You are viewing an archived copy of the Local Groups Updates page, hosted by the Glasgow West Amnesty International group.

Monthly Mailing for Amnesty UK Local Groups

Hi friend,  
 

Welcome to your August 2026 Local Group Mailing. 🌻


In this month's edition of the Local Group Mailing, you will be able to read about:



if you do wish to share any updates, for our September mailing please send your entries and stories to Pip by the 21 September at the latest.

Please do get in touch with any questions or queries.

Wishing you all a lovely June!

The Local Activism Team!
 
 

Office Led Campaigns

Individuals at Risk
IAR

Individuals at Risk - Campaign Updates

Urgent Action:
Release disappeared Kazakh writer Zhengis Reskhan

Prominent Kazakh writer Zhengis Reskhan has been detained in Xinjiang, China, since March 2026. His family has received no official information about his whereabouts or legal status.
 
Zhengis

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Zanuta
 

Urgent Action:
Tell Israel to let Zanuta's displaced villagers go home
 

250 Palestinians, including 100 children, were forced to flee Zanuta village due to violent raids by Israeli settlers. Three years on, the community still hasn't returned home.

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Urgent Action:
Free Venezuela's 'Rodeo I' political prisoners

As the devastating consequences of the earthquakes that struck Venezuela on 24 June 2026 unfold, hundreds of politically motivated arbitrary detainees remain unfairly imprisoned.
 
Rodeo

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Andro
 

Urgent Action:
Quash the conviction of Georgian actor Andro Chichinadze
 

On 3 September 2025, famous actor Andro Chichinadze was unfairly sentenced to two years in prison on seemingly political grounds.
Take Action

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IAR and Defending the Right to Protest
IAR - PTP

78,877 people have signed. Help us get to 90,000


Help us to support our Right to protest campaign including working with Defend our Juries and training and managing teams of observers who have been attending recent court dates and peaceful protests.

You may have seen recently, an important and deeply concerning update on the ongoing legal challenge to the government’s proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act. On Monday 15 June the Court of Appeal overturned the earlier High Court decision that had found the ban unlawful. This means the original proscription is reinstated: Palestine Action remains banned, and expressing support for the group continues to be treated as a criminal offence.

Amnesty UK intervened in this case because we believe this represents a serious misuse of counter-terror powers to suppress protest. We remain clear: using terrorism legislation in this way risks undermining fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Palestine Action has announced its intention to appeal to the Supreme Court. If the case proceeds, Amnesty will again seek to intervene to ensure human rights arguments are heard at the highest level.

Amnesty UK along with colleagues from the IS have been managing teams of observers at these actions, observing the position of the event and arrests.

Many gathered in solidarity, while others — including activists from Defend Our Juries — peacefully held signs, only to be arrested one by one. Their courage and commitment are a powerful reminder of why defending protest rights matters.
This is a difficult moment, but it is not the end. Now more than ever, we must speak out.

👉 Take action today:
Sign and share our petition calling on the UK government to end the prosecution of peaceful protesters.
Together, our voices can challenge this shameful chapter and push back against this erosion of our rights.
Sign the Petition
 

Palantir - Day of Action!
Palantir

Hi everyone,

As you know, on Thursday 1 October – there will be an International Day of Action Palantir, with patients, NHS workers and activists across the country joining protests outside key targets to show that local resistance to Palantir’s NHS contract is coordinated and united.

This is being planned with a global movement of activists and organisations across North America, South America and Europe - we’re all showing up on one day to demand an end to all contracts and partnerships with Palantir. 
 
Check out the Day of Action webpage here, which will feature a map of local actions taking place on the day.
Join one near you!
Or, if your group would like to organise a local action that day, please reach out to Amika George by Tuesday 1 September at the latest. 
Let me know your:

  • meeting point
  • start time
  • and end time


There will also be a rally outside Palantir HQ in Soho Square, London, at 6pm. More details to come.

We’re excited to be working together with Healthworkers for a Free Palestine, Just Treatment, Medact, Palestine Solidarity Campaign UK, Global Justice Now, Good Law Project, Keep our NHS Public, We Own It, and Pull the Plug on this day of action, and encourage local collaboration and coordination with activists taking action against Palantir!

I also wanted to share the news that sadly I’m leaving Amnesty on Thursday 3 September.

I've loved this role: working with local groups to organise campaigns, and getting to learn from your passion for human rights and local activism has been a real privilege.

Thank you for your dedication to local activism, and for the diligence, care, and passion you've brought to everything we've worked on together - from Palestine and Palantir to racial justice and everything in between.

Local Activism Team will continue to support all the Palantir work and we are currently in the process of appointing a new Community Organiser for Local Activism.

In solidarity,
Amika – Community Organiser, Local Activism
Day of Action Webpage
 

Protect the Protest 

Call for support
PtP

Want to help us tell the story of protest in the UK?

Send us your protest videos for a chance to feature in an Amnesty International documentary about protest in the UK. Amnesty is collecting video footage from members of protests across the UK to feature in a new documentary, 'The Fight to be Heard'. Due for release in Autumn 2026, the documentary will examine the crackdown on freedom of expression in the UK and why the right to protest matters.
 
We are looking for videos of peaceful protests in the UK across a range of human rights protests (such as disability, anti-racist and LGBTQ+ movements) as well as videos of protest policing. These can be taken on a phone or camera! We are looking for wide shots that capture the scale, atmosphere and collective nature of protests. Please avoid uploading close ups of individuals and any videos featuring anyone under the age of 18. 


