Mid Down Amnesty Branch Launches Purple Finger Campaign

The Purple Finger Campaign is Launched in Downpatrick for Afghan WomenMargaret Ritchie MP and the Chairperson of Down District Council, Michael Coogan launched Amnesty International’s “Purple Finger” campaign in thexa0St Patrick Squarexa0onxa0International Women’s Day on Friday 8 March. The Mid-Down Group of Amnesty International, based in Downpatrick, set up its “Purplexa0Finger”xa0petition to askxa0thexa0UKxa0governmentxa0toxa0makexa0women’sxa0rightsxa0axa0priority inxa0itsxa0workxa0onAfghanistanxa0asxa0thexa0deadlinexa0loomsxa0forxa0thexa0withdrawalxa0ofxa0Britishxa0military forcesxa0atxa0thexa0endxa0ofxa02014. [caption id="attachment_37027" align="alignleft" width="360"] Margaret McMahon, Amnesty International Mid Down member, South Down MP Maragert Ritchie, Down District Council Chairman Councillor Mickey Coogan, Philip Nye, Chairperson of Amnesty International Mid Down branch, and Lilian Nye, Mid Down member, pictured in St Patrick’s Square in Downpatrick celebrating Women’s Day 2013 by launching the ‘purple finger’ campaign.xa0[/caption] The purple finger symbol, a reflection of how voting is recorded in Afghanistan, is being used as an image of Afghan women’s empowerment and Amnesty is asking people to put their own purple fingerprint on the petition to the Department for International Development. The petition asks the DIFD to ensure that combating violence against women is made a UK priority in Afghanistan. Philip Nye, Chairperson of xa0the Mid-Down Group, said: “After the dark years of Taleban rule and years of terrible conflict, now is the time for the UK to stand up for women’s rights in Afghanistan. There have been significant improvements for women and girls there since 2001, with new anti-violence laws passed. Some 2.5 million girls have enrolled in schools and women taking an active role in public life, including 27% of MPs in the Afghan parliament. “However, there has been an upsurge of targeted killings and attacks on schoolgirls and their teachers by the Taliban. Meanwhile the Afghan government’s 70-strong High Peace Council set up to negotiate a possible peace deal with the Taliban, has only nine women in it. There are real fears that women’s rights might be traded away and for things to go backwards”. The Mid-Down Group campaigned for the release of Burmese prisoners of conscience. The stone on the flowerbed was highlighting this cause. With the release of their ‘adopted’ prisoner Khaing Kaung San, the group has changed the inscription to “ Amnesty International-Our purpose is to protect people wherever justice, fairness, freedom and truth are denied.” Amnesty International, Mid-Down Group, meet on the first Thursday of each month at 8.00 pm at the Mill Ballydugan. New members are always welcome. ( Contact Philip Nye, Chairperson on , on 028 4485 1920.

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International Women’s Day Supported at Stormont

Across Northern Ireland there were many events to celebrate Women’s Day. Junior Ministers Jennifer McCann and Jonathan Bell opened a reception hosted by the Egyptian Society to celebrate International Women’s Day in Parliament Buildings, Stormont. The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister has lead responsibility for promoting gender equality across government. Speaking at the reception Junior Minister Jennifer McCann said:xa0“International Women’s Day is a day on which to reflect on the position of women in our society, past, present and future. I welcome the work of the Egyptian society and its efforts to promote the integration of Egyptian and Arab families within our community. “I commend the Egyptian society for their commitment to reconciliation, harmony and the sharing of traditions and culture. We have a shared aim in promoting mutual respect for all and I am pleased to celebrate our different cultures along with International Women’s Day.” Junior Minister Jonathan Bell added: “It’s nearly a century since women in the United Kingdom first received the right to vote. It’s less than a century since some organisations, including government, obliged married women to leave their jobs. “Things have changed. But change is still needed. There is still some way to travel before we achieve gender equality. This is a day to celebrate equality. It is a day to celebrate the steps we have taken towards equality. And it is a day to reflect on the steps we still need to take.” The United Nations will shortly examine the United Kingdom, centrally and at devolved administration level, in terms of its obligations under the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against women (CEDAW). The event was attended by Mr Ashraf Elkholy, Egypt’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom.]]>