AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - Youth Magazine TERM 2 // 2015

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ACTIVE

A NOTE FROM MIRIAM

Kia ora tatou!

I am only six weeks into my role and I’m so impressed and heartened by the level of

passion and commitment that you have already displayed so far this year!

Huge thanks to those of you who have collected numerous signatures and sent them

through with hundreds of photos taken as part of the #OpenToSyria campaign. We will

be presenting your faces and signatures to the New Zealand government in June.

I recently helped our Auckland Central human rights defenders with our stall at the In-

ternational Cultural Festival. The array of music, food, languages, colours and cultures

at the festival was magnificent. Many conversations I had with people that afternoon

were about how such events epitomise the good things about Aotearoa: our diversity,

tolerance and openness as a multicultural country. We gathered a lot of signatures that

day. Some of the people who signed came to New Zealand as refugees from war-torn

parts of the world.

The happiness that came from meeting and talking with these people in my commu-

nity was also tinged with a deep sadness at the fact that New Zealand offers so few

refugees a home here; that our annual refugee quota of only 750 has not increased for

28 years; that the United Nations ranks us at 87th in the world for hosting refugees

per head of population.

We can do so much more as a country to help alleviate this tragic humanitarian crisis.

Freedom Challenge will focus on what we can do to support refugees and asylum

seekers, many of whom are children, in New Zealand and within the Asia Pacific re-

gion. With our seat on the UN Security Council, New Zealand has an essential leader-

ship role in this issue.

Your activism in the Freedom Challenge campaign and beyond will be essential to

helping us with this! You can read more about it on pages 6-7 of this copy of ACTIVE.

Have a wonderful term!

MiriamYouth Coordinatormiriam.pierard@amnesty.org.nz

09 666 0143

Front cover imag

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Amnesty Interna

tional supporters

head to the str

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Auckland in March, to

mark the

4th anniversary

of the Syrian

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TERM 2 // 2015

EDITORIAL

You’ve got the wheel of justice spinning in New Zealand

You’ve started the wheel of justice spinning in New Zealand urging The Philippines government to finally address its appalling torture record.

We’ll be presenting your activism to The Philippinesembassy and ensuring President Aquino also knows that New Zealanders want an Independent Police Complaints Commission to investigate allegations of torture and to ensure torturers are brought to justice in his country.

We know that our actions are making a difference, partic-ularly in the lives of torture survivor Jerryme Corre and his family. Recently our colleagues in The Philippines visited Jerryme and delivered a stack of letters written by activ-ists like you. During the visit Jerryme said he had received some letters directly and he and his wife both said they could not believe the amount of support they were getting and that this has given them hope and courage. “I can never give enough thanks. These [letters] give me strength. It even changed the course of my case as com-pared to before. It also gives courage to my wife. We are not alone in this fight. Many people also seek justice for us.”

We received further good news on 27 March when Amnesty International Philippines organised a petition delivery to the Philippines police asking for an investigation into the torture suffered by Jerryme.

Immediately after the petition delivery The Philippines police informed Jerryme and his family that an investigation would be opened by the PNP Internal Affairs Service - in line with our calls, and a hearing was scheduled.

Amnesty representatives attended the first hearing in April and it was confirmed that the investigation was initiated based on letters sent by a human rights organisation.

Your letters do make a difference!

By continuing to take action on this campaign you will build awareness and pressure and can help all the other torture survivors in The Philippines. Take this campaign beyond your school by outreaching to The Philippine com-munity, youth, sport or church groups in your community.

Please keep campaigning and make sure you get all your petitions and appeals through to us by: Friday, 12 June.

If you need more resources please email Youth Intern,

Hanna Graf at youth.intern@amnesty.org.nz • - Jeepney action, on-line action and factsheet

seeking justice for Jerryme Corre• - On-line action on behalf of Philippines tor-

ture survivor Alfreda Disbarro• - Our “spoof” “Wheel of Torture video • - Beneath the Blindfold documentary for loan.

A life-affirming film about four torture survivors.

Suitable for older students.

Resources

Jerryme Corre with members of Amnesty International Philippines who delivered your letters to him in February 2015. © Amnesty International

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FREEDOM CHALLENGE - 10-14 AUGUST 2015

Save the Date!

We are currently facing the biggest humanitarian crisis of our time, but we can do something about it!

This year’s Freedom Challenge focus is to show our openness and warmth as a country by increasing our refugee quota and offering a home to protect vulnerable people, many of them children, who are fleeing conflict and persecution.

