Amnesty International ‘schools’ HRRG et al. on membership roles

Source: Christiana Nyarko | Joseph Wemakor

Human Rights Organization, Amnesty International Ghana (AI Ghana) has held a meeting to sensitize its members on the advocacy campaigns, actions and roles it is exploring to end human rights abuses in the country and beyond.

The orientation meeting which took place at the organization’s head office in Accra on Thursday October 31, brought together eleven (11) selected members who constituted the Kokomlemle Zone. Among the participants include 4 members who represented the Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), a leading human rights advocacy organization who is committed to supporting AI Ghana in its advocacy campaign.

Human Rights Stoties 

The participants were schooled on the history of the Global Human Rights Organization, Amnesty International, including that of its Ghana Chapter, the advocacy campaigns, actions and roles being played in protecting and defending the rights of people worldwide.

Speaking at the ‘Orientation meeting’, Gloria Emeka, the National Youth Coordinator, Ghana branch of Amnesty International who also doubles as member of the group’s National Standing Committee enlightened members on the history of the international human rights body touching on its outstanding feats as well, campaigns, advocacy works and actions undertaken which encompasses political, socio-economic, culture rights to compelling government’s worldwide to free prisoners of conscience.

Human Rights Stoties 

She further revealed the vision and mission of the Amnesty International Ghana towards ensuring an ‘abuse-free’ society in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human and People’s Rights as expoused by the United Nations.

The orientation exercise was also used to explain the current human rights areas the AI Ghana is exploring to draw the attention of both the stateholders and government to in a bid to end human rights abuses in the country. These include the various campaigns and actions to end the death penalty, to improve the terrible living and feeding conditions in the country’s prisons, forced evictions and reproductive rights.

For her part, the Coordinator of Madina Zonal branch of Amnesty International Ghana, Beauty Tawiah charged members to be committed defenders, champions and promoters of human rights and help expose abusive acts of police brutalities within the various communities.

Madam Tawiah further stressed the need for members to be in good standing and leaders to active in performance of their leadership roles.

She urges heads of district and zonal levels to always endeavor to submit reports on their activities and meetings promptly to the general headquarters.

The three-hour meeting was climaxed by a short address from the Growth and Mobilization Manager of AI Ghana Chapter, Frank Kwaku Doyi, who welcomed all participants to the membership of the organization; reiterating the need to push for progress of human rights and freedoms in the country.

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Amnesty International, an international human rights NGO was founded on the 28th of May, 1961 in the United Kingdom by an English Legal Practitioner named Peter Banenson and his associate to undertake Legal advocacy, involve Media attention, use direct-appeal campaigns, research, lobbying to ensure that individuals and groups are safe from all manner of human rights abuses. The organization since then, has recorded massive growth and support with heavy presence in 150 countries and a worldwide growing membership exceeding more than 7 million with ten thousand in Ghana alone.