The focus was women’s rights during Amnesty International’s celebration of International Human Rights Day at the Thomas Paine Cafe in Hillcrest Saturday.
Nearly 100 people gathered to attend the events from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Festivities throughout the day included poetry readings from Sandra Alcossar and Zev Reyes, and West African drumming. Speakers at the event included Alemi Daba and Norma Barr, two women refugees from Africa who shared their stories.
“There was a language barrier, but the women were able to get their message across,” said Lauren Neustaeoter, who attended the event. “They wanted people to know women are the ones who suffer in war.”
According to its statute, the objective of Amnesty International is to contribute to the observance throughout the world of human rights as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“The work is impartial,” said Michael Blackstock of Amnesty International. “Amnesty International is concerned solely with the protection of human rights involved in each case, regardless of either the ideology of the government or the beliefs of the victims.”
Blackstock said Amnesty International plays a specific role in the international protection of human rights. He said its activities focus on prisoners.
The main feature of the celebration was the showing of the award-winning film “Calling the Ghost.” The film was about rape, war and women.
“It was a moving film; audience members were able to see the different types of horrors going on around the world,” said Christina Rodgers, coordinator of the San Diego State University chapter of Amnesty International.
Some of the highlights of the celebration included celebrating the release of Eumenicles Valiqui Zuta, a Peruvian prisoner of conscience.
“Prisoners of conscience are people who are in prison for religious, cultural or political beliefs,” Rodgers said.
“They are people whose rights have been violated. As part of the Human Rights Day celebration, we wrote letters and sent cards to prisoners of conscience throughout the world.”
“It is time for people’s consciousness to be raised,” said Bob Ford of Amnesty International. “People need to look around and see what is going on in the world. There is a lot to be done, and Amnesty is a good way to do it.
“Women’s rights violations is a major topic that many men feel uncomfortable facing. I am comfortable with it and I think it would do the world a whole lot of good if others would try to educate themselves.”
Ford said Amnesty International works on different campaigns around the world and it is important to get people involved, especially students. He encourages people to attend their meetings.
SDSU Amnesty International meets at 5 p.m. every Thursday in the Aztlan room in lower Aztec Center.
Rodgers said the audience turnout was good. She said there was a whole collection of different types of people interacting together.
The event was sponsored by several San Diego area chapters of Amnesty International.