This issue is critical as millions of refugees and asylum seekers seek shelter across the world, including in the Asia-Pacific. Yet many countries choose to turn their backs.

New Zealand can be a regional leader by offering more protection to refugees and urging for asylum seekers to be processed in humane condi-tions.

Your staunch actions, passionate voices and open hearts will influence our political leaders to step up to meet our international human rights obliga-tions, to live up to our history of standing up for what’s right and to save the lives of individuals and families who have already experienced so much trauma.

Some four million Syrian refugees have fled into neighbouring countries - that’s nearly the entire population of New Zealand! Almost half of them - 1.7 million - are children, your age and younger.

There are also many refugees stuck in Asia- Pacific countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Today more than 100 children are being held in Australia’s detention centre on Nauru and 60 more in Australia who could be returned to Nauru at any time. Some are only babies.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refu-gees (UNHCR) is calling on countries to live up to their commitments to human rights by saving and resettling more refugees.

While this situation might seem overwhelming, New Zealand can and must provide the leader-ship that is badly lacking globally. There is a lot that we can do to help, and with your actions during Freedom Challenge there is a lot that YOU can do to help!

WHAT IS THE CRISIS?

New Zealand has often punched above its weight in international humanitarian issues. However, we’re not doing very well on refugee resettle-ment - our quota has not increased in 28 years! We currently accept only 750 quota refugees per year. The United Nations ranks New Zealand at only 87th in the world for hosting refugees.

We’re in a unique and influential position with our seat on the United Nations Security Council for the next two years. This puts us in a position of responsibility, charged with ensuring global peace and security. If New Zealand wants to send a strong message of cooperation and will-ingness, then taking a leadership role in sharing the responsibility to protect refugees is essential!

Let’s take action to advocate for the rights and lives of refugees by doubling our annual refugee quota and encouraging our region to step up to its responsibilities. New Zealand can be a wel-coming home for those who need one the most.

WHY SHOULD NEW ZEALAND BE MORE OPEN TO REFUGEES?

A young girl at Freij informal tented settlement in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon © Amnesty International

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FREEDOMCHALLENGE

FIRST - Freedom Challenge is on 10-14 August 2015 -

put it in your calendars now!

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

#OpenToSyria will continue until 20 June - World Refugee Day - so keep your petitions and photos coming in and see page 6-7 for more in-formation. We will send out Freedom Challenge kits to you shortly, with some clear calls, but in the meantime learn as much as you can about refugees and asylum seekers!

six easy steps to get yo

u started!

NOW - Get everybody in your group to read ACTIVE

AFTER THAT - Learn more about refugees and asylum seekers

so that you can be fully prepared for Freedom Challenge next

term. Start by checking out the links in our resource kit!

AND - Don’t forget to check here for updates closer to the time and email

your Youth Coordinator Miriam Pierard on miriam.pierard@amnesty.org.nz

with any questions and cool ideas you have!

THEN - Have a brainstorm at your next Amnesty

International group meeting to come up with actions

that your group can take to support refugees in New

Zealand. Check your ideas to see if there’s a good

media angle - a local celebrity, refugee communities

in your school, or photo opportunity? Think big!

KEEP an eye out for the Freedom Challenge kits

that we will send your way along with updates on

the Freedom Challenge workshops that we will

host in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christ-

church and Dunedin. The first workshop takes

place in Wellington on May 24. See page 10 for

more details.

And... get excited!!

This is what Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan looks like

“My son’s health situation is deteriorating and I would really like to treat him. The UN has put me forward for resettlement but I don’t know if I am going to be resettled” - Yara - A Syrian refugee who is now in Lebanon with her four children.

A young boy at Freij informal tented settlement in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon © Amnesty International

© Bidna Capoeira via Flickr

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CHALLENGE

We asked if you were #Open to Syria in last term’s ACTIVE and you showed us that you certainly are - the response has been fantastic!

We’re asking governments to be #OpenToSyria and share the responsi-bility of Syria’s refugees with countries in the region. They can make a huge difference by welcoming 380,000

refugees who are especially vulnerable - including torture survivors, people persecuted for their sexuality and women and girls at risk of abuse.

Here in New Zealand, we’re asking the Government to step up and do its bit to help Syria’s most vulnerable refu-gees by immediately accepting 100 Syrian refugees for resettlement and

doubling the annual refugee quota.

We’ve received hundreds of pictures and signatures from Western Heights High School, Rotorua; Auckland Gram-mar School, Nelson College for Girls and Pakuranga College, Auckland. Students from Massey High School created beautiful banners.

