Thank you to all who were involved in producing these updates, your efforts are appreciated. If you prefer, you can read these updates as a PDF.

At a time when fundamental rights are under threat across the globe, join Amnesty International, get involved with our local Amnesty Group and play your part in helping to promote and defend vital human rights across the world.

We warmly invite both newcomers and familiar faces alike to attend the next meeting of the Amnesty International Glasgow West Group.

This update includes:

• Details of our forthcoming March 2026 meeting;
• An article published in the latest Amnesty UK magazine on fifty years of Amnesty in Glasgow;
• Updates from AIUK's latest Local Group updates;
• The minutes from our local Group's February meeting; and
• A note of all our monthly meeting dates for 2026.

March 2026 Glasgow West AI Group Meeting

Thursday 12th March, Woodlands International Methodist Church, 7:30pm – 9pm

The Glasgow West Amnesty Group's next meeting will take place on Thursday 12th March 2026 at 7.30pm – 9pm in Woodlands International Church, Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LW.

Anyone curious about Amnesty International is most welcome to just turn up and join our meetings. We would love to see you there!

Our next meeting will include:

• Planning for our Group's next major event – a Community Meal to raise funds for and awareness of the ongoing plight of Palestinians;

• A brief review of our recent Comedy Fundraiser event; and

• Undertaking letter writing on recent Urgent Action alerts from AIUK.

Join our Meetings Online

Anyone unable / unavailable to physically come along, is welcome to join our monthly meetings online via this Teams link.

(It will be the same link for all subsequent meetings).

A Community Meal for Palestine

Our Group is organising a local community meal on Sunday 22nd March to raise awareness of the ongoing issues affecting Palestine and to raise funds for Ele Elna Elnak, an organisation that is helping provide essential aid in Gaza.

The event will take place in Woodside Halls, in the North of Glasgow. It will include displays, speakers on Palestine, food and an opportunity to hear more about the current situation and how we can help.

Join us to enjoy tasty vegetarian food, meet like-minded people in a safe, welcoming environment, hear from interesting international speakers, and help raise money for human rights.

This event is for anyone interested in learning more about human rights, particularly in Palestine, and Amnesty Scotland's campaign on a Human Rights manifesto.

Please arrive by 11.15 to enter our raffle!

Everyone's welcome – let's eat, learn, and fundraise together!

This is an inclusive event for all. We particularly welcome our LGBTQIA+ friends and people with experience of forced migration.

For further information on the event including details of venue, times, speakers, etc please click on this link. That page also includes the Eventbrite link where you can register to attend. The community meal is a ‘pay what you can on the day' event.

Fifty Years of Amnesty in Glasgow

The spring edition of the Amnesty Magazine includes a piece covering fifty years of Amnesty International in Glasgow, reproduced here with permission.

‘Glasgow’s first local Amnesty group, Glasgow West, was started in 1975 by members of St Mary’s Episcopalian Cathedral, where meetings were held for many years,’ says Christine Alison, who joined the group in 1983. ‘I was just out of university when I stopped at an Amnesty stall and learned about the campaign against torture. I was horrified and felt so naïve about the world. The start of my Amnesty career was stuffing envelopes with Urgent Action appeals and posting them to volunteers. ‘Across the city several other groups grew: Glasgow City, Glasgow Central, South Side, East End, Milngavie and Bearsden and Paisley. Today there are three: Glasgow West, Glasgow University and Glasgow Daytime. At the time Amnesty’s main objective was securing the release of prisoners of conscience (POCs) – to receive letters or visits from them reaffirmed the importance of our work.

‘An important strand to our work was – and is – fundraising. Immense book sales, pub quizzes and ceilidhs, dancing til all hours. Our comedy night has taken place annually for over 20 years. ‘Two particularly impressive campaigns stand out. In 1990, when Glasgow was European Capital of Culture, we worked for the release of Malawian poet Jack Mapanje, South Korean artist Hong Song-dam and Vietnamese poet Nguyen Chi Thien, all eventually released. In 1995, the Freedom Festival launched with a spectacular gala concert followed by over 100 events in the city linked to freedom.

‘I value the sense of personal solidarity. To hear POCs speak so full of forgiveness and with great dignity inspires me. I remember the news of the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, and the day after throwing red roses into the River Clyde in memory of those who died. Fifty years holds a lot of stories.’ To celebrate the 50th anniversary, the Deputy Lord Provost of Glasgow City Council hosted a civic reception on 28 October 2025, with speeches and an archive display, followed by a tree- planting ceremony on 21 November.

Says Andrew McGuire, who helped compile the display: ‘The archive material is a testament to the countless hours of work the volunteers have put in. One letter from Peruvian teacher and trade unionist Elmer Vasquez particularly hit home. He’d been arbitrarily detained, accused of treason, tortured and sentenced to life imprisonment. He spoke of the “joy and comfort” he’d felt on realising people cared about the injustice. ‘Glasgow City Council has also played its part, with joint events and hosting former POCs. The anniversary has provided pause for reflection on all that still needs to be done. All around the world, including on our own doorstep, new human rights challenges arise. We cannot be complacent.’

Another Successful Comedy Fundraiser for Amnesty International

Our local Group's annual Comedy night fundraiser took place at The Stand Comedy Club, Glasgow's on 19th February 2026, raising over £2,100 for Amnesty.

A star-studded line-up was hosted by Gareth Mutch (photo: centre right), who was accompanied by Rosco McClelland (top left), Ifrah Qureshi (top right), Karen Dunbar (bottom left) and headliner Fred MacAulay (bottom right). Photo credit: Paolo Grifa.

Each of the performers generously gave their input free of charge, as did the Stand management who provided the venue and organisation for the event.

£1,688 was raised from ticket sales, which went directly to Amnesty UK's Charitable Trust. A further £425 was raised through the raffle and collection tin donations. This will be used by the local Glasgow West Amnesty group for our local campaigning and running expenses.

We would like to thank the staff at The Stand, the performers and everyone that bought a ticket to make it such a successful and fun-filled evening.

Amnesty UK Local Updates

Below is a selection of some of the issues featured in the latest monthly update for Local Groups from Amnesty UK. The full updates can be read on our local archive.

Palantir - Get Involved!

No Palantir in the NHS campaign

You might have seen Palantir - a US Artificial Intelligence company co-founded by controversial Trump donor Peter Thiel - in the news recently. 

Last year, Amnesty published this briefing naming 15 corporations actively enabling Israel's genocide, unlawful occupation, and other crimes under international law. It called for immediate divestment from these companies, and for civil society and activists globally to campaign for their government to do so.

Palantir was one of them, as in January 2024, the company signed a deal with the Israeli Occupation Forces to supply additional tools and increase its “advanced technology provision” and warfare tools to Israel, facilitating the ongoing genocide in Gaza.  

Palantir is also entrenched in Trump's US Government, supplying products and services for the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to enable the tracking and surveillance of those being targeted for unlawful deportations and detentions.

In November 2023, NHS England signed a £330 million contract with Palantir to run the Federated Data Platform (FDP).

We object to Palantir's military and surveillance technology, currently used to commit genocide in Gaza, being used to handle NHS data.

So – on 19 March, Amnesty UK are launching a new campaign demanding that this contract is terminated.

As the success of the FDP depends on local adoption, with enough dissent and resistance from Trusts, we can pressure NHS England to cancel the contract altogether – but this can only be done by building strong local campaigns and power in communities.

Amnesty's local groups will be crucial in this campaign, so please get involved! If you or your group are interested, please reach out to me directly Amika George to set up a chat or if you have any questions or express your interest in getting involved in the campaign.

In solidarity,
Amika – Community Organiser, Local Activism

Expression of Interest Form

Individual Giving - Help Women And Girls In Sudan Fight Back

Sudan is facing a catastrophic humanitarian collapse. As rival factions fight, civilians are being shot and tortured, and women and girls are suffering the most. Please help stop sexual violence being used as a weapon of war.

Every day in Sudan, as women and girls are used by armed fighters as weapons of war, Amnesty International researchers are interviewing survivors who speak out because they desperately want their stories to be told on the world stage to enable justice.

Amnesty International is helping them fight back and you could help too. Donations could help fund evidence gathering and investigations in Sudan and other countries around the world where human rights are being violated. With your support, women in Sudan that share their experiences with our investigators can feel some hope that the justice and accountability they seek will be served. Please give what you can today.

GIVE TODAY

Political Organising Training

Make human rights count. Join Amnesty UK's new Political Organising Training Programme

Across the UK, human rights are under attack. They are treated by many political leaders as optional, inconvenient, or too risky to defend, while anti rights movements grow more organised and confident. Amnesty UK's Political Organising Training Programme helps activists build the skills this moment demands.

Through practical online sessions, you will learn how to connect with your community, hold persuasive and non polarising conversations, grow a team of local leaders, and develop a strategy to make human rights count before, during and after elections.

This programme is for both new and experienced activists who want to act with purpose and confidence. Whether you want to prepare for the Scottish, Welsh, or local elections this May, strengthen your local Amnesty group or build a human rights campaign, these trainings will help you and your team make human rights count.

Sign up now for this FREE online training programme.

There are 8 modules in total, with multiple slots available for each. They work as a progression, so book each session in a chronological sequence, starting with 1. Amnesty UK & Politics 101.

Training content

The programme first covers four foundational skill sessions:

• Amnesty UK & politics 101
• Community Organising 101
• Storytelling 101
• Building relationships 101

This is followed by intermediate skills:

• Persuasive Conversations 201
• Recruit and retain Volunteers 201
• and an optional Community fundraising 101

Skills are then applied through Action Sessions – door knocking and phone banking for elections.

Register here!

Join Our Thematic Networks

Join Amnesty UK's specialist networks and projects focused on Trade Unions, gender rights, gender identity and sexuality, children's human rights, anti-racism, disabled people's human rights and the death penalty.

Our networks are activist led, bringing together experience and expertise from across the Amnesty movement to campaign for human rights change in their areas of focus.

Join Our Networks:

• Join Disabled People's Human Rights Network
• Join the Anti-Racism Network
• Join the Children's Human Rights Network
• Join Amnesty Feminist Network
• Join the Queer Rights Network
• Join the Trade Union Network
• Join the Anti Death Penalty Project
• Join the Urgent Action Network

February 2026 Minutes

Amnesty Glasgow West Group Meeting Thurs 12th February 2026

Minutes

Link to February meeting email here

1. Welcome and apologies

   1. Attendance: Neil, Claire, Deborah, Clara, Andrew, Ken, Lucile, Emma, Ada, Paolo, Lauren, Mhairi, Merle

   2. Apologies: Kirstie, Carol, Pam

2. Agreement of previous meeting minutes link

3. Team Updates (list of roles here):

   1. Treasurer

      1. postage from letters:

      2. other expenditure:

      3. donations:

      4. current balance: £1,494

         1. AIUK affiliation fee & church quarterly hire fee due soon

   2. Social Media & website (Lauren):

      • Thanks to Rob, our website has a new menu item called "campaigns". Paolo has created two pages, one about JCB and one for the Humans Rights manifesto. https://www.glasgowwestamnesty.org.uk/campaigns/humanrightsscotland/

      • Twitter/Bluesky discussion: raised again with recent news of Grok images etc, more organisations leaving; Claire asked in the Amnesty Scotland WA chat to see if other local groups have come off Twitter

        • Only 1 Edinburgh group responded - they came off ~2 years ago

        • E.g Clyde College just came off it with the line "X (formerly Twitter), in its current form and editorial approach, is no longer aligned with the college's values and we will no longer use it for communications"

          • Arguments for / against → vote

          • Clara: China & East Asia team are coming off Twitter, increasing Insta presence

          • Agreed: There was unanimous agreement across the Group to no longer use Twitter / X. Lauren will post on the Group's Twitter that we will no longer use Twitter / X and will include in that message links to our alternative social media accounts,

      • New Community Platform - looks great!

   3. Regional/Country focus:

      1. China & East Asia: International Secretariat published a Press Release on North Korea (corruption / human rights) - Reports of N. Koreans embracing any aspect of S. Korean culture are being targeted by the regime. Clara to share in the chat for minutes

      2. Uighurs Campaign in August , artistic campaign with 1 word - every day in August have 1 word on SM for people to learn. 21/08/26 - event

   4. Local Political Outreach

      • A HUMAN RIGHTS MANIFESTO - Scotland 2026 - Published by AI Scotland office will be ready for May 2026 elections! Will launch in February

        • Scotland office is developing a toolkit for local groups - wait till next meeting

        • & when new MSPs elected - we should go and speak with them / send letters / invite to our meeting

        • Hustings?

4. Not currently active: Prisoner of Conscience/Individual At Risk; Theme Focus US Death Penalty

5. Updates from local groups (Daytime / Glasgow Uni)

   1. Daytime Group: From February onwards the Daytime Group will meet on the third Thursday of the month at 2pm in Partick Library, 305 Dumbarton Rd, Partick, Glasgow G11 6AB. Message from Graham, the Group's Chair - “Thank you for your support and help as we looked for a new venue.”

   2. Edinburgh Central AIUK group: “We are having an open discussion (with any amnesty supporters) Monday 16th at 6pm on UK human rights and what we can do to defend them.”

      Hybrid - f2f: The Crannie, 9 Cranston Street (near Waverley Station) or on Zoom.

      • Zoom link:

        https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77637311682?pwd=LOxo067Y9taWhBa0gpJMpnWp8lDLh1.1

6. Updates from Scottish Activism Rep (Paolo) / Scotland-wide WhatsApp group chat

   1. Training programme for members on how to campaign better/tools for activism - 10 modules, v interactive - Paolo to share link in the Signal chat. Led by Ashraf, who will attend our next meeting.

   2. Urgent Actions - cut from new website. Lots of discussions around it - hopefully will be reinstated

   3. Tuesday 17.02.26 7pm: online meeting with liaisons from all AIUK groups in Scotland to catch up on current activities of each group. Ashraf will talk about Scottish elections and the political / activist training programme.

      1. Who can attend? Please contact Paolo for the link - maybe Andrew/Clara

   4. Claire attended “Group Planning Pack and Community Platform 2026” meeting: Group Planning Pack 2026 is here. Community Platform:

      1. Group webpages on the AIUK website will contain the "About" for each Group and the Community Platform is where Group will post, blog and share about recent or upcoming events

         1. Abi.odell@amnesty.co.uk is happy to help us to move our website onto the platform.

         2. Can also keep our own website https://www.glasgowwestamnesty.org.uk/

      2. Anyone who “follows” our group (on the platform) would be notified of any events we put on our webpage.

         1. Can also set “reminder” emails (like eventbrite)

      3. Hope is that we won't need to send out any emails from mail@ - would all be done through this platform.

         1. BUT that means everyone who has signed up to our mailing list would need to join the platform. “To continue to receive our updates, please join our platform”

         BUT some people on our mailing list are “passive” readers - likely won't sign up to the platform - so maybe we want to keep doing the emails for the time being. There could also be an option to reduce to, say, quarterly in the future.

