Statement by Gita Sahgal Head of Amnesty International’s Gender Unit

Posted on February 7, 2010
Filed Under Equality, Faith, Global, Human Rights, London, Opinion Comment

Amnesty International and Cageprisoners

This morning the Sunday Times published an article about Amnesty International’s association with groups that support the Taliban and promote Islamic Right ideas. In that article, I was quoted as raising concerns about Amnesty’s very high profile associations with Guantanamo-detainee Moazzam Begg. I felt that Amnesty International was risking its reputation by associating itself with Begg, who heads an organization, Cageprisoners, that actively promotes Islamic Right ideas and individuals.

Within a few hours of the article being published, Amnesty had suspended me from my job.

A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when a great organisation must ask: if it lies to itself, can it demand the truth of others? For in defending the torture standard, one of the strongest and most embedded in international human rights law, Amnesty International has sanitized the history and politics of the ex-Guantanamo detainee, Moazzam Begg and completely failed to recognize the nature of his organisation Cageprisoners.

The tragedy here is that the necessary defence of the torture standard has been inexcusably allied to the political legitimization of individuals and organisations belonging to the Islamic Right.

I have always opposed the illegal detention and torture of Muslim men at Guantanamo Bay and during the so-called War on Terror. I have been horrified and appalled by the treatment of people like Moazzam Begg and I have personally told him so. I have vocally opposed attempts by governments to justify ‘torture lite’.

The issue is not about Moazzam Begg’s freedom of opinion, nor about his right to propound his views: he already exercises these rights fully as he should. The issue is a fundamental one about the importance of the human rights movement maintaining an objective distance from groups and ideas that are committed to systematic discrimination and fundamentally undermine the universality of human rights. I have raised this issue because of my firm belief in human rights for all.

I sent two memos to my management asking a series of questions about what considerations were given to the nature of the relationship with Moazzam Begg and his organisation, Cageprisoners. I have received no answer to my questions. There has been a history of warnings within Amnesty that it is inadvisable to partner with Begg. Amnesty has created the impression that Begg is not only a victim of human rights violations but a defender of human rights. Many of my highly respected colleagues, each well-regarded in their area of expertise has said so. Each has been set aside.

As a result of my speaking to the Sunday Times, Amnesty International has announced that it has launched an internal inquiry. This is the moment to press for public answers, and to demonstrate that there is already a public demand including from Amnesty International members, to restore the integrity of the organisation and remind it of its fundamental principles.

I have been a human rights campaigner for over three decades, defending the rights of women and ethnic minorities, defending religious freedom and the rights of victims of torture, and campaigning against illegal detention and state repression. I have raised the issue of the association of Amnesty International with groups such as Begg’s consistently within the organisation. I have now been suspended for trying to do my job and staying faithful to Amnesty’s mission to protect and defend human rights universally and impartially.

Gita Sahgal 7 February 2010

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Times article: Amnesty International is ‘damaged’ by Taliban link
An official at the human rights charity deplores its work with a ‘jihadist’

Amnesty International Statement

28 Days to Safeguard Women in Wales

Posted on February 6, 2010
Filed Under Campaign, Domestic Violence, Government, Rape and Sexual Assault, Wales, Women's Group

Wales Violence Against Women Action Group Press Release
* New Assembly Government Strategy expected
* Drastic improvements needed say campaigners

Campaigners today (1st Feb) say that women in Wales have one month to press the Assembly Government to deliver an effective, integrated strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.

Following a long-running campaign to ensure that the devolved administration prioritises the tackling of violence against women, the new Minister for Social Justice and Local Government, Carl Sargeant, has committed to completing an effective integrated strategy to prevent violence and assist survivors to rebuild their lives by the end of February 2010.

