MINEHEAD Amnesty’s campaigning work to support human rights activists in India was the focus of an event entitled Voices from India held on Saturday (May 18).

As well as Indian snacks, music and readings there was the opportunity look at the photos recently seen in the West Somerset Free Press accompanying Elizabeth Atkinson’s reports from India.

Cherry Bird, campaign co-ordinator, gave an illustrated talk about the human rights concerns within the vast, diverse, culturally and economically advanced country.

Against such positivity there is poverty, devastating treatment of indigenous communities displaced by industrial projects, inequality and violence against women and attacks on freedom of expression. 

This is in a climate of hostility from the authorities towards human rights defenders, and communal and ethnic violence including from armed groups.

Visitors to the event were able to sign letters of support for Pavitri Manjhi and Salima Memcha, women bravely facing daily threats and intimidation for their human rights work.Photo by Jill Walmsley