         People don't have to be an AIUK member/UK-based to join the platform

7. Reminder: midnight tonight (12.02.26) is the deadline for completing the Earned Settlement Government Consultation - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/earned-settlement

   1. Amnesty Guide: https://media.amnesty.org.uk/documents/Amnesty_International_UK_-_Guidance_Consultation_Response_-_A_Fairer_Pathway_t_7hsH4ns.pdf

8. We sent in our JCB petition to Glasgow Council, but Gabriel from Dundee has made a new one - if anyone wants to send it in email form (good links in it) - it's here.

   1. Would anyone like to send this in / lead on being JCB-Council contact?
      1. Paolo can update the website with the new letter

9. Actions/updates from previous meeting

   1. Re AI Scotland manifesto - Paolo - did Liz reply to our qs re. Is this the first in a series of launch events re. the manifesto / Should we as a group come / e.g. do a petition / & did you tell her we feel there should be more communication between us / Ashraf / Amnesty Scotland office

      1. Confirmed the initiative that Amnesty Scotland was involved in was led by another organisation

      2. Toolkit will be first step to work together

10. Our Stand gig: Thurs 19 Feb 2026, doors 7pm show 8pm, duration 2hrs

    1. Benefit in aid of Amnesty International - The Stand Comedy Club

    2. NB new venue cap 200 cabaret style (or can increase to 250 theatre style)

    3. 18+, ticket price £13/11 ; as of 11.02, only 45 tickets sold!

    4. Who can come? Carol, Kirstie, Claire, Paolo, Lauren, Andrew

       Pre-event tasks:

       • Contact press: ??

       • Share on SM: Lauren

       • Take materials from the hall (AI banner, posters, badges, leaflets re. Manifesto ; group flyers), raffle proceeds poster, raffle books, collection tins:

       • Prizes /(e.g. candles / alcohol (champagne/whisky/wine/gin ‘ box of chocs; more basic gifts can be grouped into gift bags (e.g. bath sets)/*:* Neil, Andrew, Claire

       • 6.45pm arrive: Clara, Ken, Debra, Andrew, Lauren, Claire

       • Sell tickets: NB prices - £2 for 1 strip; £5 for 3 strips. (N.B. Do not detach individual tickets from strips!)

         • money collected: sellers to give funds raised from raffle to Kirstie
           • Mhairi, Lauren, Clara, Debra

       Photographs / Social Media:

       • Photo consent: Stand manager announces that photos are being taken (make sure he does/we do)

       • take photographs at the event for use in publicity: Paolo

       AI Input on the night - Lead: Ashraf. Tasks:

       • liaising with the host and asking them to lead the raffle

       • providing a brief overview of the work of AI during the interval

       • thanking The Stand, the performers and others giving freely of their time

       • liaising with the host on buying the performers a drink ( _ / (Treasurer) / /to reimburse cost)

       Follow-up:

       • Andrew to write a short article for the AIUK Local Groups Update on the Fundraiser and include photos. (Funds Raised - Once the final total raised for AIUK Charity is notified by The Stand, AIUK arranges re. invoice)

         • Line-up: Fred Macaulay headlining

         • Pay for ads to boost sales

11. Review of 2025 & thanks to past & current role-holders.

12. AGM (Team Roles)

    NB one of Amnesty's (and our group's) goals is to form new leaders in this field - please ask/step up if you'd like to be mentored/coached this year to be able to take on a role next year. You can be “apprentice” or “vice” this year. Remember you can then add this to your CV/ask for a reference!

    1. Chair / Vice-Chair (could include e.g. alternating Meeting Chairs) - Claire, Clara

    2. Secretary / Vice-Secretary - Andrew, Luca to assist (after May)

    3. Treasurer / Vice-Secretary - Kirstie

    4. Social Media Coordinator; Content Creator - Lauren

    5. Urgent Actions - Merle

    6. PoC (IAR) Lead - Mhairi

    7. Country/Region Lead

    8. Action Days / Events / Campaigns Coordinator

    9. Amnesty Group Liaison - Paolo

    10. Welfare and Diversity Coordinator - vacant

    11. Political Outreach Coordinator - vacant

    12. Community Outreach Coordinator - vacant

    13. Press Coordinator - vacant

13. 2026 Plan for the year ahead - Glasgow West 2026 Planner.docx

14. Discussion/brainstorm:

    1. How can we get new active members?

    2. How can we keep active members?

    3. Any suggestions for the current/new role-holders on how to conduct their role?

15. Urgent Appeals - Merle # of letters written during meeting: [ ] Tally for the year: [ ]

16. Meal! Review Community Meal Sunday 22.03.26 & sign up to roles

    1. Main qs:

       1. confirm target audience: people who are interested in human rights / Palestine

       2. volunteer to put on eventbrite - Claire

       3. volunteer to email contacts (v overachieving list here! Local organisations / stakeholders) - Luca, Ken

       4. Agree: Screen, mic, speakers - loan theirs ~£100

       5. Need: 5/6 “stewards” - Mhairi, Clara, Andrew, Lucile, Emma, others

       6. Time: 10am set up, 11.30am-12.30pm Speakers; Lunch 12.30pm-2pm; Mingle 2pm-3pm.

       7. Musicians - Paolo will look into

       8. Raffle: yes - We need to buy more tickets

       9. Action from Amnesty - Pip; JCB petition

17. Claire can't attend next meeting - anyone to Chair? → Clara

18. AOB

    • 27.02.26: deadline for AIUK AGM resolutions - does our group want to co-propose resolution on independent review into AIUK finances? - agreed YES, Clara to liaise with other groups

    • Did you know you can support Amnesty International UK by taking on a challenge event? From running, cycling, swimming to trekking, there's something for everyone, have a look and see if there's anything you fancy taking on in 2026!

    AIUK Local Group Updates (none received)

    Next meeting - Thurs 12th March 2026 - Guest Speaker Ashraf re. AIUK local group campaigning

    Future Meeting

    • Suggestion: MSP candidate hustings (April 1st = candidate announcement deadline)

    Potential Speakers for 2026:

    • [/Waiting/: Refugee Action - potentially with Daytime group]

    • Clara: journalist from Somalia - Clara to check his availability and if needs transport/accommodation

    • Paulo: law professor re. UK supreme court ruling that affects trans rights.

    • AIUK Equality Network speaker - Ailig to look into - how to have conversations w family and friends

    • Ebba: Palestinian researcher:

      https://sgsahblog.com/2025/01/27/activist-ethnography-in-palestine/

    • Refugees at Home - have contacted us to ask if we'd like a speaker

    • [Amicus: after find out about Death Penalty network - admin@amicus-alj.org - Allan]

2026 Meeting Dates

New Members very welcome!

The Group meets every second Thursday of each month at 7.30pm - 9pm.

The meetings take place at Woodlands Methodist Church, 229 Woodlands Road, G3 6LW

For further information contact mail@glasgowwestamnesty.org.uk

• Thursday 8th January 2026

• Thursday 12th February 2026

• Thursday 12th March 2026

• Thursday 9th April 2026

• Thursday 14th May 2026

• Thursday 11th June 2026

• Thursday 9th July 2026

• Thursday 13th August 2026

• Thursday 10th September 2026

• Thursday 8th October 2026

• Thursday 12th November 2026

• Thursday 10th December 2026

BETTER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN CURSE THE DARKNESS

Thank you to all those involved in the production of these updates, your efforts are appreciated. If you prefer, you can read these updates as a PDF.

At a time when fundamental rights are under threat across the globe, join Amnesty International, get involved with our local Amnesty Group and play your part in helping to promote and defend vital human rights across the world.

We warmly invite both newcomers and familiar faces alike to attend the next meeting of the Amnesty International Glasgow West Group.

This email includes:

• Details of our forthcoming February 2026 meeting;
• Links to current AIUK activities;
• The minutes from our local Group's December 2025 meeting; and
• A note of all our monthly meeting dates for 2026.

February 2026 Glasgow West AI Group Meeting

Thursday 12th Jan, Woodlands International Methodist Church, 7:30pm – 9pm

The Glasgow West Amnesty Group's next meeting will take place on Thursday 12^th February 2026 at 7.30pm – 9pm in Woodlands International Church, Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LW.

Anyone curious about Amnesty International is most welcome to just turn up and join our meetings. We would love to see you there!

Our next meeting will include:

• Our Annual General Meeting, where members will be invited to put themselves forward for a wide range of roles, all of which are up for grabs. Brief details of each role and current holders can be found via in this link ;

• A look ahead to planning our campaigns and other activities throughout 2026.

• Finalising arrangements for the Amnesty Comedy Night Fundraiser (details below);

• Consideration of the Human Rights Manifesto for Scotland, which was recently published by Amnesty's Scotland office;

• Next steps on finalising arrangements for a Glasgow Amnesty community meal event, provisionally pencilled in for March 2026; and

• Undertaking letter writing on recent Urgent Action alerts from AIUK.

Join our Meetings online

Anyone unable / unavailable to physically come along, is welcome to join our monthly meetings online via this link.

(It will be the same link for all subsequent meetings).

Comedy Night Fundraiser – 19th Feb 2026

Our local Group's annual Comedy night fundraiser will take place at The Stand Glasgow's new venue on the evening of Thursday 19^th February 2026.

Doors open at 7pm, with the event running from 8pm – 10pm.

As well as the bar, food will also be available the venue up until the end of the interval.

Following a change of premises last year, the Stand Comedy Club is now located at a bigger and better venue at 420 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G4 9JA.

Tickets are priced £11 / £13 are available now from The Stand's website.

Details of the host for the evening and the line-up will be announced closer to the event.

All proceeds from ticket sales (minus booking fees) will go to Amnesty International UK Section Charitable Trust (SC039534). Funds raised from the raffle will be used by the local Glasgow West Amnesty group for local campaigning.

Petition: End the Prosecution of Peaceful Protestors in the UK

AIUK are running a petition calling for an end the the arrest of peaceful protestors:

Police have made 2300+ arrests under terrorism laws in the UK for *protesting peacefully *against the banning of Palestine Action.

• It is a violation of the UK’s international obligations.
• It is disproportionate to the point of absurdity.
• This cannot go unchallenged.

Sign the petition!

Amnesty UK Local Updates

Below is a selection of some of the issues featured in the latest monthly update for Local Groups from Amnesty UK.

The full January 2026 update from AIUK can be read via our static archive.

Racial Justice – Government immigration consultation

Government immigration proposals and consultation

The Government has announced proposals to make very harmful changes to the immigration system.

The proposals would affect many people living in the UK – including people born here and people who have lived here for many years. The Government is currently consulting on its proposals via an online survey.

Amnesty is encouraging people to object to them by completing that survey no later than 12 February 2026, using the Amnesty Guide to do so.

The proposals:

In summary, most non-British citizens – save for very high earners, some higher earners and people in senior positions in public services – will be expected many more years, in some cases decades, in the immigration system before they may be permitted to become permanent residents (or then naturalise). Many will have to make many more applications to the Home Office to continue their lives in the UK.

Pay even more high application and other fees.

Continue to be excluded from public funds, even if their lives are changed by illness or injury.

All at risk the Home Office may change its rules and refuse to permit someone to stay even though they continue to meet the conditions originally set for them. Refugees are among those most severely affected.
This has dramatic implications for people and their families, including children born and growing up in the UK. Amnesty is strongly opposed to these proposals.

What you can do:

Government consultations take especial notice of the number rather than quality of responses, so please:

• take some time (around 20-30 minutes) to register your opposition (or other opinion) by following the Amnesty Guide, which includes the link to click to take the Government's online survey;
• encourage others to do so; and
• note that some questions are deceptive (so the Amnesty Guide is useful to avoid answering in a way that is taken by the Government to mean something different to what you intended).

Amnesty Guide to responding to the consultation

Upcoming Webinar: From Prevent to Proscription

UPCOMING WEBINAR – 3 MARCH, 7PM

FROM PREVENT TO PROSCRIPTION: HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE NAME OF ‘NATIONAL SECURITY'

In the UK and abroad, we are facing increasing repression in the name of ‘national security'. From the Prevent duty being used to suppress solidarity with Palestinians to the proscription of protest groups as ‘terrorists', the alarming and increasing use of counter-terror powers harms us all – especially racialised communities.

Save the date to join our webinar on Tuesday 3 March, 7pm to 8.15pm to hear about the harms and human rights violations caused by the UK government's counter-terror powers. With an expert panel, we'll be talking about Prevent, proscription and the wider counter-terror infrastructure. Importantly, we'll be exploring rights-respecting alternatives to the hard security measures we see today.

Full speaker line-up to be announced.

This will be an online session. A more detailed communication including an Eventbrite link will be shared early February with all joining instructions.

We hope you can join us for this fascinating and vital discussion.

if you have any questions, please email Rebecca Barnes or Philippa Griesbach

Hong Kong – She Is In Jail

Screening of She Is In Jail

We would like to invite local groups to collaborate on a community screening of She Is In Jail, a documentary about the Hong Kong human rights defender Chow Hang-tung.

Following the screening, we would be happy to share our perspectives on the latest developments in human rights in Hong Kong.

Chow is also an individual case currently being advocated by Amnesty International. We would be pleased to coordinate with other Country Coordinators and local groups to organise screening events over the next six months.

More information on She Is In Jail: https://mubi.com/en/gb/films/she-s-in-jail

If you are interested in organising a screening or want more information, please contact Andrew Shum and Eric Lai.

January 2026 Minutes

Amnesty Glasgow West Group Meeting Thurs 8th January 2026

Agenda

Link to January meeting email here

1. Welcome and apologies

   1. Attendance: Claire, Carol, Paolo, Kirstie, Neil, Lauren

   2. Apologies: Ken, Andrew, Clara, Merle

2. Agreement of previous meeting minutes link

3. Team Updates: (list of roles here)

   1. Treasurer

      1. postage from letters: £63.61

      2. other expenditure: /

      3. donations: /

      4. current balance: £1494

   2. Social Media & website (Lauren): more followers on Facebook; will try to be more consistent

      Twitter/Bluesky discussion [agreed not urgent until AIUK moves]; Claire asked in the Amnesty Scotland WA chat to see if other local groups have come off Twitter

   3. Local Political Outreach

      A HUMAN RIGHTS MANIFESTO - Scotland 2026 - Published by AI Scotland office will be ready for May 2026 elections! Will launch in February

      • Ashraf is looking for volunteers to help in building this manifesto and bringing it to political activism in different target constituencies in Glasgow

      • If you'd like to hear more about the laws and policies Amnesty thinks should shape the next Scottish government's agenda you can join us on 2 February 2026 for the online launch of our manifesto and read more about our calls here.

