Amnesty International’s work in standing up for human rights was highlighted by Councillor Mark Bevan in a talk to Morecambe and Lunesdale Constituency Labour Party last Thursday.
Coun Bevan, a Labour councillor for Poulton ward and a student at Lancaster University, said that the organisation had moved on from supporting prisoners of conscience when it was founded 50 years ago to covering many issues where justice, freedom and truth are denied.
They include torture, detention without trial, the death penalty, refugees and asylum seekers, women’s rights, corporate responsibility, arms trade, freedom of speech and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.
The party took up Coun Bevan’s suggestion to appeal to the authorities in Belarus concerning a journalist, Andrzej Poczobut, who risks five years’ prison for criticising the President.
Mark joined Amnesty International whilst in the Sixth Form at Morecambe High School. Although he does not hold any official position in Amnesty, Mark is a strong supporter of all their causes.
He was elected to Lancaster City Council in May 2011 and serves on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and represents the council on two outside bodies – the Lancaster and Morecambe Fairtrade District Steering Group and the Rainbow Centre (formerly Age concern, Morecambe and Heysham).