Tapestry – Weaving Together Creative Human Rights Advocacy

Tapestry, a mixed-medium exhibition, was co-hosted by Amnesty Youth and the Politics Students’ Association of Otago University in May to showcase creative ways to advocate.

Jomana Moharram, leader of the Amnesty International group on campus said;

“We were really keen to get students involved in any sort of advocacy and that could take many forms. It’s not just about attending protest, it’s way more diverse. You can create and you can enjoy other people’s creations.”

And the theme? “Anything human rights, politics or identity related. As long as it had a message behind it.”

Essays, poems, art works and about 20 entries from Year 10 Otago Girls’ students flooded in. Check them all out here!

Jomana said they were delighted with the calibre of entries and the response to the exhibition. Over the course of an evening people chatted and celebrated the display, including some very proud Otago Girls’ students and their parents. The gathering was backdropped by a playlist of political music from Egypt, Africa, and waiata from Aotearoa. Yes, you can request that playlist by emailing amnesty.otago@gmail.com.

Jomana says plans are already in play to do it again, do it better next year and to host an even more diverse array of entries.

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This article was originally published in the July 2025 issue of Flame, Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand's supporter newsletter. To request a digital copy of Flame, please email us at info@amnesty.org.nz.

In this 60th Anniversary issue of Flame, we highlighted stories of courage that showcased the incredible power that we have when people come together to demand justice in the fight for human rights. You can help Amnesty International continue this work for another 60 years with a one-off donation today.