      • AI Scotland office are doing a launch event Friday 6.02.26, 1pm, lunch, speakers, Strathclyde Uni - launch of “Restoring New Scots Rights; Fair Housing for All”

        • Paolo to ask Liz

          • Is this the first in a series of launch events re. the manifesto

          • Should we as a group come / e.g. do a petition

        • Say that we feel there should be more communication between us / Ashraf / Amnesty Scotland office

      • Paolo's HR Bill leaflet (see here) for Feb ‘26 hustings; confirm for website. - Paolo has updated website (https://www.glasgowwestamnesty.org.uk/) with AIUK resources

        • Paolo to update link & share webpage in Signal chat.

   4. Not currently active:

      • Regional/Country focus
      • Prisoner of Conscience/Individual At Risk
      • Theme Focus US Death Penalty

4. Updates from local groups (Daytime / Glasgow Uni)

   Daytime group: still no meeting venue, this month meeting in a member's house, hopeful to find a meeting venue

5. Updates from Scottish Activism Rep (Paolo) / Scotland-wide WhatsApp group chat

   1. Pilot of Community Platform will run till 2.04.26. Hoping that the community platform can host online meetings

   2. First IT development that will be published in April = each group has its own webpage on the main AIUK website OR its own standalone website OR websites for each region.

   3. 2 webinars to enable AIUK's activists to ask questions and receive further information about AIUK's current financial outlook and the steps we need to take to return to a balanced budget.

      1. Wednesday 21 January 7.30pm – 8.30pm. To register for this event, please go to: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1976732382769?aff=oddtdtcreator

         Paolo went to the previous webinar. Key Updates:

         1. They said that they didn't raise as much in 2025 because of a fall in membership and donations in 2025 so that's why budget outlook is poor. They thought they could sell the HRAC building in London easier/faster but they couldn't - is sold but not got the money yet.

         2. Main expenses in last 2 years = IT costs (needed to rebuild whole AIUK infrastructure (website / community platform / email security etc)

         3. Local groups fundraising potential wasn't mentioned

6. Actions/updates from previous meeting

   1. W4R events - all good; definitely worth having card machine AND donation tins - we raised a fair bit of money through it

   2. JCB petition - sent in to Council.

   3. Feb meeting will be AGM - any qs/suggestions? Anyone interested in taking on roles, pls chat with any current members / have a look at the 1 Team Roles.docx.

7. Urgent Appeals - Merle # of letters written during meeting: [ ] Tally for the year: [ ]

8. Meal!

   1. “Fundraiser & Campaigning Meal” 22.03.25 (availability at Woodside Halls that date 10am-3pm)

   2. Budget: ~£1000-£1,500 - event needs to cover the cost of itself, present it as a fundraiser

   3. Venue: Woodside Halls, in Maryhill - 120 people max; tables & chairs there ; mic & sound system

      total £500 for venue (room & kitchen) - deposit of £125 hall and kitchen deposit of £250 = £375 deposit (10am-3pm) / or without kitchen = £200 less

      Email from John, member of the group:

      I am in charge of the hall lettings for a church in the West End (Kelvinside Hillhead in Observatory Road) and look after the various bookings we get.

      If you are looking for a place for your own meal planned for March, then our main hall can take 80 - 100 for such purposes and has the usual facilities, including an adjacent good-sized kitchen.

      I note mention of PalCafe, a group with which we already have a close link and who now regularly use the premises for a ceilidh every couple of months or so. Our charge for social events is £20 an hour although we would consider a reduction for a charity like Amnesty.

      The only issue to note however, is that if you were still looking for 22nd or 29th March - both of them Sundays - then I'm afraid the hall would not be available until after 2pm.

   4. Food: Look into Palestinian caterer (PalCafe https://palcafe.org/ ), buffet, prepared in advance and warmed up in the kitchen - expect ~£5 per person.

      1. Kirstie will talk to PalCafe people

   5. Target audience / number of invites:

      1. ??activists, supporters & their families

      2. ?? OR open event for all /community meal to provide people with hot food during winter time

   6. Tickets:

      1. ?? free ticket on eventbrite and people PWYC on the door? (easier than linking eventbrite up w a bank acc and maybe simpler for people).

         • labels e.g. “concession” / “cover costs” / “solidarity [pay for 1.5 meals]” / “additional donation”

         • Could use card reader so people can pay by card/cash? & donation tins

   7. Entertainment/Activities:

      1. Clear campaign focus e.g. Palestine

         • The event could be a collaboration with PalCafe, meaning some of any funds raised after costs could be shared with them

      2. Exhibition (same as at Civic Reception)

      3. Speakers: The Palestinian woman who was at the Perth gathering - Clara will ask Jack for contact; could invite Jack?

         • Paolo has asked

      4. Musicians? E.g. Musicians in Exile / MIN Choir

   8. Update 8.01.26:

      • Paolo will meet with PalCafe next week

      • The date is also ok with the other caterer so both options

      • Paolo to check re. disabled access to Kelvinside Hillhead Church / see if available Sat 28.03.26

        • If all ok, prefer the church because cheaper; we'd need to prepare the room but we can do that

      • Aim to get all confirmed by the end of next week

9. Our Stand gig for next year is already confirmed: Thurs 19 Feb 2026, doors 7pm show 8pm, duration 2hrs

   1. Benefit in aid of Amnesty International - The Stand Comedy Club

   2. NB new venue cap 200 cabaret style (or can increase to 250 theatre style)

   3. 18+, ticket price £13/11

   4. Who can come? Carol, Kirstie, Claire, Paolo, Lauren

10. Potential Speakers for 2026:

    1. (Waiting: Refugee Action - potentially with Daytime group)

    2. Clara: journalist from Somalia - Clara to check his availability and if needs transport/accommodation

    3. Paulo: law professor re. UK supreme court ruling that affects trans rights.

    4. AIUK Equality Network speaker - Ailig to look into - how to have conversations w family and friends

    5. Ebba: Palestinian researcher:

       https://sgsahblog.com/2025/01/27/activist-ethnography-in-palestine/

    6. Refugees at Home - have contacted us to ask if we'd like a speaker

    7. (Amicus: after find out about Death Penalty network - admin@amicus-alj.org - Allan)

11. Any other ideas/requests/suggestions for 2026?

12. AOB

    • Did you know you can support Amnesty International UK by taking on a challenge event? From running, cycling, swimming to trekking, there's something for everyone, have a look and see if there's anything you fancy taking on in 2026!

    • PalCafe monthly ceilidh - next one = Friday 30.01.25 in Kelvinside Hillhead Church

    • AIUK Local Group Updates – January link (As always, the latest Local Groups' Update link is also included in the monthly newsletter that is sent out to our mailing list via Mailchimp)

    • Next meeting - Thurs 12th February 2026 = AGM

    • Local Groups Planning Pack 2025 from central AIUK, Calendars with key events/trainings.

2026 Meeting Dates

New Members very welcome!

The Group meets every second Thursday of each month at 7.30pm - 9pm.

The meetings take place at Woodlands Methodist Church, 229 Woodlands Road, G3 6LW

For further information contact mail@glasgowwestamnesty.org.uk

• Thursday 8th January 2026

• Thursday 12th February 2026

• Thursday 12th March 2026

• Thursday 9th April 2026

• Thursday 14th May 2026

• Thursday 11th June 2026

• Thursday 9th July 2026

• Thursday 13th August 2026

• Thursday 10th September 2026

• Thursday 8th October 2026

• Thursday 12th November 2026

• Thursday 10th December 2026

BETTER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN CURSE THE DARKNESS

Thank you to all those involved in the creation of these updates, your efforts are appreciated. if you prefer, you can read these as a PDF.

At a time when fundamental rights are under threat across the globe, join Amnesty International, get involved with our local Amnesty Group and play your part in helping to promote and defend vital human rights across the world.

We warmly invite both newcomers and familiar faces alike to attend the next meeting of the Amnesty International Glasgow West Group.

This post includes:

• Details of our forthcoming January 2026 meeting;

• An update on December's Write for Rights

• Links to current AIUK activities;

• The minutes from our local Group's December 2025 meeting; and

• A note of all our monthly meeting dates for 2026.

January 2026 Glasgow West AI Group Meeting

Thursday 8th Jan, Woodlands International Methodist Church, 7:30pm – 9pm

The first Glasgow West Amnesty meeting of 2026 will take place on Thursday 8th January 2026 at 7.30pm – 9pm in Woodlands International Church, Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LW.

Anyone curious about Amnesty International is most welcome to just turn up and join our meetings. We would love to see you there!

Our next meeting will include:

• A brief review of our annual Write for Rights event, which took place in December;
• Discussion on a potential Glasgow Amnesty community meal event, which is provisionally pencilled in for March 2026;
• Planning for our group's Annual General Meeting; and
• Undertaking letter writing on recent Urgent Action alerts from AIUK.

Join our Meetings online

Anyone unable / unavailable to physically come along, is welcome to join our monthly meetings online via this link.

(It will be the same link for all subsequent meetings).

Update on our recent Write for Rights Event

Our annual December Write for Rights card writing session took place on Sunday 14th December 2025 in Hillhead Library, Glasgow. We also held a smaller event earlier that same day at the Sunday Assembly in the West End of Glasgow.

Write for Rights is Amnesty International's flagship annual letter writing campaign, which focuses on individuals / groups that have been persecuted, jailed or abused for standing up for human rights.

Each year, people around the world write millions of messages both pressuring authorities to act, and providing comfort to those under threat.

Our Group's Write for Rights events in December resulted in a total of 91 cards being sent, as well as £116 received in donations.

We would like to provide a very big thank you to all Amnesty volunteers and members of the public who participated!

Updates from Amnesty

Amnesty Scotland: 2026 Human Rights Manifesto

Amnesty International's Scotland office has published a human rights manifesto for 2026 setting out our calls on the next Scottish government to create a fairer, more equal Scotland.

From a Human Rights Bill to enshrine strong legal protections for everyday rights, to a ban on mass surveillance technologies in policing - we want to see bold action from our next parliament and government.

As political parties prepare their own manifestos and party leaders begin their pitch to form Scotland's next government, Amnesty and our supporters want to see a wide range of commitments.

Further information is available from the Amnesty website.

AIUK: Parliamentary Briefing on the ECHR

AIUK recently published a parliamentary briefing on the European Convention on Human Rights, published to mark the 75th anniversary of the ECHR.

The briefing note can be downloaded from the AIUK website.

Comedy Night Fundraiser for Amnesty International

Our local Group's annual Comedy night fundraiser will take place at The Stand Glasgow's new venue on the evening of Thursday 19th February 2026.

Doors open at 7pm, with the event running from 8pm – 10pm.

As well as the bar, food will also be available the venue up until the end of the interval.

Following a change of premises last year, the Stand Comedy Club is now located at a bigger and better venue at 420 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G4 9JA.

Tickets are priced £11 / £13 are available now from The Stand website.

Details of the host for the evening and the line-up will be announced closer to the event.

All proceeds from ticket sales (minus booking fees) will go to Amnesty International UK Section Charitable Trust (SC039534). Funds raised from the raffle will be used by the local Glasgow West Amnesty group for local campaigning.

December 2025 Minutes

Amnesty Glasgow West Group Meeting Thurs 11th December 2025

Agenda

Link to December meeting email here

1. Welcome and apologies

   1. Attendance: Ken, Neil, Freya, Merle, Christine, Claire, Andrew, Clara, Paolo, Kirstie and Carol.

   2. Apologies: Lauren and Mhairi

2. Agreement of previous meeting minutes link

3. Team Updates (list of roles here):

   1. Treasurer

      1. postage from letters: £15.34

      2. other expenditure: £14.51 on cards

      3. donations: Calder High School collection tins - dropped off at the church (Post-meeting update from Kirstie on our Signal Group - the tins contained £41,50. Kirstie will write to the school to thank them).

      4. current balance: £1,316

   2. Social Media & website (Lauren):

      • Twitter/Bluesky discussion [agreed not urgent until AIUK moves]; Claire asked in the Amnesty Scotland WA chat to see if other local groups have come off Twitter

   3. Local Political Outreach

      • A HUMAN RIGHTS MANIFESTO - Scotland 2026 - Published by AI Scotland office will be ready for May 2026 elections! Will launch in February

      • Ashraf is looking for volunteers to help in building this manifesto and bringing it to political activism in different target constituencies in Glasgow

      • On pause until more capacity: Paolo's HR Bill leaflet (see here) for Feb ‘26 hustings; confirm for website. Paolo to update website (https://www.glasgowwestamnesty.org.uk/) with AIUK resources & share webpage in Signal chat.

   4. Not currently active: Regional/Country focus; Prisoner of Conscience/Individual At Risk; Theme Focus US Death Penalty /NB Paul Brides is the lead on Anti-Death Penalty Project: Paul.Bridges@amnesty.org.uk - no takers as yet, let's remove from agenda.

4. Updates from local groups (Daytime / Glasgow Uni):

   1. Daytime Group Write for Rights 6.12.25 at Pollokshields Library

   2. Daytime Group: having to leave the Wee Retreat because of now being charged by venue £30/hour - any ideas of cheap venues? (For comparison, our group currently pays £14/hour for use of the church hall)

5. Updates from Scottish Activism Rep (Paolo) / Scotland-wide WhatsApp group chat:

   1. Perth Group: proposed Kashmir Forum - looking for people who would be interested in getting involved, particularly those with family ties to Kashmir.

      The idea of a forum came from discussions with Perth Minorities Association(PMA) and Cherry Bird (AI India Coordinator). We know from attendance at the Iftar that we hosted last year together with PMA there seems to be a significant community in Glasgow who have family connections to Kashmir and which may be interested in getting involved in actions designed to address the human rights situation there. If you have any contact with this community pls spread the word about this forum & put them in touch with us.

      Info to share:

      Kashmir Forum - Following a successful Iftar which we held in 2024 together with Perth Minorities Association(PMA) we have developed a close working relationship with them on human rights issues.

      The focus of our work so far has been on Kashmir where some PMA members have family ties and where human rights are under threat. We have recently held online discussions with Cherry Bird, one of Amnesty's country coordinators who has a keen interest on the Kashmir situation, a leading member of PMA, and a Kashmir based human rights activist. The aim is to develop a forum with the purpose of raising awareness about the human rights situation in both the Indian and Pakistan administered regions of Kashmir and to develop actions that reinforce and complement Amnesty's Kashmir campaign.

      Membership: We are keen to widen the membership of this forum and it would be great to hear from anyone who would like to take part, but particularly from people who have family ties to Kashmir.

