Short Story Competition

Write a short story for Amnesty International

We are proud to launch our first ever short story competition - on the theme of "Borders". Its aim is to increase awareness of our human rights.

The competition is for original, unpublished fictional stories up to 1700 words. The winning writer will receive £50 and the story will be published here on this website. Entrants must be at least sixteen years old and based in the United Kingdom.

Full details are here.

What do stories have to do with our human rights? Archbishop Desmond Tutu writes: "They are all bound up with this wonderful talent we humans have: to empathise with others. … Through empathy we overcome prejudice, develop tolerance and ultimately understand love. Stories can bring understanding, healing, reconciliation and unity."

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Our Human Rights in South America

Graham Minter of Amnesty International UK's South America team spoke at our monthly meeting this month. He provided a summary of the history of human rights issues in the region since the dictatorships of the 1970s. South America is the world's most dangerous region for people who defend our human rights but Amnesty International stands up for "the brave".

We take our annual break in August. Our next monthly meeting takes place on Tuesday 12 September at the usual venue - the Friends Meeting House, Friargate, York YO1 9RL. It starts at 7.30 p.m. - or, if we have a guest speaker, 7.00 p.m. Either way, all are welcome to attend.

York Pride 2017 - Photo

Rachael Maskell (MP for York Central) at York Pride 2017

On Saturday 10 June we were delighted to support York Pride - for the fourth year in a row. Members of the public signed 200 postcards in support of people around the world who face discrimination (or persecution) for their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Rachael Maskell (who was re-elected two days earlier as Member of Parliament for the York Central constituency and spent a lot of time at the stall) lent her support with the message "Love is a human right".

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York Welcomes Refugees

York welcomes refugees - at Clifford's Tower in York

One of the aims of Amnesty International's "I Welcome" campaign is changing the tone of discussion around refugees. On 24 June, at the end of Refugee Week 2017, three members of our group came together at Clifford's Tower in York - with the message "York welcomes refugees". At the same time, fourteen other Amnesty International local groups around Yorkshire and the North-East of England took photos with similar messages at their own local landmarks.

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Graham Minter of Amnesty International UK's South America team is the guest speaker at our monthly meeting this month at the usual venue - the Friends Meeting House, Friargate, York YO1 9RL. It takes place on Tuesday 11 July, starts at 7 p.m. with Graham's talk followed by questions and answers and then continues (from 8 p.m.) with our group's regular business. All are welcome to attend and, if they like, to leave after Graham's talk.