Note from Naomi

Semester 1 was massive! Congrats for all you made happen over the last six months to further human

rights.

You made #ToxicTwitter trend

You called out rampant misogyny on Twitter, and with your help we sent nearly 10,000 emails and

petition signatures to Twitter calling on them to address the online abuse of women. In March Amnesty

activists also hit the streets outside Twitter headquarters in Sydney to focus attention squarely on

Twitter’s inadequate measures to stop online abuse.

You welcomed refugees

If you follow us on social (and I really hope you do) you might have seen local councils backing

Amnesty’s campaign for fairer community sponsorship for refugees. Amazing community leaders like

Father Rod Bower and the Western Bulldogs AFL team have also added their support.

So... what’s coming up?

We have a vision: that within a generation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are no more

likely to be imprisoned than non-Indigenous children.

In Semester 2 Amnesty activists will be campaigning to raise the ‘age of criminal responsibility’ in

Australia to at least 14 years, and for more funding for Indigenous-led alternatives to prison for kids.

Read on – we’ve got background info for you, a tonne of ways to take action, and a great case study

to demonstrate the importance of being a genuine ally with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

communities.

Plus … you get to make kites.

A massive thanks for all that you do

Cheers

Naomi

National Youth Coordinator

Amnesty International Australia

CAMPUS BULLETIN SEMESTER 2, 2018

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that this land always was and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.

Amnesty International Australia - defending human rights | ABN 640 0280 6233 supporter@amnesty.org.au | www.amnesty.org.au | Published June 2018

Amnesty International Australia June 2018

KEY DATES: SEMESTER 1

4 AUGUST: NATIONAL ABORIGINAL AND ISLANDER CHILDREN’S DAY

Officially started by the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) in 1988. The day aims to focus on themes related to Aboriginal children like poverty, education access and pride in culture, and recognises their strengths and culture.

9 AUGUST: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

First declared by the United Nations in 1994, the International Day of Indigenous Peoples aims to strengthen international awareness and cooperation for solutions to the problems faced by Aboriginal people in areas such as human rights, development, the environment, education and health. 9 August marks the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations, held in Geneva in 1982.

1 SEPTEMBER: INDIGENOUS LITERACY DAYA national celebration of Indigenous culture, stories, language and literacy. Celebrated on the first Wednesday in September, activities focus attention on the disadvantages experienced in remote communities, raise funds and advocate for access to literacy resources for remote communities.

30 OCTOBER: ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF THE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACTThe Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (RDA) makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person because of his or her race, colour, descent, national origin or ethnic origin, or immigrant status. The RDA protects people from racial discrimination in many areas, including employment, education, renting or buying a house, and accessing public places.

Tip: check the Online Activism Planner regularlyEverything about current campaigns, key dates, suggestions for activities, workshops and training for action groups and activists. Please check it regularly for updates. You can use it live in a group meeting, or check out the printable version if you need hard copies.

Dates that you can build events and partnerships around. Head to www.creativespirits.info for more information.

Cultural hub book clubAmnesty’s Cultural Hub is an online space that provides a range of resources for activists, supporters and staff to build our understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories. Check out the full list of recommended resources at www.amnesty.org.au/cultural-learning-hub

To get you started, check out these amazing reads:

• Am I Black Enough For You? by Anita Heiss

• Talking to My Country, by Stan Grant

• 10 Things You Should Know about White Privilege; by Luke Pearson and Sophie Verass

Amnesty International Australia June 2018

GOOD NEWS Whittlesea supports community sponsorshipIn June the Whittlesea Council in Victoria passed a motion in support of Amnesty International’s campaign to expand and improve the Federal Government’s refugee community sponsorship program.

Whittlesea is one of almost 150 local councils across the country that have already declared themselves Refugee Welcome Zones. Now that the Whittlesea has led the way, we hope other local councils will take their commitment one step further by adding their voices to the call for fairer community sponsorship.

Ankara Pride March goes aheadOn 11 May, students at Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) held their annual Pride March despite a ban on LGBTQI events in Ankara, Turkey. Hundreds of students peacefully marched on the university campus for Pride. After the university staff had told students they would shut down their planned march, Amnesty supporters around the world sent emails to the university, demanding they allow the march to go ahead without hindrance.

“The reason we could resist the ban and move forward was the international support and solidarity by Amnesty International activists around the world.”

