AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL MALVERN HILLS GROUP

The public meeting held in the Coach House Theatre was chaired by Julian Roskams, Mayor of Malvern who introduced four people who work with asylum seekers and refugees

Sunny Omwenyeke who is an activist for refugees and asylum rights was involved as a prisoner of conscience in the refugee reorganisation in Germany and now is the West Midlands Co ordinator of Regional Asylum Activism. He spoke of his own experiences.

Amy Porter, is the Mental Health Development Worker with Freedom from Torture and spoke of the practical and psychological problems, she works with the survivors of torture.

Elinor Harris , the Area Manager (Bristol) for Refugee Action spoke of her work in the asylum system, the likely changes and the treatment of asylum seekers.

Steve Symonds is Co-Director of the Refugee and Migrants Rights programme at Amnesty International UK. He was Legal Officer for the Immigration Law Association and worked on the 2014 Immigration Bill . He has much experience of work in parliament . He talked about advocacy, campaigning and public attitudes.

Following the speakers was much lively questioning from the audience.

A big thank you to the speakers who came along and donated their services freely.

On Saturday the annual Write for Rights was held at two venues in Great Malvern.

Four prisoners of conscience were selected .People were invited to send a message to one of them and sign it.

Each of the four people will get between 62 and 71 cards and 300 signatures were sent to the Heads of State in the relevant countries involved. Enough money was donated to cover the cost of postage.

We thank all the people who stopped to talk and signed the cards and letters. Its a tremendous help for prisoners to receive a message of support and sympathy.

BARBARA STRUGGLES