August 22nd, 2005

KIDS BEHIND BARS AT GREENBELT

Following the impact of the ITV News national launch of the Kids Behind Bars campaign, Jubilee Action are taking the campaign on the road, starting at Greenbelt this weekend.

Festival goers will be shocked by exclusive film footage of children, some as young as 6, being illegally imprisoned in overcrowded jails across the globe.

Visitors will be:

Emma Le Beau, Head of Development for Jubilee Action, said “This campaign is receiving an enormous response from the public. We believe Greenbelt can make it even bigger.”

The iconic photo of 6 year old Rosie in jail will feature largely at Greenbelt, in a campaign that simply states it is not acceptable for children to be imprisoned, let alone with paedophiles, sex offenders, murders and terrorists.

Greenbelt will take place from 26-29th August at Cheltenham Racecourse, and an estimated 18,000 people are expected to attend.

For all media enquiries, please contact:-
James Butcher - Communications Officer
james@jubileeaction.co.uk
01483 894787
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August 15th, 2005

KIDS BEHIND BARS CAMPAIGN ON VATICAN RADIO

Listen to Fr Shay Cullen's interview on Vatican Radio. (mp3 8MB)

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August 11th, 2005

KIDS BEHIND BARS CAMPAIGN ON PREMIER RADIO

Listen to Fr Shay Cullen & Emma Le Beau's interview on Premier Radio's "Woman to Woman" Christian faith programme. (mp3 7MB)

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August 10th, 2005

KIDS BEHIND BARS PETITION LAUNCHED ON ITV MERIDIAN

A petition to press the United Nations regarding kids behind bars across the globe has been released today, on ITV Meridian.

Emma Le Beau, of Jubilee Action, investigated the plight of imprisoned children in the Philippines and told ITV News, “This situation is like something from a horror film; the children are betrayed by a system that is treating them as adults whilst the process itself cannot cope. This is a critical step that the advice given in our report is now being undertaken.”

The petition calls on the UN to appoint a Special Rapporteur to deal specifically with the issue of children in prison. Jubilee Action want the 192 signatories of the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child to reduce the number of children held in prison, and enforcing the Convention’s legally binding obligations in relation to the treatment of children in detention.

Jubilee Action has strong Surrey business links and Chaz Brooks, President for the Guildford Chamber of Commerce, said “This is an opportunity for a leading Guildford charity to make a huge impact on the global scene. The spotlight needs to be focussed on this terrible situation.”

Shahid Azeem, Managing Director of A&P Computers, said “It is really important for local businesses to support the Surrey Chambers of Commerce and get behind Jubilee Action’s campaign. Jubilee Action is A&P Computers chosen charity because they are a local charity that carries out international work.”

Jubilee Action’s investigation into children imprisoned globally has featured prominently on ITV News, and the petition, initiated by it’s sister organisation Jubilee Campaign, is supporting the Kids Behind Bars campaign.

For all press and media enquiries please contact:
James Butcher - Communications Officer
01483 894787
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August 9th, 2005

PHILIPPINES EMBASSY RELEASES STATEMENT ON JUBILEE ACTION & ITV'S REPORT

A statement has been released by the Philippine Embassy in London.

Download and read it here

For all press and media enquiries please contact:
James Butcher - Communications Officer
01483 894787
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August 8th, 2005

CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO HELP KIDS BEHIND BARS

A campaign highlighting the issue of children illegally detained in prisons around the world, has been launched on Monday, 8th August, by Jubilee Action, a human rights charity based in the UK.

The charity has released an 86-page report, and has featured prominently on ITV News, on Monday, 8th August with dramatic footage following a recent trip to the Philippines, where the TV crew visited 10 jails and found 160 children illegally imprisoned.

Jubilee Action’s report entitled ‘kids behind bars: WHY WE MUST ACT’ details the plight of children in 15 different countries. Original research from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Philippines reveals that children are imprisoned, discriminated against, have their rights violated, and are held in conditions that amount to torture.

Danny Smith, Jubilee Action’s Founder and Executive Director, said “Children in prison are caught in an international blind-spot and have been ignored for too long.”

Jubilee Action is working closely with long-term partner Fr Shay Cullen, who will be visiting the UK in order to launch this important campaign.

Jubilee Action and Fr Shay Cullen’s Preda Foundation are calling for the UN to appoint a special rapporteur to press the 192 signatories of the UN’s Convention of the Rights of the Child to keep the treaty in relation to the treatment of children in detention. They are also urging the Filipino government to pass a law that protects children and their unlawful detention.