With the general election and Brexit dominating the news every day, we wanted to give you a little a break with some amazing stories. Here are 5 things real people have made happen this week.

 

1. Victory! FIBA allow hijab in basketball

 

Hijabi women across the world sparked a movement calling on the Federation for International Basketball to allow them to play wearing religious headwear. Uniform rules meant those wearing hijabs, turbans, and yarmulkes could not take part in FIBA competitions – and that players were forced to chose between their religion and a sport they love.

Asma’s petition was one of 15 leading the movement which began three years ago. It gained over 130,000 supporters and this week FIBA announced it’s unanimous decision to allow player to wear religious headgear on the court. #FibaAllowHijab

 

2. A father’s battle for human rights

 

Mark was at a loss when his son Steven, who is severely autistic, was taken away from him and put into respite care. He was only supposed to be gone a few days, but that turned into a year. The Human Rights Act allowed Mark to challenge the authorities and bring Steven back home. This law is under threat and Mark is calling on political parties to protect it. Sign his petition here.

 

3. Campaign to end ‘catfishing’

 

Last year Anna met a man online who she started to date and fell in love with. After 14 months, she discovered that the man she was in a relationship with was using a fake identity.

Anna is now calling for ‘catfishing’  (a fake persona used for creating romance online) to be a criminal offence. Her campaign has gained national media attention, the backing of over 30,000 people and she is now in talks with the Fraud Prevention Team at The Met Police. 

 

4. Merkel speaks out about Chechnya

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, to investigate reports that gay men are being violently persecuted in the Russian region of Chechnya.

This news comes after a petition was started by gay rights activist Igor, in Moscow. Disturbed by reports that gay men were being rounded up, tortured and killed in the region, he started campaigning for the Russian Government to start an investigation. Igor believes the news that Angela Merkel has intervened is a sign public pressure is working. Will you help keep up pressure by supporting his campaign?

 

5. ‘Rape Clause’ petition reaches 30k

 

Campaigners and politicians have been making noise this week calling on the Government to scrap what’s known as the “rape clause”. It was introduced last month and requires women to prove that they have been raped in order to claim tax credits for their third child.

Rana, who used to work for a women’s charity, is petitioning to scrap the clause and already has 30,000 signatures. She says “forcing rape victims to disclose details of the assault and name their child and the perpetrator is abhorrent and dangerous”.

 

These things only happen because of the support of people like you. Thank you for proving every day that people do incredible things when they come together.