSPs being asked to wear a white ribbon.

The White Ribbon Scotland Campaign is the newest in a long line of White Ribbon campaigns from around the world. Originating from Canada, the campaign encourages men to wear a white ribbon to demonstrate that they are not violent towards women and pledging to confront male behaviors that perpetuate this violence. Similar campaigns have sprung up in countries from Brazil to Namibia and now men in Scotland can make a stand.

The Scottish Executive supported the conference in Dundee and the campaign has already achieved Ministerial backing. Speaking earlier this month in the violence against women debate in the Parliament, Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm said:
"Wearing a white ribbon is a symbol of men's opposition to men's violence against women. It signifies a commitment never to commit, condone or remain silent about such violence. I for one will be proud to wear one during the 16 days." (1)

Amnesty International’s Stop Violence Against Women Campaigner, Naomi McAuliffe said:
"We have had a fantastic response from men wanting to get involved in campaigning against violence against women but not knowing how to go about it. We are giving men in Scotland the tools and hope that they will take this campaign and make it their own.

"Violence against women will only end if men join the fight to stop it."

The launch of this campaign was inspired by a conference held by Amnesty International and Men’s Health Forum Scotland in Dundee. On the 30th March 2006, the Stop Violence Against Women: Involving Men conference brought together four international speakers from the White Ribbon Campaign (Canada), Men Can Stop Rape (USA), Masimanyane (South Africa) and the Acid Survivors Foundation (Bangladesh). Delegates included representatives from the police, NHS, prison service, churches, community groups, women’s organisations and the Scottish Executive.


The White Ribbon Scotland Campaign have launched a website at:

www.whiteribbonscotland.org.uk

Members of the Scottish Parliament wearing the White Ribbon

Information from Amnesty International Scotland 30 November 2006

First photograph with Jack McConnell taken by Naomi McAuliffe

Copyright photographs of MSPs taken by Andrew Murphy

All copying strictly forbidden in part or whole

Amnesty International Scotland

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PROTEST AT THE CHINESE CONSULATE IN EDINBURGH

Amnesty International on 27 September 2006, lead a group of human rights activists to hand over a petition to the Chinese Consulate in Edinburgh calling for the release of journalist Shi Tao. All of the signatures were collected in Scotland during the Edinburgh Festivals.

Shi Tao is an experienced journalist and published poet, who on 20 April 2004 sent an email containing details of a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) communication. This communication had warned journalists not to report on any unrest during the upcoming anniversary of the crackdown on peaceful protesters in Tiananmen Square.

As a result of this email he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for ‘illegally providing state secrets to foreign entities’. Amnesty International believes Shi Tao has been imprisoned for peacefully expressing his right to freedom of speech.

An important aspect to this case is the fact that evidence that led to Shi Tao’s conviction included account-holder information provided by Yahoo!. Amnesty International demands that companies respect human rights, wherever they operate.

Rosemary Burnett, Programme Director for Amnesty International Scotland said:
“We hope that the handing over of this petition will remind the Chinese authorities that their actions are under international scrutiny. Shi Tao was exercising his right to a free press and freedom of speech, freedoms that are often taking for granted in this country.”

“We are also urging international companies that work in China to ensure that they are not colluding with the Chinese government in restricting people’s right to freedom of opinion, expression and information.”

Rosemary Burnett and Chris Ballance outside the Chinese Consulate with petition

Protesters ouside Chinese consulate

Amnesty International Scotland 27 September 2006

Photographs supplied by Amnesty International

Amnesty International Scotland

“You can’t fight terror with torture”, says Amnesty International

Human rights crises the world over have been ignored or sidelined because the major world powers have continued to pursue their own narrow security agenda or their political and economic interests, according to the Amnesty International 2006 report published today.  The organisation believes that  terror cannot be fought with torture.

Double speak and double standards by powerful governments are dangerous because they weaken the ability of the international community to address human rights problems such as those in Darfur, Colombia and Iran.  They allow perpetrators in these and other countries to operate freely.

Governments are not the only culprits – armed opposition groups are reported to have carried out attacks on civilians in at least 33 countries and tortured prisoners in 21.  Hostage taking has been reported in at least 28 countries.  

But state agents are also responsible for human rights abuses - torture is routine in at least 115 countries around the world and people were detained without charge or trial in at least 76 countries.  New cases of people being ‘disappeared’ by police or security forces were reported in at least 22 countries.  

Rosemary Burnett, Programme Director, Scotland, said:

“Enormous damage has been done to the lives and livelihoods of ordinary people the world over by governments determined to squander scarce resources on the ‘war on terror’ rather than on measures to ensure social justice for all.”

Whilst we condemn terrorism, the detention of terrorist suspects without charge or trial and the practice of extraordinary rendition will not deter terrorists.  Two wrongs don’t make a right – governments around the world must respect human rights and equality if terrorism is to be defeated.”

But  there are now hopeful signs of a change in attitude. The International Criminal Court issued its first indictments and public pressure in Nepal brought an end to abuse of power.

The key demands of Amnesty International in 2006 are:


*To the United Nations and African Union to address the conflict and end human rights  abuses in Darfur;
*To the United Nations to negotiate for an Arms Trade Treaty to govern the trade of small arms so that they cannot be used to commit human rights abuses;
*To the US Administration to close Guantánamo Bay detention camp, and disclose the names and locations of all ‘war on terror’ prisoners elsewhere;

Amnesty International Scotland 23 May 2006

Amnesty International Scotland
Rosebery House
9 Haymarket Terrace
Edinburgh EH12 5EZ
Tel: 0131 313 7010 or 07766 732 197

Free e-mail newsletter: To sign up for monthly updates with news, actions and events from Amnesty International Scotland

For further information please click the link below:

Amnesty International Scotland

___________________________________________________

All material contained on this Internet site is the copyright material of Andrew Murphy of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.  All copying from www.murphysedinburgh.co.uk and www.murphysedinburgh.com in part or in whole is strictly forbidden.

e-mail:  murphysedinburgh@btinternet.com

____________________________________________________________

Index

Click the link below for the page index

______________________________________________________

About this sites origins    Site policies    To contact Andrew Murphy

Murphy's Edinburgh is designed, built and maintained by Andrew Murphy of the Royal Mile, Edinburgh. ©