Death penalty abolished in Burkina FasoBurkina Faso adopted a new penal code that abolishes the death penalty in May. While the country has been abolitionist in practice for many years, this parliamentary decision is a welcome move. Burkina Faso joins Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal and Togo in West Africa, alongside the Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Gabon, Rwanda and Madagascar, who have abolished the death penalty for all crimes in the past 20 years.

Saudi women behind the wheelSince 24 June women in Saudi Arabia are now legally allowed to drive in the country. However, leading women’s rights activists and campaigners against the driving ban – including Loujain al-Hathloul, Iman al-Nafjan and Aziza al-Yousef – are among eight activists still being detained in Saudi Arabia for their peaceful human rights work.

Ankara Pride March, May 2018 © AI

Refugee rights march, London. © AI UK

Amnesty International Australia June 2018

RAISE THE AGE OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY

We’re campaigning to change Australia’s laws so that our government can no longer send children younger than 14 to prison.

Our vision is that within a generation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are no more likely to be imprisoned than non-Indigenous children.

Indigenous children make up one in 15 kids in Australia – but are half of all children in Australia’s youth detention centres. By locking up children and separating them from their families and communities, our governments are limiting these children’s potential and causing them lifelong psychological harm.

Currently in Australia, children as young as 10 can be imprisoned. This is in stark contrast with the international community, which doesn’t allow children younger than 14 to be imprisoned.

We’re also campaigning for more funding for Indigenous-led alternatives to prison for kids. Indigenous-led bush camps, and training and mentoring programs are already having great results, with kids who complete being far less likely to get in trouble again. If governments support these positive approaches that focus on prevention rather than detention, we can give kids the best chance to thrive and start to reduce the over-representation of Indigenous kids in prison.

At what age can kids in Australia be imprisoned?A child in Australia can be charged, brought before a court, sentenced and imprisoned at the age of 10. In 2016-2017, almost 9,000 children aged 10 to 13 were dealt with in the criminal justice system, and around 600 were locked up in children’s prisons.

Why raise the age that kids can be locked up?Research shows that our brains, especially the parts that regulate judgement, decision-making and impulse control, are still developing when we’re 10. Children are not able to fully foresee the consequences of an action, and cannot fully understand the criminal nature of their behaviour.

Kids entering the criminal justice system are less likely to access education, mentoring and community support – the things they need to grow up healthy and strong. This contributes to the justice system’s quicksand effect – once you’re in it’s very hard to pull yourself away. Research shows that arresting and locking up kids at such a young age increases the likelihood that they will come back into contact with the justice system as adults.

How does this affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids?Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are most affected by Australia’s punitive approach, being 25 times more likely to be locked up than non-Indigenous children. In 2016-2017, two thirds of the 10-13 year olds in detention during the year were Indigenous. We know that keeping kids on country and in culture can be an effective alternative to prison for kids under 14.

What does the rest of the world do?The average age a child can be locked up around the world is 14 years old . China, Russia, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan, Viet Nam, Argentina, Colombia, Laos, Kazakhstan, Sierra Leone, Azerbaijan, Cambodia and Rwanda are some of the many countries with a minimum age of 14 or older. The UN has consistently advocated for a minimum age of 14 and has criticised Australia for imprisoning children as young as 10.

SEMESTER 2 FOCUS

Amnesty International Australia June 2018

Who else is calling for this?We’re in good company here. The Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association, National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, UNICEF, Human Rights Law Centre and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services are just some of the other organisations calling on governments to raise the minimum age of criminality to at least 14.

What are the alternatives to prison?Indigenous-led programs that focus on prevention and rehabilitation, such as bush camps and training and mentoring programs. Kids who complete these programs are far less likely to get in trouble again. The Northern Territory Royal Commission into Youth Detention and Protection identified that most children did not get into trouble again when they received the support and services they needed through community-based alternatives, in particular diversion.