SHOWING NEW ZEALAND WE’RE OPEN TO SYRIA

Nelson Girls’ co-leader Poppy Postance said they were delight-ed with the response - gather-ing 226 signatures, about 150 pictures, and the attention of the Nelson Mail who came along to interview them.

“We wanted to get as many pic-tures as possible to impact on the New Zealand government, and to illustrate that school students care about this issue, especially as many of the refugees are children missing out on an education,” said Poppy.

Western Heights Amnesty Vice President Allie Livingston said, “Our club is passionate about making a change and also making the people in our school aware of what Amnesty does. We are so proud to be able to support such an amazing campaign.”

Nelson Girls’

Western Heights

& friends

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#OpenToSyria

SHOWING NEW ZEALAND WE’RE OPEN TO SYRIA So it’s not too late to take action for OpenToSyria - Sign the petition online, or photo-copy and collect signatures on the hard copy version enclosed in your ACTIVE copy, make some creative OpenToSyria signs, take your camera and go crazy!!!

Pakuranga College

Jaffar Bui, student leader at Pakuranga College said, “I look forward to see the result of the campaign on World Refugee Day! I hope to give my team good news of the resettlement of the Syrian refugees.”

View more Open to Syria images here

What do you think of when you hear the word refugee? I think of piteously skinny chil-dren with dirty clothes. I think of cramped, uncomfortable tents that flap in the dry wind, with nothing inside them except a hard dusty ground for their occupants to sleep on. I think of a desert lined with huts in a far-off land.

But this picture in my head is not clear. It is a hazy image made up of my own imaginings and one short snippet that I saw on the news a long time ago. Even the news item holds no weight in my mind, though. Because we are far away from these situations here in New Zealand. As much as I think I know things about refugees, I don’t, not really. Because I haven’t been in that situation. I haven’t seen those people. Although we are by no means all rich here, we are rich enough that these situations are about as foreign as things can get.

There are many ways to love a country. I love France and Italy as a tourist. I love Australia as a neighbour, and the Cook Islands, as a sister. But New Zealand, I love as its child. Because that is what I am. The country of your birth will forever be in your heart, in some way or another. But it will not always stay as your home. There are circumstances which many people all around the world have to leave their home countries. Sometimes they choose, sometimes, there is no choice. And if, in that circumstance, another country opens its arms to you, and the people open their hearts to you, then that country also will live forever in your heart.

And that is what Syria needs. Some arms reaching out, some hearts open, to receive the people who have endured so much. There are over 4 million people living in New Zealand. 100 more isn’t much of a change to the country as a whole, but to those 100 people, it is everything.

by Scarlett Parkes

- Auckland Girls’ Grammar School

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Recent actions we’ve taken have seen delays in executions occurring in Iran and Indonesia. That gives us time to keep on campaigning.

Now help us stop the execution of Shafqat Hussain

Shafqat Hussain, is a Pakistani who was just 14 years old in 2004 when he was sentenced to death, is due to be executed at the end of April. He was given a reprieve just hours before his planned hanging on 19 March, after a campaign by his lawyers and human rights

groups including Amnesty Interna-tional pointed out the possibility of a mistrial.

According to his lawyers, Shafqat Hussain was convicted based on a ‘confession’ after being tortured for nine days. He did not receive a fair trial, there was no evidence, and the fact that he was a child at time of offence was not raised. He was sentenced to death for kidnapping and involuntary manslaughter.

Write to the President of Pakistan and urge him to: • halt the execution of Shafqat

Hussain, as he was a child at the time of his alleged crime

• return to a moratorium on all executions.

Send your letters to: President of PakistanHonourable Mr Mamnoon HussainPresident’s SecretariatIslamabad, PakistanFax: +92 51 920 8479 Twitter: @Mamnoon_hussain

TAKE ACTION

In 2014 governments resorted to using the death penalty to tackle crime and terrorism.

That’s what we found in our annual death penalty report which looks at trends on the death penalty globally.

Most executions took place in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the USA – in that order. There was an increase in death sentences recorded last year due to mass sentences in Egypt and Nigeria.

In Pakistan, the government lifted a six-year moratorium on the execution of civilians following the horrific Taliban attack on a school last Decem-ber. More than 50 people have been put to death since.

Other governments – including Indonesia – have used execu-tions as a solution to surging crime rates and drug traffick-ing. Indonesia has already executed six people this year, a further 11 are at imminent risk.