To submit footage, please complete the form.
Share your protest videos form

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Resisting Authoritarianism

#SafetyNotSurveillance - Town Hall Events
Resting

The #SafetyNotSurveillance is a coalition of grassroots and civil society organisations working at the intersections of racial justice, migrant justice, criminal legal system accountability and tech. Amnesty International UK is a part of the coalition through our Resisting Authoritarianism work. 

The #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition are hosting a series of Town Hall events across September and October and we like to invite our activists to attend.

These Town Hall events are relevant to our Automated Racism report that we published last year that found that the increasingly widespread use of data-based policing is leading to the criminalisation, punishment and violent policing of Black and racialised people, and people from deprived areas, based on who they are, their backgrounds, where they live, and who they associate with.
You can find the report alongside an interactive map of the use of these technologies by police forces across the UK here. 

These community townhalls will explore how AI and ‘crime-predicting’ technologies are being used in local police forces, the harms and risks of their continued roll out, and what action local communities and councils can take to invest in true, lasting community safety.

Please see below details of the upcoming three events.

London: 17 September 2026, 6:00-9:00pm

Manchester:  24 September 2026, 6:00pm-9:00pm

Bristol: 1 October 2026, 6:00-9:00pm 
 

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📽️ Amnesty documentary launch and panel discussion
Wednesday 30 September

LONDON EVENT - The Fight to Be Heard: Amnesty documentary launch and panel discussion.


Wednesday 30 September 2026, 7pm, Rich Mix Cinema, London (Bethnal Green)
Join Amnesty UK & guests for this exclusive first screening of a new film about the power of protest, followed by a panel discussion.

We are witnessing one of the most aggressive crackdowns on protest in UK history. From solidarity with Palestinians to climate change, gender justice to workers’ rights, the reasons why we protest may be different. But the need – and right – to be heard is universal.

The Fight to be Heard is a powerful new documentary by Amnesty International UK that explores the human story behind protest, asking what it means to people and why we do it – despite the risks. Featuring testimony from activists from all over the UK and organisations such as Just Stop Oil, Black Lives Matter, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Disabled People Against Cuts, Save British Farming, Defend our Juries and more, this documentary explores the current threats to protest and how we can come together to resist.

Join us for this exclusive first opportunity to watch this powerful film, followed by a panel discussion featuring special guests including actor and activist Khalid Abdalla. Further guests to be announced.

The event will take place at Rich Mix cinema in Bethnal Green at 7pm on Wednesday 30 September.

Tickets will be available soon on Eventbrite. Please email Rebecca Barnes if you’d like to be sent the booking link.

Tickets will be priced £5 for standard and £3 for low-waged or student. If the price is a barrier to entry, please let us know.
 

📅 Wednesday 30 September 2026
🕑 7:00pm - Onwards
📍 Rich Mix Cinema, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 63LA 
🎫 £5 Standard / £3 low-waged or student

 
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Screen the new Amnesty UK short film: The Fight to be Heard - Host your own Film Screening
Resting

Following on from the launch we are inviting Local groups to host your own documentary screening!


This 20-minute short film will focus on the human stories - why do we do take part, what are the personal benefits and why is it so vital we protect our right to protest. In the face of an increasing crackdown on this right by the UK Government, this film is essential viewing.

If you’d like to host a screening of the film later this year, please fill out our interest form here.

From contacting your local cinema to holding in a private space, we will send you a toolkit with advice on how to make the most of your own screening event.
Expression of Interest
 

Social Security

Petition: Prime Minister: Protect the right to food in UK law
Right to food

6,360 people have signed. Help us get to 10,000


Call on the new Prime Minister to introduce a Right to Food Bill and make governments accountable for ensuring everyone can afford and access food.

Today, 14.1 million people in the UK are experiencing food insecurity. But this is a consequence of political decisions, not personal choices.

None of us should have to skip meals, rely on food banks, or choose between eating and paying the rent.

Add your name to our petition calling on the new UK Prime Minister to make the right to food part of UK law.
Sign the Petition!

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The Realities of Poverty in the UK - Correction
Poverty

Last month we shared a link to the Webinar. Please note that the link may not have been accessible and we are hereby sharing the YouTube link to the recording.


The organisations on the panel were:
Himmah is a Nottingham-based grassroots and social justice charity that exists to dismantle structural poverty and racism by building community power, cultural infrastructure, and collective ownership. It brings together food support, community spaces, culture, and organising to respond to hardship while building long-term community power. Read the ‘Drivers of Debt’ report referred to in the webinar.

Women’s Budget Group is the UK’s leading feminist economic think tank. It is a research, advocacy and training organisation advancing gender equality in policymaking through feminist approaches to economics. Working nationally and internationally, it builds the evidence, data, knowledge, capacity and will for change. Please see their recent reports:
Where do we go from here? An intersectional analysis of women’s living standards since 2010
Green and caring homes for gender climate justice

Disability Rights UK is the UK’s leading Disabled People's Organisation (DPO) led by, run by, and working for Disabled people. It works with other DPOs, public bodies, businesses and Government across the UK to influence regional and national change for better rights, accessibility, benefits, quality of life and economic opportunities for Disabled people.