      For more information please contact: Barrie Rutherford, Perth Amnesty Group, j.rutherford725@btinternet.com

6. Actions/updates from previous meeting:

   1. Did anyone attend the AIUK training sessions on A Guide to Direct Action? - no!

   2. Tree planting: Friday 21st November - beautiful poem, thanks Carol; beautiful plaque, thank you Paolo and Andrew! Thanks Andrew for sending out Press Release on our 50th anniversary events & to Local Updates / Amnesty letter

7. Urgent Appeals - Merle # of letters written during meeting: [ ] (to beat: 15!)

8. 2025 Glasgow West AI group's 50th anniversary! - see Ideas doc here, inc.

   1. Write for Rights: Hillhead Library 12-4pm Sunday 14th December.

   2. Thanks to Kirstie for sending out a Press Release! Press Release: Amnesty International Glasgow groups Write for Rights press release 25.11.25

   3. Note that Kyrgyzstan case (Journalist Makhabat Tazhibek-kyzy) has been withdrawn from W4R due to a deteriorating political situation in the country. Cross out this case from the W4R booklets and do not write any cards for it.

   4. NB pack of Refugees at Home materials for table at the W4R event (To encourage people to consider hosting a refugee in their home)

   5. Kirstie and Carol will, once again, set up a Write for Rights session at the Sunday Assembly meeting in the West End of Glasgow. This will also be on 14th December, taking place prior to our main W4R event at Hillhead library.

   6. Rota for Hillhead library:

      1. 12pm-1pm (set up, needs car): Merle, Christine

      2. 1pm-2pm: Neil, Claire

      3. 2pm-3pm: Claire

      4. 3pm-4pm: (pack up, needs car): Kirstie

         1. Also Sunday Assembly that day - Carol & Kirstie - 11am-1pm

         2. NB take JCB petition https://www.amnesty.org.uk/jcb. → submit to Council

9. Meal!

   Paolo to check 22nd and 29th March 10am-3pm - total £500 for venue (room & kitchen) - deposit of £125 hall and kitchen deposit of £250 = £375 deposit (10am-3pm) - by 28.12.25

   1. Or without kitchen = £200 less

   2. Budget: ~£1000-£1,500

   3. To discuss: do we want to break even / make a profit / accept a loss?

      1. Venue: Woodside Halls, in Maryhill - 120 people max; tables & chairs there ; mic & sound system

      2. Food:

         1. Palestinian caterer (PalCafe https://palcafe.org/ ), buffet, prepared in advance and warmed up in the kitchen - expect ~£5 per person

         2. OR professional caterer, but then we'll need to serve

         → ticket price tbc??

      3. could do PWYC on eventbrite invite with labels e.g. “concession” / “cover costs” / “solidarity [pay for 1.5 meals]” / “additional donation” - starting at £0 so that people who can't afford (or aren't comfortable with online banking) can come. We can have donation tins at the venue to help recoup some of the costs.

         • OR just free ticket on eventbrite and people PWYC on the door? (easier than linking eventbrite up w a bank acc and maybe simpler for people). Could use card reader so people can pay by card/cash?

   4. Target audience / number of invites: activists, supporters & their families OR open event for all /community meal to provide people with hot food during winter time

      1. Entertainment:

         1. Exhibition (same as at Civic Reception)

         2. Speakers

         3. Musicians?

      2. NB running costs for the year (Pride march / website / postage / church hall / AI affiliation) = ~£1000, the Stand raffle raises ~£500 for our Group. Current balance = £1,316.

         • Could we do the meal as a fundraiser? Present it as a fundraiser? Prepare it like a proper event.

         • Could push it to summer? So not so close to The Stand

         • Kirsty will talk to PalCafe people

         • The event could be a collaboration with PalCafe, meaning some of any funds raised after costs could be shared with them

         • That amazing Palestinian woman who was at the Perth gathering - Clara will ask Jack for contact - could invite Jack?

         • Sunday 22nd or, Sunday 29th March as potential dates? (Post-meeting update - Paolo confirmed on our Signal Group there is availability on 22nd March)

         • Do it as a campaign event - agreed that this would give teh community meal more of a focus.

         • Need to cover the cost

10. Our Stand gig for next year is already confirmed: Thurs 19 Feb 2026, doors 7pm show 8pm, duration 2hrs - plan in January!

    1. Benefit in aid of Amnesty International - The Stand Comedy Club

    2. NB new venue cap 200 cabaret style (or can increase to 250 theatre style)

    3. 18+, ticket price £13/11

11. AOB

    Petition about asylum accommodation in army barracks:

    https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stop-accommodation-centres

    **AIUK Local Group Updates – December (link removed for technical reasons)

    (As always, the latest Local Groups' Update link is also included in the monthly newsletter that is sent out to our mailing list via Mailchimp)

    “Netanyahu Wanted by ICC” posters - available to order. Do we want to order to put up around town?

    • There isn't any action e.g. petition, etc. Instead, the action would be whether any of our local activists would want to put up posters within the community.

    • The group decided not to take this forward at the present time

    2 webinars to enable AIUK's activists to ask questions and receive further information about AIUK's current financial outlook and the steps we need to take to return to a balanced budget.

    • Tuesday 16 December 2025, 7pm – 8.30pm. To register for this event, please go to:

    • https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1976718103058?aff=oddtdtcreator

    • Wednesday 21 January 7.30pm – 8.30pm. To register for this event, please go to:

12. Next meeting - Thurs 8th January 2026 (Apologies submitted from Andrew) - AGM?

    As before:

    • Petition: Last year was the deadliest year for journalists. Add your voice to defend press freedom.

    • Ban Israeli Settlement Goods Campaign Pack - here, general info here, launch presentation here - calling on the UK Government to end its trade and business complicity in illegal Israeli settlements, and to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

    • Does anyone want to take a lead on this? Getting us:

      • engaged with MPs ; form coalitions with local Palestine Solidarity Campaign branch ; Organise community Apartheid-Free Meal

      • Resource - forward any replies from MPs to Amika (Amika.George@amnesty.org.uk)

    • 2 template letters to MPs

    • the template Press Release for an Apartheid-Free Meal

    • local procurement ask to councillors here are the materials

13. Potential Speakers for 2026:

    1. (Waiting: Refugee Action - which is being organised by Daytime group per discussion with them in Sept)

    2. Clara: journalist from Somalia - Clara to check his availability and if needs transport/accommodation

    3. Paulo: law professor re. UK supreme court ruling that affects trans rights.

    4. AIUK Equality Network speaker - Ailig to look into - how to have conversations w family and friends

    5. Ebba: Palestinian researcher: blog link

    6. Refugees at Home - have contacted us to ask if we'd like a speaker

    7. [Amicus: after find out about Death Penalty network - admin@amicus-alj.org - Allan]

14. Local Groups Planning Pack 2025 from central AIUK, Calendars with key events/trainings.

2026 Meeting Dates

New Members very welcome!

The Group meets every second Thursday of each month at 7.30pm - 9pm.

The meetings take place at Woodlands Methodist Church, 229 Woodlands Road, G3 6LW

For further information contact mail@glasgowwestamnesty.org.uk

• Thursday 8th January 2026

• Thursday 12th February 2026

• Thursday 12th March 2026

• Thursday 9th April 2026

• Thursday 14th May 2026

• Thursday 11th June 2026

• Thursday 9th July 2026

• Thursday 13th August 2026

• Thursday 10th September 2026

• Thursday 8th October 2026

• Thursday 12th November 2026

• Thursday 10th December 2026

BETTER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN CURSE THE DARKNESS

Thanks to all those involved in the creation of these updates, your efforts are appreciated. If you prefer, you can read this as PDF.

---

At a time when fundamental rights are under threat across the globe, join Amnesty International, get involved with our local Amnesty Group and play your part in helping to promote and defend vital human rights across the world.

We warmly invite both newcomers and familiar faces alike to attend the next meeting of the Amnesty International Glasgow West Group.

This post includes:

• Details of our forthcoming December 2025 meeting;
• Links to current AIUK activities;
• The minutes from our local Group's November 2025 meeting; and
• A note of all our monthly meeting dates for 2026.

December 2025 Glasgow West AI Group Meeting

Thursday 11th Dec, Woodlands International Methodist Church, 7:30pm – 9pm

The final Glasgow West Amnesty meeting of 2025 will take place on Thursday 11^th December 2025 at 7.30pm – 9pm in Woodlands International Church, Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LW.

New members are most welcome to just turn up. We would love to see you there!

Our next meeting will include:

• Mulled wine, mince pies and chocolates!;
• A brief review of recent activities, including the Amnesty tree-planting ceremony and the Unity Rally held in Falkirk to oppose racism;
• Final planning for our forthcoming annual Write for Rights event;
• Discussion on a potential Glasgow Amnesty community meal event to be held in the new year; and
• Undertaking letter writing on recent Urgent Action alerts from AIUK.

Join our Meetings online

Anyone unable / unavailable to physically come along, is welcome to join our monthly meetings online via this link.

(It will be the same link for all subsequent meetings).

Write for Rights 2025

Our annual December Write for Rights card writing session will take place on Sunday 14^th December 2025 @ 12noon - 4pm in Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Rd, G12 8AP.

Write for Rights is Amnesty International's flagship annual letter writing campaign. This year, it will focus on ten individuals / groups that have been persecuted, jailed or abused for standing up for human rights.

Each year, people around the world write millions of messages both pressuring authorities to act, and providing comfort to those under threat.

All Amnesty supporters and members of the public are encouraged to get involved. Please come along for even just 15 mins. Please get involved and show your support by writing a few cards.

Comedy Night Fundraiser for AIUK in February 2026

Looking for an ethical Christmas gift for your friends or relatives?

Why not get them a tickets for Amnesty's Comedy night fundraiser at The Stand Glasgow's new venue?

The fun-packed event takes place on Thursday 19^th February 2026.

Doors open at 7pm, with the event running from 8pm – 10pm.

Details of the host and line-up will be announced on The Stand website.

Food will also be available at The Stand's new venue - 420 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G4 9JA.

Tickets are priced £11 / £13. All proceeds from ticket sales (minus booking fees) will go to Amnesty International UK Section Charitable Trust (SC039534). Funds raised from the raffle will be used by the local Glasgow West Amnesty group for local campaigning.

50 Years of Amnesty in Glasgow

From 1975 — 2025, there has been an Amnesty International presence in Glasgow. Two events took place recently to mark this milestone.

Civic Reception

Speakers' notes and photographs from our fifty year celebration events are available via the Glasgow West shared drive. Click on the following links for speeches and photographs.

Tree Planting Ceremony

To celebrate Amnesty International having a local group presence in Glasgow since 1975, the City Council's Deputy Lord Provost, Bailie Christy Mearns, unveiled a plaque and helped plant a Ginkgo tree in the grounds of Kelvingrove Museum & Art Gallery.

The ceremony, which was held on a crisp and sunny November morning, was attended by Amnesty supporters from the City's local groups.

Amnesty UK Local Updates

Below is a selection of some of the issues featured in the latest monthly update for Local Groups from Amnesty UK.

Central Europe - 16 Days of Activism: Voices of Resistance

Join Amnesty International UK Europe Team for a powerful event advocating for human rights for all women.

As part of Amnesty International UK's 16 Days of Activism, this event, Voices of Resistance, brings together courageous women from around the world who are standing up against oppression, violence, and injustice.

Through conversation, testimony, and reflection, our speakers will explore what it means to resist, to raise your voice, even when it's dangerous to do so, and how global solidarity can spark change.

Speakers include:

• Olga Borisova (from Pussy Riot) – Artist, activist, and member of the world-renowned feminist protest collective Pussy Riot, speaking on resistance, art, and dissent in Russia.
• Homira May – Afghan human rights activist advocating for women's education and safety under the Taliban regime.
• Łucja Jastrzębska-Hawking – Country Co-ordinator for Amnesty International UK, actor and campaigner for bodily autonomy in Poland.

Together, they will discuss the realities of activism under authoritarianism, the personal costs of resistance, and the collective power of speaking out.

Get your tickets here!

West and Central Africa - Women in Ghana accused of witchcraft

In Ghana witchcraft accusations lead to untold suffering, discrimination and violence. The victims, mostly older women, face severe human rights violations including brutal attacks, displacement, and social exclusion. Accusations of witchcraft usually start within the family or among community members following a tragic event such as illness or a death. Older women living in poverty, with health conditions or disabilities are at greater risk, as well as women who do not confirm to stereotypical gender roles.

The tragic case of Akua Denteh, a 90-year-old woman from Kafaba in the Savannah Region is just one terrible example. On 23 July 2020, after being accused of witchcraft, Akua Denteh was brutally beaten to death.

Many other hundreds of people have endured torture or been driven out of their communities to live in camps – the only place they have to go. Earlier this year Amnesty's report ‘*_Branded for life: How witchcraft accusations lead to human rights violations of hundreds of women in North Ghana_*' documented the situation across four informal camps where people, primarily older women, were living after witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks forced them to flee their communities fearing for their lives. At the time of Amnesty's visits in November 2023 and April 2024 there were more than 500 people living in the camps, with insufficient access to health services, food, safe housing, clean water and economic opportunities.

The Anti-Witchcraft Bill, developed through extensive consultation, aimed to address this issue, including by:

• Making it illegal to accuse individuals of witchcraft
• Establishing protective measures and support systems for those who have been accused, including safe havens, psychological support and reintegration programmes into society
• Providing a clear legal pathway for victims to seek justice and compensation

The bill was passed by Parliament in July 2023 but never signed into law by the former President. The Bill was reintroduced in March 2025 and once passed should be signed into law by the new President John Mahama.

Please sign the petition calling on President John Mahama to sign the Anti-Witchcraft Bill into law to protect women victimized by these accusations.

Sign the petition here!

Garment Workers in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

Two executive summary reports

The campaign on garment workers is to be launched on 27 November as a result of two years of Amnesty research work. Our Activist Led Campaign will focus on violations of workers' right to freedom of association in the four target countries: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and the steps that brands must take.

Two executive summary reports are now available:

1. Stitched Up: Denial of Freedom of Association for Garment Workers.
Examines the different ways in which workers are adversely affected by the restrictions on the right to freedom of association by states and by their employers.

Stitched Up Executive summary

2. Abandoned by Fashion: Examines the Urgent Need for Fashion Brands to Champion Workers' Rights. Provides an insight into the policies, commitments and active promotion of the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining in key fashion brands and retailers' supply chains. It identifies the steps that brands can take to promote the right to freedom of association, and, at the same time, help mitigate the endemic human rights abuses found throughout the industry, such as low wages, overwork, harassment and systemic gender discrimination and sexual violence.

The research surveyed 21 brands, though only six fully responded. The UK is particularly important because we are the home of more of the brands than other countries.

