Human Rights Group
.jpg)
MISSION STATEMENT
All human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms.
The Urgent Action Human Rights Group (formerly the Amnesty International Group) at Marist was formed in 2002, under the guidance and direction of Ms Jan Hutchison. Mr Duncan, Mrs Burch and Mrs Grimes are dedicated members of the group.
The group focuses on three areas of Human Rights issues on local, national and international levels.
Education
- To educate the students/staff of Marist and the wider community regarding human rights and social justice issues in the world, and how they are violated.
- To educate government officials and raise awareness (via e-mail/letters) about human rights abuses that occur every day.
- To invite guest speakers to assist us in our pursuit for the upholding of universal human rights in the world.
- Organise events at Marist in coordination with a number of other organisation/schools to raise awareness and educate people about current issues relating to human rights.
Action
- To run campaigns at Marist through reputable organisations.
- To liaise with human rights groups, mainly Amnesty International, Oxfam and the Australian for Native Title and Reconciliation Organisation (ANTaR).
- To write letters and send e-mails to students, staff and government officials asking for support and/or to prevent a travesty of justice.
- To raise funds for underprivileged and disadvantaged people around the globe.
Reflection
- To understand the basic human rights (as stated in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights), their importance to humanity and how to uphold them.
- To identify the problems in our world, and find ways to address these.
- To respect the values and beliefs of all humans, disregarding differences such as culture, ethnicity and religion.
- To make our world a better place in any way we can.
2009 MAJOR Fundraiser – Against MALARIA
7th September – 11th September www.againstmalaria.com
During Week 8 at Marist, staff and students of the Marist Human Rights Group will take the following initiatives to make a difference:
- Raise Awareness – Assembly Presentation, Posters, Information
- Raise Funds – Selling Chocolates, Raffle Tickets, BBQ
2009 ACTIVITES
In addition to various urgent action E-Mails and letters, the Human Rights Group has been active in the following areas:
Semester 1
- Earth Hour
- Close the Gap Day
- Sri Lanka Civil War
- National Reconciliation Week
- Human Rights Bill in Australia?
- Refugee Week
Semester 2
- Rwanda Genocide
- World Vision 40 Hour Famine
- Balibo 5 - East Timor
- Canberra Christian Justice Night
2009 GUEST SPEAKERS
|
Date
|
Guest (s)
|
Representing
|
Topic
|
|
5 March
Thursday
|
Mr John Mulhall
|
Australian Broadcasting Company
|
Media and Human Rights
|
|
2 April
Thursday
|
Mr Romlie Mokak
|
Australian Indigenous Doctors Association
|
Close the Gap Campaign
|
|
3 April
Friday
|
Br Paul Murphy
Mr Aldreen Quirit
|
Marist Brothers Phillipines
|
KUYA Centre for Homeless Children
|
|
8 April
Wednesday
|
Dr Ragavan Sittamblam
|
Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations
|
Sri Lanka Civil War
|
|
30 April
Thursday
|
Ms Stephanie Shannon
|
World Vision
|
World Food Crisis
|
|
14 May
Thursday
|
Mr Chris Varney
|
United Nations Youth Association
|
Social Justice In Australia and Worldwide
|
|
29 May
Friday
|
Mr Frank McKone
|
Amnesty International Australia
|
Human Rights Bill in Australia
|
|
11 June
Thursday
|
Ms Jennifer Zeng
|
Falun Gong
|
Experiences as a Chinese Refugee
|
|
24 July
Friday
|
Ms Stephanie Shannon
|
World Vision
|
40 Hr Famine Launch
|
|
29 July
Friday
|
Dr Ragavan Sittamblam
|
Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations
|
Sri Lanka Civil War
|
|
24 August
Monday
|
Br Jeff Crowe
|
Marist Brothers Rwanda
|
Remembering Rwanda
|
For further information
| Ms Jan Hutchison Human Rights Co-ordinater Ph: 6298 7200 Email: janhutchison@mcc.act.edu.au |
Mr Sandy Duncan Human Rights Activist Ph: 6298 7200 Email: sandyduncan@mcc.act.edu.au |