Left to right: Revd Andrew Coleby, Anne Main MP, Jennifer Knox, Councillor Geoff Harrison, Deputy Mayor of St Albans City and District, Penny Williams, St Albans Amnesty Group Co-chair and event organiser
The Deputy Mayor Councillor Geoff Harrison joined the St Albans group of Amnesty International on Wednesday 25 May to commemorate the founding of Amnesty International fifty years ago.
St Albans City and District Council had a special floral tribute created for the event in the Quaker Burial ground in front of the Police Station in Victoria Street, St Albans. The flower bed was designed to portray the Amnesty logo of a candle surrounded by a spiral of barbed wire.
The Revd Andrew Coleby, a member of the group, led the period of reflection. He said that societies change but human rights are universal and apply to all cultures. As we have progressed in the UK, so can other countries advance in tolerance and this is the source of hope.
Jennifer Knox, daughter of Eric Baker one of the founders of Amnesty, recalled her memories of her father’s meeting with Peter Benenson, which led to the 1961 Observer article and the setting up of Amnesty in Peter’s cramped chambers. She spoke of the early debate that led to the decision to only consider “prisoners of conscience” imprisoned for non-violent protest. Her father continued to work hard for the group of volunteers until his death in 1976, just before Amnesty received the Nobel Peace Prize.
If you would like to volunteer to help, the St Albans Group of AIUK meets every second Wednesday of the month at 8pm at the Friends Meeting House, 7 Upper Lattimore Road, St Albans, AL1 3UD, except in August when there is no meeting. Further details are available on the St Albans Amnesty Group’s website: www.amnesty.org.uk/stalbans.
The Group aims to:-
• campaign with letter writing and lobbying
• raise local awareness about human rights
• organise events and stalls
• fundraise
Peter Smith, St Albans AI Group Secretary commented: “We are a friendly and welcoming group. Please join us! Come along to a meeting. For further information telephone Penny Williams, Treasurer, on 01727 868367, or ring me on 01727 855931 or send me an e-mail: peterfsmith40@hotmail.com.
Cllr Geoff Harrison, Deputy Mayor of St Albans City & District.
Contact for the Mayor’s office:
Alison Orde, the Mayor’s Civic Officer
Tel: 01727 819544 E-mail: Alison.orde@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the press:
Davina Mansell, Information and Communication Officer
Tel: 01727 819316. E-mail: davina.mansell@stalbans.gov.uk
St Albans City and District Council
www.stalbans.gov.uk
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StAlbansCouncil
Notes:
The St Albans Group of Amnesty International (AI) is part of AI’s worldwide membership of some 1,800,000 members. The UK section has some 229,000 members, 270 local groups, of which the St Albans Group is one, some 120 student groups, and some 650 youth groups.
AI was the brainchild of Peter Benenson, a British lawyer, who in 1961 conceived the idea of making representations to authority, chiefly by letter, about the plight of those unjustly imprisoned because of their peacefully expressed views. This remains a central part of our work.
From then, AI has grown phenomenally and extended its campaigning beyond the defence of the human rights of the unjustly imprisoned, to general human rights issues such as the control of the arms trade, the death penalty and violence against women.
It is widely recognised that AI has been very successful in highlighting the plight of prisoners of conscience and helping to free some of them. Each letter sent in their cause reminds governments that they are accountable.
UK Website: http://www.amnesty.org.uk and
Global website: http://www.amnesty.org.