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Monthly Mailing for Amnesty UK Local Groups

Hi friend,  
 

Welcome to your January 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 February please send your entries and stories to Pip by the 20 February at the latest.

Please do get in touch with any questions or queries.

Wishing you all a lovely February!

The Local Activism Team!

Office Led Campaigns

Social Security

Please Help Our Work on Our Right to Food – Short Questionnaire
 

As part of our long-term goal of getting the UK government to guarantee our ‘everyday rights’ in law (e.g. right to education, to family, to work, to healthcare etc), we are researching what the right to food actually means to people.

We’ve complied a short questionnaire – and would love as many people as possible to answer it. It should be filled in individually and all answers will be kept strictly confidential and anonymous.
Please fill in your answers here


Thank you so much. Your answers will inform our research and the development of our campaigning work in this area and will feed into a Parliamentary right to food commission.

For more information on this work, please email Rebecca Barnes
Questionnaire
 

Racial Justice

Government immigration consultation

Government immigration proposals and consultation:

The Government has announced proposals to make very harmful changes to the immigration system. The proposals would affect many people living in the UK – including people born here and people who have lived here for many years. The Government is currently consulting on its proposals via an online survey.

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


The proposals:
In summary, most non-British citizens – save for very high earners, some higher earners and people in senior positions in public services – will be expected many more years, in some cases decades, in the immigration system before they may be permitted to become permanent residents (or then naturalise). Many will have to make many more applications to the Home Office to continue their lives in the UK. Pay even more high application and other fees.
Continue to be excluded from public funds even if their lives are changed by illness or injury.
All at risk the Home Office may change its rules and refuse to permit someone to stay even though they continue to meet the conditions originally set for them. Refugees are among those most severely affected.
This has dramatic implications for people and their families, including children born and growing up in the UK. Amnesty is strongly opposed to these proposals.

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

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

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Save the Date - Upcoming Webinar: From Prevent to Proscription

UPCOMING WEBINAR – 3 MARCH, 7PM 

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

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

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

Full speaker line-up to be announced.  

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

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

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

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Together Alliance - March 

We’ve joined the Together Alliance 
Join the march in central London on 28 March 2026 
 
On Saturday 28 March, the Anti-Racism Network, Amnesty Feminists and Amnesty Trade Union Network will be leading the Amnesty bloc at the Together Alliance March to oppose the rise of the far right and anti-rights actors.  
 
The Together Alliance is a coalition made up of hundreds of civil society organisations representing over 7 million people. 

It’s backed by thousands of everyday people from all over the country who’ve put their time, money and effort into bringing the alliance together. 
We’ve all felt despair at seeing the far-right protests on our streets and a far-right party surging in the polls. This march is an important moment to come together to reject narratives of racism and division; and to demonstrate solidarity with racialised and marginalised communities who are on the frontline of these attacks, including amid the threat of growing authoritarianism in the UK.

It will be the Alliance’s first public action — and our participation will set the tone, showing that the majority of people in this country stand for unity, not division. 
 
Together, we are mobilising for love, hope and unity in the face of hate, fear and division. We’re raising our voices to stop the rise of the far-right. 
 
You can also find more information on the Anti-Racism Network Committee Instagram page.
  
If you are in a local group, student group, religious organisation, community group or you and a group of mates want to get started - please do! Let us know when you are planning to do a mobilisation day and we can amplify that for you on our channels! 
 

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

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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

Europe

The Europe CC Team is raising money to fund a documentary on abortion rights in Poland.

In Poland, helping someone access an abortion can be illegal. This film looks at how women’s bodies are tied to politics, history, and control, and what that means for real lives today.

This project is part storytelling, part activism, which I will be available for screenings and Q&A opportunities once completed. 
The crowdfunding is open for a limited time, until 3rd Feb.

More about the film and how to support it here:
🔗 https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/intergenerational-trauma-and-abortion-in-poland-do

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China & East Asia

China 

Uyghur: fighting cultural repression with language and art
 

Cultural repression is one weapon used by the Chinese government to persecute the Uyghur people. Along with religion, everyday forms of artistic and cultural expression, language is used as a tool for control. Forced to learn Mandarin and abandon Uyghur as their language, they are forced to forsake their culture or face abuse such as arbitrary detention and torture.

