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

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:

“The Assembly Government could learn a great deal from Scotland, and the strategy for England published by the Home Secretary in November is excellent. The current draft strategy for Wales, however, is not even specifically designed to tackle violence against women, includes no measurable targets or outcomes and is not a government-wide response.”

“In England, teachers in all schools will be better trained in order to help girls facing abuse and gender equality will be part of the curriculum. The public sector will receive guidance about tackling violence against women in the workplace, and local authorities will be given a stronger remit and better tools in order to commission better services for victims. The effort won’t be focused mainly on domestic abuse – but on all forms of violence, including sexual assault, stalking and harassment, forced marriage and female genital mutilation.”
.
“Ministers at the Assembly Government have been listening to what we have had to say about services in Wales, and accepted the need for a significant change in the way the issue is tackled in Wales. The National Assembly also voted in October to ensure an effective integrated strategy was implemented.”

“Now is the time for the Assembly Government to deliver on its commitments to safeguard women in Wales and reduce the appalling level of violence they face.”

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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[i] Based on CPS VAW Crime Report 2008 – 09, divided by 12. These are not reported crime numbers, but cases that reach court.
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Ibid.
[iv] Actual figures from Welsh Women’s Aid for January 2009
[v] Ibid.
[vi] BAWSO figures: 32 calls for support in January 2010, 9 of whom have no recourse to public funding. All refuge places full.
[vii] BAWSO: the number of new referrals of trafficked women between 27 December 20009 and 22 January 2010
[viii] 32 cased of forced marriage were dealt with by South Wales Police in 2008

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/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.