THE GOOD NEWSDespite those statistics, the global trend is clear – the world is turning its back on the death penalty with 140 states aboli-tionist in law or practice.- All regions, except Europe and Central Asia, saw fewer executions than the year be-fore.- The Pacific continues as the only region to be execution free.- Executions in Sub-Saharan Africa have dropped by 28 per cent 46 compared to 64 in 2013.

THE DEATH PENALTY IN 2014

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DEATH PENALTY

Q.When did you first become involved with Amnesty International, and what made you interested in joining a Human Rights group?

My introduction to human rights began in a lesson that started as any other in year 10 Social Studies. But as we began to get into the history of human rights, their applications and how we all have the same rights and responsibilities, I understood that with all the suffering in the world, as global citizens we not only can do something about it but we must try to do something about it.

In year 12 upon surfing the web, I stumbled upon the Freedom Challenge site and I thought that it would not only be an amazing opportunity to lead and organise an Amnesty International group around school but would be a chance to empower young women to use their creativity and talents to contribute to a better world.

Q. You are the leader of the Amnesty International group at your school, Baradene College. What is it like to coordinate such a huge group? What are your group’s plans for this year?

Amnesty International Baradene has been one of the fastest growing groups in our school. Going from 30 members in 2014 to about 100 this year, starting up and leading this group has been quite a journey. Leading an enormous group has its cons at times, it can be difficult to delegate roles and keeping enthusiasm and involvement up is challenging with the flurry of assessments, extracurricular work and personal matters for each member. Nevertheless, I constantly find myself taken aback by the generosity and conscientious spirit of the students in my group.

Q: Which of our current campaigns or issues are you most passionate about and why?

No one should have to be exempt from their human rights based on where they are born, their personal identity or who they are. Considering the fact that the main victims of the Syrian conflict are children, it is important to protect the rights of those most vulnerable. Children will be the next leaders, peacemakers, innovators of our world and with children growing up with their safety and survival at a severe compromise, there is a situation of injustice at hand which is why I take great interest in the ‘Open To Syria’ case.

Being a person of Filipino descent, the ‘Stop Torture in The Philippines’ is also very important to me. Corruption and extrajudicial punishment are huge problems and seeing the effects of this in reality with poverty in the Philippines has a harrowing effect.

Q: In one word, what does Amnesty mean to you?

To be part of something that brings people together to help others and effectively change the world, is truly and essentially love. Love is most powerful, most special. I am proud to be part of a global movement of justice, of integrity, of compassion, of courage, of ingenuity, of solidarity and most importantly of love.

Amnesty International’s youth intern Hanna Graf caught up with Keeara Ofren, youth activist and Amnesty International group leader from Baradene College, Auckland and asked her about where it all started.

MEET KEEARA OFREN!

Oceans away, the efforts of high school students in New Zealand had culminated into a powerful voice for the vulnerable.

- Keeara talking about the impact of Freedom Challenge 2014 and the news that some of the N!DA activists had been freed.

Knowing that you are making a difference and introducing others to a world of standing up for others have been huge parts of why I love being a Youth Activist- Keeara Ofren - Baradene College

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YOUTH

Amnesty International’s Secretary General Salil Shetty

will be visiting New Zealand on 3-4 June.

Within his very tight schedule we’ve carved out an

hour or so for Salil to spend time with our youth on the

afternoon of Thursday, 4 June in Auckland. We’ll be

back in touch once we’ve got confirmed times.

Until then watch Salil talking about your right to edu-

cation: www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8UBuEEdbk4

We are very excited to announce an Amnesty Interna-tional New Zealand schools’ conference for Aucklanders on the theme of Stop Torture.

Our youth team is working in partnership with the fantastic St. Peter’s College Amnesty Group to host the conference. We hope that other schools in Auckland and around the country will pick up the mantle and organise future events with our support.

This schools’ conference is an opportunity for young activists to meet and socialise, listen to informa-tive speakers, engage with ethical questions and most importantly present to and learn from each other! We can provide some speakers, but we encourage you to choose a topic that you are especially interested in that’s related to the theme, create a presentation or a workshop and present it to fellow students. We have already had some great proposals for presentations sent to us.

We’ll shortly set up an on-line registration form, but un-til then if you have any questions about this conference, would like to present, or consider hosting this confer-ence in the future please email your Youth Coordinator Miriam Pierard on miriam.pierard@amnesty.org.nz.

When: Saturday and Sunday, 9-10 MayWhere: St. Peters College School Hall, 23 Mountain Road, Grafton, AucklandTheme: Stop TortureCost: $20 per student

AUCKLAND SCHOOLS’ YOUTH CONFERENCE!

