FW: Latest Urgent Actions - 17.09.19

[Amnesty International Gold Coast]

Hi All

Minutes from 11 September 2019 meeting at below.

Urgent Actions at attachment.

Rally for Climate Change This Friday from 12.00to 14.00 pm at Victoria Park Broadbeach.

Amnesty Gold Coast group will attend with banner. Hope to see you there.

 

Amnesty Gold Coast September Meeting Minutes

 

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of land on which meet the Yugambeh people. This always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. 

 

Wednesday 11 September 2019

 

Attendance: Halil,  Ezzat, Gavin, Maddie (via phone)  Monica

Apologies: Carol, Elaine

 

Started: 6pm                   

 

1.Child Protection Event

A good event.

Activities:  petitions signed and handprints on mural 

 

2.Global Village Festival

Good attendance from the GC Amnesty group.

Activities: petitions signed and handprint mural almost completed.

Photos taken and put on GC group FB page.

 

3.Format of monthly meetings

Agenda to be sent to the active Gold Coast group email list (approx. 30 people) a few days before each meeting to allow time for any requests to be added. All items, including those added by members will be given time to be discussed in the meeting.

 

All email correspondence to be sent to all people on the active member list, to ensure any interested parties are aware of meetings and events so they have the opportunity to attend.

 

Standard procedure for future meetings will be to allow each participant equal opportunity to raise and discuss relevant matters. All matters discussed will be minuted.

 

The meeting procedure should follow publicised agenda items to ensure all items are covered equally.

 

The primary focus of meetings should be local events and activities the group will be involved in.

 

Minutes to include all items discussed and distributed to active Gold Coast group email list within a week of each meeting.

 

Relevant action emails to be forwarded to active GC group email list.  Halil will do this.

 

4.Rally for Climate Change 

The group will attend the rally at Broadbeach Park on Friday Sept 20, from 12 to 2pm. 

Halil to bring the banner 

Maddie to take photos of the day for the Amnesty website.

 

5.BBQ

It was decided that we would not hold a BBQ due to the event being climate change with consideration given to the emissions from farming animals. 

 

6.October 10:  World Day Against the Death Penalty

Nothing planned at this stage

 

7.Write for Rights 

Nothing planned at this stage

 

8.October 13:  National AGM

Halil to forward information as he gets it.

 

 9.November 25:   International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 

To be discussed at October meeting.

 

10.Dec 10:   Human Right Day

To be discussed at October meeting.

 

 

Closed: 7.45pm
Next Meeting: October 9

 

 

Hi All,  

 

Here are the latest UAs for the week:

 

Stop UA 108/18 (AMR 51/1016/2019) USA: Trans Asylum Seeker Freed from Detention: Alejandra  

We are delighted to inform you that trans asylum seeker Alejandra was freed last Friday by the USA migration authorities who held her in detention for nearly 2 years. She will await the final decision on her asylum claim, which we will be monitoring closely. 

 

UA: 119/19 (ASA 17/1006/2019)_China: Uyghur academic faces execution in China: Tashpolat Tiyip  

Please find attached First UA 119/19 regarding the mounting fears that Chinese authorities will imminently carry out the execution of Tashpolat Tiyip, a prominent Uyghur academic who was convicted in a secret and unfair trial. Subjected to enforced disappearance in 2017, he has been arbitrarily detained since then. No information has been made available about charges and proceedings against him and his current whereabouts remain unknown.

 

**Please note that the email address included in the attachment for this UA is sourced directly from DFAT.  It is our understanding that the Chinese Embassy may block email addresses if they have received unwelcomed emails in that past from that email address.

 

Stop UA 79/19 (EUR 46/1035/2019) Russia/Ukraine: Crimean Tatar Edem Bekirov finally free 

You have surely heard the great news coming from Ukraine this week as a number of Ukrainian nationals were released as a part of the prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine on 7 September.  Crimean Tatar Edem Bekirov was included in this prisoner exchange. As you’ll remember, Edem Bekirov who has a disability and serious health issues, was in pretrial detention for more than 8 months in conditions that amounted to cruel and degrading treatment. There had already been positive developments on 27 August when a court in Russian-occupied Crimea ordered his release from detention under conditions. However it was only after the prison exchange that he was transferred to a hospital in Kyiv. Yesterday, 10 September, he underwent heart surgery and he is now recovering surrounded by his family.

 

FU UA 48/19 (EUR 46/0851/2019) - Russia: Further information: Release youth prisoners of conscience: Yan Sidorov, Vladislav Mordasov and Viacheslav Shashmin  

The team has shared really worrying news:  On 11 September, the prosecution demanded that Vladislav Mordasov is sentenced to 8.5 years and Yan Sidorov to 8 years in the high security regime penal colony. It also requested that Viacheslav Shashmin is sentenced to 3 years in the general regime penal colony. The next, and last hearing is scheduled for 3 October and the sentencing might take place on 4 October.  Activists’ mobilisation can still help to prevent this unjust imprisonment. Please renew your calls on the Russian Prosecutor General to ensure the criminal prosecution of the three youth activists is stopped and they are freed immediately and unconditionally. Please use Twitter as well as sending your letters by fax.

 

UA 122/19 (AMR 25/1047/2019) Cuba: Independent Journalist Arrested: Hugo Quiñones  

Please find attached the First UA 122/19 demanding the immediate release of the Prisoner of Conscience, Journalist Hugo Quiñones in Cuba. 

 

UA 118/19 (ASA 13/1025/2019)_Bangladesh: Rohingya law student suspended from studies: Rohima Akter Khushi 

Please find attached First UA 118/19 regarding university student Rohima Akter Khushi who has been suspended during her second semester at a private university in Cox’s Bazar solely due to her being Rohingya.  One of the very few Rohingya young women who have braved all odds to pursue higher education, denying her access solely based on her identity is an affront to the human rights commitment that Bangladesh has made under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

 

FU UA 001/19 (AFR 41/1029/2019)_Mozambique: Journalist Charged With Criminal Offenses: Amade Abubacar  

Please find attached the eight UA 001/19 on Mozambican journalist Amade Abubacar.  On 5 September 2019, journalist Amade Abubacar and his lawyer were notified by the Office of the Public Prosecutor of Cabo Delgado Province of final charges against him. On 10 September, the defence presented a response to the accusation. The Cabo Delgado Provincial Court will now decide whether to accept the charges against Amade or withdraw the accusations against him.

 

UA 121/19 (MDE 29/1038/2019)_Morocco: Journalist Detained Over Bogus Charges: Hajar Raissouni 

On 31 August 2019, Moroccan police arrested journalist Hajar Raissouni on suspicion of carrying out an abortion, despite lack of evidence supporting the claims. She was arrested as she left a doctor’s clinic in Rabat, along with her fiancé the doctor and two medical staff. Hajar and the four others remain detained until today. Their trial is on September 16  

 

Thank you!

 

Kaveeta

 

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Urgent Actions
Amnesty International Australia
Locked Bag No 7
Collingwood VIC 3066
Australia
urgent...@amnesty.org.au