If you’d like any more information, please email everydayrights@amnesty.org.uk
Poverty Webinar: Recording
 

Scrap Prevent - Campaign Update
Prevent

UK: Discussion on scrapping the Prevent programme 'long overdue'
 

In response to reports that the Green Party's crime and justice working group has proposed scrapping Prevent, Rebecca Barnes, Racial Justice Campaigner at Amnesty International UK said:

"A discussion on scrapping the ineffective and discriminatory Prevent programme is long overdue. It is clear that Prevent stigmatises and disproportionality targets racialised and Muslim communities, as well as children or neurodiverse people, who often need support rather than being treated as potential terrorists. Meanwhile extremism and racism continue to rise, and Prevent’s own data shows it to be ineffective to meet this challenge. Data released last year shows that despite record levels of referrals, 80% of cases were not deemed in need of intervention by Channel, the UK government’s deradicalisation programme. We hope the Greens will adopt this policy and other parties follow suit."
 

Resources

IOPT

Netanyahu is still a wanted man

While a fragile ceasefire is setting in in Gaza, we know that there can be no peace without justice and no justice without accountability. Last year the International Criminal Court put out an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu – Israel’s Prime Minister who has presided over a genocide in Gaza. Remind your community of this fact and demand his arrest by putting up these wanted posters in public spaces around your community.

You can order your poster by contacting the Activism Team.   

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Social Security in the UK

EVERYDAY RIGHTS - RESOURCES


 
A selection of badges and Stickers can now be ordered. 
 
  • ESCR Stickers - Poverty = Political Choice 15 PER SHEET
  • ESCR Stickers - I (heart) Everyday Rights 15 PER SHEET
  • ESCR Badges - Poverty = Political Choice SINGLES
  • ESCR Badges - I (heart) Everyday Rights SINGLES
 
 

Action Across Amnesty

Country Coordinators

Country Coordinators continue to lead a huge amount of Amnesty’s case campaigning work and are always looking for more support with their campaigning. You can see the details of those campaigns in the monthly activist mailing below.
 
If you and your group are interested in working on IAR cases from a particular country or region the CCs brilliantly placed to support this. 
 
You can find all of their contact information here and you can reach out to them directly to get involved in campaigning on the cases they are prioritising or on any other case you might be interested in.
 
You can also contact the Activism team directly to request access to a casefile to work on with your group: activism@amnesty.org.uk

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South Asia 
South Asia

Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh – Blog and Activist Led Campaign

The situation for the 1.2 million refugees in Bangladesh is deteriorating.  UNHCR reported that Bangladesh has far more forcibly displaced people than any other country.  In July 2026, UNHCR called on the international community not to forget the refugees in Bangladesh.  The UN Human Rights council called for “urgent action to support the humanitarian response to the hosting of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, recognising the shared responsibility of the international community.”
 

Please see the latest Blog on the AIUK website.
Rohinga

The latest Blog on the AIUK website highlights the issues including: violence in the camps, lack of education, floods, landslides, women forced into sex work, the dangers of escaping by sea and most importantly the impact of funding cuts.

A new Activist Led Campaign will bring the deteriorating humanitarian conditions to the attention of the UK Government and will urge the UK government to act diplomatically and financially to ensure the Bangladesh government provides reasonable living standards for Rohingya refugees.

For more information, please contact Jerry Allen Jerry Allen and Ruby Moe, and visit the Amnesty Community Platform

 

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Garment Workers Campaign Webinar – 6 October 7:30pm
Garment workers Aug 2026

Wirksworth Amnesty Group is organising a webinar on the Garment Workers Campaign.  Dominique Muller, who researched the issue for Amnesty International will be speaking.  There will be an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the campaign.

The Garment Workers Activist Led Campaign focuses on the four key producing countries in South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan).  It is part of the global Amnesty International campaign, which is the result of two years of research.  The research surveyed 21 brands.  The UK campaign is particularly important because we are the home of more of the brands than other countries. Please see the blog on targeting UK brands.

Two reports outline the barriers to worker organising and freedom of association created by the state, the employers and global fashion companies.  The reports looked at the ongoing endemic human rights abuses including poverty wages, gender-based violence, harassment, union busting and precarity of employment.

Dominique Muller researched and wrote the two reports. Dominique has previously worked at the ITUC in Hong Kong and the Clean Clothes Campaign network. She currently works at the UK based Labour Behind the Label which campaigns for garment worker rights globally as well as in the UK and the Corporate Justice Coalition which calls for UK Business Human Rights and Environment legislation.

📅 Tuesday 6 October 2026
🕑 7:30am - 8:30pm
📍 Online - Microsoft Teams meeting
Meeting ID: 361 747 160 329 500
Passcode: iB67NW96

For more information, please contact Jerry Allen Jerry Allen, and visit our Amnesty Community Platform!
Join the Webinar

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Europe Coordinator - Türkiye
CC Turkey

Türkiye: Former subject of Write for Rights campaign stresses the value of solidarity messages for Individuals at Risk.        

 
Forensic medicine expert and human rights defender Professor Şebnem Korur Fincancı, whose case was included in the Write for Rights campaign in 2024, has dedicated her life to eradicating torture and defending human rights. Trying to silence her, the Turkish authorities have subjected Şebnem to baseless criminal investigations.
 
In 2023, she was convicted for allegedly “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” after she had called for an investigation into allegations that the Turkish military was using chemical weapons in Iraq.
 
Şebnem is appealing against her conviction but could be imprisoned for almost two years if unsuccessful.
 