SPEAKERS, WORKSHOP, ACTION

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’S SECRETARY

GENERAL TO VISIT NZ

L-R: Miriam, Warren Rodricks from St Peters and Hanna getting organised for the conference. © Amnesty Interntional

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Salil Shetty with Amnesty International’s Portugal

youth network. © Amnesty International

You’re invited to our Annual Meeting and Skillshare in Wellington on the weekend of 23-24 May.

A chance to hear from interesting speakers, meet with fellow human rights defenders, take action and take part in workshops including on this year’s Freedom Challenge.

Register here for either one or both days. A charge applies to the Annual Meeting, but the skillshare day is free. The Youth team will shortly be in touch with Wellington schools to arrange a visit to your team before or after this meeting.

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YOUTH EVENTS

ICECREAM, CAGE, ACTION!

Check out how easy it was to collect signatures on the

Jerryme Corre petition when the guys from Auckland

Grammar School organised an ice-cream sale. Watch

their very cool video!

We collected loads of signatures and wrote letters for

Jerryme and The Philippine authorities as well as Open

to Syria pics. I have over 100 members who are very

interested in human rights issues!” - Teacher co-ordina-

tor Sarah Davis.

Auckland Grammar

St Peter’s College

At St Peter’s College having the wheel of justice

alongside caged students gagged and wearing

jumpsuits during the school fair attracted lots

of attention.

“It really issued the importance of the group in the school,” said Group co-leader Warren Rodricks.

Miriam and Hanna went on their very first school visit for Amnesty Interna-tional on 19 March. Exciting!

After a presentation on the Power of Letter Writing , students from Dioce-san School for Girls, Auckland, wrote

letters of solidarity to Jerryme Corre, torture survivor in The Philippines.

“Their messages have the power to light up his dark prison cell and give him new hope in his fight for justice!” says Hanna.

Some of your inspiring words:“Know that you will never be alone. Know that if nothing else, the sun will set and rise, and a new day will begin”

“Your story has definitely touched our hearts. We would like you to know that aside from us, many people from our school, our country and from all over the world are here to offer our support.”

“Kia Kaha, stay strong!”

Miriam speaking to students at

Diocesan Girls.

MESSAGES TO LIGHT A PRISON CELL

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YOUTH IN ACTION

PACIFIC NATIONS MAKE HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRESS

Fiji and Tonga have both taken steps to improve their human rights by committing to international treaties and conventions. Amnesty International has systematically campaigned for all of the following three outcomes.

• Fiji - announcing its intention to ratify the Convention against Torture (UNCAT). On 13 February, we also woke up to the good news that Fiji had scrapped the death penalty. This brought the number of countries who have completely ended the ultimate cruel and inhuman punishment to 99, exactly half of all states in the world.

• Tonga – announcing its intention to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Listen in:Amnesty International’s Pacific Researcher, Kate Schuetze discusses the impact of Fiji’s ratification of UNCAT

MORE N!DA ACTIVISTS RELEASED

As the eyes of the world turn to Azerbaijan for the European Games 2015, two prisoners of conscience were released as part of the president’s pardon.

Orkhan Eyyubzade (19), a N!DA member was imprisoned after peacefully protesting the arrest of eight fellow pro-democracy N!DA activists. He was beaten by the police and there was no evidence to keep him in jail.

Another prisoner of conscience, Bashir Suleymanli who is the head of the Elections Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre, was also released after being jailed for reporting electoral violations during the election in 2013.

Kids play in a park. Suva, Fiji. © Vlad Sokhin

PRIVACY ISSUES IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Revelations of mass surveillance and governments watching our every move have continuously appeared since Edward Snowden first released classified documents two years ago.

Amnesty International has said it’s time to watch the watchers and in the last few months we’ve seen several instances of good news.

In February there were historic victories in the age-old battle for the right to privacy and free expression: the USA and UK’s past intelligence-sharing on communications surveillance was ruled illegal.These landmark rulings, in which Amnesty International were co-claimants, should mean there are more significant posi-tive changes ahead.

In March the United Nations Human Rights Council set up a new privacy watchdog, a ‘special rapporteur’ in response to efforts to expand surveillance powers and bulk collection of personal data.

And in New Zealand following revelations that our own Govern-ment Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) is conducting surveillance on our Pacific neighbours as well as other countries, an inquiry was launched by the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security. Amnesty International certainly welcomes this as a step forward in overcoming the lack of transparency surrounding the issue.

© REUTERS/Zoran Milich

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GOOD NEWS