In one month in Wales:
* 1 woman will die at the hands of a family member/partner
* 16 women will be raped – with the case taken to court [i]
* 35 sexual assaults against women will be taken to court[ii]
* 356 domestic abuse cases will be prosecuted[iii]
* 150 women will flee to a refuge following abuse, along with 132 children[iv]
* 160 women will be turned away, as refuges in Wales will be full[v]
* 180 women suffering from abuse will ring the Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline
* 9 women with no recourse to public funding will be turned away from refuge[vi]
* 5 women will become victims of trafficking[vii]
* 3 women will report forced marriage[viii]

The Wales VAW Action Group has been working with the Assembly Government to strengthen its draft strategy to tackle violence against women, but the shape and content of the final strategy remains unclear.

Naomi Brightmore, Chair of the Wales VAW Action Group said:

TAKE ACTION!

Please email Carl Sargeant asking him to ensure the Strategy delivers on the Assembly’s commitments to safeguard women in Wales.

Template letter (Welsh and English) and contact details here: http://www.facebook.com/l/051c3;http://www.facebook.com/l/a1254;walesvawgroup.com/
take-action/

MORE INFORMATION

Press release: http://www.facebook.com/l/051c3;http://www.facebook.com/l/a1254;walesvawgroup.com
/2010/02/01/28-days-to-safeguard-women-in-wales-wales-vaw-group-press-release/

Download our report: http://www.facebook.com/l/051c3;http://www.facebook.com/l/a1254;walesvawgroup.com/
report

Follow us on Twitter: http://www.facebook.com/l/051c3;http://www.facebook.com/l/a1254;twitter.com/
walesvawgroup

THANK YOU!

Your actions have made a difference. This time last year an integrated strategy was not even being discussed in Wales. Thanks to everyone who has emailed, written, spread the word and otherwise supported this campaign!

Please forward widely. Thanks! :)

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The Way We Were and Are – 40 Years of Women’s Liberation – 26th and 27th February 2010 – London

Posted on February 6, 2010
Filed Under Feminism, London, Meeting, WLM / Feminist History, Women's Event

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first national Women’s Liberation Conference

On February 27th 1970 more than 500 women met at Ruskin College in Oxford for the first National Women’s Liberation Movement conference.

It was an extraordinary event, full of passion and energy and reflecting the radicalism, diversity, dissent and sisterhood of women at the beginning of one of the most transformative movements of the twentieth century, a movement that changed lives, all our lives. With men running the crèche, the delegates debated the issues facing women and the challenges ahead.

Out of the conference came four key demands – equal pay, equal education and job opportunities, free contraception and abortion on demand and free 24-hour nurseries.

The Way We Were and Are will reflect on forty years of the women’s movement, with women who were there at the Ruskin conference in l970 and those of later generations. The four panels will be around the themes of History, Ordinary Lives, Power, and Sex, looking at how things were and how they have changed.

The first of these, Sex, will take place on Friday night and the other three will be held on Saturday.

Friday February 26th 6.30pm – 8.00pm

SEX
Julie Bindle
Juliet Mitchell
Lynne Segal
Chair: Natasha Walter
Tickets: Friday £6 including a glass of wine

To book call 0207 3242 570 or email us at bookings@freewordonline.com
http://www.freewordonline.com/events/?event_id=54

Saturday 27th February 10.30am – 4.30pm

HISTORY 10.30am-11.45am
Sally Alexander
Catherine Hall
Imogen Lee
Chair:Antonia Byatt

ORDINARY LIVES
Mary Chamberlain
Rahila Gupta
Catherine Redfern
Chair: Ursula Owen

Lunch

POWER 2.30pm-3.45pm
Bea Campbell
Finn Mackay
Lola Young
Chair: Jo Galanville

Tickets: Saturday £25 including a buffet lunch

£15 Concession tickets available for students, senior citizens, and unemployed people.

To book call 0207 3242 570 or email us at bookings@freewordonline.com
http://www.freewordonline.com/events/?event_id=55

Free Word Centre
60 Farringdon Road
London
EC1R 3GA
http://www.freewordonline.com/about-us/how-to-get-here/

What does the next election mean for women?

Posted on February 6, 2010
Filed Under Government, London, Women's Event, Women's Group

24th February 2009 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Committee Room 20, House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA

Progressive Women’s first event of 2010 will be a panel discussion with representatives from the three main political parties to talk about, and answer your questions about what the upcoming election will mean for women, and what their party will do if elected.