The China & East Asia team is launching a new campaign to raise awareness, celebrate Uyghur language, and support its survival amidst threats of erasure: learn one Uyghur word a day throughout August.

To support this campaign, we are seeking the help from local groups to adopt one of the 30 words and commit to a creative response to it — whether that’s an embroidery or textile piece, a calligraphy workshop, a short blog post, a musical response, or any other form of expression that feels meaningful and accessible. These creative outputs will be shared throughout August via Amnesty social media channels and mail-outs, amplifying both learning and solidarity.

The campaign will culminate on August 31st with a cultural event hosted in collaboration with Uyghur people. We will highlight activism alongside cultural expression of Uyghur artists and community members - affirming culture as a site of resistance, remembrance, and collective action.

We will also offer workshops and webinars to explore Uyghur culture and support your creative endeavours.

If you or your group are interested in joining us, please contact Emily Upson and Clara Candat-Bazile

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Hong Kong

Screening of She Is In Jail

We would like to invite local groups to collaborate on a community screening of She Is In Jail, a documentary about the Hong Kong human rights defender Chow Hang-tung. Following the screening, we would be happy to share our perspectives on the latest developments in human rights in Hong Kong.

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

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

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

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Recruitment
CC 2026

Amnesty International Country Coordinators are volunteer activists who specialise in Human Rights campaigning for specific countries around the world. 🌍

Together, these activists make up the Country Coordinator Forum, and lead our country-focused campaign and advocacy work in the UK, supported by research and further expertise from the International Secretariat.
Current vacancies:
 
•            Algeria & Libya
•            Angola, Mozambique and Madagascar
•            Cuba
•            Haiti, Dominican Republic and the English-Speaking Caribbean
•            Jordan and Lebanon
 
The deadline for applications is the 15th of February. If you would like more information about any of these roles, please email Rachel O'Brien

We are looking forward to receiving your applications.
Work with us!
 

Thematic Networks

Uk Guantanamo Network

Dear UK Guantanamo Network Activist
 
We would like to share with you details for the upcoming art exhibition “Don’t Forget Us Here”, featuring artwork created by former detainees of Guantanamo Bay.  It would be wonderful if you could support this effort by visiting during the month of its opening.  We might also arrange a visit with pub social afterwards. 
Let us know if interested.
 
 

📅 2 March 2026 - 3 April 2026
📍 Jubilee Library, Jubilee Street, Brighton, BN1 1GE
 

***Volunteers needed for install 1Mar and take down 4Apr please – 8 AM - do contact me directly if you can help – thank you***


If you have any questions, please contact: Dominique O'Neil
 

AGM  Update

AGM 2026 - Resolution & Nomination Deadline

Please see below current details about the  Annual General Meeting of Amnesty International United Kingdom Section

All resolutions must be submitted by 27 February 2026. Resolution submission forms are available below.

Nominations for roles elected by the AGM must also be submitted
by 27 February 2026 

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AGM Resolution 2025 - Update January 2026

UK Section Board Activist Engagement: 2025 AGM Decision 07

Every three months it is intended to update groups on progress towards the implementation of resolutions passed at Amnesty AGMs.
These are now known as AGM Decisions and details of these can be found at: Amnesty International UK - AGM

Each AGM Decision is allocated to a Section Board member who works with the proposer of the resolution and Amnesty UK staff on their implementation. At the above website address the document called ‘Update on the Implementation of AGM Decisions’ will be revised every month to include developments as they occur. This is the best source of information if groups wish to be kept abreast of developments. That document has now been updated to include the resolutions which were passed at the 2025 AGM.

Since the last update in the Groups Newsletter in November 2025:

  • Four AGM Decisions, relating to activist training and support for local groups, have now been closed (details of these will appear in the January Board report, available in early February).
  • Work has begun on all of the outstanding Ordinary Decisions. The single Special Decision has been completed also.
  • As required by Decision 07, 2025 (Improving engagement and communication between activists and the Board of Amnesty UK), a system has been established for networks and forums to report on their activities to the Section Board. These will be presented at the beginning of Board meetings to ensure Board members start meetings with a clear sense of some of our ongoing activist activities.
  • The Working Group to review the Activists Code of Conduct Complaints Process has begun its deliberations. This group will be led by Chris Ramsey, Chair of the Truro Group and Country Coordinator.
  • The focus now is to continue to make progress on the implementation of all outstanding AGM Decisions. Some of these cannot be completed until the implementation of aspects of the Digital Transformation work has been completed, particularly the Community Platform, training for which is about to begin.

