Amnesty group’s 25th highlights Guantanamo

IN Clonakilty, Co Cork, the local Amnesty group recently celebrated their 25th anniversary with special guest Michael Moane, an attorney who spoke of his work with Guantanamo prisoners, and the ongoing efforts to obtain fair hearings for the men, many of whom have never been linked to terrorist activity.

Moane said much of his work was finding homes for those unable to return to their countries of origin. “The promise that was contained in this republic, when it was founded, is not going to be delivered by politicians, but by people across this country getting actively involved in shaping our society,” says Amnesty Ireland’s executive director, Colm O’Gorman.

“Human rights are not vague, wishy-washy luxuries that we can no longer afford. Ireland has signed treaties to protect children’s rights, women’s rights, the rights to health and housing for everyone, but successive governments have not delivered. They need to be held to account for this.