We Are Amaya. UniTrento for academic freedom
The University of Trento has opened its first series of advocacy seminars (March–June 2019). The purpose of activities is to carry out research and advocacy in support of academics and students whose work, studies and freedom of expression are threatened.
For more information on the seminars see: https://www.unitn.it/academic-freedom
For this seminar series, students have decided to work on the case of Amaya Eva Coppens.
Amaya Eva Coppens is a fifth-year medical student at the Universidad Autónoma de Nicaragua, in Leòn. Amaya was arrested on 10 September 2018 for her participation in a national protest.
She is one of the leaders of the Movimiento Universitario 19 de Abril (the 19th of April Student Movement), which seeks democratic reforms, protests austerity measures, and calls for President Daniel Ortega to step down. Amaya is also a member of the Coordinadora Universitaria por la Democracia y Justicia - CUDJ, the University Coalition for Democracy and Justice.
On 18 September, a court charged Amaya with terrorism and illegal possession of firearms. She was later transferred to "La Esperanza" women’s prison, located outside Managua. On 26 October, a group of 25 guards raided the prison, beating some detainees. Tamara Zamora, Amaya's mother, reported that she has no information on the psychological and physical condition of her daughter.
On 13 November, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) requested the adoption of precautionary measures in favour of Amaya and of many of her fellow inmates (the Commission uses this mechanism to request member states to ensure the protection of human rights in serious and urgent situations). Her trial, which has been postponed several times, will probably resume in 90 days, now that President Ortega offered to liberate political prisoners to return to the negotiating table for a democratic transition.
The situation, however, remains critical.
For further information on Amaya Eva Coppens see:
Scholars at risk http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/50943/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=25628
IACHR: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/reports/pdfs/Nicaragua2018-en.pdf
Students will organize advocacy activities in the University and the city for Amaya Eva Coppens.
Join in!
Programme of advocacy activities
7 May
13.00 - 18.00 Sociology Building entrance hall, Via Verdi 26
13.00 - 18.00 Law Building, via Verdi 53
- Petition signing for the release of Amaya E. Coppens
8 May
8.30 - 12.00 Ferrari 1 Building, via Sommarive 5
- Petition signing for the release of Amaya E. Coppens
9 May
18.00 - 20.00 Sociology Building inner courtyard, via Verdi 53
- Aperitivo "Sangria a Sociologia"
- Petition signing for the release of Amaya E. Coppens
21 May
10.30 - 11.00 Rector’s Office, Palazzo Sardagna, via Calepina 14
- Students participating in the Advocacy on Academic Freedom Seminar will meet with Rector Paolo Collini to present the case of Amaya E. Coppens and to ask him to sign the petition for her release
13.30 - 18.00 Economics Building entrance hall, via Inama 5
13.30 - 18.00 Paolo Prodi Building entrance hall, via T. Gar 14
- Petition signing for the release of Amaya E. Coppens
6 June
10.30 - 12.30 Room B, University of Padova - SPGI, via del Santo 28 Padova (1st floor)
- Students present the seminar "We are Amaya. UniTrento for academic freedom"
19 - 21 September
CUCS 2019 Conference - Paolo Prodi Building, via T. Gar 14
- Students present the advocacy campaign "We are Amaya. UniTrento for academic freedom"
Proponents
Pietro Carra, Ion Foltea, Francesca Ongaro, Federica Tagliavini, Clelia Zardini (University of Trento)
Coordinator
Ester Gallo (University of Trento)
Contacts
ester.gallo [at] unitn.it
scholarsatrisk [at] unitn.it
Graphic by Emiliano Fanti
The Communication Staff - Trento
