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Irene Khan crowned Paramount Chief of Bombali District
The launch ran smoothly and the highlight of the day was when Irene was crowned Paramount Chief of Bombali District! She is the first woman ever in the north to be crowned chief and her name is Ya Bomkapr Mankneh II. The other chiefs and elders consider it a great symbolic gesture to their commitment to empowering women.
Continuar leyendo ‘Irene Khan crowned as caravan moves on to Makeni’ »
Violet Kawa, Sierra Leone section chair, with Irene Khan at the launch of the caravan
There was a great vibe, with everyone enjoying the music being blasted from the caravan stage. The event started with an introduction from Violet, the Sierra Leone section chair, followed by a speech by Irene.
The most emotional moment was when Irene asked the crowd to raise their hands if they had lost a woman to maternal mortality and there was a sea of hands.
The section delegates unveiled the caravan and the musicians performed the Amnesty International soundtrack, which was warmly received by the crowd. The play was also performed with the crowd cheering the actors on.
Continuar leyendo ‘Sierra Leone caravan – an emotional launch and moving forward’ »
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.
Continuar leyendo ‘Thousands unite to end maternal mortality in Sierra Leone’ »
The Bishop Johnson Memorial School, before the launch © Amnesty International
Khairunissa Dhala is a campaigner in Amnesty International’s Africa team.
After days, weeks and months of planning, the first day of the caravan and campaign launch on maternal mortality in Sierra Leone has arrived!
The event is being held at Bishop Johnson Memorial School, which is next door to Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH) and one of Freetown’s biggest slums called Moaf.
We hope to attract people from these areas as they are most affected by the issues surrounding maternal mortality.
We are expecting 5,000 people at the Freetown launch. The Sierra Leone section has spent the last few weeks
advertising the event in newspapers and on the radio and everyone is really excited.
U2 announce Daw Aung San Suu Kyi award. Dublin, 27 July 2009. © Press Association
By Benjamin Zawacki, Amnesty International researcher on Myanmar
I arrived back in Bangkok this afternoon with ears still ringing but most of the jet-lag cancelled out by nearly back-to-back return flights. “Nearly”, because in between were some of the most memorable moments of my almost two years as Amnesty’s Myanmar specialist and almost 20 years as one of U2’s most devoted fans.
On their massive “360 Degrees” tour in their hometown of Dublin on Monday night, U2 announced that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had been recognized with Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award for 2009. Hearing this was gratifying, but hearing—and seeing—what came next, was enough to stir the conscience as well as the senses.
Continuar leyendo ‘A very loud tribute to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Dublin’ »
Irene Khan on Twitter