Macquarie University

nsw Resources:: Home; About; Action groups; Events; News; Volunteer

Our group is the longest, continuously running campus group.

About us

The Amnesty International group at Macquarie University is the longest and continuously run campus group. The group comprises of relaxed and friendly students, all passionate about promoting and defending human rights. Our primary focus is on education and awareness raising of human rights issues on-campus. We conduct meetings on-campus where we review current human rights abuses around the world and discuss ways how we can help. We are also now focusing on events to raise the groups profile and Amnesty message on-campus. We have over 450-members and welcome all Macquarie University students to become involved. After a short period of inactivity earlier this year, the new Executive Committee are back, full of passion and enthusiaism and ready to create a vibrant and active on-campus group that promotes and defends human rights.

We meet: Tuesday 1pm

Find us on Facebook

We have also created a Facebook page and a webpage on the University’s Student Services website as further means of communication with our members. These are updated regularly and the links are listed below.

Amnesty International on U@MQ

Upcoming events

Past events

Amnesty International Macquarie University SVAW events
On Monday 23 May we kicked off a series of events on the ‘Stop Violence Against Women Campaign’ by way of an eye-catching statement. As many of you know, the attention-grabber for the campaign is the idea of stamping your hand on a banner to say no to violence against women. To catch everyone’s attention we wrapped up some of the trees in the courtyard outside the SAM (our union) building with hand stamp banners that had already been made. We also encouraged passersby to stamp their hand or sign a petition to say no to violence against women, handed out fliers and talked to people about the campaign. We obtained 200 signatures to lobby parliament for a national plan of action and filled over one and a half banners with hand stamps.

Previously we've had a Speaker’s Forum, which twenty-five people attended. Dr Judy Lattas gave an insightful presentation on how women are often targeted in conflict situations and how rape is used as a weapon of war. Gail shared with us her own experience of domestic violence in a relationship. She emphasised how domestic violence is something that can happen to anyone as it cuts across all educational and economic divisions. Finally, Kathleen O'Rourke, one of our members, gave a speech introducing what Amnesty International would like to achieve in its campaign.

For semester 2, 2008 we had an Amnesty stall for 3-days as part of MacFest orientation and combined this a ‘15-mins of fame’ theatre spot and stilt-walking for the brave! In second week we had a stall arranged during the 3-day Sustainability Fair. There are weekly on-campus meetings where we organise upcoming events, invite guest speakers and have letter writing sessions. After the semester break we had a lunchtime BBQ to raise funds and let both staff and students know of our upcoming ‘Stop Violence’ party. We are involved in the screening of the movie Rendition on 19th October 2008. We are also conducting the raffle at the Global Leadership Program’s Distinguished Speaker Series on 21st October to raise funds.

We are a very busy on-campus group dedicated to raising the profile of human rights for all.