Amnesty International Society: The Amnesty Journal Editor

Coming from Hungary, I have seen the deterioration of democratic institutions, of a free press, and the most basic of human rights as regards the Hungarian Roma and LGBTQ communities. I have seen what the xenophobic propaganda spread by populist leaders can do to a country and made it my goal, not to stand by silently. Through my years of high school, I have organized student protests supporting our teachers striking for a better and fairer educational system in Hungary, have been a volunteer at Budapest Pride, took part in a program aimed at mentoring Roma children, and was an organizer of an international Jewish youth camp. By working as a media assistant in the Hungarian presidential campaign this Autumn, I have found a means by which my writing can produce an actual effect for the better. Drunken from the experience, I participated in a three-month-long journalism internship in 2021 and have had various articles published in an online newspaper. As a person of Jewish heritage, I have seen my family strive to get over the constant fear, induced by generational trauma. I am standing for this position so as to raise awareness, mediate information and create a society, in which fear is not something to have to become accustomed to.

I am standing for this position due to my passion for unbiased and unrestricted media. Amnesty International has a large platform and following, and it is important that the faction as part of UCL holds up the good name. 

I aim for regular posts on the journal, with students from all different backgrounds contributing,  taking advantage of the multi-cultural and different perspectives of UCL students, which is something that needs to be utilized and celebrated to a higher degree than is already happening. There needs to be an increased awareness that it is possible for UCL students to write for Amnesty International, not only to look good on CVs but too also to start making a difference in an increasingly polarized world.

I personally have experience writing articles based on Human Rights, starting my own page last year, as well as writing a couple of articles for an independent organisation: Human Rights Pulse, giving me the relevant experience and expertise to edit a journal. 

This journal can give more than other UCL publications, such as Pi Media or The Cheese Grater, due to the other dimensions that the society offers, such as talks and socials. There is potential for this journal to be the biggest in UCL, with incentives going beyond just writing, but writing for one of the biggest NGOs in the world - all that is needed is quality and awareness, which I believe I can deliver in abundance.