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PHYOE PHYOE AUNG FINALLY FREEThanks to an outpouring of support from Amnesty members and many others, Phyoe Phyoe Aung, a student activist in Myanmar, was released from her prison cell.
She had been detained last year for participating in a nationwide student protest and faced 13 years in prison. Her case was highlighted as one of our Write for Rights cases.
Her release signals positive change in Myanmar. However, we must continue to challenge the government to break away from policies that for years have fueled arbitrary arrests, discrimination and repression. | INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S NOTE I recently had the honor of joining local group 133 and many others at the 21st annual “Get on the Bus” event just a couple of days after our Annual General Membership meeting and human rights conference. Participants held peaceful actions in front of the consulates of Syria, Sudan, China, Sri Lanka, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Before we set out, participants had a chance to hear from speakers related to each of the actions, including Ali Barazi, whose brother Adel Barazi is among the many people who have been subjected to enforced disappearance in Syria.
It was while we were protesting that we heard the great news that Phyoe Phyoe Aung had been released in Myanmar. It was a galvanizing moment to be surrounded by fellow activists as we celebrated and cheered with an affirmed knowledge that what we were doing—and what all of us do each day—makes the difference.
That first week of April was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish together as a movement. Every one of our voices is critical to ensuring prisoners of conscience are released and unjust laws changed. It was wonderful to meet so many of you in person, and I hope that you all left these events as inspired as I was.
Thank you for your activism,
Margaret Huang |
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GET ON THE BUSFor the last 21 years, Group 133, the local Amnesty International chapter for Somerville and Cambridge, Massachusetts, has been organizing their signature event: Get on the Bus for Human Rights.
“Get on the Bus (GOTB) brings together students, local group members, Amnesty staff, ally organizations and community members to work together to elevate human rights issues and stand up for what is right,” said Kelly Turley, co-coordinator of GOTB.
GOTB activists protest and raise awareness of cases from Sri Lanka to Sudan, showing support not just for well-publicized cases like that of Imprisoned Saudi blogger Raif Badawi but also crises that don’t always get the media attention they deserve, like war crimes against the civilian population of South Kordofan in Sudan.
To learn more about GOTB 2016 and the highlighted cases, check out the GOTB website.
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| SUCCESS: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2016This year’s Annual General Meeting and Human Rights Conference (AGM) in Miami was hailed by many attendees as “the best AGM yet,” with attendees sharing their experiences as activists and learning from experts to create a stronger movement which will change our world.
From inspiring plenaries and hands-on workshops to rallying and activism through art, the AGM had tons of opportunities for activists to engage in—and they did.
The conference strengthened connections to activists in the Miami area, as well as all across the United States. Attendees had unique opportunities to dive deeply into conversations about campaigns such as the global refugee crisis, ending gun violence, and abolishing the death penalty.
We’ll be sharing details about next year’s AGM soon—stay tuned! |
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"YES, IT'S TRUE. I'M NOT ALONE." WRITE FOR RIGHTS DELIVERS COMFORT AND FREEDOMThe final tallies are in, and last December Amnesty supporters across the world wrote an astonishing 3.7 million letters, messages, emails and tweets as part of Write for Rights, Amnesty's global letter-writing marathon.
From U.S. living rooms to Zambian college campuses, dedicated campaigners and students put pen to paper to demand change for people facing appalling human rights abuses.
Those efforts pushed through three major successes so far. Albert Woodfox walked free after over four decades in solitary confinement in Louisiana, and student activist Phyoe Phyoe Aung was also released from prison in Myanmar. We helped force the government of Burkina Faso to publicly commit to end early and forced marriage practices, including child marriage.
Celebrate these successes and learn more about other Write for Rights cases.
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| LEGISLATIVE VICTORY IN MARYLANDMaryland just passed its first legislative reform to the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights in decades, thanks to our participation in coalitions and Amnesty International activists phone banking, lobbying and showing up for rallies.
Some of the victories of the reform include trial board hearings being open to the public, officers being required to submit a use of force report at the end of each shift, and the establishment of a Police Trainings and Standards Commission. This is the first step of many in Maryland towards ending police use of excessive or unnecessary force—and part of our work around the country to secure real reform. |
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