Date/Time
Date(s) - 16/05/2017
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location
Human Rights Action Centre
Categories No Categories
Join us to launch our new campaign
Doors open at 18:30 – there will be a drinks reception following the event
We are witnessing a global trend of restricting civil society freedoms, often in the name of national security. Across the world individuals and groups standing up for human rights are being targeted. They are facing growing restrictions on funding, status and freedom to operate. Restrictions designed to stop their crucial activities.
Right now, people across the world are risking everything to speak out against injustice. Student leaders, teachers, lawyers, journalists, women’s rights, environmental activists and many others. But they’re being harassed, tortured, jailed and even killed – just for daring to stand up for what’s right.
In times like these, the world needs human rights defenders more than ever. They are at the forefront of the challenge to sexism and racism. They campaign for justice, condemn human rights violations and hold leaders to account. Supporting their rights and their space to live and operate in is one of the most important ways to ensure human rights for all.
This May, we’re launching a global campaign calling for the increased protection, legitimacy and public support of Human Rights Defenders. Join us for the launch of the campaign and accompanied briefing ‘Human Rights Defenders under Threat- shrinking space for civil society’.
At the launch, our panel will talk about the upcoming campaign and share their own experiences as human rights defenders working in an increasingly restrictive environment. They will exlore how the mounting restrictions placed on civil society organisations and human rights activists has affected them and their work.
The panellists
Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty International UK (moderator)
Guadeloupe Morengo Director, Amnesty International global Human Rights Defender Programme
Nancy Okail, Egyptian activist and scholar. She is currently living in the USA having been sentenced in absentia to five years in prison. Her sentence was part of the controversial Egyptian court case against local and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Albaqir al-Afif Mukhtar, Sudanese Human Rights Defender and Director for KACE, an organisation undertaking research and campaigns on issues relating to peace, human rights and democratic transformation. Albaqir also trains Human Rights Defenders at risk from Sudan.
Becky Shah, UK activist for the Hillsborough Justice Campaign , where she campaigned for the truth and justice for her mother and other victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Becky will talk about the Hillsborough justice campaign and the importance of defending human rights in the UK.
