Amnesty International Ghana holds meeting in Bolgatanga

Amnesty International Ghana (AIG), a human rights advocacy group has held its 6th Biennial General Meeting in Bolgatanga to focus on the advocacy roles of members and how to influence policies.

The two- day meeting also dwelt on how AIG could involve the media in their operations and make recommendations for the way forward.

Mr Thomas Dabrinboyen Ziem, the 2010 Board Chairman, said for 50 years the group had created awareness on policies that fought against the rights of people and made efforts to lobby policy makers to address them.

Citing the death penalty law, he said the influence of the group had minimised some of the abuses meted out to people who fell victim to the legislation.

He said the period under review which had the theme: “Rally for Human Rights,” had moved away from its first and second steps of writing of letters and influencing of policy and awareness creation, to a third type of rights- “third generation rights”.

Mr Ziem said the third generation rights dealt with development and environment issues, which gave the right to the socio-economic development of the citizenry.

He observed that pollution of human beings and the environment was an abuse that needed to gain attention.

Mr Thomas Apana, Upper East Regional Representative of Amnesty International said the right to education, parenthood and accommodation was an area the region had most problems.

He said the group had witnessed instances where tenants had suffered eviction or had their property destroyed.

Mr Apana added that the District and Municipal Assemblies were no exception in the perpetuation of these acts.

He said AIG had collaborated with organisations in the region to sensitise the people on cultural practices that infringed on the rights of the citizens.

Mr Apana said parents whose children remained out of school because they had to take care of livestock and roamed the streets had been educated on the importance of education and the right of the child to access education.

Ms Agnes Atia briefed members on the African Human Rights Education Project, which operates in 10 countries of which Ghana and Sierra Leone benefited in West Africa.

She said the project operates in Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions and focussed on girl child education and violence against women.

Source: GNA