Guest speakers include: Roberta Blackman-Woods MP (Lab): MP for City of Durham and Co-Chair of the PLP Women’s Committee, and Mary MacLeod (Con): PPC for Brentford and Isleworth.

This will be the closest election for many years and your vote counts. This will be an exciting opportunity to hear from the parties themselves about their vision and their plans. Bring your friends and your questions.

Please do RSVP to mary@progressivewomen.org and don’t forget to tell other Progressive Women you know.

We hope to see you there.

For more information on Progressive Women go to http://www.progressivewomen.org.uk

Women of the Western Ward

Posted on February 6, 2010
Filed Under Arts Event, London, Media

Soho Theatre is looking for women of all ages to participate in an exciting interactive arts project that will focus on Paddington: the place, the people and its stories.

Soho Theatre and Blast Theory will be running five creative workshops for ages 16+: Tuesdays 6pm – 8pm: 16, 23 Feb, 2, 9, 16 March at the Stowe Centre.

We are also looking for two Women’s groups, including Arabic-speaking and Bangladeshi Women, to take part. We’d like to run workshops at your venue, sharing your ideas, memories and experiences of life in Paddington.

These workshops will help us create an interactive, live theatre event for the whole community to enjoy later in the year. You will have the opportunity to develop creative and digital technology skills, be involved in the artistic process and shape the development of the final production.

FIND OUT MORE about the project: contact Suzanne Gorman on 020 7478 0114 or suzanne@sohotheatre.com

Lesbian Asylum Seekers speak out : Friday 12 February 2010 from 6:30pm-7:30pm

Posted on February 6, 2010
Filed Under Arts Event, Lesbian Gay, London, Refugee, Trafficking Asylum, Women's Event, Women's Group

Artangel Interaction presents readings from Staying, by artist Oreet Ashery. Jerusalem-born British artist Ashery has collaborated with lesbian asylum seekers, developing characters, stories, drawings, and poems from their experiences of suffering traumatising discrimination, because of their sexual orientation, in their home countries.

These have been brought together in a publication available for download at http://www.artangel.org.uk

Please join us for readings from the publication and a discussion of the project.

Venue: Poetry Place, The Poetry Society, 22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9BX
http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk

Organised by Camden LGBT Forum as part of LGBT History Month

February is Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month

Posted on February 6, 2010
Filed Under Arts Event, England, Lesbian Gay, Meeting, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Women's Event

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month takes place every year in February. It celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community. We are committed to celebrate its diversity and that of the society as a whole. We encourage everyone to see diversity and cultural pluralism as the positive forces that they are and endeavour to reflect this in all we do.

Calendar of events by region http://www.lgbthistorymonth.org.uk/events/main.htm

New information added to Women in London up to 31st January 2010

Posted on February 6, 2010
Filed Under London, Vacancies, Women's Event, Women's Group

Women in London is an internet directory of london based women’s groups and news of their work and activities

Directory of Groups
Groups by purpose – broken links updated
Please do let us know of any other broken links
Events
Women’s Question Time – Eaves – 16th March 2010
Notices
Leading women rights campaign calls for government action on both class and gender inequalities – Fawcett
Shifting Sands: A Comparison of Prostitution Regimes Across Nine Countries – CWASU
Men who buy sex: who they buy and what they know – Eaves
Training
Domestic Violence, Problematic Substance Use and BAMER Communities – GLDVP – 9 February 2010
Radical Librarianship Training – Open Day – Feminist Library – 27th February 2010
New Training for 2010 – Rights of Women – various cities – February to October 2010
What are you doing to improve your life in 2010? Hillcroft – 7th April 2010
Vacancies
Trustees – Woman’s Trust
Refuge workers (Shropshire) – Refuge – 5th February 2010
Refuge workers (Nuneaton) – Refuge – 5th February 2010
Finance Director – Women’s Pioneer – 15th February 2010
WiL Calendars
Events Calendar updated 3rd February 2010
Training Calendar updated 3rd February 2010
Funding Calendar updated 3rd February 2010

