Tag: human rights

Qatar: pressure on First Minister to raise human rights concerns

Concerns at Holyrood over human rights issues

ScottishParliamentAlison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, has written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon raising human rights concerns ahead of the planned football match between Scotland and Qatar at Easter Road tomorrow.

Ms Johnstone, a member of Holyrood’s cross-party group on human rights and co-convenor of the cross-party group on sport, highlights the widespread concern over the unprecedented number of deaths among workers building the infrastructure for the Qatar World Cup 2022 and urges the First Minister to consider how to address ongoing human rights abuses.

Edinburgh North & Leith MSP Malcolm Chisholm will today also ask the Scottish Government to speak out about human rights abuses in Qatar before tomorrow’s friendly match.

The Green MSP said: “I have sympathy for those who suggest the friendly match should be cancelled in order to send a strong signal to the footballing authorities that the current situation is unacceptable, not least while allegations of corruption surrounding World Cup bidding processes await resolution.

“However, I also understand the view that such a course of action may simply punish the Qatari athletes who are entirely innocent in all of this, while failing to address the matters at hand in a way that can have a meaningful impact on relevant Qatari officials and world football’s governing bodies.

“This is an opportunity to establish what action by the Scottish Government will be helpful in such cases where matters of political integrity and sport overlap. It is important that we adopt a stance that can be consistently applied to the one-off friendly match against Qatar, the qualification campaign for Qatar 2022 itself – and indeed Russia 2018, and the upcoming 2015 European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan. All of these events are set to take place against the backdrop of serious human rights concerns, and all deserve our attention.

“Amnesty International has shown that abuse and exploitation of migrant construction workers remains a serious issue. We must consider how Scotland’s voice can aid the growing worldwide effort to tackle dangerous working conditions ahead of 2022, and human rights abuses more generally. Boycotts can be an important way of demonstrating concern, but we must consider whether and how boycotts should form part of a wider strategy, and whether we need to establish criteria by which to accept or extend invitations to play or to host sporting events in the first place.”

Amnes-T in the Park!

Broughton High School students stage event to support  World Refugee Day

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On Saturday 20 June (10am– 2pm), Broughton High School’s Amnesty International Youth Group is holding Amnes-T in the Park to raise awareness of World Refugee Day. Get into the summer festival vibe and come along to the school’s rugby pitch for a day of live music, games and food for all the family to enjoy! 

New local talent, including Rastafarian White Boys, will bring the field alive as you dig into a delicious selection of home baking. The event will focus on the current issues surrounding refugees through a series of artwork made by school pupils. These will highlight important facts in a fun and engaging way!

All ages are welcome, although primary school children should be accompanied by an adult – and entry is free!

All the money raised on the day will go towards helping Amnesty International carry out their vitally important work protecting human rights worldwide.

Niamh McNulty

Broughton High School Amnesty International Youth Group

Whitespace Gallery to host post-conflict exhibition

What happens when war moves on? Gayfield Square’s Whitespace Gallery is to host an important post-conflict programme next month. The week-long event will feature a photographic exhibition, conference and the screening of human rights photojournalist Fiona Lloyd- Davies’ film Seeds of Hope.

Masika1-460x250THE Voices of Post-Conflict Project – a student-led initiative from the University of Edinburgh – is delighted to invite members of the public, NGOs, academics and students, as well as all other interested parties, to attend our conference and exhibition from 3 – 9 October.

Against the backdrop of a photographic exhibition, the conference, ‘Agency in Post-Conflict Societies – Perspectives on Issues of Gender and Agency for Women and Young People’, showcases various post-conflict perspectives and explores topics related to gender in post-conflict situations.

The public is especially invited to the film screening of ‘Seeds of Hope’, followed by a Q&A with award-winning director, Fiona Lloyd-Davies, on October 8th, 6-8pm. Fiona Lloyd-Davies is a renowned filmmaker and photojournalist who has been reporting on human rights issues in conflict areas for more than 20 years.

For more information and to register for events, please visit http://voicesofpostconflict.wordpress.com/

voices

Picture Credit: Fiona Lloyd-Davies

Tackling the scourge of modern slavery

parlystatueThe Modern Slavery Bill was introduced in the House of Commons this week, but local MP Mark Lazarowicz believes the legislation doesn’t go far enough.

The bill would provide law enforcement with stronger tools to stamp out modern slavery, ensure slave drivers can receive suitably severe punishments and enhance protection of and support for victims.

The bill includes provisions to:

  • ensure that perpetrators can receive suitably severe punishments for these appalling crimes – including life sentences
  • introduce new orders to enhance the court’s ability to place restrictions on individuals where this is necessary to protect people from the harm caused by modern slavery offences
  • create an Anti-Slavery Commissioner to improve and better coordinate the response to modern slavery
  • introduce a defence for victims of slavery and trafficking compelled to commit an offence
  • create an enabling power for child trafficking advocates
  • introduce a new reparation order to encourage the courts to compensate victims where assets are confiscated from perpetrators
  • close gaps in the law to enable the police and Border Force to stop boats where slaves are suspected of being held or trafficked

Edinburgh North & Leith MP Mark Lazarowicz‘ says the Bill is a major step forward but should be tougher.  Speaking in Tuesday’s debate on the Modern Slavery Bill at Westminster, he praised the Bill as a major step forward but highlighted two areas where it needs to be strengthened significantly at UK level:

· Extension of the powers and funding of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority created by the last Labour Government,  and

· Increased transparency and accountability of companies for their supply chains.

Commenting after the debate, the local MP said: “Modern slavery can see people desperately seeking a better life trapped and exploited in ways as varied as sex trafficking, domestic servitude or agricultural workers whose meagre wages are docked to pay for sub-standard food and accommodation leaving them with debts they can never pay off.

“Vulnerable people, often with very few language skills, may simply not know where to seek help even if they get the chance and be fearful that they may be deported if they do escape.

“The last Labour Government first set out to tackle this modern evil by creating the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to root out abuse in agriculture and related industries: it’s been widely praised and its funding and remit should be increased.

“Companies should also be accountable for how their goods are produced in supply chains with annual reports setting out steps they took to verify and audit suppliers.

“Whilst enabling the prosecution of traffickers and slave-masters, the Bill must also advance the protection of victims: too often companies and consumers do not know and in the worst case may not even care how workers are exploited in producing the food we eat, the clothes we wear.”