In her inspirational article “We will never walk alone”, she describes the life enhancing impact of receiving solidarity messages from thousands of people all around the world and encourages us to recognise the crucial importance of being able to feel another person's pain and act on their behalf as an expression of our shared humanity.                                             
                 
For more information contact Chris Ramsey - Country Coordinator for Türkiye (Europe Region team AIUK) 
Read the full Article here
 

Thematic Networks

Anti Death Penalty Project

A quick apology from the Anti Death Penalty Project

We have discovered a ‘black hole’ into which messages to ADPP were disappearing. We are now monitoring that route and have hopefully fixed the problem. If you have attempted to contact us in the past but received no response it is not indifference on our part. It may well be that your message went into that black hole. Do please stay in touch either via email: deathpenalty@amnesty.org.uk or via our page on the Amnesty Community Platform. We will monitor the mailbox and Community Platform on a weekly basis.

World Day Against the Death Penalty

This year we will use the World Day Against the Death Penalty (WDADP) to mark the launch of a new campaign highlighting the use of the death penalty as a tool of repression and intimidation.

We have seen many examples of this around the world including:
 

  • The imposition of death sentences by the Chinese government on Uyghurs simply for trying to maintain their culture and language
  • The execution of protesters in Iran on spurious charges such as ‘enmity against God’.
     
Repression of this type is a cynical and flagrant violation of international law which states that the death penalty should be reserved only for the most serious crimes (i.e. intentional killing).
     
In the week commencing the 5 of October 2026 (date still TBC) we will be running a webinar in which:
 
  • We will explain the purpose of the campaign
  • We will hear from Country Coordinators of countries that are guilty of this practice
  • Explain what we are going to do including an event to be held in the New Year
  • Explain how you can get involved

We will give you more details including date and time in next month’s newsletter, so keep an eye out!
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UN - Network: Embassy Crawl
UN Network

Stop mass atrocities – Stop abuse of UN Security Council veto
Embassy Crawl - London, Saturday 5 September 2026
 

Join us for a day of rallies calling on the five permanent members of the Security Council – China, France, Russia, UK & US – to stop using their veto power to block action aimed at stopping mass atrocities. We start at the Chinese Embassy in the morning and will go on to the embassies of France, Russia and the US, finishing at the FCDO – and winding the day up with a meal together.

📅 Saturday 5 September 2026
🕑 9:30am - 5:30pm
📍 Chinese Embassy W1B 1JL
🎫 Donations are welcome!

If you aren’t able to spend the whole day with us, you can choose to participate at just one or so of the rallies.

Timetable for the Embassy Crawl on the 5 September 2026 - please note this is subject (hopefully not) to change.

Please do come and join us for all or part of the day. We will be protesting at the various locations, but not in between.
Embasy Crawl

If you aren’t able to spend the whole day with us, you can choose to participate at just one or so of the rallies.

Further details will be confirmed in July/August 2026. In the meantime, please contact amnestyunnetwork@gmail.com to let us know you’d like to join and for more information.

Want to know more about the UN Network? Please visit the Amnesty Community Platform

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UK Guantanamo Network: Expression of Interest 
Guantanamo NW

For over two decades, Guantanamo Bay has stood as a symbol of injustice, indefinite detention, and the erosion of human rights. Dozens of men remain imprisoned without charge or fair trial, their lives defined by legal limbo and political inaction.

Despite promises from world leaders, the prison remains open – not out of necessity, but because the political will to close it has not been forced into action.

We refuse to let Guantanamo be forgotten. Through political action, legal advocacy, and public education, we are working to end this injustice once and for all. Justice delayed is justice denied – but together, we can make change happen.

It is the 25th Anniversary in January 2027 and we have started planning to mark this horrific date. 

We are looking to organise monthly vigil outside Parliament in London - if anyone is interested in joining the network please contact Mark Clixby  -Guantanamo Network.

Want to know more about the Guantanamo Network? Please visit the Amnesty Community Platform.
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QRN Network - Call to Action
QRN

 🌈Support Amnesty’s Queer Rights Network campaign against creeping library censorship :book:


As you might be experiencing in your communities, the UK is experiencing a wave of censorship in our public and school libraries, especially on books or displays with LGBTQI+ themes. In some cases, this is the result of direct instruction from management or local authorities - Index on Censorship have documented that 53% of school librarians have been asked to remove books and a third of public libraries have been asked to censor their collections. In other cases, the chilling effect of anti-rights violence and pressure is causing libraries to self-censor, desperate not to attract attention and attacks.

Library staff and LGBTQI+ communities are sounding the alarm and need our support. The creeping pressure that seeks to erase experiences, voices and lives from our shelves and from public life must be met and countered.
Amnesty Queer Rights Network’s “Reading for Resistance” campaign asks libraries and bookshops to sign up to a covenant that unifies them in solidarity in their determination to be safe and representative spaces.

Can you help by asking your local library and bookshops to become one of the founding signatories of the Queer Stories Covenant?

Ask them to sign up here. They’ll receive a poster to display proudly in their window and be part of a vibrant network against censorship of any kind.
Queer Stories Covenant 

Alternatively, you can contact them in writing, inviting them to become one of the founding signatories of the Queer Stories Covenant. Please see below Queer Stories Covenant Outreach template, for you to use.


For more information please email Queer Rights Network or visit the Amnesty Community Platform
Outreach Template

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Join our Thematic Networks
Join a network

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:
 
 
 

Fundraising Update

Individual Giving 

Amnesty 65th Anniversary raffle
65th anniversary

Advanced age can often leave people more vulnerable to injury, disease, and illness. But instead of living in safety, Israel’s unlawful and inhumane actions in Gaza are leaving older people without access to critical healthcare, medications, food, and shelter. According to UN reporting, at least 5,100 older people have been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces since October 2023 – and this figure doesn’t even include indirect deaths due to destroyed health infrastructure.