Abandoned by Fashion Executive summary

Most of these workers are women. Harassment and discrimination are important aspects of this campaign. Caste and minority discrimination is also an important consideration. The informal out-sourcing of some manufacture to precarious suppliers will be considered.

This Activist Led Campaign needs support from UK activists. Please contact Jerry Allen for more details.

Full details of the latest AIUK monthly Local Groups Update can be viewed on our local archive.

Amnesty Christmas Raffle 2025

Every ticket counts in the fight for human rights

You could turn £1 into £10,000 in our Christmas Raffle!

That could mean a dream holiday, a new car or a chance to treat your nearest and dearest.

https://amnesty.thecharityraffle.co.uk/

November 2025 Minutes

Amnesty Glasgow West Group Meeting Minutes - Thursday 13th November 2025

Link to November meeting email here

1. Welcome and apologies

   1. Attendance: Lauren, Neil, Christine, Merle, Paolo, Kirstie, Andrew, Ken and Claire

   2. Apologies: Clara, Carol, Ailig and Luca

   3. Guest! Our regular November meeting guest - Sara from Freedom from Torture

      • Sara provided a brief intro about the work of FfT in supporting torture survivors. Sara noted that FfT had required to close two of its centres in the UK over the past year due to funding shortages. It was noted that the Glasgow FfT Group itself was very fragile with a limited active membership Sara then set out her range of FfT Xmas cards and prints for sale, with proceeds going towards FfT.

      • NB The Stand Comedy Gig in aid of Freedom from Torture: 16th November, 4 pm. Doors open 3pm. Tickets: £10/£12. Venue: 420 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G4 9HZ. www.thestand.co.uk

2. Agreement of previous meeting minutes link

3. Team Updates (list of roles here):

   1. Treasurer

      1. postage from letters: £33.74

      2. other expenditure: bottle of olive oil for speaker £15.25

      3. Donations: 2 donations made to our local group! £1,000 & £50, both with a connection to former prominent Glasgow West Amnesty group activist, Richard Brown - one from his wife, the other from his brother

      4. current balance: £1,343.

   2. Social Media & website New volunteer Lauren was welcomed to the Group. Lauren had responded to a Facebook message seeking a volunteer to lead our social media efforts.

      • Twitter/Bluesky discussion [agreed not urgent until AIUK moves] - Claire to ask in the Amnesty Scotland WA chat to see if other local groups have come off Twitter

   3. Local Political Outreach

      • On pause until more capacity: Paolo's HR Bill leaflet (see here) for Feb ‘26 hustings; confirm for website. Paolo to update website

        (https://www.glasgowwestamnesty.org.uk/) with AIUK resources & share webpage in Signal chat./*Not currently active: Regional/Country focus*; *Prisoner of Conscience/Individual At Risk; Theme Focus US Death Penalty */

4. Updates from local groups (Daytime / Glasgow Uni):

   1. Perth group: raised over £600 from their 3 blueberry picking sessions! Thanks to all who came

   2. Daytime Group: "Write for Rights" - Saturday 6.12.25, 10.30-4 pm in Pollokshields Public Library (30 Leslie Street, G41 2LF). All welcome!

5. Updates from Scottish Activism Rep (Paolo) / Scotland-wide WhatsApp group chat

   1. Amnesty Scotland WhatsApp channel:

      https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb726HL8F2pBQU619W3d

   2. The Scotland-wide WhatsApp group chat now includes the Orkney group! See their Gaza vigil here: We Remember Them, The #Gaza Genocide - The ‘Gaza Faces' posters shown in the Orkney video were provided by activists in Ullapool. They would love to distribute more sets around the country so please get in touch if your group could display them at vigils or events, see link above for further information and contact details. The posters are laminated so are perfect for the Scottish weather!

      https://www.joyfulsaleofbrokenobjects.net/other-pages-and-information-1

      and a fundraiser: https://www.joyfulsaleofbrokenobjects.net/shop2

   3. Paolo attended: Civil Society Working Group 2026-31 Manifesto For Scotland 2026-2031 Launch | Events on advancing human rights in Scotland / the Human Rights Bill / the fact that we would be the first country in the world to incorporate human rights in law

      • Civil Society Working Group on Incorporation 2026 Scottish Parliamentary Election Manifesto

      • BUT lack of clarity on if HR Bill is ready to be launched in Parliament / who “owns” it at the moment.

      • Plan: is to lobby SNP & Greens in Jan/Feb BUT no clear plan on how to reach the people of Scotland with this info e.g. slogans / being visible on SM. Paolo also noted that he would work with Ashraf from AIUK on identifying practical ideas and messages that will help communicate the concept of a Human Rights Bill to the public.

      • Campaign specifically in some constituencies

   4. Exciting new movement by AIUK student groups: Defend Dissent - launched 11.11.25 f2f in Edinburgh; online launch is 27.11.25, 6.30pm: see: Eventbrite - Defend Dissent (it says “host a watch party” but it's the same link for individuals)

      More info: Across the UK, a chilling effect is sweeping through our universities. Once vibrant spaces of free expression, debate, and dissent are becoming places of fear and censorship. Amnesty UK's latest research shows a disturbing trend: instead of protecting the right to free expression and protest, universities are bowing to pressure from governments and lobbyists - shutting down those who dare to speak out. This isn't just campus politics. It's part of a wider authoritarian shift that threatens the very foundations of human rights. When a generation of young people - those most ready to question power and demand change - is silenced, society loses one of its strongest forces for progress. That's why the Amnesty UK Student Movement is launching the Defend Dissent campaign: to build a big movement to push back against this crackdown and to have a Defend Dissent Charter adopted at every university across the UK. To win, the students need our support! You're invited to join us at the launch of a new campaign, bringing together students, faculty, alumni, and community members to Defend Dissent.

   5. 4.11.25 was the 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Sadly week after week, politicians use the ECHR as a scapegoat. But now, almost 300 organisations, from Liberty and Amnesty, to Shelter, Mind and many more, have come together to say enough is enough. The ECHR is fundamental to our democracy. Born from the horrors of World War II, it was built to protect everyone's dignity and to hold those in power to account. The UK helped to write it, and for 75 years, it's helped people across the country live freely and safely. These aren't abstract ideals. The ECHR and our Human Rights Act have:

      1. Protected victims of sexual violence.

      2. Helped families seek justice after Hillsborough and Windrush.

      3. Upheld dignity for LGBT+ people, journalists and mental health patients.

      4. Supported peace in Northern Ireland through the Good Friday Agreement.

      These hard-won protections are under attack. There are people in powerful positions who want us to believe we'd be better off without the ECHR! For decades our human rights laws have underpinned all of our daily lives by giving us the ability to speak freely, love who we want, and live in peace. These rights were hard-won – and we must not allow governments now or in the future to take them away. The ECHR protects us, we need to protect it.

      Defend our Human Rights – Tell Your MP to Back the ECHR

   6. Thank you to Andrew for completing the Local Groups Audit for Philippa (Qs here - the deadline was such that we couldn't discuss as a group, but if anyone would like to look and give feedback, Philippa is always open to it!)

      Local Group Audit 2025

   7. There will be a new online platform for AIUK by April next year.

   8. AIUK is updating their website - we need to decide what we want to include on the website. - Paolo will do

6. Actions/updates from previous meeting:

   1. Working with Schools: Carol thinking to contact Rosshall Academy; Ailig to contact Youth Groups coordinator

   2. JCB event protest: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/jcb.

      Group to add sigs to Council petition (currently 43 signatures from JCB protest day in October) → submit by post

   3. Scotland Demands Better rally in Edinburgh Saturday 25.10.25 - https://www.scotland-demands-better.com/ - Claire, Carol, Paolo & Edinburgh group members

   4. Did anyone attend the AIUK training sessions on Prevent / W4R?

      1. Prevent: Claire - anyone who'd like to see info, ask Claire

   5. Civic Reception (28.10.25)

      1. Over forty attendees; Photos here: Photos of Civic Reception

      2. Speeches from the event are being collated into a single document and will be shared via Signal group when available (still waiting on one speech to be forwarded). This document has been added to our archive.

   6. Claire asked Philippa re.:

      1. AIUK coming off Twitter: “there has been consideration on how to proceed with Twitter. AIUK is still maintaining its Twitter account and feed. The current stance is that by remaining on Twitter we have a continuous presence and remain visible, as well as our message to Twitter users.

      2. Difficulties in contacting thematic activist networks (e.g. Anti-Death Penalty Project): Apologies - Paul Bridges is the lead on this Project and does reply quite quickly on: Paul Bridges Paul.Bridges@amnesty.org.uk

7. Urgent Appeals - Merle # of letters written during meeting: [ ] (to beat: 15!)

8. 2025 Glasgow West AI group's 50th anniversary! - see Ideas doc here, inc.

   1. Write for Rights: Hillhead Library 12-4pm Sunday 14th December. Rota:

      1. 12pm-1pm (set up, needs car): Merle, Christine

      2. 1pm-2pm: Neil

      3. 2pm-3pm:

      4. 3pm-4pm: (pack up, needs car): Kirstie

         1. Also Sunday Assembly that day - Carol & Kirstie - 11am-1pm

   2. Tree planting: Friday 21st November, 11am, in Kelvingrove adjacent to the Museum on the Argyle Street side:-

      1. Anyone wishing to attend should meet at the steps outside the Argyle Street entrance to the museum at 10.50am.

      2. Depute Lord Provost will officiate at the ceremony (again!). All supporters and friends of Amnesty International are very welcome to attend this event (Claire has emailed eventbrite Civic Reception sign ups).

      3. We need to agree speaker(s) from Amnesty Groups to provide a short input on the day. Volunteer?

         Ask Jill to speak ; Jim for guitar

         Ashraf - Itinerary

         1. Local Speech

         2. Ashraf Speech

         3. Carol poem

         4. Jim guitar

         5. It would be good to give this short event more focus / impact by having some sort of entertainment type input e.g. Singer / Choir / Poetry reading - ideally relevant to human rights. We need suggestions for this ASAP and a volunteer to make it happen! Carol - poem

         6. Plaque has been ordered; eventbrite & old-members & current mailing list have been emailed

   3. Group's archive materials: Archive material on display at the Civic Reception event is likely to be added to.

      Academic engagement with archive material is now unlikely to be taken forward.

      Archive will be passed to the Mitchell Library at some point in the first quarter of 2026.. All to check if they have anything else they'd like to put in the archive.

   4. Meal in New Year

      Date / time: Sat/Sun afternoon, e.g. 12pm-3pm so daylight

      Budget: ~£1000-£1,500 - £300 for venue - 22.02.25

      Target audience / number of invites: activists, supporters & their families OR open event for all /community meal to provide people with hot food during winter time

      Could do PWYC on eventbrite invite with labels e.g. “concession” / “cover costs” / “solidarity [pay for 1.5 meals]” / “additional donation” - starting at £0 so that people who can't afford (or aren't comfortable with online banking) can come and have plenty of donation tins at the venue.

      Venue/food options:

      1. external caterer - ~£10pp (venue can be without kitchen)

      2. OR professional cooks in a kitchen [need venue with a kitchen e.g. KPC, £450] - £2/3pp

      Entertainment options:

      1. Exhibition (same as at Civic Reception)

      2. Speakers

9. [If anyone can face thinking about 2026!] Our Stand gig for next year is already confirmed: Thurs 19 Feb 2026, doors 7pm show 8pm, duration 2hrs

   1. Link to event page on The Stand Website

   2. NB new venue cap 200 cabaret style (or can increase to 250 theatre style)

   3. 18+, ticket price £13/11

10. AOB

    • Training: 25/11/2025 at 6pm, online: A Guide to Direct Action

    • Petition about asylum accommodation in army barracks: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stop-accommodation-centres

    • Scotland's Climate March: 15.11.25, 11am-4pm assemble in Glasgow Green – march will set off at 12:https://www.globaljustice.org.uk/event/scotlands-climate-march-a-better-world-is-possible/

11. AIUK Local Group Updates – October (link removed for technical reasons) (As always, the latest Local Groups' Update link is also included in the monthly newsletter that is set out via Mailchimp)

12. Next meeting - Thurs 11th December 2025 - mulled juice & W4R!

    As before:

    Petition: Last year was the deadliest year for journalists. Add your voice to defend press freedom.

    Ban Israeli Settlement Goods Campaign Pack - here, general info here, launch presentation here - calling on the UK Government to end its trade and business complicity in illegal Israeli settlements, and to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

    Does anyone want to take a lead on this? Getting us:

    • engaged with MPs ; form coalitions with local Palestine Solidarity Campaign branch ; Organise community Apartheid-Free Meal

    • Resource - forward any replies from MPs to Amika (Amika.George@amnesty.org.uk)

    • 2 template letters to MPs

    • the template Press Release for an Apartheid-Free Meal

    • local procurement ask to councillors here are the materials

13. Potential Speakers for 2026:

    1. [/Waiting/: Refugee Action - organised by Daytime group]

    2. Clara: journalist from Somalia - Clara to check his availability and if needs transport/accommodation

    3. Paulo: law professor re. UK supreme court ruling that affects trans rights.

    4. AIUK Equality Network speaker - Ailig to look into - how to have conversations w family and friends

    5. Ebba: Palestinian researcher: https://sgsahblog.com/2025/01/27/activist-ethnography-in-palestine/

    6. Refugees at Home - have contacted us to ask if we'd like a speaker

    7. [Amicus: after find out about Death Penalty network - admin@amicus-alj.org - Allan]

14. Local Groups Planning Pack 2025 from central AIUK, Calendars with key events/trainings.

2026 Meeting Dates

New Members very welcome!

The Group meets every second Thursday of each month at 7.30pm - 9pm.

The meetings take place at Woodlands Methodist Church, 229 Woodlands Road, G3 6LW

For further information contact mail@glasgowwestamnesty.org.uk

• Thursday 8th January 2026

• Thursday 12th February 2026

• Thursday 12th March 2026

• Thursday 9th April 2026

• Thursday 14th May 2026

• Thursday 11th June 2026

• Thursday 9th July 2026

• Thursday 13th August 2026

• Thursday 10th September 2026

• Thursday 8th October 2026

• Thursday 12th November 2026

• Thursday 10th December 2026

BETTER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN CURSE THE DARKNESS

Thank you to all those involved in the creation of these updates, your efforts are appreciated. If you wish, you can read these updates as a PDF.

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At a time when fundamental rights are under threat across the globe, join Amnesty International, get involved with our local AI Group and play your part in helping to promote and defend vital human rights across the world.

We warmly invite both newcomers and familiar faces alike to attend the next meeting of the Amnesty International Glasgow West Group.

This update includes:

• Details of our forthcoming November 2025 meeting;
• Information on recent and upcoming events
• Links to current AIUK activities;
• The minutes from our local Group's October 2025 meeting; and
• A note of our monthly meeting dates for the year ahead.

