The rain came down like iron rods for hours.
Not an auspicious start for the launch of Amnesty International’s campaign to end maternal mortality in Sierra Leone. However, by early afternoon, the sun was beginning to peep through the dark grey clouds and steam rose from Freetown’s roads, as the puddles dried.
By 4pm, thousands of Sierra Leoneans, many dressed in yellow t-shirts bearing the “End Maternal Mortality in Sierra Leone” slogan had gathered at Bishop Johnson Memorial School ground. Most of the crowd were women and girls, and many were visibly pregnant.
Continue reading ‘Thousands unite to end maternal mortality in Sierra Leone’
Amnesty International Secretary General, Irene Khan, visited Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH) in Freetown on Sunday to understand the problems the Sierra Leone healthcare system faces in fighting death during childbirth.
Continue reading ‘Understanding the problems of Sierra Leone’s healthcare system’
Yaya Dampha in Sweden with Karin Bolin, the Department Secretary in charge of West Africa
We had a meeting with official of the Swedish foreign ministry on the 22 July. About 15 Gambians in Stockholm participated in our journey to the foreign ministry. I and three other Gambians were allowed in to meet Madam Karin Bolin, Department Sectary in charge of West Africa. She is also EU desk officer.
We presented the public statement to her and talked about the human rights abuses and violations in Gambia. We also gave her highlights on the lack of press freedom and the case of Chief Ebrima Manneh and Kanyiba Kanyi among others.
I gave my own case also during my arrest with the Amnesty International team in Gambia in October 2007.
Press conference about the human rights situation in Gambia in Abuja, Nigeria
The press conference in Abuja was held at the premises of the National Human Rights Commission and was well attended by Civil Society members and journalists. The delegation was represented by me (Amnesty International), Ndey Tapha Sosseh (Gambia Press Union) and Winfred Nii-Boye (Media Foundation).
The press conference started with a short video clip of the interview of the Gambian President that led to this recent repression. I read the press statement, followed by a presentation by Ndey and Winfred spoke about their media alert. The Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Journalists gave a solidarity message.
Continue reading ‘Well attended press conference on Gambia in Nigeria’
Some 400 people from a range of human rights, campesino and Indigenous organisations and social movements attended the hearing in La Paz, Bolivia. © Amnesty International
Amnesty International went yesterday today to a public hearing of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in La Paz, Bolivia with 400 people from a range of human rights, campesino and Indigenous organizations and social movements.
They went to hear the Paraguayan state held to account for progress it has made in safeguarding the survival of the Sawhoyamaxa Indigenous community. Amnesty International has been campaigning with this community since 2008.
Continue reading ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Rights - Solidarity across borders’
