Amnesty International FREEDOM Festival 05

The FREEDOM Festival is an annual national music festival that aims to raise funds and awareness of Amnesty International's work to promote and defend human rights programs worldwide.

This year's FREEDOM Festival is raising awareness for Amnesty International's global "Stop Violence Against Women" campaign. Specifically, this includes women's rights to freedom from violence, fear, discrimination and torture, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

These campaigns aim to draw attention to the obligations of governments and communities to stop violence against women in the broader pursuit of human rights. FREEDOM's focus in 2005 is specifically targeted at domestic violence in Australia.

"Worldwide, 1 in 3 women experience some form of violence. Australian statistics further reveal that 1 in 3 Australian women who have had an intimate relationship experienced violence in the relationship." Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1996

Driven by a vast network of volunteers, the FREEDOM Festival uses the simple message: "Use your FREEDOM!" to reach out to a large and diverse young audience. FREEDOM unites and empowers individuals to promote positive social and political change through artistic expression.

The FREEDOM Festival is a product of the finest grassroots Australian activism. Sydney's FREEDOM dance parties in the '90s helped pioneer the dance-for-a-cause movement. In 2003 this inspirational foundation developed into the first national FREEDOM Festival in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. In 2004, Perth and Adelaide joined the party, and with Brisbane and Hobart signing up for 2005, the FREEDOM message will ring loud across seven cities.

FREEDOM 05 will be held over 20 days from 23 September to 9 October.

The Festival will be headlined by dynamic Philadelphia songstress Ursula Rucker (!K7 Records) and Munich broken beat DJ Ben Mono (Compost Records) with local supports taking the stage in each city.

Why Freedom? The Freedom Festival is based on the belief that we can all use our freedom to help fight for the freedom of others.

Why Stop Violence against Women? Violence against women is the greatest human rights scandal of our time. Freedom Festival is your chance to come together with people across Australia to send a message to governments and communities that enough is enough.

Why Ursula Rucker? Could there be anyone better? Urban visionary Ursula Rucker (!K7) is known for her sharp, political, poetic lyricism which has earned her credibility among beat poets and rappers alike, as well as a reputation spanning from hip hop to jazz. Her long list of collaborators include Jazzanova, A Guy Called Gerald, 4 Hero, The Roots, L'il Louie Vega, Josh Wink, The Silent Poets and King Britt.

Ursula will be joined by guitarist Tim Motzer and drummer Gintas Janusonis. Also touring nationally are Munich DJ Ben Mono (Compost) and NZ soul reggae diva Blaquereign from Jah'licious (Sugarlicks).

ÔøΩ Melbourne, Friday 23 September

ÔøΩ Sydney, Saturday 24 September

ÔøΩ Canberra, Sunday 25 September

ÔøΩ Hobart, Thursday 29 September

ÔøΩ Brisbane, Friday 30 September

ÔøΩ Perth, Friday 7 October

ÔøΩ Adelaide, Saturday 8 October

ÔøΩ Sydney (Opera House Studio), Sunday 9 October

For further details, ticketing information and also information on the FREEDOM Festival 05 CD, visit: http://www.amnesty.org.au/freedom