Students at the Cage Campaign's inaugural eventLaura Schubert

On Friday 27th at 6pm on King’s Parade, Cambridge University Amnesty International (CUAI) launched its annual Cage Campaign. This year's campaign aims to raise awareness of torture and the UK government's complicity in it. 

The inaugural event on Friday was hosted in collaboration with Cambridge PEN, who gave readings from Freedom From Torture's Write to Life programme, including works by survivors of torture from Turkey, Iran, Zimbabwe and elsewhere.

The 'Cage Weekend' will be taking place on Kings’ Parade from Friday 27th February to Sunday 1st March.

CUAI Secretary, Ellen Chapman, said the aim of the campaign is to “put pressure on UK government, make people reconsider their opinions towards torture, and raise questions about Amnesty more generally.”

She also noted the campaign aims to “demonstrate that Amnesty scrutinises all governments (not just those we might typically associate with human rights abuses)”.

The campaign aims to “demonstrate that Amnesty scrutinises all governments (not just those we might typically associate with human rights abuses).”Laura Schubert

Amnesty member and first year Classics student Charlotte Dunn spent a few hours in the cage last night, and said of the experience: “It was actually really great. So many people were interested in what we were doing and stopped to chat so we got lots of signatures. I was actually surprised how few people pretended we weren't there. Also, no one took the piss or anything which was good.”

According to CUAI, the Cage Campaign has been running for over 40 years. Traditionally, the campaign runs for a 48 hour period throughout which members of CUAI are continually stationed within the cage on King's lawn.

On the idea behind the campaign, CUAI Treasurer, Sam Davenport, said: "[It's] a more visual protest – everyone who walks past has to be engaged therefore you get those who would never come along to a meeting involved." 

Last year, the Cage Campaign addressed the issue of the death penalty. In total, over 15 metres of canvas were covered with signatures.

Ellen Chapman and Sam Davenport expressed optimism at CUAI's potential to achieve similar or higher numbers this year. Davenport said: "“there has been a lot in the media recently about apolitical students but the opposite seems to be the case.”

During this year's campaign, Amnesty will be distributing leaflets with information about the CIA torture report on Guantanamo Bay and the UK's involvement.

The report, released in December 2014, revealed that the CIA used waterboarding, ‘rectal feeding’, mock executions, sleep deprivation, stress positions and other cruel and degrading treatment against detainees. 

Reports have surfaced indicating that UK intelligence officers interrogated prisoners detained in Guantánamo Bay and at Bagram in Afghanistan, fully aware that they were being tortured. It has also been revealed that the British government offered logistical support for CIA rendition exercises, permitting CIA aircrafts to refuel at UK military and civilian airports hundreds of times. 

The extent of the UK’s involvement is still unknown, but CUAI are hopeful that their 2015 Cage Campaign will force the British government to publicly address this issue and provide answers to some of their most pressing questions.

Davenport said: “Amnesty's success stems from lots of small actions of individuals together holding governments around the world to account. Change might be slow, but it can be momentous.”