La Mariposa
Celebrating 50 years of Amnesty International

Question: What have a group of adults, earnestly using felt-tipped pens to colour in paper butterflies, got to do with human rights?
Answer: They are supporting one of Amnesty International's special campaigns launched during the year of their 50th birthday.
This particular campaign is to show solidarity with women and girls in Nicaragua where rape and sexual abuse are widespread. The butterflies, together with messages of encouragement, will be displayed on 28th September at a demonstration march in Nicaragua. Women there have adopted La Mariposa (the butterfly) as a symbol of their longing and determination to spread their wings, free from cruelty and oppression.

Our Roundhay sub-group of Amnesty Leeds was started specifically to support such actions, usually by writing letters to those with power and authority. Amnesty knows from experience that public opinion does influence governments and so they provide details of human rights abuses which we can address. Sometimes it is hard to know how we can frame our letters to best effect and so AI supplies specimen letters which we can personalise. The sub-group meets on the fourth Tuesday evening of each month except August and December and all are welcome.

Astrid Fielden

© St Edmund's Church, Roundhay - Charity Number 1131904