News

Tursday, 15th May 2014

Times York New The
Most of us wake up
dragging our arses out of bed
complaining about our contin-
uous daily 9-5 work commit-
ments;
but have you ever wondered
what it would be like to have
the responsibility of developing
water and sanitation systems
for rural communities in Af-
ghanistan?
What about campaigning for
freedom of speech, protection
of womens rights, or demand-
ing the justice for rights against
humanity? No?
Well Justine Lee from Amnesty
International has been waking
up and working in the Middle
East now for the past 10 years.
Now she has revealed her con-
tribution to the people of Bada-
khshan and her tireless eforts
to help boost resources for this
poverty stricken community.
What got you into humanitari-
an work?
A couple of things happened
to me as I was growing up,
that seemed to point me in
the direction of humanitarian
work. My parents were huge
advocates for human rights, as
they were conveniently both
human rights solicitors. My
family is quite a compassionate
bunch of people. I remember
the rallies and protests we
would attend, and the countless
family holidays that would see
us fying of to places like Afri-
ca, and regions of the Middle
East, such as Lebanon, and
Saudi Arabia.
However, what initially led me
into humanitarian work was a
volunteer program I applied for
at University. It was six weeks
travelling through South East
Asia, in places like, Cambodia,
Malaysia, Vietnam, and the
Philippines.
Te program revolved around
teaching English, and helping
build up rural communities
that had been plagued with im-
poverishment. Afer graduating
and fnding full time employ-
ment, I did some more volun-
teer work in Ethiopia, Somalia,
and Sudan. Afer that I applied
to work for Amnesty Interna-
tional. Following the success
of my application, I was sent to
work in the remote village of
Badakhshan, Afghanistan.
What is your role with Amnesty
International?
My responsibilities in the
region are to assist and mon-
itor programs which help in
improving the regions water,
sanitations, and hygiene.
My second area of focus is
disaster risk, reduction, and
working with governments
and local communities in the
Badakhshan region to estab-
lish disaster risk reductions
into Afghanistans develop-
ment programming and to
empower vulnerable people
in disaster prone areas. One
specifc campaign Ive been
working closely on is our My
Bodys, My Rights campaign.
The campaign aims to raise
awareness about the restric-
tions people in Middle Easter
have over the right of their
body in reference to sexual
health. Many of the individu-
als I work with are prosecuted
for their choices- or prevented
from making a choice.
Te role Amnesty International
in Afghanistan is clearly very
demanding, but what would
you say are the key challenges
for your local and expatriate
colleagues?
Access to some of the rural
communities can be a chal-
lenge, as security in these
areas can be very unpredict-
able. It is an issue we need
to review on a daily basis
in order to keep our staf
and communities as safe as
possible.
Government ministries and
general bureaucracies are also
quite a big challenge within
the country. We aim to build
good relationships with local
and provincial governments
as we continue our work in
these communities.
Humanitarian work can be
straining physically as well
as mentally exhausting. How
do you balance work and life,
especially in conditions as de-
manding as Afghanistan, and
avoid burning out?
I have a collection of about
20-25 exercise DVDs, which
keep me sane most days of the
week. Exercise is an import-
ant part of keeping up my
physical health, as well mental
health. Sometimes I can still
have a lot on my mind, depend-
ing what the day has been like,
so going for a walk, jog, doing
pilates, or yoga can help relieve
my anxieties. Other means
that help me relieve my mental
exhaustion are the letters I get
from family and friends back
home. Te letters keep me going
when Ive had a rough day.
Considering you work in one of
the most conficting areas in the
Middle East, why do you still
work for the organisation?
I think because Ive been so
invested in this line of work
since I was a child through my
parents involvement I cant
think of doing anything else
with my life. I fnd the work I do
quite rewarding, although there
are days when I question what
I do for a living, however then
there are the other days which
make my job worthwhile.

Amnesty Uncovered
Tick skinned: Amnesty Internationals,
Justine Lee.

By Katherine Cannon
Te New York Times

Editor: Kris Wall
Sub Editors: Landy Ruming,
Ruby Gallop, & Sarah Connor.
Reporters: Kris Wall, Landy
Ruming, Ruby Gallop, Sarah
Connor, Rachel Ferrett, Leila
Safari, Tom Handley, Ellie Park-
er, Emma Ryan, Jess Nagal, &
Katherine Cannon.
Layout: Te New York Times
team.
Mission Complete
Tempers have
fared in the Middle
East over the past 24
hours afer the events
over Lebanese airspace
on Tuesday night.
At around 8pm Tues-
day, two Iranian Super
Hornets, transporting
weapons to terrorist
organisation Hezbol-
lah, were shot down
by United States naval
forces.
Following the allega-
tions of unnecessary
force by a number of
world leaders, US Pres-
ident Barack Obama
released a statement
yesterday explaining the
necessity for the USs ex-
treme deployment and
condemning the actions
of Iran.
It is clear the weapons
were sent from Iran in
an Iranian aircraf for
the purpose of further
arming Hezbollah a
known terrorist organ-
isation, said President
Obama.
Confict is imminent
with President of Syria
Bashar al-Assad threat-
ening further action.
Entering our airspace
with the intention of
destroying an allies
aircraf is seen as an act
of war towards Syria.
Te simple fact that you
failed to communicate
or request permission to
enter Mae, makes count-
er measures necessary.
US Secretary of Defense
Chuck Hagel played
down threats, he said
President al-Assads
accusations are simply
just accusations.
It was no means the
intention of the US to
bring down the aircraf
over Syrian air space We
would hope that he takes
the minimal
damage caused is imply
walked away from and not
an excuse for launching
something potentially
hazardous to the entire
Middle East region.
Te Middle East now
sits in limbo wondering
whether or not Presi-
dent al-Assad will come
through on his threat.
By Tom Handley
6