Amnesty Club Members Speak Up & Campaign for Issues That Matter
The NHEHS Amnesty Youth Group meets every Wednesday at 1pm with Mr Piesse.
Its motto is ‘protect the human’.
The aim of the Youth Group is to discuss cases in which people’s human rights are being violated and to support Amnesty International’s campaigns. The focus for discussion and campaigning is driven by the girls themselves, who put forward cases to consider. Over the year, some of the issues discussed have involved women’s rights in Iran, the plight of child refugees and unlawful detention in Syria, China and Egypt. Girls have signed e-petitions, sent messages of solidarity and sent persuasive emails to key powerbrokers, such as to their local Members of Parliament. The club is an important mechanism at NHEHS through which girls can understand current affairs and make a difference in the world in a meaningful and sustainable manner.
At our latest meeting, we discussed #blacklivesmatter and the media coverage of it on the news and social media. We began by exploring the origins of the movement and its roots in the particular historical context of the USA. We then examined a current Amnesty campaign to reform the police force in the USA, focusing on the 9 states where there is currently no law pertaining to the use of lethal force by the Police.
Secondly, we considered the UK and the disproportionate impact of Covid 19 on the BAME community and whether the recent government report’s recommendations go far enough to address these systemic inequalities. Mr Piesse encouraged the club members to take up these issues with their MPs.
Dunya said she would urge the government to ensure the discovery of the low-cost drug Dexamethasone results in improved treatment for the most disadvantaged. Sadie mentioned that she had recently written to her MP, Rupa Huq, while Ishita had received an email reply from the same MP to to her letter about the plight of child refugees.
All agreed that getting a reply from the responses from their MPs encouraged them to speak up and campaign more for issues that matter.
Our last two Amnesty Clubs take place this Wednesday, with the final meeting on July 1st.
All are most welcome!
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