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Amnesty International Freedom Challenge 3 - 7 August 2009

What is the Freedom Challenge? It's Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand's annual team challenge. This year the theme is Kids against Camouflage... Keeping children out of conflict and they are challenging you as young New Zealanders to take creative action - for kids around the world caught in military conflict.

Amnesty

Information from Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand

Silence for freedomMargaret Taylor, Amnesty’s Activism Support Manager, says “Freedom Challenge is an opportunity for students to use their freedom to fight for the freedom of others. Every year we see young people of all ages galvanised by their sense of justice and taking action to make the world a safer more just place”.

“As part of our new global Demand Dignity campaign we are focussing on the children in Columbia, Liberia and Darfur who are denied their rights to a safe home, education and a life of dignity because they are caught up in armed conflict”.

Canterbury UniversityStudents taking part in Freedom Challenge will be running events and activities in their schools and communities to raise awareness and funds, and asking others to take action. “In previous years we’ve seen protests, caged lock-ins and silence-a-thons. Freedom Challenge is all about kids having fun and being creative for positive change,” adds Taylor.

To take up the Challenge visit the newly launched website www.freedomchallenge.org.nz

The Pulse will be bringing you information on events relating to the Freedom Challenge.

Find out more about children in conflicts

Books at Christchurch City Libraries

A long way goneA long way gone : memoirs of a boy soldier by Ishmael Beah

"In the more than fifty violent conflicts going on worldwide, it is estimated that there are some 300,000 child soldiers. Ishmael Beah used to be one of them."

Children of war - Iraqi children speak

Provides interviews with twenty-three Iraqi youth who have moved away from their homeland and tells of their fears, challenges, and struggles to rebuild their lives in foreign lands as refugees of war.

Search the library catalogue:

Human rights resources

* Amnesty International
Join in with over 1.5 million people who are already speaking out about human rights.
* Child Rights - UNICEF
The big picture: human rights, children's rights …
* Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers works to prevent the recruitment and use of children as soldiers.
* Freechild Project
Children's rights are being abused throughout the world. Find out what you can do about it
* Global Focus Aotearoa
Resources for young people and educators about creating a just world. This organisation runs the Just Focus website and the Just Write programme.
* Go Global GAP Adventures!
Youth For Understanding (YFU) is an independent, non-profit, non-sectarian, volunteer-based organisation dedicated not just to international exchange for young people, but through them, the interchange and sharing of ideas, attitudes and mutual respect.
* Just Focus
Just Focus is a project for young people, by young people, to engage with issues that affect us in Aotearoa New Zealand, the Pacific, and globally. The goals of the project are responsible global citizenship and change for a just world.
* Rampant
World Vision's Rampant is here to get loud about global issues and connect you with ways you can take action and make change rampant. Cut straight to the point and find out what's really happening in our global community through this website, Rampant e-News and Rampant magazine. Then take it a step further by finding out just what you can do to make a difference.
* TakingITGlobal TIG
A collaborative learning community giving you access to global opportunities, cross-cultural connections and meaningful participation in decision-making.
* Trade Aid
New Zealand based fair trade organisation.
* UNICEF
Children's rights throughout the world
* United Nations
United Nations homepage
* United Nations Youth Association
Non-governmental organisation looking toward a better future
* Women's Rights
Women's rights in various cultures and religions and bios of women who have "made a difference" Part of the ThinkQuest Library.
* Youth For Human Rights
Learn about human rights and become an advocate for the promotion of tolerance and peace.