Despite promises made in the October 2025 ‘ceasefire’, older people are still faced with unlawful attacks, severe food deprivation and the collapse of essential services. With tens of thousands suffering, there is no time to waste. 

But it’s not just in Gaza. Older people are living in dangers conditions in so many countries around the world. Your donation could help Amnesty International expose human rights abuses against older people; and help the campaign to ensure that older people are properly protected by international law.
Enter today!

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Say no to Genocide links in our NHS
No palanti

Palantir’s contract with Israel’s military – agreed during Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza – raises grave human rights concerns. As you may know, in 2023 NHS England awarded a £330 million contract to Palantir to build a Federated Data Platform which aims to connect data on a national and local scale. This contract is up for renewal in February 2027, and key decisions are being made very soon. But objections to Palantir’s role in the NHS are shared by a range of organisations, including human rights organisations, patient advocacy groups and health worker groups.

As one critic of the agreement, Dr Khaled Dawas, a surgeon who works for the NHS, explained: "As health workers we are guided by a simple principle: first, do no harm. That should include NHS procurement. Public health institutions should not work with a company if there is a risk that their technology is being used to support genocide."

We now have a clear choice: we either allow a company linked to human rights abuses to become embedded in our NHS – or we act now to stop it and protect the values our health service should stand for. Please donate today to help fund our vital campaign to get Palantir out of the NHS.
GIVE TODAY

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Local Group Fundraising Update 

This month's fundraising update is a short one with news of a successful AMNESTEA organised by the Church Stretton Group and a reminder that we're asking groups to follow the lead of the Amnesty Scotland in organising fundraising/awareness raising walks in solidarity with Andro Chichinadze.

August Fundraising Report

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Community and Events Fundraising 
AIUK Marathon

With the Spring sunshine and the buzz of the London Marathon, along with the very evident continuing need for Amnesty’s work given the world situation, now feels like a powerful moment to say we would love to have any supporters come and run for rights as part of Team Amnesty and raise vital funds for our work.

We have our biggest ever teams in two exceptional sell-out Autumn half marathons, and what’s more, we currently have 50% off registration fees for these events:

  1. Royal Parks Half Marathon- Sunday 11 October - a team of 300 human rights defenders
  2. Big Half Marathon - Sunday 6 September - a team of 150 human rights defenders

Places are going quickly, so sign up whilst places last! You can learn more and sign up here: Sign up to run with Team Amnesty

If you sign up, we provide an Amnesty running vest, fundraising materials and tips, and access to a bespoke training plan from a running coach dependent on your current running level, so no prior experience is needed.
If you aren’t a runner but know someone who is, please do pass this opportunity on to them and we also love to welcome one and all to our event day cheer points to show the runners the tlc they deserve. If you have any questions you can message/email me or anyone in the Community and Events Fundraising Team team@amnesty.org.uk
Sign up to run with Team Amnesty!
 
 

Community Organising
 

Community Platform 
CP

Come and join us! 🙌

The Community Platform will offer a much more effective way to connect with other Amnesty Activists and Amnesty staff and strengthen the movement.


 

Want to know about upcoming events in your area?


Want to find out how to post about one of you upcoming events and actions?
 
Looking forward to seeing you on the Community Platform. 🧑🏾‍🤝‍🧑🏼
Join the Community Platform
 

Digital Transformation
This document outlines Amnesty UK’s Digital Transformation Programme, which is improving systems, tools, and online spaces to better support activism, campaigning, and collaboration. It explains key developments such as replacing the CRM, launching a new website, creating a Knowledge Hub, and introducing the Amnesty Community platform 
 
It also clarifies how the website and Community platform serve different roles, why content like blogs and events has moved, how resources are divided between staff and activists, and how the platform ensures safety and accessibility. Finally, it highlights ongoing improvements, plans, and practical updates such as website changes and search functionality.
Digital Transformation Update
 

General Communications

Activist Essential Training - Reminder 
Essential Training

If you are a Lead Activist or a Community Platform Moderator and for compliance reasons you have to complete three essential trainings.

  • GDPR
  • Safeguarding
  •  IDEA (IDEA is optional to complete for CP moderators).

Please contact Charlotte Vigueur at [insert email address] so you can be added on the e-learning platform Moodle if you are either a Lead Activist or a Community Platform Moderator.


We've created an explainer video on how to get on Moodle, please watch in here for clearer instructions: Clipchamp

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Policy: Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in AIUK Activist

The purpose of this policy is to be clear how Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used by Amnesty International UK (AIUK) in the course of its work in ways that mean the tools are selected and used appropriately, securely, and ethically. It also establishes oversight and monitoring measures to support legal compliance and effective policy management.

This policy applies to anyone employed by AIUK as well as paid contractors, volunteers under instruction from AIUK, members of both AIUK Boards and any Board sub-committees, consultants or suppliers when using Artificial Intelligence tools for AIUK organisational purposes.

Thank you!
Use of AI Policy

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New office Address

Please see below the New office address for Amnesty International UK
 
Amnesty International United Kingdom Section
2nd Floor, Peter Benenson House
1 Easton Street
London
WC1X 0DW

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Your Local Group Mailing

If you would like to message Amnesty supporters in your Local Area, you can do this by requesting a Your Local Group mailing - YLG to be sent to out.

