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April 2026 Meeting & March Updates

Thanks to everyone who is inolved in the creation 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 April 2026 meeting;

  • Updates on recent and planned events and actions;

  • A summary of AIUK's latest Local Group updates;

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

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

April 2026 Glasgow West AI Group Meeting

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

The Glasgow West Amnesty Group's next meeting will take place on Thursday 9th April 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 recent Community Meal for Palestine event;

  • Discussion and planning on upcoming future events/actions; 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).

Scottish Parliamentary Elections – Keeping Human Rights to the Fore

As the country heads towards the Scottish Parliamentary Elections on 7th May, Amnesty International is seeking to ensure that candidates and parties understand and promote the importance of human rights in their policies. As part of this, Amnesty Scotland has worked with a range of other civil society organisations to develop a Human Rights Manifesto for Scotland.

People in Scotland want to see a fair and just society, where nobody has to struggle for essentials like housing, food, healthcare, and a safety net for life's uncertainties.

That's why Amnesty is calling on candidates in the Scottish Election to support its call for a new Human Rights Bill that would help protect the rights that everyone needs for a decent standard of living.

You can read more info here for further information and to email your local candidates and urge them to support a Human Rights Bill in the next Scottish Parliament.

Amnesty International Urges Police Scotland to Drop Facial Recognition

Amnesty International has demanded that Police Scotland abandon plans to explore the use of live facial recognition technology on Scotland's streets, describing the technology as ‘incompatible with Scotland's human rights obligations.

Amnesty warned that implementing facial recognition technology would represent a historic shift in the relationship between the police and the public.

For further information, read more here.

Glasgow Amnesty's Community Meal for Palestine

Volunteers from across the three Glasgow Amnesty Groups, together with Ashraf from AIUK, at the Community Meal for Palestine event (Photo credit – Amnesty Glasgow West Group)

Posters from the Gaza Faces campaign provided the poignant backdrop to a recent community event organised by the Glasgow West Amnesty Group.

The focus of the event was on bringing local people together for a community meal, raising awareness of the immense ongoing challenges within Palestine, whilst also raising funds for a voluntary organisation that provides a range of practical support for Palestinians.

Over sixty people attended the event held in Woodside Halls, Glasgow on Sunday 22nd March.

A wide range of contributors spoke of the ongoing crisis and egregious human rights abuses that continue to take place within Palestine, despite the supposed ceasefire.

Speakers included representatives of Hadeel, a Fairtrade shop based in Edinburgh which exclusively sells Palestinian goods; Palcafe; a community-owned charity based in Glasgow, which aims to tackle poverty, promote education and support ethical trade in Palestine; Ashraf from AIUK; Emma from Amnesty's Student Action Network; and Deline Abushaban, a Palestinian author, based in Glasgow who recited poems she had written conveying her feelings on the loss of close family relatives and the wider injustices visited upon the Palestinian people. The event was MC'd by Paolo from the Amnesty Glasgow West Group, who developed the idea for the event and whose energy and enthusiasm helped drive it to successful fruition.

The meal included traditional Palestinian food, as well as dishes from other regions. Raffle prizes and some of the foodstuffs were donated by local businesses and Amnesty supporters. This included stunning stained glass panels donated by Glasgow's Jangling Space artists' co-operative.

The event raised £400 for Ele Elna Elak, a volunteer-driven initiative dedicated to supporting Palestinian families in need.

We are grateful to everyone who made the event such an outstanding success, including each of the speakers, the chefs, those buying tickets or making donations and the volunteers from across the three Amnesty local Groups.

A drawing produced by Kelvin, one of the young people attending the Community Meal for Palestine event (Photo credit – Amnesty Glasgow West Group)

North Glasgow Against Racism

Our local Amnesty Group is hoping to both take part in the march, as well as hosting a stall, at the North Glasgow Against Racism event on Sunday 12th April.

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.

You can read more on our local LGU archive.

Scotland 2026: Campaigning for Human Rights

Our Scotland team has produced a toolkit setting out what Amnesty activists can do to promote and campaign for human rights in the run up to the Scottish parliamentary election on 7 May 2026.

The toolkit includes practical guidance on engaging with candidates and local media in your constituency or region with the aim of demonstrating local support for human rights and securing commitments to advancing Amnesty's policy asks in the next parliament.

If you have any questions about its contents, please don't hesitate to get in touch by emailing scotland@amnesty.org.uk

Get the Toolkit here

Together Alliance March Against The Far Right

On Saturday 28 March hundreds of Amnesty members across the country took part in the Together Alliance march in London.

The march was a loud and proud celebration of love, unity, and togetherness in response to rising division, and with an estimated half a million joining, was the largest anti-racist demonstration in UK history. The Amnesty bloc was at least 400 strong, with many local groups standing alongside members from our anti-racism, feminist, trade union, queer rights, and disabled people human rights networks. \emoji{raised-fist-medium-skin-tone}

Together we sent a powerful message that when human rights are under attack, Amnesty activists will be there to fight back.

Thank you so much to everyone who marched, let's keep up this momentum to support everyone inspired by Saturday to turn that fire and hope into sustained organising for human rights in their communities.

Right To Repair & 'Drained'

Revise the Current 'Right to Repair' regulations

We demand that the UK Government revise the current ‘right to repair' regulations to include smartphones, cordless phones, tablets, and laptops.

Right to repair regulations make it law that when you buy certain products, you have a right to repair them when they break - but it does not include smartphones, tablets or laptops. This means that people are trapped in a constant cycle of replacing these pieces of tech.

This is bad for the environment, bad for your pocket, and only good for the profit of huge companies.