Index to postings at http://www.womeninlondon.org.uk

How many women does it take to make a difference? 9th February 2010 : London

Posted on January 31, 2010
Filed Under Equality, Government, London, Women's Event

How many women does it take to make a difference?
Tuesday February 9, 6.30pm, House of Commons

Chair: Matt Korris (Research Fellow, Parliament and Government Programme, Hansard Society)

Speaker:
* Linda Tarr-Whelan (Distinguished Senior Fellow of Demos USA, former Ambassador to the UN Commission on the Status of Women),
* Professor Sarah Childs (Professor of Politics and Gender, University of Bristol).
* Further speakers to be announced.

A Hansard Society Democracy Forum to discuss how many women it takes to make a difference to politics, business and society. Is there a tipping point of 30%, or should we be aiming for 50% parity? Is it more important to address political and economical factors rather than focusing on quotas?

The panel of speakers will give their views, followed by audience and panel discussion. Attendance to this event is free. If you would like to bring a guest please register them individually.

Please RSVP to hans_admin@hansard.lse.ac.uk or 020 7438 1216, or register online http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blogs/upcoming_events/archive/2010/01/11/How-many-women-does-it-take-to-make-a-difference_3F00_.aspx

Benefit event for Broken Rainbow : 20th February 2010 : London

Posted on January 31, 2010
Filed Under Benefit, Lesbian Gay, London

Broken Rainbow UK presents its Charity
LGBT History Month CELEBRATION & FUNDRAISER Event
Sat 20th Feb @ The Wall Bar, London EC2N (Liverpool St)

For LGBT History Month – Party with a Purpose!

Broken Rainbow hosts an exciting fundraiser event to celebrate the LGBT History Month and raise awareness of LGBT Domestic violence! Come and enjoy a night of live entertainment: PA’s, visuals, dance classes, DJ’s spinning world music, club classics, with a chance to mingle, chillout with champagne in the Mezzanine & Loft.
There’s games, raffle, surprises in store including Goody Bags Giveaway! Agencies can also forward & showcase their literature.

Broken Rainbow is a UK charity supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people experiencing domestic violence. We are UK’s only National LGBT Domestic Violence Helpline providing confidential support to all members of LGBT community, their family and friends, and agencies supporting them.

So join Broken Rainbow’s Party with a Purpose!

1 in 4 LGBT people experience Domestic Violence
(Donovan & Hester 2006)

38% of young lesbians and gay men experience domestic violence from family members because of their sexuality.
(“Queer Bashing” survey, Stonewall, 1995)

PERFORMANCES: Compere and comedian Bird la Bird, see Sue Frumin and her magical musical saw, The London House of Common Sluts, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, interactive visuals by Psyship

MUSIC: DJ Ritu (BBC London, Club Kali) & DJ Dilz, spin club classics from across the world, Kitsch with uplifting 80’s and electro by DJ Jamie DC, houseful of funky soul by Soho DJ Fabiofabulous

An Evening topped with fun Dance Class, raffle, goody bags and more surprises!

TICKETS: Advanced Online Door Donation £15 / £10 Conc with valid ID

Tickets are limited, so get yours online NOW on Paypal:
http://www.broken-rainbow.org.uk/fundraisingevent.html

ACCESS: Over 18yrs MRRA / We regret that the venue is not wheelchair accessible

Broken Rainbow’s Celebration and Fundraiser Event – LGBT History Month
Sat 20 Feb, 9 pm – 3 am
The Wall Bar (45 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HU / Liverpool Street Tube station)

The event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=257726297037

For more information please contact: events@broken-rainbow.org.uk

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National LGBT Domestic Violence Helpline: 0300 999 5428
Open Mon & Thur 2-8pm, Wed 10-2pm.
http://www.broken-rainbow.org.uk

Broken Rainbow is funded by the Home Office with additional projects funded by the Nationwide Foundation.

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