November 2025 Glasgow West AI Group Meeting

Thursday 11th November, Woodlands International Methodist Church, 7:30pm – 9pm

The next Glasgow West Amnesty meeting takes place on Thursday 13th November 2025 at 7.30pm – 9pm in Woodlands International Church, Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LW.

For all lapsed members, new members and those who are just curious about Amnesty, we would love to see you there!

(If you've not been in a while, remember you are always welcome back, no apologies/excuses needed!)

Our next meeting will include:

• An external speaker, Sara Barry from Freedom from Torture, who will give a brief summary of FFT's work and who will be selling Xmas cards to raise funds for FFT's ongoing work (remember to bring cash if you want to purchase);

• A brief review of the recent Civic Reception held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International in Glasgow;

• Final planning for the Tree Planting Ceremony at Kelvingrove on 21st November as part of our 50th anniversary;

• Planning for our annual Write for Rights event;

• Undertaking letter writing on recent Urgent Action alerts from AIUK; and

• Updates from our local group co-ordinators on their activities.

1975—2025: Celebrating Fifty Years of Amnesty in Glasgow

A centrepiece of celebrating Amnesty International being active in Glasgow since 1975 was the recent Civic Reception, held in Glasgow's City Chambers in October.

Glasgow's Deputy Lord Provost, Bailie Christy Mearns officiated at the event, which was attended by over forty past and present members of Amnesty's Glasgow Groups.

Photo: Members of Glasgow's three Amnesty Groups pictured with the Deputy Lord Provost and the Chair of AIUK's Board

Helen Horton, Chair of the Board of Amnesty's UK Section provided the keynote speech at the event, which also included short inputs from representatives of each of the three Glasgow Groups. The event was attended by over forty Glasgow-based Amnesty supporters, comprising both current and former activists, including a couple of original members from the formative days of Amnesty in Glasgow in the 1970s!

Photo: Helen Horton, Chair of AIUK Section Board, addressing the Glasgow Groups' Civic Reception

The Civic Reception included a display of materials from the Glasgow Amnesty groups' archive, covering posters, leaflets, documents and banners, primarily from the 1970s, 80's and 90's. This also encompassed a selection of photographs and letters from Prisoners of Conscience that had been freed following campaigning by the Glasgow Amnesty groups.

Come to our Tree Planting Ceremony at Kelvingrove on Friday 21st November

The next event taking place as part of the fifty year celebration will be a tree planting ceremony, which will be held in the grounds of Kelvingrove Museum & Art Gallery. Once again, the City Council's Deputy Lord Provost, Bailie Christy Mearns will officiate at the event. There will also be brief inputs from the Glasgow Groups.

A Ginkgo Tree has been selected and a plaque to mark the occasion of fifty years of Amnesty in Glasgow will be sited alongside.

All members, supporters and friends of Amnesty International are welcome to attend. Meet at the steps of Kelvingrove Museum & Art Gallery on the Argyle Street side at 10.50am on Friday 21st November 2025.

Scotland Demands Better

In October, members of the Glasgow West Amnesty group joined with colleagues from the Edinburgh Amnesty groups and many others to attend the demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament organised by the Scotland Demands Better coalition.

The Scotland Demands Better group set out a wide range of demands covering areas such as cost of living, fair wages, investment and social security.

Photo: Activists from the Glasgow West Amnesty Group took part in the Scotland Demands Better demonstration in Edinburgh

Write for Rights 2025 Glasgow Events

Write for Rights is Amnesty International's flagship annual letter writing campaign. This year, it will focus on eleven individuals / groups that have been persecuted, jailed or abused for standing up for human rights.

Each year, people around the world write millions of messages both pressuring authorities to act, and providing comfort to those under threat.

The Glasgow Groups will hold their annual December Write for Rights card writing sessions on the following dates:

Amnesty Glasgow Daytime Group - Saturday 6th December 2025* @ 10.30am - 4 pm in Pollokshields Library, 30 Leslie Street, G41 2LF

Amnesty Glasgow West Group – Sunday 14th December 2025 @ 12noon - 4pm in Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Rd, G12 8AP

All Amnesty supporters and members of the public are encouraged to get involved. Please come along for even just 15 mins. Get involved and show your support by writing a few cards.

Amnesty International Comedy Fundraiser — Thursday 19th Feb 2026

Benefit in Aid of Amnesty International. All proceeds from ticket sales minus booking fees will go to Amnesty International UK Section Charitable Trust.

Tickets have now gone on sale for the annual Glasgow West Comedy fundraiser, held in conjunction with The Stand Comedy Club, Glasgow.

The event takes place on Thursday 19th February 2026, 8pm – 10pm. Ticket prices £13 / £11.

Food is also now available at The Stand's new venue at 420 Great Western Road (2mins from Kelvinbridge station).

Tickets and further information available via The Stand website:

The Stand: Benefit In Aid of Amnesty International

Amnesty UK Local Updates

Below is a selection of some of the issues featured in the latest monthly update for Local Groups from Amnesty UK.

For all updates on planned AIUK training and events for AI activists, see the AIUK events page.

Full details of the latest AIUK monthly Local Groups Update can be viewed on our local archive.

ECHR 75th Anniversary

The 4th of November marks the 75th Anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). At a time when the UK's continued membership is fiercely under debate, we need your support in writing to your MP. You can simply take this action online, or if you want to write something personal, take a look at the Guidance - Write to your MP.

As you may know, the ECHR plays a crucial role in protecting human rights here in the UK.

Despite this, the UK's membership is facing growing opposition from politicians and media commentators. The Government have suggested they may weaken its protections, while both Reform and the Conservatives have declared that the UK should leave.

Now, more than ever, it is important that we mobilise in support of the ECHR and make sure future generations continue to have the same safeguards for their human rights.

Take Action Now

Amnesty Student Action Network

Stand with students: Defend Dissent campaign launches across the UK

Across the UK, a chilling effect is sweeping through our universities. Spaces once alive with debate, dissent, and free expression are becoming places of fear and censorship.

Amnesty UK's latest research reveals a deeply worrying trend: instead of protecting free expression and the right to protest, universities are bowing to pressure from governments and lobbyists - silencing those who speak out.

Students and academics raising their voices, particularly against the genocide in Gaza, have faced bans, surveillance, police involvement, and disciplinary action. But this isn't just about universities… it's part of a wider authoritarian shift that threatens the foundations of human rights in the UK.

When a generation of young people, historically those most willing to challenge power and demand change, is silenced, our whole movement is weakened.

That's why the Amnesty UK Student Movement is launching the Defend Dissent campaign: to push back against this crackdown, defend free expression, and stand up for the right to protest.

We're inviting local group members across the country to join the campaign launch events and connect with student organisers, hear their experiences, and explore how we can act together to resist repression and build solidarity between generations of activists.

Campaign Launch Events:

Edinburgh Launch

• 6pm, 11 November 2025
• The Pleasance, 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9TJ
• Book your ticket here
• Promo pack including mails, blurbs, flyers, social media to help spread the word here: Defend Dissent - Edinburgh

Newcastle

• 6pm, 12 November 2025
• Tyneside Cinema, 10 Pilgrim St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6QG
• Book you ticket here
• Promo pack including mails, blurbs, flyers, social media to help spread the word here: Defend Dissent - Newcastle

London launch

• 6.30pm, Tuesday 25 November
• Sheikh Zayed Theatre, London School of Economics 54 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3LJ
• Book your ticket here
• Promo pack including mails, blurbs, flyers, social media to help spread the word here: Defend Dissent - London

Online launch

• 6.30pm, Thursday 27 November
• On Zoom – details after you register.
• Book your ticket here
• Promo pack including mails, blurbs, flyers, social media to help spread the word here: Defend Dissent - Online

For the online launch, we will be joined by Amnesty Students from universities across the 4 regions of the UK, so do join if there is no in-person launch event near you. Please spread the word of these events with as many people as possible, whether it be to other concerned community members, students, or local activist groups.

Together, we can defend dissent on our campuses.

In solidarity,

Amnesty Student Action Network

Online Community Platform Pilot

As a prominent Amnesty activist, we would value your input into the next stage of our Online Community Platform.

This platform will help ensure a more streamlined communication system between all of Amnesty's activists. It will be a safe space where members will be able to collaborate and share.

We are actively recruiting for the pilot stage of this Community, and we want YOU to be involved. In the pilot we will have a limited number of participants from within the Amnesty community.

The pilot will run from 26 January to 2 April 2026.

Key dates of Community leader Pilot Participants

• Attend an online Information & training session Monday the 26 January 17:30-19:00
• Attend an online training session Wednesday 28 January 17:30-19:00
• Complete feedback missions in your own time of the platform
• Optional: Attend online Feedback Workshops (for those who wish to share further input)
  • Thursday 19 February 17:30-19:00
  • Tuesday 3 March or Thursday 5 March 17:30-19:00
  • Tuesday 17 March or Thursday 19 March 17:30-19:00
  • Tuesday 31 March or Thursday 2 April 17:30-19:00

We want to make sure we're building for community leaders like you, so your participation to this Pilot would be extremely helpful. We're building this online platform for people like you, so we want to know how we can improve it before we offer to the wider activist circle in the first half of 2026.

To commit to this pilot testing please fill out this form by 10 November. If you have any questions, please feel free to email abi.odell@amnesty.org.uk

In Solidarity

Abi Odell
Online Community Manager

Amnesty Christmas Raffle 2025

Buy your Christmas Raffle tickets - You could win £10,000. Every ticket counts in the fight for human rights You could turn £1 into £10,000 in our Christmas Raffle!

That could mean a dream holiday, a new car or a chance to treat your nearest and dearest.

By taking part, you could help people in similar situations to Dorgelesse Nguessan. In 2020, Dorgelesse, a hairdresser, was arbitrarily arrested in Cameroon for participating in a peaceful protest against the rising cost of living. It was the first time Dorgelesse had ever joined a protest, but she was locked up for four years. Amnesty supporters around the world campaigned tirelessly to demand her freedom, and in January 2025 she was released from prison and reunited with her family. Enter the Amnesty Christmas Raffle today! You could win a cash prize and help support work that leads to freedom for more people like Dorgelesse.

Enter Today

Amnesty in Scotland

Click on the link below for AI Scotland's latest Bulletin, containing news and updates on the latest activities.

(link removed for technical reasons)

October 2025 Updates

Amnesty Glasgow West Group Meeting Thurs 9th October 2025

Minutes

Link to October meeting email here.

1. Welcome and apologies

   1. Attendance: Clara (Chair); Christine (part of mtg), Merle, Andrew, Luca, Paolo, Carol, Jim (online, part of mtg), Rob T and Jed.

   2. Apologies: Claire and Kirstie

2. Guest Speaker, Motaz, AI Country Co-ordinator for Yemen

   Motaz was welcomed to the meeting and he provided an overview of the extremely challenging issues in Yemen over an extended number of years. He referred to the highly complex political map in the context of a 10+ year ongoing war. Whilst there is a Government based in the capital city of Sanaa, in reality the Houthi militia operating throughout the country exert considerable control over many aspects of day-to-day life. Political, religious and tribal affiliations are factors in the ongoing conflict, whilst the overall corruption and ‘gangsterism' impacts the normal functioning of society.

   NGOs are unable to operate directly within Yemen and it is dangerous for local citizens to be seen to be co-operating with NGOs. Environmental justice and human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have sought to collaborate and this has led to some success, although the overall operating environment remains extremely challenging.

   Despite Yemen currently being ranked as the 2nd worst conflict in the world (behind Gaza), a general lack of media coverage of the situation in Yemen is an issue, resulting in a lack of awareness..

   The USA, Saudi Arabia and a range of other middle eastern countries are seen to be key influencers that might potentially help bring a resolution to the conflict, although it appears not to be a high priority at present.

   A series of questions and discussion followed the presentation and Motaz was thanked and invited to remain for the rest of the meeting.

3. Agreement of previous meeting minutes (link)

4. Team Updates (list of roles here):

   1. Treasurer (Update below provided by Kirstie in advance)

      1. postage from letters: £31.69

      2. other expenditure: £8 for the price increase for the church hall for Sept-Dec

      3. Donations: £0

      4. current balance: £311.60

   2. Social Media & website (Cait/Clara)

      • On pause until more capacity: Twitter/Bluesky discussion [agreed not urgent until AIUK moves]

      • Andrew noted that he had been contacted recently in response to our appeal for assistance with social media. He has forwarded the details to Claire so that she can follow up on her return from holiday.

   3. Local Political Outreach

      • On pause until more capacity: Paolo's HR Bill leaflet (see here) for Feb ‘26 hustings; confirm for website

        • Paolo to update website (https://www.glasgowwestamnesty.org.uk/) with AIUK resources & share webpage in Signal chat.

        • No progress on this, due to other priorities, including Paolo's new role (item 6 below)

   4. Theme focus - US Death Penalty [Cait] - no updates

   5. Not currently active: Regional/Country focus; Prisoner of Conscience/Individual At Risk

5. Updates from local groups (Daytime / Glasgow Uni):

   1. Perth group: Fundraising stall will be here Blueberries – Thomas Thomson Blairgowrie - Wednesday October 15th 1.30 -6.00pm

   2. Daytime Group "Write for Rights" - Saturday 6.12.25, 10.30-4 pm in Pollokshields Public Library (30 Leslie Street, G41 2LF). All welcome!

6. Updates from Scottish Activism Rep (Paolo)

   1. Paolo has created a Amnesty Scotland WhatsApp channel to pin our initiatives - you can join here: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb726HL8F2pBQU619W3d

   2. He has been pulling together a proposal to encourage better sharing of documents, social media, resources, etc online across the Amnesty Groups in Scotland

   3. Scotland Amnesty meeting 01.10.25 - info on Scotland Demands Better campaign & rally in Edinburgh Saturday 25.10.25 - https://www.scotland-demands-better.com/

      1. Request to publicise the event! Can email them to get printed flyers, or just send emails/digital versions e.g. Community Council / Union meetings / Political parties / religious groups / other local orgs - https://www.scotland-demands-better.com/resources

      2. Does anyone want to go together? Claire is going - anyone else?

   4. September updates from Amnesty Scotland: https://glasgowwestamnesty.us12.list-manage.com/track/click

7. Actions/updates from previous meeting:

   1. Working with Schools: Carol thinking to contact Rosshall Academy; Ailig to contact Youth Groups coordinator

   2. JCB event protest: Carol, Claire, Paolo and Kirstie and Edinburgh Jennifer went to this event on 20.09.25. Paolo and Carol updated on the protest. Used JCB campaign pack - petition for Glasgow Council & handed out info leaflets. More info: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/jcb. 43 signatures. Claire will bring in Nov meeting for group members to sign → submit ~Christmas.