If you have any queries regarding the decisions, please email me using the address below.

Stuart Penny
Vice Chair Amnesty UK Section Board Stuart Penny
 
 

January Fundraising Update

Individual Giving 

Fund the Fightback against Authoritarianism

Modern society is facing a tipping point. Free speech and peaceful protest are fundamental human rights, but recently we’ve entered a dangerous new era, and these rights are being eroded.

Here in the UK and around the world, we’re seeing leaders pursue ever more authoritarian practices and step up their assaults on human rights. Resistance is crucial.

Amnesty International is fighting back and you could help. Donations could help fund the developments of reports that expose attempts to curb our right to protest and could help mobilise thousands to raise their voices and make sure parliament hears our demands to protect our freedom of expression.

Your gift could also help support legal challenges against worrying new authoritarian laws and secure rulings that safeguard the rights and freedoms future generations will depend on.
GIVE TODAY

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Local Group Fundraising Update

Local Group Fundraising Update - January 2025

It’s only January and we’ve already seen some wonderful fundraising events organised by local groups across the country! Read on for details of two, including a touching concert held in memory of a performer who has helped raise money for Amnesty International UK many times. There’s also a reminder to return a financial return form for your group.

January Fundraising Report
 
 

Community Organising
 

Refugee Week: 2026


Save the date! Sharing here the upcoming Refugee Week Conference (Online), please do share far & wide internally with your networks, colleagues, local groups, friends as well as on social media. Thank you so much!

Full programme announcement of sessions & speakers will be shared in the coming weeks. 

Counterpoint Eventbrite link here
Counterpoint Social media post here

See also below also other upcoming opportunities (open calls, shows, prizes etc!). If you have anything you'd like to share with the Refugee Week network, please do share and we can include in future newsletters.
 
Register here!
 

Amnesty Website and piloting our new Online Community Platform
Our shared futures festival

We wanted to share a few important updates about the new AIUK website and Knowledge Hub, which are planned to go live at the beginning of February.

 
New website & Group pages

  • Each Local Group and Network will have a page on the new website. If you have not already done so please fill out your groups updated information here Local Group Page Builder – Fill out form
  • These pages will act as a public directory to help new supporters and activists find out who you are and how to get involved. Once the Community Platform goes live these pages will also link to your space on the Community Platform. 

What will happen to all my older content? 
All existing Local Group website content will be archived. If your group wants any specific blog posts or content moved to the new Online Community, please use this Blog Post template to capture the links to the content you wish to transfer. You will need to confirm: Blog Title, Blog Link, Local Group Name and return the completed form to Abi Odell.
 
We are happy to transfer all content over on request, but this may be a fantastic opportunity to audit your content. A downloadable archive of all your group’s old content is available on request.
 
Website editing access from 19 January
  • From 19 January, you will no longer be able to make edits or publish blog posts on either the current website or the new website. 
  • This is to allow us to prepare content safely ahead of launch.
Promoting events (February–April)
  • If you have events, you would like promoted on the new website between February and April, please get in touch with Abi and we can add these to your relevant Local Group or Network page.
  • From April onwards all posts will be made via the Online community.

We know this is a period of change, and we really appreciate your patience and support while we prepare for launch and pilot the Community Platform. Our aim is to make it easier for people to find you, connect with you, and get involved in Amnesty’s work.
 
Thanks again for all that you do, and we’re really looking forward to continuing this work with you

If you have any questions, please email Abi Odell.
Information Form 

****

GPP and Community Platform: Webinar and Question form


On Thursday the 29 January we hosted a Local Group Webinar, introducing the Interim Groups Planning Pack 2026 and the Community Platform.

If you were unable to attend or wish to re-watch, you can follow the below links to access to:


We invite you to watch the recording and share with us any questions. Please use this link to access the Question Form.

We will use this to compile a FAQ sheet and share it with Local Group activists.
Question Form
 

Student Groups
Our shared futures festival

Upcoming AIUK report on UK universities: Get involved! 

