In this issue:
Every year on May 28, Amnesty International celebrates the anniversary of its founding with the release of its global report on the state of the world's human rights
- Mission to Chad
- Annual Report 2010
- Inside Guantanamo Bay
- Human Rights Defenders
- Release Gao Zhisheng
- Taste for Justice
Quick Action: Act for Chad |
The UN mission providing security in eastern Chad may be shut down just when it is needed most.
Tell the UN it must continue to protect civilians in Chad
Watch slides and Act for Chad
Human Rights News & Reports |
Mexico: President Calderón visits Canada
Open letter highlights key human rights priorities for Canada-Mexico relations. Read Open Letter
Zimbabwe: 700,000 forcibly evicted people still ignored It is a scandal that five years later victims are left to survive in plastic shacks without basic essential services. Read press release |
Sri Lanka: UN must investigate human rights violations |
Good News |
Hafez Ibrahim released
"I owe my life to Amnesty International… Now I am dedicating that life to campaigning against the death penalty and raising awareness about human rights."
Hafez Ibrahim, released from prison in Yemen, expresses his thanks to Ammesty members. Read more
Amnesty video wins top prize
Businesses need to be accountable for human rights violations that result from their operations. This award-winning 3-minute video - finishing 1st of 4100 contest entries - describes Canada's key role in finding a solution to this growing global problem. Watch Video
Activist Corner |
Human Rights Defenders protect us all
As South Africa prepares to host the World Cup, 11 members of "Stand Up United" prepare to defend human rights around the world. They have a common goal - equality, dignity and justice for all. Whatever human rights they defend, "Stand Up United" is sure to face strong opposition. But with your support they can win.
Do your part and stand with them.
Hundreds of appeals sent for Emaddedin on World Press Freedom Day
Amnesty members stood in solidarity on Press Freedom Day behind Iranian journalist Emaddedin Bagdi and dozens of other writers currently detained around the world. Thanks to the hundreds of members who also sent words of encouragement directly to Emaddedin!
World Press Freedom Day
Lubicon students back from incredible experience at the United Nations
Three Lubicon students, from Little Buffalo, Alberta, Leticia Gladue, Daphne Ominayak and Dawn Seeseequon (pictured here), travelled to the United Nations in New York after winning an essay contest. Read about their experience
Toronto: Annual General Meeting:
Rooms sold out, travel advisory for arrival, opportunity to donate items for the silent auction. and much more Click here
New Facebook Page
Amnesty's "Fan Page" on the social media website Facebook has been re-launched as an official "Nonprofit" page. If you enjoy connecting with other Amnesty members through this service, join us at our new page.
Click here
Contact us |
Amnesty International Canada
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Photo credits: All photos Amnesty International
All eyes on Amnesty mission to Chad as UN withdrawal puts thousands at risk
Amnesty Human Rights Mission: May 20 - June 2
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| The UN mission is pulling out, once again leaving Darfur refugees in Chad extremely vulnerable. | ||
Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty Canada, is leading an Amnesty International human rights mission to Chad until June 2nd. Follow the mission live from the field, as Alex reports in on the Chad mission blog.
"What so many of the child soldiers we have spoken to had in common was a similar story of what propelled them to join the armed groups in the first place: human rights violations. They talked of poverty; they talked of insecurity; they talked of discrimination; and they talked of a lack of opportunity. It was all about human rights."
Listen to Alex's audio report recorded via satellite phone
Watch a video report from Alex's 2009 mission to eastern Chad
Amnesty International Report 2010
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Hundreds of thousands in Tehran protest the results of Iran's disputed election. |
The Amnesty International Report 2010 documents the state of human rights in 159 countries in 2009.
In the report, Amnesty calls on governments to ensure accountability for their own actions, fully sign up to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and ensure that crimes under international law can be prosecuted anywhere in the world. States claiming global leadership, including the G20, have a particular responsibility to set an example.
"Governments must ensure that no one is above the law, and that everyone has access to justice for all human rights violations."
This report also records the courage, imagination and determination of the worldwide movement of 2.8 million members.
Malawian couple convicted of unnatural offense
Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga have been sentenced to 14 years in prison with hard labour after being convicted of 'gross indecency' and 'unnatural acts'. Amnesty considers both men prisoners of conscience, and has urged the Malawian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the couple.
Read and take action
642 Teddy Bears for human rights
In the late 1970s, long-time Amnesty International member Joan Francis was shown a teddy-bear knitting pattern by a friend. Joan immediately had an idea:: she would knit a teddy bear and sell it to raise money for Amnesty’s Urgent Action Network.
Joan sold the bear for $5 and the money paid for a telegram response to an Urgent Action appeal.
Read more
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| Amnesty International's Alex Neve witnesses military trials at Guantanamo |
A team of Amnesty International researchers visited Guantanamo Bay, last month to witness the pre-trial hearing for Canadian Omar Khadr.
Omar has been in in military detention since he was a 15-year-old boy. He has been through close to eight years of abuse and a labyrinth of injustice, being tried by a military commission system that stands outside accepted standards of law. Read daily reports from inside Guantanamo Bay:
<April 27: Omar Khadr pre-trial hearings: Where is Canada's Voice?
<April 28:
Uncertainty on top of unfairness
<April 29: Omar Khadr pre-trial hearings: It is underway
<April 30: Omar Khadr pre-trial hearings: Medical concerns arise
<May 5: Non-traditional interrogations
<May 6: Indecent Haste
Financial appeal:
Support Amnesty's work against torture
" ... four men with electric batons started to beat my head and body with ferocity. I was beaten so severely that my whole body began shaking uncontrollably on the floor."
- Gao Zhisheng, Human Rights lawyer in China.
If you haven't already renewed your membership for 2010, or if you would like to give an additional gift to fund our vital work to stop torture, please respond to the appeal on Gao Shisheng that
you should have received this week in the mail - or use our secure online donation form here.
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| Gao Shisheng with his family |
More about Gao Zhisheng.... voted in 2001 as "one of China's top ten lawyers" by a publication run by China's Ministry of Justice, Gao has a distinguished record of representing the victims of some of the most egregious and politically controversial cases of human rights abuses by the police and other government agencies.
In 2005, he wrote a series of letters to President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao calling on a halt to the continuing torture and ill-treatment of detained Falun Gong practitioners and the ongoing persecution of underground Christians and democracy activists. Gao's current whereabouts are unknown, and he is at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.
Learn about Gao Zhisheng | Respond to our appeal
Taste for Justice
Dine out and raise money for Amnesty
Are you looking for an excuse to have friends over ... or to go out for a nice meal?
With Amnesty's Taste for Justice campaign, you can share good food and raise money for Amnesty's human rights work.
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| See participating restaurants |
Join Amnesty members this June for Taste for justice by either dining out at one of our participating restaurants or by hosting a meal and asking your guests to donate the price of a nice night out. It's a great way to share your passion for human rights.
Visit site
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If you haven't already renewed your Amnesty International membership for 2010, or if you would like to give an additional gift to fund our vital work to stop torture, please respond to the appeal
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