   3. Stop Trump Protests: AIUK - London 17.09.25 - Carol attended

8. Urgent Appeals - Merle # of letters written during meeting: [ ] (to beat: 15!)

   Urgent Appeals was moved to the end of the meeting, as the agenda was over-running. Members were asked to complete the UAs online. Merle has uploaded the links to the Signal Group.

9. 2025 Glasgow West AI group's 50th anniversary! - see Ideas doc here, inc.

   0. Civic Reception Tuesday 28th October 6pm - 7.30pm:

      1. Final details firmed-up with City Council.

      2. Liaison has taken place between Glasgow West, Daytime and University Groups.

      3. Venue - City Chambers, George Square, Glasgow (N.B. enter by side door on Cochrane St, as there is building works ongoing at George Square entrance)

      4. Format

         • Guests seated (for 6pm prompt!)

         • Civic Welcome by Lord Provost (c.5 mins)

         • Input from a representative of each of the three Glasgow Groups:-

         • Christine - from Glasgow West Group (c.5mins)

         • Andrew - from Glasgow University Group (c.5mins)

         • Graham (?) - from Daytime Group (5mins)

         • Keynote speaker: Helen Horton, Chair of AIUK Board of Directors (c.15 - 20mins)

         • Closing address - Liz Thomson, AI Scotland office (tbc) (c.5mins) (This is the only part that hasn't yet been confirmed)

         • Drinks reception with canapes / Opportunity to mingle and view items from the Glasgow Groups' archive, which will be displayed on side tables (set up in advance).

         • Close 7.30pm

   1. Invitations: Eventbrite link - all to share: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/come-to-a-civic-reception-to-celebrate-50-years-of-amnesty-in-glasgow-tickets-1632859790589

      • Has been shared with Glasgow Univ, Daytime & West Groups; with previous members from the list compiled by Merle & Christine; via an invitation sent to all on our mailing list (c.100), via the monthly newsletters for both Sept and Oct; and a recent request for AIUK to send it to all current AI members with a Glasgow postcode,

      • 32 have signed-up so far.

      • Room capacity is 50. (For catering purposes, we require to provide the Council with notice of the likely final figure 2wks in advance).

   2. Meal:

      Paolo updated on the challenges of securing a suitable venue in December. There is also a concern about the likely cost of £400 - £500 and how we would cover that via charging attendees.

      Merle noted that the Group had previously run successful meal events at the end of January.

      Agreed to postpone this event and rethink it in the New Year.

10. Write for Rights

    The Daytime Group has secured Saturday 6th December for their Write for Rights event @10.30am - 4pm in Pollokshields Public Library, Leslie Street, G41 2LF.

    Members of our Group are encouraged to attend and assist.

    Kirstie has spoken to Hillhead library and there is availability. Given that the Daytime Group has agreed their booking, it is suggested that we go for the following weekend for the Glasgow West event.

11. Tree planting: Friday 21st November @ 11am in Kelvingrove is the date offered by the Lord Provost's office.

    1. A prime site has been allocated adjacent to the Museum on the Argyle Street side (marked in red on the photo below):-

       

    2. The Council has also proposed the type for tree for the event:- (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginkgo_biloba

    3. A Council Bailie will help officiate at the tree-planting ceremony and we will seek to encourage as many Amnesty supporters to attend as possible.

    4. The Council has recommended a supplier for a plaque.

    5. The Amnesty Groups will require to bear the cost of this. In order to get a high quality, durable plaque and fixing, engraved with the Amnesty logo and suitable wording, the cost could be over £200. We require to consider how we will fund this. (It was suggested to bring collection tins to the Civic Reception for this purpose)

    6. The above info has only just been received and we will now share it amongst the three Glasgow Groups.

    7. Group's archive materials - The archive was reviewed by a Journalism Dept lecturer at Strathclyde University, who ultimately concluded they did not see the material as being particularly suitable for student dissertations, etc. They did, however, provide a lecturer contact in Strathclyde's History Dept. Andrew is seeking to set up a meeting with him.

    8. 18.10.25: National Day of Solidarity to End Immigration Detention - co-organised by Right to Remain and No To Hassockfield, calling for an end to the inhumane and expanding system of immigration detention in the UK. Read the full write up here.

       Ways to get involved:

       1. Join the main demonstration at Derwentside (Hassockfield) detention centre in Durham. Right to Remain and No To Hassockfield are organising coaches from Manchester, Liverpool, Durham, Newcastle and Sunderland. Book here. SYMAAG are organising coaches from Sheffield.

       2. Organise a local solidarity event in your community: vigils, banner drops, creative actions, etc. If you have an idea for an action in your region, fill in this Google Form to connect with others who may be close to you.

       3. Advocate with your MP to oppose detention expansion and the Hostile Environment.

       4. Donate to support grassroots organisers and those most affected.

       5. Spread the word online using hashtags like #TheseWallsMustFall, #EndDetention, #NoOneIsIllegal, #SetHerFree. Open source graphics available, free to use and share & info flyers - here.

12. AOB

    • Training Courses

      • 14/10/2025 at 6PM, online: Campaigning to Scrap the UK Government's Prevent Duty

      • 11/11/2025 at 6pm, online: Write for Rights – Campaigning for Individuals at Risk

      • 25/11/2025 at 6pm, online: A Guide to Direct Action

    • As before:

      • Event at The Stand Comedy Club in aid of Medical Aid for Palestinians, 15.10.25: The UK, Gaza and the Media: In conversation with Peter Oborne - The Stand Comedy Club

      • Template email for MPs to support 40 young people in Gaza who currently have a place at UK universities: https://newscord.org/action/gaza-students - Currently, the UK gvt won't let them come as they need biometric ID for their visa. As they can't do that in Gaza the letter is asking for them to be allowed to come to the UK and do the biometric stuff here.

      • Petition: Last year was the deadliest year for journalists. Add your voice to defend press freedom.

    • AIUK Local Group Updates – September (link removed for technical reasons) (As always, the latest Local Groups' Update link is also included in the monthly newsletter that is set out via Mailchimp)

    • Next meeting - Thurs 13th November 2025

      (Discuss Write for Rights at Nov mtg!)

13. Social security: be a part of our stunt! More and more people in the UK are being pushed into poverty, without access to adequate social security support that hundreds of thousands of people need. We need the UK government to know that social security is a human right. Social security is the financial protection provided for people to ensure access to income when it's needed to afford food, housing and other necessities. Join us by emailing weekofaction@amnesty.org.uk a photograph of yourself with the message 'Social Security is a Human Right'. You can write it on a piece of paper, your hand, or your t-shirt! If you'd prefer not to show your face in the picture, that's absolutely fine.

    We'll be collecting as many pictures as possible from people all over the UK to show solidarity with those impacted by the current system. We'll use some of the individual photos on our social media channels, offline supporter content and other materials. We'll put all of the photos submitted (subject to moderation) onto a huge banner – using them to spell out the words Social Security is a Human Right. We'll take this banner to Parliament for the International Eradication of Poverty Day.

    For International Eradication of Poverty Day on 17 October, we want to make sure that the UK government gets the message loud and clear: SOCIAL SECURITY IS A HUMAN RIGHT!

14. As before: Ban Israeli Settlement Goods Campaign Pack - here, general info here, launch presentation here - calling on the UK Government to end its trade and business complicity in illegal Israeli settlements, and to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

    • Does anyone want to take a lead on this? Getting us:

      • engaged with MPs ; form coalitions with local Palestine Solidarity Campaign branch ; Organise community Apartheid-Free Meal

      • Resource - forward any replies from MPs to Amika (Amika.George@amnesty.org.uk)

    • 2 template letters to MPs

    • the template Press Release for an Apartheid-Free Meal

    • local procurement ask to councillors here are the materials

15. As before: Potential Speakers:

    1. Refugee Action - Andrew link up w Daytime group - organising for a September evening Oct Update Daytime Group has not got a date from Refugee Action. However they are in touch with Liz Thomson of AI Scotland who has offered to do an online event, Graham from the Daytime Group will share this with us so that our Group members will have the option of joining the online event..

    2. Clara: journalist from Somalia - Clara to check his availability and if needs transport/accommodation

    3. Paulo: law professor re. UK supreme court ruling that affects trans rights.

    4. AIUK Equality Network speaker - Ailig to look into - how to have conversations w family and friends

    5. Ebba: Palestinian researcher: https://sgsahblog.com/2025/01/27/activist-ethnography-in-palestine/

    6. [Amicus: after find out about Death Penalty network - admin@amicus-alj.org - Allan]

16. As before: Local Group Updates

    Groups Planning Pack 2025 from central AIUK, Calendars with key events/trainings.

2025 Meeting Dates

New Members very welcome!

The Group meets every second Thursday of each month at 7.30pm - 9pm.

The meetings take place at Woodlands Methodist Church, 229 Woodlands Road, G3 6LW

For further information contact mail@glasgowwestamnesty.org.uk

• Thursday 9th January 2025

• Thursday 13th February 2025

• Thursday 13th March 2025

• Thursday 10th April 2025

• Thursday 8th May 2025

• Thursday 12th June 2025

• Thursday 10th July 2025

• Thursday 14th August 2025

• Thursday 11th September 2025

• Thursday 9th October 2025

• Thursday 13th November 2025

• Thursday 11th December 2025

BETTER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN CURSE THE DARKNESS

Thanks to everyone involved in the creation of these updates, your efforts are much appreciated. If you prefer, you can read these updates as a PDF.

---

At a time when fundamental rights are under threat across the globe, join Amnesty International, get involved with our local AI Group and play your part in helping to promote and defend vital human rights across the world.

We warmly invite both newcomers and familiar faces alike to attend the next meeting of the Amnesty International Glasgow West Group.

This update includes:

• Details of our forthcoming September 2025 meeting;

• Links to current AIUK activities;

• The minutes from our local Group's August 2025 meeting; and

• A note of our local Group's monthly meeting dates for the year ahead.

September 2025 Glasgow West AI Group Meeting

Thursday 11th September, Woodlands International Methodist Church, 7:30pm – 9pm

The next Glasgow West Amnesty meeting takes place on Thursday 11th September 2025 at 7.30pm – 9pm in Woodlands International Church, Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LW.

For all lapsed members, new members and those who are just curious about Amnesty, we would love to see you there!

(If you've not been in a while, remember you are always welcome back, no apologies/excuses needed!)

Our next meeting will include:

• Undertaking letter writing on recent Urgent Action alerts from AIUK;
• Updates on events relating to 2025 being the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International in Glasgow; and
• Updates from our local group co-ordinators on their activities.

Amnesty UK Local Updates

The following is a selection of some of the issues featured in the latest monthly update for Local Groups from Amnesty UK.

Ban Israeli Settlement Goods Campaign - Update

I'm sure we're all watching in complete disbelief and horror as the genocide in Gaza escalates and reaches unimaginable levels of cruelty. There are no words to describe the scale of suffering and devastation, as Israel has repeatedly violated international law and weaponised humanitarian aid to enable its genocidal project.

Amnesty's message remains the same – the UK must sanction Israeli officials implicated in international crimes; end all arms exports and military assistance; and end all trade that contributes to the genocide, illegal occupation, and system of apartheid against Palestinians. Every second that our Government refuses to act is another second of abject failure by the international community to defend human rights and prevent further crimes against humanity and genocide - as Agnès Callamard recently commented, “The time is now. Our humanity is at stake.”

With Israel recently announcing worrying new plans for the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank, it is so crucial that the UK Government is held urgently accountable for its complicity in incentivising this through trade and business. With many local groups engaging with this campaign to demand a ban on the import of settlement goods to the UK, the Amnesty UK Government team have reported that MPs and the FCDO are hearing us and feeling the pressure.

Over 50 MPs have been lobbied by Amnesty groups and activists, and 71 MPs have now signed EDM 1266 (an underestimate, as some pending signatures will be confirmed following the summer recess). This is due to the dedication of Amnesty activists who, amongst several other actions you're taking for Palestine, have run stalls to build local awareness around the campaign, held public meetings and protests, started petitions (with some collecting over 200 signatures!), and organised community ‘Apartheid-Free Meals' in collaboration with local PSC and Friends of Palestine groups. Recently, a group of young activists in south London organised a beautiful event featuring a Palestinian potluck and open mic poetry, to build momentum for the campaign, and I was fortunate to attend with a few AIUK colleagues (see photo above). One MP has also privately stated that a settlement goods ban will be his post-recess priority, following consistent pressure from his Amnesty activist constituents who collected 50+ signatures at a community Pride event.

Thanks to everyone who has shared their MP's response with me – supportive or not! - as I'm tracking political support and feeding this information to my colleagues across the organisation. As you may know if you've contacted your representative, Liberal Democrat policy calls for a settlement goods ban, but Labour MPs have consistently given diversionary responses, citing Government sanctions on settler violence or the lack of preferential trade agreements. This fails to address what we're calling for. If you've received a reply along these lines, here's a draft letter that might help as a response.

A reminder that the idea of a community ‘Apartheid-Free Meal' was a suggestion for building visibility and a campaign coalition, but might not feel like an appropriate tactic given the horrific levels of mass starvation and the denial of aid we're seeing in Palestine. It's up to your local group to plan and design an event or public moment that keeps up the pressure and build local awareness of the campaign, and this can take any form according to your local context and group's capacity.

I also wanted to acknowledge that, on a personal level, I know that right now nothing feels adequate as a form of protest or activism in the face of an escalating genocide, but as individuals we owe it to Palestinians to be courageous and refuse to lose hope, following their example.

If you have any questions or need support on anything at all – related to this campaign or otherwise - please don't hesitate to reach out to me: Amika.George@amnesty.org.uk

In solidarity,

Amika

Protect The Protest - Urgent Action

The arrest of peaceful protestors is a violation of the UK's international obligations to protect the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. This can't go unchallenged.

Over 700 people have all been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 for peacefully protesting the banning of Palestine Action in the UK.

• It is a violation of the UK's international obligations
• It is disproportionate to the point of absurdity
• And it simply can't go unchallenged

On the 9th August 2025, 522 individuals were arrested in the UK for peacefully expressing opposition to the ban on Palestine Action. This follows over 200 people who were previously arrested for taking similar actions.

But this hasn't happened in a vacuum. It has been years of crackdown on our right to protest.

Amnesty International has condemned the use of counter-terror powers to target peaceful protestors.

The Chief Prosecutors of England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland now have the power to decide whether to prosecute the individuals who have been arrested.

We are urging them to end all prosecutions against these peaceful protestors.

Will you join us?

Make your voice count!

Country Coordinator Blog Report on Global Human Rights

Amnesty works on almost every country on the planet. Our volunteer country specialists help us keep on top of reports and research about human rights abuses, and this is their take on our work.

