Friday, May 16, 2014

Weekly Update

Hi Everyone!

     If there are any groups or individuals that we should "follow" on Twitter or "like" on Facebook, please let us know. Your action is what makes social media works! Thank you for taking the time to spread the passion and work of Amnesty International.

Website weekly update:
This week we encourage you to check out "Take Action Now" located on our sidebar. Here you will find links to (1) Our Laos Adopted Cases, (2) Human Rights Appeal Letters, (3) Amnesty Online Petitions, and (4) Action Toolkits. You can make a difference right now with just a couple of clicks!

Facebook update:
Our Facebook page is up and running. First, we need YOU to "like" our page, Amnesty International Madison #139, so that we can spread our message and give others the opportunity to click and make a difference. Second, we need you to "share" our posts and let your friends see what is important to you and how they can also make a difference.

Twitter update:
We need you to "follow" us and "retweet." Find us at Madison Amnesty #139.
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Thursday, May 8, 2014

International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) Update

To Amnesty Activists:
The Identity and Discrimination Unit has been working behind the scenes with Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY), a House IVAWA sponsor and member of the Armed Services Committee, on adding critical gender-based violence (GBV) language to the annual defense authorization bill (the NDAA).

I am pleased to share that late last night, Rep. Gibson was successful at including the Department of Defense-relevant provisions of IVAWA in the Committee's markup of the NDAA. His amendment would prioritize US effots to combat gender-based  violence by ensuring proper Congressional oversight of DoD's effots to prevent and respond to GBV.  Full text available upon request.

 Please take a moment to thank Rep. Gibson with the below tweet that includes a short video clip with his remarks when the amendment is offered and adopted by the Committee. The bill will now head to the floor for consideration by the full House.

@amnesty thanks @RepChrisGibson for his #NDAA amendment to prioritize US & DoD efforts to end #genderbasedviolence http://cs.pn/1j71VZh

 Julia Drost
Policy Advocate & Program Coordinator
Women's Human Rights Program
Amnesty International USA
202-675-8758
jdrost@aiusa.org
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International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA): More Action!

Our IVAWA activist toolkit is a great way for members to get even more involved in taking action for IVAWA. Check out and share the IVAWA page www.aiusa.org/act4ivawa which houses the toolkit among other resources: www.aiusa.org/ivawatoolkit
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Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Support the Kidnapped Nigerian Girls of Chibok: Deadline ASAP

Support the Kidnapped Nigerian Girls of Chibok: Deadline: ASAP 
On April 14, 2014, hundreds of school girls, most between the ages of 16 and 18, were abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok in north-eastern Nigeria by the Islamist armed group Boko Haram. Now there are reports that the girls are being sold into sexual slavery or forced “marriage”. The mothers of the abducted girls and their supporters have been marching on the nation’s capital Abuja demanding action. Your voice is needed! Click here to urge the Nigerian authorities to secure release of the girls, to ensure that the perpetrators of this attack are brought to justice, and to ensure that all children are able to access their right to education. #bringbackourgirls

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Urgent Action: FOUR Appeals for Letterwriting Today

  • UA 103/14  
Issue Date: 30 April 2014
Country: Thailand
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST MISSING IN THAILAND
A prominent human rights activist has been missing in Thailand since 17 April 2014. It is feared that Pholachi Rakchongcharoen, also known as “Billy,” has been subjected to enforced disappearance in response to his activism.
Name: Pholachi Rakchongcharoen, also known as “Billy” (m)
Issue(s): Enforced disappearance

  • UA 104/14
Issue Date: 30 April 2014
Country: Colombia
DEATH THREATS RECEIVED IN ‘HUMANITARIAN ZONE’
Three human rights defenders have been threatened by paramilitaries in the port city of Buenavenutra, southern Colombia, following the creation of the Humanitarian Zone of Puente Nayero, a civilian initiative to protect the mainly Afro-descendant community.
Name: Danilo Rueda (m), Orlando Castillo (m), Luis Yasmani Grueso Sinisterra (m), Afro-descendant community
Issue(s): Death threats

  • UA: 105/14
Issue Date: 30 April 2014
CALL FOR INQUIRIES INTO TWO KILLINGS IN RIO
A man was shot dead during a protest in the Pavão-Pavãozinho community in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro on 22 April. The community was protesting in reaction to the death of another man earlier that day during a police operation in the favela.  
Name: Edilson Silva dos Santos (m), Douglas Rafael Pereira da Silva (m), Maria de Fátima (f)
Issues: Extrajudicial killings, Death threats

  • Further information on UA: 75/14 (28 March 2014)
Issue Date: 30 April 2014
Country: Egypt
COURT SENTENCES 37 TO DEATH, 491 TO LIFE IN JAIL
An Egyptian court sentenced 37 people to death and 491 others to life in prison on 28 April. This followed a grossly unfair trial which breached both international fair trial standards and Egyptian law.
Name: 528 people (m)
Issues: Unfair trial, Death penalty, Imminent execution
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Southeast Asia Bulletin - May 2014 Update

News from  Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Phillipines, and Vietnam. Click here for full article. This post will also be archived under Human Rights News on our website.

One of the featured stories... Nguyen Tien Trung, Amnesty prisoner of conscience released!
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International Violence Against Women Act: Urgent Action Deadline before May 7, 2014!

International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) will be introduced in Senate on Thursday May 8th! Senator Ron Johnson, WI, is considering becoming an original sponsor of IVAWA. Please call Senator Johnson’s Washington office at: 202-224-5323 to support IVAWA. Click here for more information on IVAWA.
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