In March, Amnesty International UK will release a major new report on UK universities’ crackdown on activism for Palestinian rights on campus. This report sheds light on the repression faced by students and staff exercising their right to dissent, and forms the backbone of the ongoing, student-led Defend Dissent campaign. 

We need your help to make sure this report reaches the widest audience possible. By amplifying the report in your local groups and wider communities, you can help raise awareness and hold UK universities to account. 

Closer to the report’s release, we’ll be sending action packs with everything you need to get involved in the launch, including templates for contacting MPs, guidance for engaging with universities, and suggested social media posts.  

The right to speak out against institutions that undermine human rights has never been more important. Get ready to join us and the Amnesty Student movement in a coordinated push to protect the right to dissent and defend human rights on campuses across the UK. 

For any questions in the meantime, contact Hannah at Hannah Stokes
 

Activism in the East Midlands
 




Tim Atkinson
Regional Organiser
East Midlands
Tim Atkinson

As a long-time Amnesty International UK supporter, I know we can be proud of what we’ve achieved over the last sixty years as human rights defenders. Yet, as many of you will know, our rights and freedoms are still under threat - right here in the UK and across the world.

Governments worldwide may be imposing oppressive laws and cracking down on our freedoms, but together, we can fight back. 

Could you help by speaking up for human rights where you live?  
Join our new Human Rights Where You Live initiative for the East Midlands and we will help you:
 

  • Team up with others who feel the same way you do in local groups
  • Take action on human rights issues at home and abroad
  • Persuade local politicians to put human rights at the heart of their decisions. 

We will support you to campaign locally on human rights with:  
 
  • Training in campaign skills 
  • Human rights research and resources 
  • Opportunities to get together online. 


The rise of divisive politics in the UK and around the world means we need local voices for human rights across the East Midlands like never before. However much or little time you can give, you can make a difference.

Get in touch to find out more – we’re ready to help you get started!
Yes I am interested!

Save the date! Central England Regional Gathering 18 April in Leicester

We are excited to announce that the Central England Gathering for Amnesty local groups and other human rights activists will be taking place on
 

📅 Saturday 18 April All Day Event
📍Leicester City Football Club (King Power Stadium, Filbert Way, Leicester LE2 7FL).


We will share booking information and plans for the event shortly.

In the meantime, if you have any ideas for the Gathering please contact
Tim Atkinson -East Midlands Regional Organiser! 
 

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
 
 

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.
 

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 do share with us any recommendations of banks that do not charge interest or banking fees!

Thank you Pip
 
 

Learning at Amnesty UK

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

Amnesty's partnership with Futurelearn will be ending in February 2026, so this is the last chance to take some of our courses including Gender Justice and Human Rights and Anti-Racism and Human Rights. 

We hope to move this content on to our own Academy in the future. In the meantime, you can find lots of other courses on the Academy on a wide range of topics


In Solidarity the Human Rights Education Team!
 
 

What you have been up to

Sutton Amnesty Group
Graham Bisset, Chair of Sutton Amnesty,

Photo of Graham Bisset, Chair of Sutton Amnesty, on the left, with Dr Awaiz Ahmed, holding leaflet, the other doctor who gave the presentation did not want his photograph taken and other members of Sutton Amnesty did not want their names included, but happy for the photo to be used.

On Saturday the 10 January the Sutton Amnesty Group attended "A Medics Experience in Gaza" at the Muslim Cultural and Welfare Association of Sutton at Wentworth Hall, 80 Ruskin Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 3DH.

A presentation was made by Dr R Nadeem Ahmed (NHS Consultant Anaesthetist & Intensivist & Co-Founder of Doctors of Rahman).and Dr Awaiz Ahmed (NHS Consultant Trauma & Orthopaedics) who have recently returned from a month -long medical mission to Gaza, offered eye-opening insights into the realities on the ground.  A Q&A session followed.     

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Mayfair & Soho Amnesty Group
Mayfair & Soho

Mayfair and Soho group's annual Act of Witness


The Mayfair and Soho Group, along with members of other London Region groups, held an Act of Witness on Human Rights Day, 10 December, at Saint Anne's Church, Soho.

