Human Rights and Security Network

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A group of volunteer activists who promote Amnesty International Australia's Human Rights and Security Campaign.

We meet:

Every second Thursday of the month from 6:30pm at the Rose Hotel, 54 Cleveland St, Chippendale.

What is the Human Rights and Security Network?

The Human Rights and Security Network is a group of volunteer activists who promote Amnesty International Australia's Human Rights and Security Campaign. The campaign is focused primarily upon preventing the erosion of human rights in the context of the so-called "War on Terror". Our main areas of concern include:

incidences of torture and/or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment
anti-terrorism legislation and consequent erosion of civil liberties
rendition, arbitrary arrest and detention.

What have we done recently?

September 2008: Run a series of seminars on understanding International law and human rights.
February 2008: Preview film screening of Rendition, starring Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal, depicting the CIA practice of extraordinary rendition and secret detention facilities.
January 2008: Our Close Guantanamo protest in Martin Place on Friday 11 January 2008 was a great success, with Amnesty protests around the world achieving international media coverage. Watch a YouTube clip of the protests around the world, including the action in Sydney.
July 2007: Understanding International Law & Human Rights: a series of six seminars held in October/November 2006, March/April 2007 and June/July 2007.
May 2007: "Harmony Lost: Why Multicultural Australia Needs a Human Rights Act in the Era of Anti-Terror" - forum with Professor George Williams (Gilbert & Tobin Centre), Robin Banks (PIAC), Danielle Celemarjer (University of Sydney) and Suraya Turk (Youth Advisory Council of NSW)
March 2007: Replica Hicks cell in the Sydney CBD during March 2007.
June 2006: Freedom Writers Literary Award in conjunction with Sydney PEN and the NSW Writers' Centre. Read the winning entries: Meg McNena's Spoil, Rohan Chandran's The Queue and Charlotte Stansfield's The Words To Say It.
May 2006: A History of American Torture with Mike Otterman.

How can you get involved?

The HR&S Network Organising Committee meets every second Thursday of the month from 6:30pm at the Rose Hotel, 54 Cleveland St, Chippendale. If you are interested in joining the Organising Committee, or would like more information, please email nswhrsteam@amnesty.org.au.

Good News on Guantanamo: closure at hand (January 2009)

Finally, after a long, hard campaign, President Obama issued an executive order to close the Guantanamo Detention Facilities within the year. Welcome news indeed.