The Mona Horsemanship Program is just one of the many Indigenous-designed and led community programs that nurtures kids’ potential and provides a successful alternative to children’s prisons. Now these Indigenous leaders are asking for the government’s support in keeping their program going.Mona Aboriginal Corporation’s cultural horsemanship program was developed in response to a lack of culturally appropriate healing programs. Their program focuses on restoring pride to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people with spiritual guidance and support from Elders and program mentors. The Cultural Horsemanship Program runs for 15 weeks and teaches children and young people respect, mechanical training and skills, meal preparation, fencing and yard building, animal husbandry, cultural education and skills such as hunting and gathering.Sixteen year-old Aboriginal, Torres Strait and South Sea Islander girl, Nivea*, had been having a hard time at home.“I didn’t really have anyone to look up to once Mum moved away,” she said. “I was hanging around the wrong crowd, going to parties… I didn’t really like drinking but that’s what they did for fun.”Nivea ended up with a warning from police after being with her friends when they were stealing. But her situation turned around once she started going out on country with the Mona team.“It’s been way better – I get in less trouble… I come out here to the station to work with them. You have to get up early but it’s better. You learn all this new stuff and meet new people.”

CASE STUDY: THE MONA HORSEMANSHIP PROGRAM

What is Amnesty asking for?For each state and territory government to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 in line with international human rights standards. We are also asking governments to adequately fund the hard-working Indigenous people and organisations providing alternatives to prison for kids.

Who can change the age?State and territory governments are responsible for their own law and justice policies so it is up to them to set the age a child can be imprisoned. When it comes to funding Indigenous-led alternatives to prison for kids, state and territory governments can champion these programs but they may need to request funding from the Federal Government.

Mona Horsemanship, Mt Isa, Australia. 2016 © Wayne Quilliam

Amnesty International Australia June 2018

1. GET VISIBLE: FLY A KITE

The outdoors, friends, exercise, sunshine … these are some of the best things about being a kid, and some of the key things that kids in the justice system miss out on. Highlight this and get noticed with a kite-flying event!

• Pick a date: a lunchtime would probably work best, and keep an eye on the weather. Make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare and invite people along, and to gather kite-making materials.

• Make your kites: there are a tonne of kite templates online – find the easiest one. You can make some kites before your event, or get crafty on the day as part of your event. Make your kites using black, red and yellow materials – the colours of the Aboriginal flag.

• Get flying: spend some time together flying your kites. Think about the best spot on campus to do this – and find out if you need to book it ahead of time.

• Snapshots: it’s super important to get some great photos of your kites up and about. Also get pictures of your team making the kites. You’ll need to get consent forms – grab copies from the Amnesty website.

• Share your activity with the rest of the university community. With some great pictures, this would be a great story for your campus media.

• Share with decision makers: Remember that the decision for raising the age sits with the states and territories. Make sure you have the image consent forms signed - so you can share your pictures with your local MP. You can do this through a letter, explaining what you did and why, or make a plan to meet with them.

10 ways to be a genuine ally with Indigenous communitiesHuman rights activists stand up for the rights of everyone, everywhere. What we don’t always do very well is reflect on how our presence has impacted the individuals and communities we are standing in support of. Sometimes despite our best intentions we have actually done harm without realising it. When working with Indigenous communities there isn’t one way to be an ally as every community and individual is different. But here are some suggestions that will help you to get started.

ACT NOW

Amnesty International Australia June 2018

ACT NOW

SCREENING TIPS• If you have relationships with local Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander community leaders, invite them to collaborate with you on the event. Also – contact Paddy Gibson at Padraic.Gibson@uts.edu.au from the film team so he can put you in touch with local organisations involved in the film / issue.

• Lock in a date. Give your group enough time to prepare properly, including promoting and selling tickets.. Promote the event far and wide in your community.

• Invite local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community leaders you have built relationships with to speak at the event. Make sure to organise a Welcome to Country or say an Acknowledgement of Country at the start of your event.

• Important: announce a content warning prior to screening and make sure the content warning is present on all promotional materials: WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that After the Apology contains images and voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may have passed and contains some distressing content.

• Invite your state MP to the event. Ask them to speak or take questions from the crowd.

• Invite local media to cover the event.

• Take lots of photos and video to share on social media. Make sure you get consent before using photos of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

• Don’t forget to ask people to sign a petition at your event!

2. HOST A FILM SCREENING

You can host a screening of After the Apology in your local area to engage your community on the rights of Indigenous children and inspire people to get on board with the campaign.

After the Apology is a brilliant new documentary written and produced by deadly Eualeyai and Kamillaroi woman, academic and writer, Larissa Behrendt. The film follows four Aboriginal grandmothers who challenge government policies to bring their grandkids home, and spearhead a national movement to curb child removal from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

To arrange a screening of After the Apology:

• Contact your Community Organiser and keep them in the loop about your plans.