Requesting a Your LG Mailing to invite members and supporters in your region.

To request the mailing please email Activism team activism@amnesty.org.uk
 
  • Advising them the Post codes you wish to send the mailing to
  • When you are looking to send out the mailing (date). Please note that we normally require a notice of 7-10 workdays
  • Provide the Blurb and any links and images you wish to share

Important note on timeline of requesting Your LG Mailings:
If you are looking to advertise an event with Your LG Mailing, we recommend for the mailing to be sent about 1 week prior to the event. As we require a notice period of 7-10 workdays to schedule a mailing, we kindly ask for Your LG Mailings to be requested ideally 3 weeks prior to the event.

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Bank Account Set Up for Amnesty Local Groups

Please note that it has come to our attention that, over the past month, several banks and building societies have started charging interest on bank accounts held by Amnesty Local Groups. This unfortunately now also includes previously recommended NatWest and Co-Operative Bank

We are very sorry if your local group has been affected by this issue. Although we do not currently have specific guidance on which banks or building societies align with Amnesty's values and ethical finance policies, we would like to share the following link  Compare Free Business Bank Accounts UK | BusinessComparison

Please be advised that we are actively looking into finding a long-term solutions to the issue.

Thank you Pip
 
 

Learning at Amnesty UK

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

Political Organising Training Programme

New sessions of our Political Organising Training are available! Through a series of practical online workshops, you will learn how to build meaningful connections in your community, hold persuasive and non-polarising conversations, grow a team of committed local leaders, and develop a strategy that makes human rights count before, during and after elections. 
 
Sign up for the Free Training


🧑🏽‍🤝‍🧑🏽 Community Organising Basics, 6pm, 9 September

How communities build power to win political change
Organising is a leadership practice that turns people, relationships, and shared interests into collective power. Learn the difference between mobilising and organising, the central role of relationships, and how democratic participation strengthens community influence. The session grounds these skills in Amnesty UK’s strategy to build sustained local power so human rights are defended collectively, not just supported in principle. 
Community Organising Basics Training


🗣️ Effective Conversations, 11am, 17 September

How to Persuade Without Polarising
Use values-based dialogue to build support for human rights. Learn how to listen for values, bridge disagreement, handle resistance, and close with clear next steps. These skills advance Amnesty’s strategy to broaden support for human rights through confident, respectful engagement.
Effective Conversation Training
 
 

What you have been up to

Reading Amnesty Group

Opening of the Sanctuary Cafe
Reading

One of our members, former Mayor of Reading, Dr Alice Mpofu-Coles, is featured in their current photographic exhibition
Portraits of Resilience which has been created in partnership with JJ Keith & Open Britain: Portrait of a Diverse Nation. The exhibition celebrates the stories, talents and contributions of sanctuary seekers who enrich our community.

On Wednesday 29th July, the Reading Refugee Support Group invited the Reading Amnesty Group to the Opening of the Sanctuary Cafe. ✊🏽
 

Located in the heart of Reading, Sanctuary Café is a welcoming community space designed to foster connection, creativity, and opportunity. Open to the public each morning, the café will serve great coffee with a greater purpose, with every purchase helping to support sanctuary seekers rebuilding their lives in Berkshire. In the afternoons, the space will become a hub for our drop-in services and community activities, providing practical support and a place where people can connect, learn and thrive.

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Basingstoke Pride
Reading Aug 2026


Reading Amnesty Group at Basingstoke Pride.


The Reading Group attended Basingstoke Pride on Saturday 22 August and had a brilliant day. Their main focus was telling people about the new Reading for Resistance campaign, letting people about the growing number of books that are being censored in libraries across the UK.

As part of Amnesty’s Queer Network, we are particularly concerned that books centring LGBTQI+ characters or themes are being removed from school libraries or not being stocked in book shops.

85 people took our reading challenge and signed our Reading Pledge which we will share with local libraries and book shops, to show that the people of the Basingstoke area do not want censorship of quality, important books.

See us at Reading Pride in September!
 

🏳️‍🌈 


 

Come and visit us on the Community Platform!
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Mayfair & Soho Amnesty Group
Mayfair & Soho


The Mayfair and Soho group held a successful mid-year 'Write for Rights' in July at St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square - the place where Peter Benenson conceived the idea of Amnesty International.


Nearly 150 signatures were collected on letters and petitions for our work for the BK16 human rights defenders in India, Alberto Amaro in Mexico and the Garment Workers' campaign in south Asia, and an urgent action on executions in Iran.  
 

🙏


Come and visit us on the Community Platform!
 

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Upcoming Event

Can you shake a bucket for Amnesty? 
We need people to help at a collection for Amnesty at London Bridge Station on Wednesday 21 October. Please contact Nick Hodgson of the Mayfair and Soho group.
 

📅 Wednesday 21 October 2026
🕑 All day action 
📍 London Bridge Station
🎫 Donations are welcome!

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Truro & District Amnesty Group
Truro


On 25 July, the Truro and District Group held their annual second-hand bookstall at High Cross by the cathedral in Truro.

The sun shone (of course), and the usual Saturday shoppers were supplemented by lots of summer visitors to our beautiful county of Cornwall. We were please to make £273 and took the opportunity to promote the case of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, Director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, arbitrarily detained and forcibly disappeared by Israeli forces since December 2024. 

We invite you to join in this IAR campaign  ✊🏽


Come and visit us on the Community Platform!