Sign the Petition

Drained: Exposing the Hidden Cost of Technology

The AIUK Anti-Racism Network recently hosted a webinar on 12 March, introducing their Drained campaign and shining a light on how big tech's extractionist practices fuel global injustice.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the discussion.

You can catch the full recording on YouTube

Access the full Recording

Sudan – 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

Learning at Amnesty UK

This month the Human Right's Education team is highlighting one new course and two trainings opportunities!

Check out our new activist education pages with links to a wide range of self-paced learning courses and training: Activist Education.

This month ahead of the local and Scottish elections you might be interested in exploring the course on "An Introduction to Human Rights Advocacy" which will introduce you to the essential principles of advocacy and explore practical skills to make your efforts effective: Defending Human Rights

In Solidarity the Human Rights Education Team!

March 2026 Updates

Amnesty Glasgow West Group Meeting Thurs 12th March 2026

Minutes

Link to February meeting email here

  1. Welcome and apologies

    1. Attendance: Clara (Chair), Carol, Ken, Pam, Merle, Andrew, Kirstie, Christine & Luca.

    2. Apologies: Claire, Neil, Lauren, Paolo, Mhairi

  2. Agreement of previous meeting minutes link

  3. Team Updates (list of roles here):

    1. Treasurer

      1. postage from letters:

      2. other expenditure: AI affiliation fees - £336 pa

      3. donations: £425 raised from raffle and collection tins at Comedy Fundraiser. £1,688 raised via ticket sales which went directly to AIUK Charitable Trust.

      4. current balance: £1,495

      5. The Stand Fundraiser

    2. Social Media & website (Lauren): Coming off Twitter: 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 - done? (Lauren not at the meeting to provide SM update)

      • New Community Platform - any update?

    3. Regional/Country focus (Clara)

    4. Local Political Outreach (Paolo)

    5. Prisoner of Conscience/Individual At Risk (Mhairi)

      Not currently active: Theme Focus US Death Penalty

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

    Carol updated that Daytime Group would now meet in Partick library, 305 Dumbarton Rd on the third Thursday of each month at 2pm.

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

    1. Updates from Tuesday 17.02.26 meeting with liaisons from all AIUK groups in Scotland & Ashraf?

    2. Do we want to organise “Persuasive Conversation Activation Session” ahead of the election? Ashraf can come and help train and coordinate the sessions. More info: https://6AQ2Ay.short.gy/67orxR

      Clara also updated on the issue of community organising / storytelling in collaboration with other via the AIUK training programme. Likewise, Carol highlighted the description by Josh of AIUK of the Montgomery, Alabama, being a highly organised boycott, with the economic impact causing bus companies and other authorities to change policy.

    3. Encourage all to join the recurring training sessions - link here: https://calendly.com/events-amnesty

  6. Amnesty Scotland Hustings - As part of the Human Rights Consortium Scotland. Event takes place on 1st April at 7pm - 8.15pm. Online event. Register via link below.

    Eventbrite Link

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

    Ongoing issues with Urgent Actions due to AI website changes. Currently digital UAs available from UK website and International website; US website includes some downloadable UAs.

  8. Meal! Community Meal Sunday 22.03.26

    1. Huge thanks to Ken & Luca for emailing hundreds of orgs! Local organisations / stakeholders) (Including Jangling Space, who donated artwork for our raffle)

    2. Get & print Action from Amnesty -

    3. Get / check: tablecloths, power outlet; extension cables, water containers, urns for coffee, takeaway boxes for leftover food, cloth for wiping table; dishcloths for drying, bin bags, scissors, mic & sound system, Vegware crockery/cutlery/cups

    4. Buy more raffle tickets books & gather raffle ticket prizes - Kirstie

    5. Take from the our stock: donation tins, card reader, generic Amnesty flyers, badges, stickers, archive materials, media consent poster/raffle poster - Andrew

    6. Musicians? Check: if venue has PRS licence for playing music - Paolo

    7. Time: 10am set-up, 11.30am-12.30pm Speakers; Lunch 12.30pm-2pm; Mingle 2pm-3pm - need to confirm programme & include on posters

      • Actions: we'll only have the Palestine Action petition that is on the Amnesty website to not overwhelm folks. Link to be shared in the chat so Merle can create a QR code to it
      • We agreed that the proceeds from ticket sales would go back to the group to cover the event's expenses. The proceeds from the raffle and donations would go to Ele Elna Elak, as we've advertised the event as a fundraiser
      • @Lauren Turriani : could you please boost the event on Facebook to get more ticket sales?

    11. Rota needed for us to check toilets every hour - Claire to draw up rota

    12. Roles:

      1. 6 “stewards” needed - Mhairi, Clara, Andrew, Lucile, Emma, others tbc

      2. Volunteers to wear Amnesty t-shirts, if possible

      3. Entrance Desk - collect payments/donations; make people aware of food re. allergies / vegan etc

      4. Sell raffle tickets (suggest at a second entrance desk

      5. 10 am at venue to set up: Paolo, Clara, Carole, Christine, Claire, Andrew

      6. Claire / Christine / Kirstie to be at the door to welcome guests, take payment, ask for dietary restrictions. Kirstie to keep track of how much should go recoup expenses and how much should go to Ele Ena Elak.

      7. Paolo to act as MC at the event

      8. Prizes so far: champagne, Palestinian olive oil, stained glass. Please bring a little something for the raffle, if you can

  9. Apple Demo April 1st - unlikely to be a priority for us

  10. 2026 Plan for the year ahead - Glasgow West 2026 Planner.docx

  11. 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?

  12. Community mapping - anyone interested?

  13. AOB

    AIUK Local Group Updates

    Next meeting - Thurs 9th April 2026

    Future Meeting

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

    Potential Speakers for 2026:

    • [Refugee Action - potentially joint event with Daytime group - awaiting update from Graham in 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

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