Amnesty International, York

people at a monthly amnesty meeting

Events of 2022, 2023 by York Amnesty International Group

  • Speakers included a speaker on human rights in Egypt, Joe Dunford, the country co-ordinator for Algeria and Libya, and Rebecca Patterson, the new Amnesty Activism Rep for the North East Region.
  • We held a St Valentine’s Day event at King’s Square, asking members of the public to choose the freedoms which they valued most.
  • We heard, for Women’s Day, a talk on women’s health projects in Afghanistan.
  • We continued our link with Refugee Action.
  • We supported the York Pride event.
  • The Quilt eventually returned to York, from its temporary home in the Bradford Peace Museum, being splendidly displayed in the staircase of the Friends’ Meeting House.
  • A strawberries and prosecco evening at Judy Donovan’s home raised £600 for Amnesty, followed by the stall at Osbaldwick fair, arranged by Dian and Andrew, which raised another £471.
  • An October event in raised awareness of Osman Kavala, enduring long-term imprisonment in Turkey
  • Andrew S kept us informed of Alaa Abdel Fattah, on hunger strike in prison in Egypt, whose plight was publicised during the Cop 22 summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.
  • Letter writing at the Winning Post took place in October and November, resuming in January 2023.
  • We held our Write for Rights event at Bishopthorpe Road in December, attended by MP Rachael Maskell and Rebecca Patterson. We collected 102 cards
  • The website and social media are well used, thanks to our media team, Don and Tim
  • A talk by HealthProm, a UK Organisation on its women's health project in Afghanistan
  • 11th February 2023 - Valentine’s Day offering from Amnesty York in Kings Square: Love Your Rights.