Freedom Challenge 2013

Why Take Part?

It’s heaps of fun!!!

To raise awareness on and generate support for a burning human rights issue.

To develop leadership skills, fundraise and gain more members

Welcome to Freedom Challenge 2013!

By the end of this workshop you should understand and be able to explain:

• What Freedom Challenge is

• 2013 Freedom Challenge campaign

• Know the key secrets to having an effective Freedom Challenge

• Have several ideas for your 2013 event!

Introductions• What’s your name?

• What youth team are you from?

• Have you been involved with Freedom Challenge before?

• What do you most want to get out of the next hour?

How does it work?A team challenge for school and youth groups in New Zealand

Each team stages an event to highlight a pressing human rights issue

Freedom Week 2013 – Mon 5thth to Mon 12th August. • Campaigning – make some noise & get media coverage of your event!

• Awareness Raising - inspire others to take action.

• Fundraising.

• Recruitment - recruit people to your Amnesty group.

What’s the plan for 2013??

Who are we campaigning for?

This year we will campaign for women’s rights, and to protect those who are at risk of sexual and gender-based violence in Egypt.

We will meet some of the women of the revolution and stand in solidarity with them as they continue to fight for their human rights.

Street Art!!

Street art has taken over the once drab capital city Cairo. It is everywhere. This is why this year’s theme is... CHALK Like An Egyptian

Unable to express their opinions safely, many have turned to street art as a form of expression.

 

Street Art...that's like graffiti right?

Not quite. Typically, the term ‘street art’ is used to distinguish contemporary public-space artwork from territorial graffiti, vandalism, and corporate art.

So what’s happening in MENA and Egypt?

The new constitution...

· does not explicitly ban discrimination against women,

· refers to women only as dependents or homemakers,

· abolishes quotas for women in parliamentary elections which has seen female representation drop to two percent,

· severely undermines women’s rights in relation to issues such as marriage and divorce.

And the new Constitutional Committee is made up almost entirely of men!

 

Egypt fits within Amnesty Internationals Freedom of Expression campaign and MENA campaign •Revolution in 2011•Women at the forefront of peaceful protests•A new start for Egypt?

Sexual and Gender-based violence

The level of sexual and gender-based violence in Egypt is frightening.

 Almost every girl and woman, who has walked the streets or taken public transport in Cairo, has experienced some form of verbal or physical sexual harassment.

 

“The fear is broken. Everyone talks about politics. In the past, women and girls didn’t talk about sexual harassment, but now they do and they are fighting back against it”

 

Women standing up to shape Egypt’s future

The violence aimed at keeping women away from protests has instead galvanized women to take to the streets in their thousands.

Today, women activists are present in every field of life advocating for human rights: on the streets, in police stations and courts, in the media and on-line. They are lawyers, activists, doctors, journalists and bloggers. And they are also street artists…..

What Can We Do?If there is to be a new era for women in Egypt, the authorities as well as all political leaders must first combat their own deep-seated, discriminatory attitudes towards women and their human rights.

 We ask that Egyptian political leaders...  1) Publicly condemn all forms of sexual harassment and

gender-based violence; 2) Ensure that Egyptian law does not discriminate and that

it punishes sexual and gender-based violence 3) Ensure that women can safely and equally participate in

public assemblies.

We will also be sending messages of solidarity to women who are taking action to demand their rights are respected.

Here’s how we help you fundraise

Why do we give you all this awesome stuff?

Part of the reason we give you all these cool badges, stickers, wristbands; we know that you can use them to raise those all important funds.

These funds are a huge part of what allows us to carry out our vital human rights work around the world and here at home.

The other part is that we love you, and you guys, out there taking action and going above and beyond should wear those badges, stick those stickers, wrist those wristbands with pride.

Where does the money go?

The money you raise will go toward; Supporting and resourcing Amnesty’s most important

asset, activists and supporters like you; Helping to fund our research into human rights issues like

this one (we have two researchers in Egypt documenting abuses and gathering first hand information) ;

Providing accurate reports and information to the media, the people, and leaders here and around the world so they have the right information when it comes to making key decisions relevant to human rights.

All of this enables our basic work, raising awareness of human rights and human rights issues, striving to bring those responsible for human rights abuses to justice, and trying to prevent rights abuses in any and all situations.

Take Action!!This year we have

three actions for you to take:

Lets Get Creative!!

Planning your eventsPlan your events

Book your mufti days

Register

Order your resources

Contact the media

Bring on Freedom Challenge 2013!