The names and brief details of over 200 people, from nearly 100 countries, for whom Amnesty has worked, were read, interspersed with human rights-related poetry and prose, some from members of the Human Rights Creative Writers' Group. We were pleased this year to remember the Azerbaijani editor, Avaz Zeynalli, and to welcome his daughter Seljan to the event. Hearing all the stories of arrests, torture, imprisonment and murder is uncomfortable but is a vital reminder of why we do what we do, and who we do it for. The event is also a fundraiser and raised almost £800 for Amnesty's work.

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 Amnesty Kent Network
R@H

Refugees at Home joined Amnesty Kent's January monthly meeting to talk about hosting refugees and why it is so needed right now.

Tracey, a Whitstable-based R@H host, shared her hosting experiences and gave a more personal account of what it is like to welcome a guest into her home. There was a great Q&A at the end and people showed a real interest in understanding the ins & outs of hosting. 

Someone from the call emailed after to say: "The work you are doing is really important and contradicts the narrative of the hostile environment. Tracey's talk was impressive."

If you are interested in finding out more, check their website or request a callback to speak with one of the team.

You can also watch R@H's video which addresses some common questions and concerns people have. 

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Reading Amnesty Group
Reading W4R 2025

                          W4R - Independent Cinema                                                                             Local Library 

Write for Rights Campaign 🙏


The Reading Group had 2 sessions as part of the Write for Rights campaign - one in a local library and one in an independent cinema. Both were well attended with campaign cards written to all cases and many letter to all the relevant authorities. We also learned that we inspired a local secondary school to take part - they wrote 130 cards to Mother Nature Cambodia and Guerrera por la Amazonia.

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Glasgow West Group
Glasgow West

The Glasgow West Amnesty Group's Write for Rights card writing session took place on Sunday 14 December 2025 in Hillhead Library, Glasgow.  🙏

We also held a smaller event earlier that same day. These events resulted in a total of 91 cards being sent, as well as £116 received in donations.

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

__________
 

Exeter Group
Exeter HR quilt

The Amnesty Human Rights Quilt, made by groups in the South about 10 years ago, is currently on display in Exeter. 🙏

The quilt has a panel for each of the 30 articles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the photo shows it at Exeter Central Library.
 

Upcoming:

We hope to display it in other locations in the city after 2 February 2026.

__________

Mid-Warwickshire Group
Mid Wrwickshire


The Mid-Warwickshire Amnesty International Group held its annual fundraising concert performed by Oriflamme Ensemble and conducted by Antoine Mitchell at St Mary's Collegiate Church in Warwick, which they have been doing since 2007.

As well as raising funds we also had a Write for Rights stall and audience members signed cards during the interval.

__________
 

Haslemere Group
Haslemere

The Haslemere Group held their annual W4R lunch in December in a different venue to usual but still had a good turnout.

22 people came and wrote 140 cards and are a convivial lunch of soup or chilli, fruit and mince pies. We raised £302 and after expenses have just over £ 200 profit. We have sent £100 to AIUK and will use the rest for postage throughout the year. 🙏

On the May bank holiday we will host a stall with books and plants at the Haslemere Charter Fair.

__________

East Croydon Amnesty Group
AEast Crodon


Happy New Year.

Croydon Amnesty sang carols at East Croydon station in December for two hours and we raised £252.38.  🙏


 

 Participants were treated to mulled wine at the halfway point.

__________
 

Saffron Walden Group
Saffron Walsen

The Saffron Walden Group ran card-writing in various venues in the town and wrote cards and letters at our December meeting and Social.

Altogether I’ve posted out 435 cards and 19 appeal letters. Let’s hope there is news in 2026 of a positive impact made by the campaign.

__________

Newcastle Amnesty Group
Newcastle

Members of Newcastle and Sunderland Groups took part in an action to free Abdulrahman al-Sadhan (Saudi Arabia)
at the Human Rights Day held at Sunderland Minster on Sunday 14 December.

We also signed a letter to Yvette Cooper, Foreign Secretary, to apply more pressure for the release of Manahel al-Otaibi, who was featured in last year's Write for Rights Campaign.

