A Candle in the Dark: CELEBRATING HUMAN RIGHTS SUCCESSES
- Parliamentary Human Rights Group
- Dec 11, 2024
- 2 min read
To mark International Human Rights Day, Amnesty International UK and the All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group hosted a drop-in reception:
A Candle in the Dark: CELEBRATING HUMAN RIGHTS SUCCESSES
The event celebrated the human rights successes we have achieved over the years including: securing the release of wrongfully imprisoned individuals, such as Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe; delivering historic rights gains in Northern Ireland, with the decriminalisation of abortion and the legalisation of same-sex marriage; realising the adoption of wide-ranging equality legislation; building more support for victims of gender-based violence in conflict and of modern-day slavery; generating momentum for the creation of the International Criminal Court; and bringing about an Arms Trade Treaty. Speakers also explored how to take this impressive legacy forward, to further justice, democracy, and reconciliation and support human rights defenders, in the UK and around the world.
Parliamentarians, civil society organisations and activists heard speeches beginning with Fabian Hamilton MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group, who celebrated the collaboration between Parliamentarians and NGOs. He said:
"Successive UK Governments have recognised that the promotion of international human rights not only serves to protect and empower individuals, but to foster peace, security and development - and through our advocacy, they have often been persuaded to do more to protect those rights.
However, I hope today, as well as reflecting on our successes, we can think about how we can take our impressive legacy forward."
We then heard from Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive of Amnesty UK, about what is possible when Parliamentarians champion the work of activists, like the release of wrongfully imprisoned British citizens abroad. Anoosheh Ashoori, who epitomises this, spoke movingly about his experience in Iran's Evin prison and the importance of human rights advocacy.
Finally, we heard from International Development Committee Chair, Sarah Champion MP, who spoke of the challenges ahead, and how we must continue to tackle them:
"We cannot give up - we have to believe that good will win."
A huge thank you to all Parliamentarians, Amnesty UK, and their activists who attended the event, showing how vital it is for us to continue to work together in support of human rights, and ensure that we build on our legacy of success.
