By Robert Leslie.
The Orkney Amnesty International group has won the Amnesty Activism Award 2026 for its work standing up for human rights and justice for all.
Amnesty Orkney Group Chair Nadia Heath and Secretary Sue Struthers were nominated as representatives of the local group, with Sue travelling to Brighton for the Amnesty International UK AGM on 27th June to receive the award in person. The other winners were from Glasgow West Amnesty Group.
Nadia Heath said:
“It is fantastic to have the hard work of the Amnesty Orkney group recognised in this way by the Amnesty movement in Britain.
“The most visible aspect of our activism is probably our weekly vigils outside St Magnus Cathedral every Saturday at 1pm. We hold these to support calls for the targeting of civilians and of Gaza’s infrastructure to stop, and for an immediate and a permanent ceasefire, and for all humanitarian organisations to be given access to provide aid to the people of Gaza.
“Sadly, last Thursday marked 1000 days of genocide since 7th October 2023, during which at least 73,066 Palestinians have been killed, with more than 90% of the Gaza Strip lying in ruins.
“During the past year we have also hosted several films at the Phoenix Cinema, including the very moving The Voice of Hind Rajab, which saw some people who attended the film deciding to join the local Amnesty group and get involved in our activities, which is very heartening.
“Myself and Sue, along with Gaynor Jones of Orkney Friends of Palestine, were also able to meet First Minister John Swinney and present him with a copy of the Amnesty Scotland Human Rights Manifesto at an event in February organised by local Amnesty member Robert Leslie, in his role as a candidate in the recent Scottish Parliament election. This was a great opportunity to highlight the case of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, a paediatrician and hospital director being held by the Israeli military, to Scotland’s First Minister.”
Most recently, the local Amnesty group held its Refugee Week Lunch at the St Magnus Centre on Sunday 21st June, organised along with Orkney Friends of Palestine. This raised over £1,180 for the Shu’fat Refugee Camp in East Jerusalem and Hope and Play, a charity devoted to providing Gaza’s children with food, water, medical supplies as well as materials to facilitate play.
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