__________
 

Mid-Gloucestershire Group
Mid Glos

The Mid-Gloucestershire Group held their Write for Rights event at our local Amnesty supportive cafe/bar! 🙏

The Mid - Gloucestershire Group would like to share details about their wicker woven Amnesty Christmas display created by Norah, at the Stroud's fabulous yearly Christmas tree event. Trees styled and decorated by local groups - our tapestry represents statements of human rights.
Our stall was shared by Stroud women's refuge.

__________

Sheffield Amnesty Groups
Sheffiled


In November and December 2025, the Amnesty International Sheffield Local group took write for rights to the Sheffield Peace and Craft Fair, Longley 6th Form College, St Marks Church's Big Queer Carol Service and a Beavers Group.

From these we produced the following messages of solidarity 🙏
 

  • Honduras 6 
  • Tunisia 7 
  • Norway 4 
  • Cambodia 5 
  • Madagascar 8 
  • South Africa 43 (many from Longley Park 6th Form college)
  • Myanmar 14 and large card (pictured)
  • Ecuador 19 (and one large card) - the beavers did handmade cards for this
__________

Salisbury Amnesty Group 
Salisbury


On Wednesday 21 January the Salisbury Group organised a successful talk by Peter Oborne.

The Salisbury group invited the author and journalist Peter Oborne to talk about his new book 'Complicit'. The book describes in detail the British government's complicity in the genocide in Gaza and how the British media has failed to report events there adequately.  Around 80 people attended, and many copies of his book were sold. Chair of the group Andrew Hemming said "we were delighted so many people came to hear the presentation and the responses from people leaving were uniformly positive.

__________

Diss Amnesty Group
Diss

Adrian Ramsay, MP & Diss AI Group

🍉Gaza Remains The Story exhibition in Diss 🍉


Diss Amnesty collaborated with the local Diss Palestine Solidarity group to host the Gaza Remains The Story exhibition with permission from The Palestinian Museum in Birzeit.  It ran over two weeks in a town centre community space and attracted 600+ visitors.  We made this video as an archival record of the event.  We've shared it with The Palestinian Museum, and we thought to share it with the wider Amnesty groups! 
 

Diss Group meets with Adrian Ramsay, MP for Waveney Valley 
 

On 5 December, three of the Diss Group's steering group met with Adrian Ramsay, our local MP, to request he raise in parliament the urgent matter of the illegal detention of 95 Palestinian healthcare workers by Israel, including the detention of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, Director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza. 
 

He talked of how shocking the situation was and said he would discuss the matter with his Foreign Affairs colleague, Ellie Chowns, MP.  Adrian anticipated that Ellie would write to the minister in the first instance and, depending on the response, try to raise a question in the house.  We also asked Adrian if he would consider lobbying his nearby fellow MPs, Clive Lewis and Terry Jermy to sign EDM1266 to Ban Israeli Settlement Goods. 

He readily agreed to this and, shortly after our meeting, Clive Lewis' name appeared on the list of signatories.  We extended an invitation to him to attend our upcoming events and discussed Amnesty's annual Write for Rights campaign. 

The Diss Group have not yet gained a foothold in any of the local schools, despite our efforts. Adrian was impressed with the campaign and the resources that accompany it, especially for schools, and offered to advocate on our behalf and has already done so with one of schools.  We ended the meeting with a request for a photo with Adrian and we've attached it here.
 

****


🙏 The Diss Group also held several Write for Rights stalls during November 

They've booked a local community room in early January and invited a load of people to join us for soup, cake, coffees, teas and Write for Rights in the hope that this will have a more comfortable and successful outcome than the stalls.  

__________

Bognor Regis, Chichester & District Group


In December 2025 Bognor Regis, Chichester & District Amnesty Group completed actions for the Write for Rights 2025 campaign,
whether this was cards and emails completed at home, cards and messages of support to
individuals completed at the writing event in Barnham or letters to the authorities, at the
Bognor Catholics event, highlighting the human rights abuses. 🙏
 

📰 You read a full News Update here

__________

Harrogate & Knaresborough Group
Harrogate


Refreshment Day Fundraiser and Write For Rights Day 🙏
 

The Harrogate & Knaresborough Group's annual December fundraiser was held in St Peter’s Church in Harrogate on Saturday 13 December, serving home-made soup, sandwiches and cakes. They are delighted to raise a total of £1052 for Amnesty and attracted great support for the Write For Rights campaign.

