Amnesty volunteers in Wexford working together to campaign for human rights around the world
'Picnic Against Apartheid' fundraiser in Redmond Park Wexford at 2-5:30pm on the 13th of July We are one of 8 local groups that operate in Ireland and contribute to Amnesty International's work to defend human rights around the world. We are a friendly and energetic group of local people that:
• Raise local awareness about human rights
• Organise events and stalls
• Fundraise
• Campaign with letter writing and lobbying
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭
The group meets at 7:30pm on the 1st Tuesday of every month at the lobby/coffee dock in Clayton Whites Hotel, Abbey Street, Wexford.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐞 𝐃𝐨
Wexford's group works in support of political prisoners to upholding the whole spectrum of human rights. We also act swiftly when Amnesty International Ireland signifies an 'Urgent Call for Action'. As Amnesty International's founder, Peter Benenson, said "Only when the last prisoner of conscience has been freed, when the last torture chamber has been closed, when the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a reality for the world’s people, will our work be done".
𝐀 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲
Wexford's group of Amnesty International was founded in the 1990s by a small nucleus of determined people as they were concerned with two particular issues at the time: the death penalty particularly in the US, and apartheid in South Africa. Like most groups we have always had hard core members attending most group meetings while also having a larger number on the fringe. Numbers have gone up and down over the year, but the commitment of a small number of people continues to inspire us in our work for human rights. An event showing a movie on a topical social injustice issue has become an annual event held near Human Rights Day in December. Between what was Enniscorthy group and Wexford group, the event has been running since 2003 starting with The Kite Runner. This helps raise money for Amnesty International's work around the world. However we are seeking to diversify and do more campaigning work, putting on more events and raising funds through varies events. We've also benefited from having members from other countries, including Germany and Iran It's been a reminder that Amnesty really is a world-wide movement.
𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• In the earlier years we tackled issues like the death penalty in the US. For example if an Urgent Action was called by Amnesty International for a specific case like when an ex*****on was imminent. We'd mobilise as a group and would fax, letter and call to pressure authorities to stop it.
• Our group was inspired by Mairead Cairbre, an activist in Wexford, who worked vigorously on denouncing the issue of apartheid in South Africa. We campaigned for the release of many "prisoners of conscience". By raising awareness about these individuals and pressuring the South African government, we contributed to the eventual release of prominent figures like Nelson Mandela.
• We also hosted in the late 90s a group of incredibly brave Columbian women to Wexford. They were mothers of sons who had gone missing through the Farc Guerillas where they were taken hostage or made fight. The Women, despite having very little English, visited Dail Eireann and then were brought by Amnesty to the European Parliament. Due to their commitment, an agreement with the Farc Guerillas was signed in 2016.
• We have always been committed to working for individual prisoners. Like those who've been arrested without trial or tortured or political prisoners. For most of our history there has been at least one person with whom we have been particularly concerned for example dubliner Ibrahim Halawa. He was arrested at only 17 years old in Egypt and had faced death by hanging on charges that ranged from inciting violence to murder, but was acquitted after 4 years after being held in several detention centres and following a long campaign for his freedom, which had widespread backing in Ireland and in Wexford in particular.
𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬
Individual members have played a part in the wider movement, for example as Board members in Amnesty International Ireland, and helping set up Wexford as a Fair Trade Town. We look forward to doing more in the future and becoming more effective in our work for the victims of human rights abuses throughout the world. We are always accepting new members so don't be afraid to message us on Facebook or Instagram with any queries!
