Tag Archives: human rights

Campaigners welcome decision not to jail Stansted 15

Human rights campaigners have welcomed a decision not to jail 15 protestors who were convicted over the grounding of a plane at Stansted chartered to carry 60 deportees to Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The protestors had chained themselves to the aircraft after breaking through an airport fence and were convicted of aviation security offences. An appeal to overturn the convictions is pending. Sheffield Live reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Rosie Huzzard, organiser of the Right to Remain campaign.

Sheffield protests over Stansted 15 convictions

Demonstrations have been held in Sheffield and across the UK in support of 15 human rights activists who were convicted last week on terror offences after preventing a deportation plane from leaving Stansted airport. The Sheffield protests were held outside the Home Office building at Millsands and also marked International Migrants Day which is observed on 18 December by the United Nations. The Stansted 15 activists locked themselves around a Boeing 767 chartered to return undocumented migrants to Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone and held a banner proclaiming “mass deportations kill”. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Michael Collins of the Right To Remain campaign.

Human rights campaigners mark 70 year anniversary

The Crucible Theatre hosted a gathering of human rights campaigners to mark 70 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Speakers at the event, which was organised by local human rights activists, included Lord Alf Dubs who spoke about the rights of child refugees and his own experience of coming to the UK from Czechoslovakia as part of the Kindertransport rescue effort before the Second World War. The United Nations Declaration on Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948 and is the cornerstone of modern human rights. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Equalities survey finds employers failing on women’s rights

British employers are described as ‘living in the dark ages’ and having worrying attitudes towards unlawful behaviour when it comes to recruiting women, according to a new report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. In a survey of more then 1000 private sector business managers around a third agreed it is reasonable during recruitment to ask women about their plans for children in the future. Charlotte Mead, of the Sheffield branch of the Women’s Equality Party told Sheffield Live! she is not surprised by the findings. Baillor Jalloh reports.

DEWA Project highlights protection gap for women asylum seekers

Refugee support group the DEWA Project are partnering with mental health practitioners and solicitors to assist women asylum seekers who have suffered sexual or domestic violence. The Home Office Gender Asylum Plan has recognised that woman asylum seekers should be provided with access to trauma counselling and asylum rights information and should not have to relate their story in front of their children or to a male interviewers or interpreter. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!

Sheffield campaigners celebrate Human Rights Day

Human rights campaigners in Sheffield observed international Human Rights Day, the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Held annually on 10 December, this year’s Human Rights Day campaign calls on everyone to stand up for someone’s rights. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Musheir El- Fassa, chair of Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Group, and former Green Party leader Natalie Bennett.

 

Campaigners raise plight of Kashmir in Town Hall protest

A demonstration outside Sheffield Town Hall has sought to raise awareness of the unresolved conflict over Kashmir and related human rights abuses. The conflict, which dates back to the partition of India in 1947, has its roots in the contest for territorial control of the Kashmir region primarily between India and Pakistan, but also involves China and a number of local insurgent groups, including independence supporters. The conflict has led to many civilian deaths and widespread human rights violations. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to campaigners outside the Town Hall.