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Fylde Amnesty Group
Fylde

Fylde Coast Amnesty Group had a stall at the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool for all 4 days.
 


They spoke to performers and festival goers from the UK and all round the world and raised awareness of Amnesty’s campaigns.
Children and adults coloured in cards to send to Chow Hang-Tung in Hong Kong and Chaima Issa in Tunisia.
People signed letters of support for Dr Hussam Abu Safiya from Gaza, and for Ahmed al-Doush from Manchester.

🍉

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Colwyn Bay Amnesty Group
Colwynbay


Colwyn Bay group had their annual “Fly a Kite for Human Rights” day on a sunny and breezy Colwyn Bay promenade, flying kites and spinning the “Wheel of Misfortune” to answer questions on human rights, UK laws and world affairs. Over 120 people signed a petition calling for the Israeli military to release Dr. Abu Safiya.

🪁
 

Come and visit us on the Community Platform!
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Croydon Amnesty Group
Croydon


On Saturday 15 August, Croydon Amnesty, took part in the parade for Croydon Pride and we had a stall at Boxpark.


They got 40 letters signed to the Izmir Chief prosecutor, asking that all criminal charges be dropped against Genc LGBTI and board members. 
They also got 35 signatures for the Community Pledge against attempts to challenge, censor or remove LGBTI+ and other diverse books and stories from libraries and bookshops in our area.
Members of the Group met several people with connections to bookshops and libraries who took the Queer Stories Covenants away to try and get them signed. 

🏳️‍🌈 We had a great day.


 

Come and visit us on the Community Platform!
 
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Upcoming Events:


Surviving Even Exhibition.
Join Croydon Amnesty for the official opening on 5 September 2026 at 11am.
 

📅 Saturday 5 September 2026
🕑 11:00am - Onwards
📍 Clocktower Café, 9 Katherine Street. Croydon, CR9 1ET
🎫 Donations are welcome!

 
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Ely Amnesty Group 
Ely


The Ely Amnesty Group stall at Pride in Ely on 8 August.

🏳️‍🌈


A lovely sunny day with a happy vibe. Forty people signed postcards for the BBC action and 93 signed our open letter to Izmir’s Public Prosecutor asking for charges against Genç to be dropped.
 

🙏
 

Come and visit up on the Community Platform!

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Lincoln Amnesty Group 
Lincoln


🌈 The Lincoln Amnesty Group stall at Pride on the 15 August.

🏳️‍🌈


What an amazing first pride for the Amnesty International Lincoln group! We spent an inspiring day engaging with the public, sharing our mission, and standing in solidarity with the LGBTQ community in our area.

The community's energy translated into massive action for global human rights: we collected 47 new expressions of interest, 208 signatures for Discourse in Media, and 346 signatures for Reading for Resistance.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who signed a petition, shared their details, or stopped by to chat. This is just the beginning of our work together!
 

🙏
 

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Kent Regional Network

Say No to Palantir in our NHS Campaign. 
KN


On Sunday 2 August 2026 activist from Tunbridge Wells hosted a local info stall for the Say No to Palantir in our NHS Campaign. 

There was lots of interest and many leaflets handed out. 
They collected 42 signatures for a letter to Mike Martin MP, asking him to sign Early Day Motion 486. 
One member of the team did a door drop/knock as well and collected another 22 signatures.

 ✊🏽
 

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🌈 Folkestone Pride 
KN


Kent Network members spent a very busy day at Folkestone Pride.
 

They collected over 50 signatories to send to the local MP regarding the Palantir contract. We were made very welcome by the organisers, and a lot of people made a point of stating how important Amnesty's work is. If anyone is interested in joining the Kent Network, please contact Mark Clixby


 🏳️‍🌈
 

Come and visit up on the Community Platform!

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Diss Amnesty Group 
Diss


Diss Amnesty Group took part in two Pride events this year.

🏳️‍🌈


On Tuesday July 4 they had a stall at Bungay Pride, a small, very friendly event in this market town in the Waveney Valley. It was advertised as a picnic, with stalls and music, and many people turned up with their hampers and their rugs. The Amnesty stall was selling items such as tote bags and t-shirts and had petitions and letters to sign related to Women in Afghanistan.

On Saturday July 25 they went to Norwich Pride, which is a huge event, very lively and consisting of a parade through the town and speeches from the town hall steps. The Diss group wore their Amnesty t-shirts and hoisted their Amnesty pride banners, which were very noticeable and much applauded by many of the bystanders along the route.
 

🙏
 

Come and visit us on the Diss Community Platform!

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Norwich Amnesty Group
Norwich


Norwich Pride was held on 25 July and once again it was a great day.
 

Norwich and Diss groups combined their efforts. Norwich manned the stall and Diss took part in the city-wide March.
 

🏳️‍🌈 


They collected over a hundred signatures for each of three cases in Azerbaijan, Turkey and Tunisia as well as contact with local folk of all ages. 
 

🙏
 

Come and visit us on the Community Platform!

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Corby & Kettering Amnesty Group
Corby


On Saturday 15 August, Corby and Kettering Amnesty Group supported Kettering Pride.


It’s only the second such local event and much bigger than last year, with many comments on the amazing atmosphere and top-class entertainment.
Located along with other charities and campaign groups, our Amnesty team collected petition signatures (so popular we had to pop across to the library to get additional copies!) and invited people to try their hand at our ‘Pride Quiz’ to win an Amnesty T-shirt or goody bag.

They had over 50 entries and lots of discussion was generated.
It was great to be part of such a positive and inclusive event.


