Amnesty International UK will be meeting at Trafalgar Square in London on Saturday 11th February 2012 in support of the Global Day of Action. This demonstration for a human rights revolution is a peaceful protest to demand an end to -

• Poverty
• Corruption
• Discrimination
• Repression

Last year millions of ordinary people across Tunisia, Egypt, Syria and Libya fought with the courage of their convictions through people power against their repressive states.

Demonstrate for a human rights revolution from Amnesty International on Vimeo.

The rally will take place between 12-2pm, with speeches from the Director of Amnesty International UK, Kate Allen, as well as other prominent speakers. Amnesty hope that 2012 we see further solidarity as people peacefully demand change in pursuit of a human rights revolution.

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Amnesty International said that questions now surround the training methods and what is any human rights criteria were applied given Libya and Bahrain moving to violently crush internal dissent and public protests.

Amnesty International Northern Ireland programme director Patrick Corrigan said: “The PSNI [Police Service of Norhtern Ireland] has been involved in delivering training to security forces in Libya, Bahrain and other countries with atrocious human rights records.

“Given events in those countries, with the deaths of perhaps hundreds of innocent protesters at the hands of security forces, it looks as if the government’s risk-assessment system isn’t working. We need much tighter checks when training is being given to police forces with a history of human rights abuses.

“We call on the chief constable and the Northern Ireland policing board to look closely at recent events in Libya, Bahrain and other countries where they have helped to train the security forces, to ensure that much-needed lessons are learnt.

“A rigorous human rights assessment must be made before any future agreement to offer training to an overseas police force. In addition, the PSNI should carry out follow-up evaluation to ensure that any training offered results in an improvement in human rights and policing in that country.

“The Northern Ireland Policing Board should ensure that such criteria and assessments are applied to all such overseas training. In addition, we call for greater transparency around the delivery of such training, and ask that the chief constable openly declares such training in his annual report.”

Amnesty International is an international organisation whose sole objective is to help prevent human rights atrocities across the world and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated. The organisation helps people who cannot help themselves, and demands difficult answers from repressive governments.

How You Can Help :

Amnesty International are the world’s largest and most influential human rights organisation. You can help support their amazing work on the front line from as little as £5 per month, for which you will receive :

• FREE 40 page magazine 6 times a year
• The opportunity to make your voice heard
• The peace of mind from knowing you are making a difference

>> You can help by registering your support with Amnesty today.

Orlando Zapata Tamayo died in February of last year in a Havana jail, since then Mr. Tamayo’s mother has been arrested by security agents, who threatened her, and demanded that she and other mourners refrain from commemorating his death on the anniversary which occurred last week on the 23rd of February.

Amnesty International’s Special Advisor Javier Zuñiga said: “The fact that the Cuban authorities have so far failed to initiate an investigation into Orlando’s death is outrageous and preventing his family from properly celebrating his life is a scandal.”

Mrs. Tamayo and her husband as well as another activist were detained by more than a dozen Cuban security agents on Friday February 18th. Mr. and Mrs. Tamayo were released 12 hours later, whilst the activist Mr. Daniel Mesa was detained for two days and then released.

Mrs. Tamayo said the agents had threatened to prevent her leaving her home and go to the cemetery where her son is buried, in breach of her human rights.

Javier Zuñiga added: “The recent releases of activists in Cuba, who shouldn’t have been put in prison in the first place, will only be meaningful if, once all activists are released, they are able to carry out their legitimate work defending human rights without fear of reprisals.

“The harassment suffered by people like Orlando Tamayo’s relatives clearly goes to show that things still have not changed in Cuba and the authorities need to do much more to ensure human rights are a reality for all.”

Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation, whose mission statement is “to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated.”

If you feel strongly about helping to protect the human rights of people who can’t help themselves in places like Cuba.

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The film then goes on to reveal the torturers losing control of their hands, as imaginary Amnesty International supporters appear from behind them to stop any more pain being inflicted.

Some viewers may find this film disturbing.

> > Click here to watch ‘Defy ‘Them’ short film

Amnesty International UK Campaigns Director, Tim Hancock, said -

Torture is never justified. No cause ever ‘justifies’ torture. Torture inflicts pain and suffering on its victims, degrades any society that allows it to happen and actually often yields nothing of value to the torturers anyway. We want people to watch this brilliant new film and go away with the feeling that torture is unquestionably wrong, and they can do something to stamp it out. We can all do something to help stop torture, whether it’s signing a petition, sending a letter to our MP or by joining Amnesty International.

The ‘Defy Them’ film was created by Australian advertising agency WCRS, one of several recently produced short films released by Amnesty International to highlight the reality of torture around the world.

> > Click here to sign up to Amnesty International

Amnesty International UK campaigns across the world for these rights to be upheld and observed. Since 1961, they have campaigned for thousands of individuals whose human rights have been violated. One such person is Yang Chunlin, who was tortured and imprisoned for simply standing up for the rights of others. Amnesty International is campaigning for his release and to stop the use of torture.

>> You can help by registering your support with Amnesty today.

The show will be broadcast on Channel 4 on following night at 5th 9pm, and will feature some of the most cutting edge comedic and musical talents. The show will also highlight some of Amnesty International’s campaigning activities for human rights all over the world.

This specific edition of the Secret Policeman’s Ball will also mark the start of Amnesty International’s celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in December.

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