Bestival teams up with Amnesty International

This year at Bestival we were delighted to have teamed up with Amnesty International. As part of Amnesty’s 50th Anniversary we asked artists to have their photo taken holding a placard, of their choosing, with a message which aims to mobilize people and bring about change. Amnesty International have used this project over the years to show that whoever you are, and wherever you are, it is easy to stand up for human rights and make a difference.

Many of our acts at Bestival took part in this so do check out all the photos in our Facebook album here and feel free to share your favourite artist photos on your Facebook Wall to help the good cause.

To find out more about the campaigns supported by the artists visit www.amnesty.org/50 or check out a few of the campaigns below:

END THE DEATH PENALTY
When Amnesty began in 1961, only nine countries had abolished the death penalty for all crimes and few considered it a human rights issue. Fifty years on, the momentum for worldwide abolition is unstoppable. The time is ripe to move forward towards a death-penalty free world.

PROTECT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
The jailing of two students for toasting freedom in 1961 led to the birth of Amnesty International. Today, although people have more ways to express their ideas, intimidation, violence and imprisonment are still used to silence human rights defenders and critics of the powerful. Let us speak out against repression so that everyone can be heard.

DEFEND RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN NICARAGUA
Women have gained greater equality in the past 50 years, but women and girls still face discrimination, violence and denial of their right to decide freely when to have children. In Nicaragua, abortion has recently been criminalised in all circumstances, even for survivors of rape and incest. Women‘s reproductive rights are human rights, and we must defend them.