 

🏳️‍🌈 


 

Come and visit us on the Community Platform!
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 Maidstone, Medway & Swale Amnesty Group
Medway


Saturday 11 July members of the Maidstone, Medway and Swale Group St Johns, were invited by Medway Inter Faith Action (MIFA) to join the Medway Walk for Peace.
 


The event. Held at a Church in Chatham, is an excellent event to link with other Community and Faith groups, making new contacts and to highlight the work of Amnesty International and priority campaigns.  

Graham Minter was congratulated on the excellent presentation he did about Human Rights and the work of Amnesty International.  We were pleased to get many more people signed up to the Amnesty Kent Network and we continue to build our links in the Medway area.
 

Come and visit us on the Community Platform!
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Shine on Vigil Kits

Shine On - Host a Vigil
Shine

Amnesty International UK works to shine a light onto injustice and inequality and to ensure basic rights are protected and upheld, whenever they are under threat. Amnesty’s work is only possible thanks to its supporters, past and present and we want to pay tribute to everyone who is part of our history, and our future.

This is why we launched our Shine On vigils. This gives you the opportunity to pay tribute to those no longer with us, keeping their memory alive through our ongoing human rights work.

How it works:
Shine On has everything you need to host a heartfelt vigil, physically or online.

  1. Visit www.shineon.org.uk to order your physical or digital vigil toolkit.
  2. Alongside your toolkit, you’ll receive a welcome email and point of contact to support you every step of the way.
  3. Using our toolkit including a simple how-to-guide, organise your vigil to commemorate your loved one and fundraise to support Amnesty as you do so.


If you have any questions or queries, you can get in touch
with shineon@amnesty.org.uk
Order your Vigil Kit
 
A Petition a Week
Petition a week

A petition about human rights in the UK and beyond, into your inbox every week. Together we can make a difference.


If you would like to sign up, either individually or as group, go to apetitionaweek.substack.com/subscribe and feel free to get in touch with me at apetitionaweek@outlook.com.

Thank you!
 
Please see here full list of Petitions
 
Upcoming Events

Croydon Amnesty Group - Exhibition
Croydon Surviving Evin

Surviving Even Exhibition.
Join Croydon Amnesty for the official opening on 5 September 2026 at 11am.
 

📅 Saturday 5 September 2026
🕑 11:00am - Onwards
📍 Clocktower Café, 9 Katherine Street. Croydon, CR9 1ET
🎫 Donations are welcome!

 
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Stroud Amnesty Group - Family Picnic
Stroud

The Stroud Amnesty Group is joining a Collective of Local Groups, including PSC and Quakers, for a Global Awareness Day event.


Come and join the Group members for talks, food, activities and music on 5 September 2026.
 

📅 Saturday 5 September 2026
🕑 12:00pm - 4:00pm
📍 Bank Gardens, Lansdown Hall, Stroud, G5 1QN
🎫 Donations are welcome!

 
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Central England Network - Webinar
CEN


 “Building Bridges Across Divides:  Joy Warmington and Alan Kessedjian in Conversation”


Join Joy Warmington (BRAP/Equality Republic) and Alan Kessedjian (Amnesty International – Central England Network) for a conversation exploring anti-racism, dialogue, and practical ways of building understanding in an increasingly polarised world. Together, they will discuss how activists, practitioners and communities can engage across divides while remaining rooted in justice, compassion and human rights.
 

📅 Tuesday 8 September 2026
🕑 7:30pm - 9:00pm  
📍 Online 
 


For information come and visit us on the Community Platform!
Register here!

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Banbury Amnesty Group - Summer Fête 
Banbury

Come and join the Banbury Amnesty Group for a summer afternoon with Tea, cakes, stalls, raffle, children’s activities
 

📅 Saturday 12 September 2026
🕑 2:00pm - 4:30pm  
📍 Roebuck Inn, Banbury Road, North Newington, OX15 6AB
🎫 Donations on entry!


For information come and visit us on the Community Platform!
 
 

Upcoming Dates

See more on the Amnesty Events page. Post your events on the website via this link.

5 September 9:30am - Onwards - In person Event hosted by UN Network: Embassy Crawl: "All are Welcome"

5 September 11:00am - Onwards - In person Event hosted by Croydon Amnesty Group: Surviving Evin Exhibition: "All are Welcome"

5 September 12:00pm - 4:00pm - In person Event hosted by Stroud Amnesty Group: Family Picnic: "All are Welcome"

8 September  7:30pm - 9:00pm - Online Event hosted by Central England Network: Webinar: "Building Bridges Across Divides" - Join the Webinar here

9 September  6:00pm - 7:00pm - Online AIUK Training: "Community Organising Basics" - Register for free here 

12 September 2:00pm - 4:30pm - In person Event hosted by Banbury Amnesty Group: Summer Fête 2026: "All are Welcome"

17 September  11:00am - 12:00pm - Online AIUK Training: "Effective Conversation" - Register for free here 

6 October  7:30pm - 8:30pm - Online Event hosted by Wirksworth Amnesty Group: Webinar: "Garment Workers Campaign Webinar" - Join the Webinar here

30 September 7:00pm - Onwards - In person Event hosted by AIUK: Documentary Launch: "The Fight to be heard"

For updates and event hosted by Local Group, Thematic Networks, and Country Coordinators, please do explore our Community Platform!

We also invite you to join our upcoming Political Training Session.  Register for one, some or all of our training Modules

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