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December 2025 Meeting + November Updates

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 11th 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 14th 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 19th 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

  11. AIUK Local Group Updates – October link (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:

  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

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