Amnesty International USA Groups 19, 35 and 466 held a screening of the documentary "Sri Lanka's Killing Fields" in Palo Alto, California on February 18, 2012. While the film is not an Amnesty film, Amnesty International considers that "Sri Lanka's Killing Fields" contains important, credible evidence of human rights abuses, including possible war crimes, committed by the Sri Lankan security forces in the final months of Sri Lanka's civil war. For that reason, Amnesty has been sponsoring screenings of the film in New York, Boston, Chicago and other places around the U.S. Amnesty International believes that the evidence in this film should be considered by an independent international investigation into reported war crimes and other human rights abuses committed by both sides during the war in Sri Lanka.
Amnesty International is an impartial organization working on behalf of victims of human rights violations around the world. In Sri Lanka, Amnesty has repeatedly condemned human rights abuses committed by the security forces as well as those committed by the opposition Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. This point was made during the February 18 screening.
During the post-screening discussion, some participants asked that portions of a counter-documentary produced by the Sri Lankan government, "Lies Agreed Upon," be immediately shown at the event. While Amnesty believes that "Sri Lanka's Killing Fields" contains important evidence to be considered by an international investigation, we do not have the same position with respect to the Sri Lankan government's counter-documentary. Furthermore, AIUSA Groups 19, 35 and 466 were not familiar with the counter-documentary and reasonably declined to show any film until they had first reviewed it. The event moderator publicly suggested to the advocates for "Lies Agreed Upon" that they inform the other attendees as to where "Lies Agreed Upon" could be found on the Internet, which the advocates declined to do.
A question was then raised during the discussion about a $50,000 donation made last year to the Canadian section of Amnesty International by the Canadian Tamil Congress. The suggestion made by the questioner was that Amnesty International could not be impartial with regard to Sri Lanka given this donation. In response, the public statement issued by AI Canada with regard to this donation was cited. The public statement points out, among other things, that the donation was given with no conditions that it be used for work on Sri Lanka, that the funds will be used to support a variety of ongoing global initiatives not involving Sri Lanka, and that the donation amounted to less than one-half of one percent of the funds raised by AI Canada during 2011.
Some of those attending the event were not satisfied with the responses in connection with "Lies Agreed Upon" or the donation to AI Canada. Despite repeated polite requests to allow others to speak and ask their questions, several people engaged in extended shouting. When it became clear that further civil discussion was not feasible due to their behavior, the post-screening discussion was terminated. As a precaution to protect those attending the event, the police were called. The police arrived after the discussion had been terminated; they assisted in clearing the room in an orderly manner.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Monday, October 3, 2011
NY Times Article on Anna Politkovskaya
The NY Times ran an article on Anna Politkovskaya, one of Group 35's cases. Group 35 has been participating in many letter-writing campaigns and other actions in search jof ustice for the murder of this Chechen journalist.
While brief and not particularly encouraging, the article is a well-written and informative piece of rare mainstream media coverage of Anna's murder. Objective, informative media coverage like this is always helpful and appreciated.
While brief and not particularly encouraging, the article is a well-written and informative piece of rare mainstream media coverage of Anna's murder. Objective, informative media coverage like this is always helpful and appreciated.
Monday, August 29, 2011
“Call and Response” video viewing at Lynbrook High School
The “Call and Response” video viewing at Lynbrook High School was a smashing success. Besides forging a great model for collaboration between a local Amnesty group (Group 35 from San Jose) and a high school group (at Lynbrook High), it brought together a large audience to for a moving video viewing to raise awareness for the literally millions of children sold into the sex trade each year.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Rally in Support for the People of Iran
Sunday, March 2, 2008
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women. Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination.
The Convention defines discrimination against women as "...any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field."
By accepting the Convention, States commit themselves to undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against women in all forms, including:
The Convention defines discrimination against women as "...any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field."
By accepting the Convention, States commit themselves to undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against women in all forms, including:
- to incorporate the principle of equality of men and women in their legal system, abolish all discriminatory laws and adopt appropriate ones prohibiting discrimination against women;
- to establish tribunals and other public institutions to ensure the effective protection of women against discrimination; and
- to ensure elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by persons, organizations or enterprises.
The Convention provides the basis for realizing equality between women and men through ensuring women's equal access to, and equal opportunities in, political and public life -- including the right to vote and to stand for election -- as well as education, health and employment. States parties agree to take all appropriate measures, including legislation and temporary special measures, so that women can enjoy all their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The Convention is the only human rights treaty which affirms the reproductive rights of women and targets culture and tradition as influential forces shaping gender roles and family relations. It affirms women's rights to acquire, change or retain their nationality and the nationality of their children. States parties also agree to take appropriate measures against all forms of traffic in women and exploitation of women.
Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention are legally bound to put its provisions into practice. They are also committed to submit national reports, at least every four years, on measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations.
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/cedaw.htm
come and hear a panel speak on CEDAW this Saturday, March 8th. Go back to the Amnesty #35 home page and get the details.
UN Urges End to Violence Against Women - Taken from IPPF News
2/27/2008
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has launched a global campaign to intensify efforts to end violence against women, specifically calling on men to combat the problem.
"At least one out of every three women is likely to be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime," he told the opening session of the Commission on the Status of Women on Monday.
"Through the practice of prenatal sex selection, countless others are denied the right even to exist."
Ban said he will form a global network of male leaders to assist him in mobilizing men in government, the arts, sports, business and religion, as well as boys, to speak out against the scourge.
"I call on men around the world to lead by example: to make clear that violence against women is an act perpetrated by a coward, and that speaking up against it is a badge of honor," he said.
According to the U.N., the most common form of violence experienced by women globally is physical violence inflicted by an intimate partner.
World Bank data show women aged 15-44 "are more at risk from rape and domestic violence than from cancer, motor accidents, war and malaria."
In every war zone, violence against women has been reported during or after armed conflict. As examples, the U.N. said, between 250,000 and 500,000 women were raped during the 1994 Rwanda genocide and between 20,000 and 50,000 women were raped during the Bosnian conflict in the early 1990s.
Ban said the campaign will continue until 2015 to coincide with the target date to achieve the U.N. Millennium Development Goals aimed at combatting poverty.
He said he will personally approach world leaders "to spur action through national campaigns," and will urge all countries to ensure that violence against women is always a crime".
He said he will also urge the media, the U.N. system, non-governmental organizations and women's groups worldwide to set priorities and targets to end violence against women.
"We know that violence against women compounds the enormous social and economic toll on families, communities, even whole nations," Ban said.
The secretary-general said he will propose that the U.N. hold an event in 2010 to review the campaign's accomplishments and to map out steps to make further progress by 2015.
World leaders at a U.N. summit in 2005, the U.N. Security Council, and the General Assembly have pledged to combat violence against women, but the secretary-general said much more needs to be done.
The U.N. said the campaign 'Unite to End Violence Against Women' will try to mobilize public opinion to pressure policy makers to prevent and eradicate violence against women.
Source: PUSH Journal, 26 Feb 2008
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has launched a global campaign to intensify efforts to end violence against women, specifically calling on men to combat the problem.
"At least one out of every three women is likely to be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime," he told the opening session of the Commission on the Status of Women on Monday.
"Through the practice of prenatal sex selection, countless others are denied the right even to exist."
Ban said he will form a global network of male leaders to assist him in mobilizing men in government, the arts, sports, business and religion, as well as boys, to speak out against the scourge.
"I call on men around the world to lead by example: to make clear that violence against women is an act perpetrated by a coward, and that speaking up against it is a badge of honor," he said.
According to the U.N., the most common form of violence experienced by women globally is physical violence inflicted by an intimate partner.
World Bank data show women aged 15-44 "are more at risk from rape and domestic violence than from cancer, motor accidents, war and malaria."
In every war zone, violence against women has been reported during or after armed conflict. As examples, the U.N. said, between 250,000 and 500,000 women were raped during the 1994 Rwanda genocide and between 20,000 and 50,000 women were raped during the Bosnian conflict in the early 1990s.
Ban said the campaign will continue until 2015 to coincide with the target date to achieve the U.N. Millennium Development Goals aimed at combatting poverty.
He said he will personally approach world leaders "to spur action through national campaigns," and will urge all countries to ensure that violence against women is always a crime".
He said he will also urge the media, the U.N. system, non-governmental organizations and women's groups worldwide to set priorities and targets to end violence against women.
"We know that violence against women compounds the enormous social and economic toll on families, communities, even whole nations," Ban said.
The secretary-general said he will propose that the U.N. hold an event in 2010 to review the campaign's accomplishments and to map out steps to make further progress by 2015.
World leaders at a U.N. summit in 2005, the U.N. Security Council, and the General Assembly have pledged to combat violence against women, but the secretary-general said much more needs to be done.
The U.N. said the campaign 'Unite to End Violence Against Women' will try to mobilize public opinion to pressure policy makers to prevent and eradicate violence against women.
Source: PUSH Journal, 26 Feb 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Welcome to the AI Group 35 Blog!
We hope this blog will be useful for those of you involved with AI Group 35.
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