There are currently 20 Blogs available on the site with reports of human rights issues in many countries including Afghanistan, Peru, Algeria, Indian administered Kashmir, Central America and Sri Lanka. Please contact the Country Coordinators responsible for the Blogs for more details on campaigns in these areas.

Access the Blog here

Individual Giving - Gaza Fundraising

ISRAELI FORCES ARE KILLING PALESTINIAN FAMILIES

Genocide in Gaza is happening right now. Please help stop these devastating human rights atrocities.

Civilians, including children are being bombed, starved and dehumanised every day. And we have to stop it.

The Israeli authorities are chillingly bold in their genocidal intent with their finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich stating in May 2025: “Gaza will be entirely destroyed”. We cannot look away. Your donation today could help Amnesty International carry out expert human rights monitoring, documentation, analysis, and reporting until the Israeli government can no longer persist in its genocide, apartheid, and illegal occupation.

When our investigators spoke to people in Gaza this spring, they found hunger at catastrophic levels. People said they're not eating for days on end, trying to survive on wild plants and animal fodder. A shocking 18,741 children have been hospitalised for acute malnutrition since the beginning of this year. Medics say children in hospitals are so severely malnourished and dehydrated, they can't move or even cry.

A parent in Gaza City told our researchers: “We don't ask if food is fresh; that's a luxury, we just want to fill stomachs. I don't want my child to die hungry.”

The cruel denial of life-saving essentials, like food, fuel, and shelter, is a major violation of international law.

But you are not powerless.

Please give a donation and help stop the genocide.

It's vital we keep up the pressure in the UK. The UK government must show real backbone by halting all arms exports to Israel because right now it is failing to prevent and punish genocide, as is its legal obligation. By donating to Amnesty International UK today, you could help fund the work of our campaigners who lobby the UK government to demand they take forceful and effective action against the Israeli government and stop selling arms to Israel.

When Amnesty International supporters put their values into action, human rights change happens. Please give what you can today to help us pressure parliamentarians, officials, and ministers to engage with our evidence and take effective action.

Please give a donation!

Local Groups Update in Full

Full details of the latest AIUK monthly Local Groups Update can be viewed in our LGU archive.

Amnesty in Scotland

Article on prioritising a Human Rights Bill for Scotland / email John Swinney:

https://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions/first-minister-scotland-needs-human-rights-bill

Click on the link below for AI Scotland's latest bulletin, containing news and updates on the latest activities.

(link removed for technical reasons)

Upcoming Dates / Events

A Briefing on Everyday Rights

Tuesday 9 September, 18:00 - 19:30

Join us to learn more about Amnesty's campaign on Social Security as part of our work on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights or Everyday Rights! Successive governments have failed to protect basic rights.

Register here

A Guide to Direct Action

Tuesday 25th November 2025, 18:00 - 19:30

During this session you will:

1. Gain an understanding of some of the direct action tactics which can be used
2. Understand when it is strategic to escalate to direct action
3. Gain knowledge of risk analysis, safeguarding and the practical things you need to consider before undertaking direct action

Book Online

For all updates on planned AIUK training and events for AI activists, click on this link.

Celebrating Fifty Years of Amnesty in Glasgow

Amnesty International has been active in Glasgow since 1975. To celebrate fifty years of campaigning, fund-raising and awareness-raising for Human Rights, the AI Groups in Glasgow are undertaking a series of events.

A centrepiece of this is the invitation from the Lord Provost of Glasgow City Council to host a Civic Reception in the City Chambers to mark this occasion. The event will take place in the early evening of Tuesday 28th October 2025.

We are currently putting together an invitation list and we are keen to hear from current and past Amnesty members and activists from any of the AI Groups in Glasgow who would like to attend the event.

To register your interest or for further information, please email mail@glasgowwestamnesty.org.uk.

August 2025 Updates

Amnesty Glasgow West Group Meeting Thurs 14th August 2025

Agenda

Link to August meeting email here

1. Welcome and apologies

   1. Attendance: Ailig, Andrew, Claire, Kirstie, Merle, Caitlin, Luca, Paolo, Ken, Ebba, Rob

   2. Apologies: Mhairi

      • So great to see some ex-members back again! If you've also not been in a while, remember you are always welcome back, no apologies/excuses needed!

2. **Agreement of previous meeting minutes (link removed for technical reasons)

3. Team Updates (list of roles here):

   1. Treasurer (Kirstie)

      1. Pride: Cash donations on stall £62.45 and card donations £13.78 (after card charge of 22p)

      2. Donation - £10 cheque made out to Amnesty International sent by Susan from her recent AmnesTea event. Susan has now moved back to Orkney.

      3. Current balance: £427.81

   2. Social Media & website (Cait/Clara)

      • No updates - urgently needing SM support!

      • Ongoing: Update on Twitter/Bluesky discussion? https://www.helloquitx.com/ (not yet) [agreed not urgent until AIUK moves]

   3. Local Political Outreach

      1. Paolo's HR Bill leaflet (see here) to put in public spaces, like libraries with brief info & link to the AIUK petition (https://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions/first-minister-scotland-needs-human-rights-bill) & QR code pointing to our website and a page to explain a bit better about the Human Rights Bill. People to review leaflet draft → make poster. First page is the leaflet to print and put in noticeboards, second page what we could put in the website.

         Unactioned tasks from previous meeting:

         1. approach shadow Ministers of Equalities (Kaukab is difficult to reach)

         2. Daisy to write template email asking them to commit to Scottish HR Bill→ Clara/Ailig to review & then all to send to party offices (agreed probably past manifesto deadline)

         3. awareness-raising campaign on Human Rights Bill - SM post; prepare poster on the issue - AI Scotland could publish “manifesto” that we share with party offices - Paolo to write this and share w AI Scotland office for them to check]

            • Clara offered to make info into pamphlet

            • Paolo can make website webpage to upload blog posts (& for SM)

            • Paolo still no update from AI Scotland office - agree to move forward without them

            • All to review Paolo's text and add tangible examples

            • Timeline: Feb hustings ; attend hustings / host a hustings

            • Paolo to move forward via Signal to confirm info for website

         4. Theme focus - US Death Penalty - Cait to contact network

         5. Not currently active: Regional/Country focus [Korea (Clara)] ; Prisoner of Conscience/Individual At Risk Update [no current IAR for our group]

4. Daytime Group Collaborations/Updates: How was the 27.07.25 Amnestea Fundraiser? Thanks to Susan - cheque for £10 received

5. Glasgow Uni Group Collaborations/Updates (on holiday) [Ailig] no updates

6. Actions/updates from previous meeting:

   1. Pride! Great march; thin on the ground for the stall - need to have time overlaps next year; people commented that they remembered our presence from the previous year - good for us to have a continuous presence; people asked what Amnesty does, what our group does (have brief written info on this for next year?)

   2. Uni of Strathclyde Staff Assoc that works on LGBT+ issues Trans Awareness Week 13-19 Nov asked if we'd like to be involved - do we want to be involved?

   3. → Paolo to get more info

   4. Anti-Trump Rally in Edinburgh! A great day AI Scotland Groups featured in photo and article in AIUK Local Updates

   5. Did anyone attend:

      1. Global Assembly Consultation meetings 16/17.07.25 - no-one from Group was able to attend

      2. How to do a Public Stunt training - no-one from Group was able to attend

7. Update re. new Scotland Regional Rep role: Initial Meeting 09.08.25; 10am-12pm

   As a group, we need to discuss and agree on the Key Tasks:

   1. Key Tasks (NB main purpose: infusing enthusiasm/ideas to groups)

   2. Organisation of annual f2f Scotland Gathering

   3. Organisation of quarterly online meetings for all local group & individual members (could have 1 key topic/meeting)

   4. Integration of local groups & coordinating with school / uni groups inc. coordinating a team of representatives from each local group to meet regularly

   5. Integration with AI UK and AI Scotland:

      NEXT STEPS

      1. Groups discuss: any questions / further discussion points / other ideas / more people who are interested in the role / choose a named “Rep Liaison”

      2. Once all groups in agreement, vote → nominated person does application form.

         1. All agreed Key Tasks are good

         2. Rep Liaison: Claire - Claire to feedback to central group

8. Urgent Appeals - Merle

   1. Number of letters written during meeting: 15 (to beat: 12!)

      • Canada: People Seeking Asylum & Safety At Risk

      • Uganda: Quash Human Rights Lawyer's Conviction

      • Ban Settlement Goods: Letters to MPs

      • Import of goods from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory - Early Day Motions

   2. Even if your MP has signed it, still email them!

9. 2025 Glasgow West AI group's 50th anniversary! - see Ideas doc here, inc.

   1. The Lord Provost's Office has suggested a Civic Reception for Amnesty Glasgow. Tuesday 28th October 6-7.30pm drinks reception & canapes - confirmed

   2. Speakers: Lord Provost (or one of their Deputes); Amnesty spokesperson about Amnesty in Glasgow over last 50 years.

   3. Discussed whether to have an external org speaker or only internal AI speakers

      1. Agreed only internal AI speakers

      2. Andrew to see if someone from Amnesty London office/board can come?

   4. Need to make a speech of what Amnesty has done over the last 50 yrs

      1. Take along key archive items for a small display

      2. ?? Christine to do a speech!

   5. Musician to provide background entertainment? People to ask through their networks

   6. Invitees: we've said we'll get 30 - set up eventbrite - Email AI office with email to go to all AI members

   7. Merle to review list of old members with Christine ; Andrew has asked Daytime group for suggestions - Thanks to Merle & Christine!

   8. Andrew has asked Rob for mailing list

   9. Claire to set Eventbrite link & share in Signal chat - no cap; Claire to monitor weekly; “close the sales” 2 days before

   10. Meal:

       1. Agreed best Saturday PM (Sat 13th December likely closest to co-incide with Write for Rights?)

       2. Could do meal and W4R combined - Human Rights Day this year = Wednesday 10.12.25 - do meal around then so people do letter writing and meal at same time - Sat/Sun in early Dec

       3. ?? Invite MPs / Councillors / MSPs

       4. ?? Apartheid free meal

       5. ‘Pay What You Can' tickets to cover costs

       6. Paolo to ask his catering friends for their input re format, etc

       7. Paolo spoke to someone from Maryhill Integ Centre

          • Council can suggest a community hall to do it

   11. Tree planting: Nov in Kelvingrove. Andrew in contact with Council re logistics, but still waiting on further info

   12. Andrew contacted Strathclyde University Journalism and Human Rights course leaders to see if they have students interested in developing some stories around the Group's archive materials.

       1. → looks like not a fit with current research - lecturer suggested we contact the Herald/Glasgow Times and gave us contacts

       2. Andrew has also contacted uni group & Daytime group to see if would like to be involved/if they have an archive also

       3. Andrew messaged Mal to see if there's any more. Mal has since liaised with Kirstie on documents / leaflets, etc that he had

10. Ban Israeli Settlement Goods Campaign Pack - here, general info here, launch presentation here

    1. calling on the UK Government to end its trade and business complicity in illegal Israeli settlements, and to hold Israel accountable for its flagrant violations of international law in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

       Does anyone want to take a lead on this? Getting us:

       • engaged with MPs

       • form coalitions with local Palestine Solidarity Campaign branch

       • Organise community Apartheid-Free Meal

       • Resources:

         • 2 template letters to MPs

         • the template Press Release for an Apartheid-Free Meal

         • local procurement ask to councillors here are the materials

         • Amika.George@amnesty.org.uk - forward any replies from MPs to Amika

11. Potential Speakers:

    1. Refugee Action - Andrew link up w Daytime group - maybe September

    2. Clara: potential speaker - journalist from Somalia - Clara to check his availability and if needs transport/accommodation costs

    3. Paulo: potential speaker (and try to invite all other AI Scotland groups to join online): law professor re. UK supreme court ruling that affects trans rights.

    4. AIUK Equality Network speaker - Ailig to look into - how to have conversations w family and friends

    5. [Amicus, link through Uni group: after find out about Death Penalty network]

12. Groups Planning Pack 2025 from central AIUK - some useful links, especially the Calendars with key events/trainings.

13. Local Group Updates

    1. Petition: Last year was the deadliest year for journalists. Add your voice to defend press freedom.

    2. Training: Tuesday 26 August - 18:00 - 19:30 - A Guide to Working with Schools

       1. Plan how you could work in schools, including discussing some key human rights case studies, including refugee rights and LGBTQ+ rights, and understand key duties that you have as an educator around safeguarding and inclusive practice.

    3. AIUK Local Group Updates – July link

14. AOB

    • Interesting press article: Starmer v Starmer: why is the former human rights lawyer so cautious about defending human rights? | Keir Starmer | The Guardian

    • Event at the Stand in aid of Medical Aid for Palestinians, 15.10.25: The UK, Gaza and the Media: In conversation with Peter Oborne - The Stand Comedy Club

    • This is a template to email your MP to support 40 young people in Gaza who currently have a place at UK universities: https://newscord.org/action/gaza-students - Currently, the UK govt won't let them come as they need biometric ID for their visa. As they can't do that in Gaza, the letter is asking for them to be allowed to come to the UK and provide the biometric requirements here.

    • Saturday 16.08.25 Demo for Gaza - Glasgow Green 12.30pm - organisation Glasgow Stop the War Coalition

    • Stop Trump Protest - 17.09.25, London - arranged by AIUK (Further info in Local Updates link)

    • Merle suggestion: We should refer to our organisation in full - Amnesty International, rather than the abbreviation AI. This is due to the increasingly common usage of the AI shorthand to refer to Artificial Intelligence. Agreed

    • Thanks to Claire, Kirsty & Andrew for sorting through a huge influx of resources from Mal's flat! We made this list of our current total leaflet / poster, banner, etc resources: Glasgow West Inventory - which will hopefully help us have more exciting stalls in future!

15. Next meeting - Thurs 11th September 2025, including GUEST SPEAKER! Motez Amer, AIUK Country Coordinator for Yemen & Saudi Arabia

2025 Meeting Dates

New Members very welcome!

The Group meets every second Thursday of each month at 7.30pm - 9pm.

The meetings take place at Woodlands Methodist Church, 229 Woodlands Road, G3 6LW

For further information contact mail@glasgowwestamnesty.org.uk

- Thursday 9th January 2025

- Thursday 13th February 2025

- Thursday 13th March 2025

- Thursday 10th April 2025

- Thursday 8th May 2025

- Thursday 12th June 2025

- Thursday 10th July 2025

- Thursday 14th August 2025

• Thursday 11th September 2025

• Thursday 9th October 2025

• Thursday 13th November 2025

• Thursday 11th December 2025

BETTER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN CURSE THE DARKNESS