📰 You read a full News Update here


Future Events

The Harrogate and Knaresborough Group are planning include a special letter writing session in Harrogate Library for International Women’s Day on 7 March, a Palestinian supper and talk on her work in the West Bank by Hilary Davies (date to be announced) and our annual Open Garden at Norton Conyers, near Ripon, on 14 June.
 
Upcoming Events

Mid - Gloucestershire Group
Mid Glous

Fundraiser for Amnesty International UK

On Friday 13 February the Mid-Gloucestershire Group is hosting a North African 3 Couse Vegetarian Meal
 

📅 13 February 2026 start at 7.00pm 
📍 Star Anise Cafe, 1 Gloucester Street, Stroud, GL5 1QG
🎟️ Tickets: £25 from Star Anise Cafe
__________

Central England Network - Webinars
CEN


All are warmly invited (you don’t have to be an Amnesty member!) to our upcoming online panel discussion with Q&A:

“Struggle, Survival and Resilience:
Human Rights and Oppressed Groups”


📅 18 February 2026 7.30-9:00pm
📍   Online

Get the latest insights into four human rights hotspots around the globe, from Amnesty UK’s country specialists:
  • Emily Upson, Amnesty UK Country Coordinator for China on the Uyghur people in Xinjiang province, northwest China
  • Cherry Bird, Amnesty UK Country Coordinator for India on the situation in Kashmir, a region divided between India and Pakistan
  • Mariam Torres, Amnesty UK Country Coordinator for Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on Gaza and the West Bank
  • Faissal Sharif, Amnesty UK Country Coordinator for Afghanistan on women and girls in Afghanistan
Register here!

****


All are warmly invited (you don’t have to be an Amnesty member!) to our upcoming online panel discussion with Q&A:

“Kashmir: where Human Rights are denied”
 

📅 5 March 2026 7.30-9:00pm
📍   Online

Join us to find out about the current human rights situation on the ground and about action you can take. Panel speakers as follows:
  • Mirza Saaib Bég is a lawyer from Indian-Administered Kashmir. Mirza will talk about the current legal position of Kashmir
  • Sajad Rasool is a journalist and activist from Indian-administered Kashmir. Sajad will talk about his most recent work with rural communities in Kashmir.
  • Third speaker tbc - from Azad Kashmir, on the Pakistan side, looking at the issues that lie behind recent protests by students and small business entrepreneurs.

For any queries, contact kashmircampaign@amnesty.org.uk
 
Register here!

__________

Watford

Come and join the Watford Amnesty Group for their third Human Rights Iftar!
Enjoy good food, socialise and hear from great Amnesty speakers!

We welcome everyone to join us this Ramadan to gather for an uplifting Iftar meal and celebrate our communities' work demanding Human Rights. We will have informed and knowledgeable speakers, covering Palestine, Iran, China and Refugees in Europe!
 

📅 Saturday 7 March 2025 5.30pm
📍 Holywell Community Centre, Chaffinch Lane, Watford, WD18 9DQ

For more information, please contact Nabila Hanson.
Book your ticket!
 
 

Upcoming Dates

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

12 February Deadline Guidance - Consultation Response "A Fairer Pathway to Settlement" Amnesty Guide

13 February 7:00pm onwards - In person event - Local Group Fundraiser: Fundraiser for Amnesty International UK
Tickets: £25 from Star Anise Cafe

18 February 7:30pm - 9:30pm - Online event - Local Group Webinar: "Struggle, Survival and Resilience:
Human Rights and Oppressed Groups
" CEN Register for free

27 February Deadline for AGM 2026 Resolution submission and AGM 2026 Nominations AGM - 2026

2 March - 3 April - In person event - Thematic Network Exhibition: "Don't Forget Us Here" Jubilee Library, Jubilee Street, Brighton, BN1 1GE

3 March 7:00pm - 8:15pm - Save the Date - Racial Justice Team Webinar: "From Prevent to Proscription"

5 March 7:30pm - 9:30pm - Online event - Local Group Webinar: "Kashmir: Where Human Rights are denied"
" CEN Register for free

7 March 5:30pm onwards - In person event - Local Group Iftar: Watford Local Group - Iftar Book your Ticket

18 April 10am onwards - Save the Date - Amnesty Regional Gathering: Midlands Gathering in Leicester

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