• Register your interest through Demand Films. Demand Films have arrangements with cinemas around the country that will screen the film if 40+ tickets are sold. They will organise your venue, and your role is to promote your screening.

• Promote your film screening widely! Ensure people purchase tickets online by a set date. If the 40+ ticket target is met your screening goes ahead, if not it cancels at no cost to anyone.

Amnesty International Australia June 2018

BRAVE: STAND UP FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERSRight now, people across the world are risking everything to speak out against injustice. They are student leaders, political opponents, teachers, lawyers and journalists. They’re being harassed, jailed and even killed – just for daring to stand up for what’s right.

Over the past few years human rights defenders around the world have come under increasing threat. In 2016, at least 281 human rights defenders were killed in 22 countries, including people who protected the environment, stood up for the rights of LGBTQI communities, and campaigned for the rights of women and girls.

IMPRISONED FOR PEACEFUL PROTESTAtena Daemi and Golrokh Ebrahimi Irae are friends and human rights activists. Alongside Golrokh’s husband Arash Sadeghi, they are in prison because of their work to protect and promote human rights in Iran. Atena, an anti-death penalty campaigner, is serving a seven-year sentence because of her human rights activism. Golrokh is serving a three-year sentence for writing an unpublished story on the practice of stoning women to death for adultery.

In January Golrokh and Atena were violently transferred to Shahr-e Rey prison – a disused chicken farm that holds hundreds of women in overcrowded conditions without access to drinkable water, decent food, medicine and fresh air. During the transfer, the women allege guards insulted them, subjected them to sexual slurs, and kicked and punched them when they peacefully protested against the transfer.

Human rights in IranAuthorities in Iran heavily suppress freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, as well as freedom of religion. People who voice dissent are imprisoned, usually after unfair trials. Torture and other ill-treatment is widespread. The authorities endorse discrimination and violence based on gender, political opinion, religious belief, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity. Iran continues to execute its citizens, and in 2017 hundreds of people were executed, some in public. Thousands remain on death row.

ACT NOW

3 ways to support Atena, Golrokh and Arash:

1. Tell the Minister to unconditionally release Golrokh, Atena and Arash, and allow them access to medical care until their release. Grab a petition (included at the back of this pack) and start collecting names and emails in your community. We’ll post your petitions to the Head of the Judiciary regularly to keep up the pressure.

2. Print our copies of the solidarity card (included at the back of this pack) and share the story of the human rights defenders in Iran with the people in your life – your family, lecturers, people you play sport with … ask them to share a message of support, and we’ll get those messages to Golrokh, Atena and Arash.

3. Photocopy the tally mark picture at the back of this kit (or draw your own). You can colour in the tally marks and ask your mates to do the same. Then build a display of tally marks to show how many people care about these brave people. Take a photo and send to activism@amnesty.org.au.

21 August marks one year since the verdict against Arash and Golrokh. If you can get 75 people to each colour in a tally mark, you can represent the 365 days Arash and Golrokh have been in prison.

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NAME

POSTCODE

SIGNATURE

EMAIL

MOBILE

DATE OF BIRTH

Published: 1 March 2018 All personal information you provide will be collected, stored and used in accordance with our privacy policy: www.amnesty.org.au/privacy. IAR-915 We may use the information you provide to let you know about our campaigns and activities. Return all petitions to your local Amnesty Action Centre or post to Brave Campaign, Locked Bag 23, Broadway, NSW 2007. For more information visit amnesty.org.au or call 1300 300 920 Tell us who collected this petition ______________________________

Dear Head of the Judiciary Ayatollah Sadegh Larijan,

I call on you to release Atena Daemi, Arash Sadeghi, and Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee immediately and unconditionally, as they are prisoners of conscience, imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly including through their human rights work.

Please ensure that Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee and Atena Daemi have access to a qualified health professional who can provide health care in compliance with medical ethics, including the principles of confidentiality, autonomy and informed consent.

Yours sincerely,

Atena Daemi and Golrokh Ebrahimi Irae, are friends. They are currently in prison because of their work to protect and promote human rights in Iran.

In January they were violently transferred to Shahr-e Rey prison. During the transfer, the women allege guards insulted and abused them.

In protest of their transfer, they went on hunger strike. They have stopped drinking water since February 11.

Tell the Iranian authorities to ensure that Golrokh and Atena have access to medical care and they must immediately be released.