On this day, 30 years ago, Amnesty International was founded in Canada
In this issue
May 13 2003
30 Years of Amnesty in Canada
Amnesty Canada Secretary General, Alex Neve, leads Amnesty mission to Côte d'Ivoire
Human rights activist freed in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Amnesty mission on the ground in Iraq
Human Rights Screensaver
This special screensaver displays the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Download the screensaver.
Human Rights News in Brief
Colombia: No will to uphold international humanitarian law. Amidst widespread hostage-taking and political killings, Amnesty is calling on all parties to Colombia's civil war to uphold human rights.
Zimbabwe: Government uses repressive legislation to put rights under siege. A recent Amnesty report documents how the government of Zimbabwe is using legislation to silence dissent, perpetrate human rights violations and place the basic rights of Zimbabweans under siege.
USA: Letter to President Bush - Children in Guantánamo Bay. Amnesty has written to President Bush expressing "deep concern at reports that several children are among the more than 600 detainees being held in the US Naval Base in Guantánamo Bay."
Cuba: Heavy prison sentences -- a giant step backwards for human rights.
In a move which signals a giant step backwards for human rights, at least 33 Cuban dissidents arrested in a government crackdown in March have been sentenced to terms ranging from 14 to 27 years.
Action: Grandmothers of the disappeared
For more than a quarter century, Amnesty members in Canada have supported the Plaza de Mayo Grandmothers in calling for the safe return of their children who were "disappeared" during military rule in Argentina. Today the Grandmothers themselves have come under attack. Write a letter to the president of Argentina, urging that he assure the safety of the Plaza de Mayo Grandmothers.
Take action now.
Activist Corner
Order Colombia video
The video includes footage of Amnesty's presentation of the Solidarity Quilts made by Canadian members to human rights defenders in Bogota.
Campaigning manual
You can now download this manual that passes on the practical experience gained during 40 years of campaigning for human rights.
Resources for Teachers
Links to some of the sections of our site most requested by students and teachers.
Photo credits: Amnesty International for all except Iraqi girl copyright Terry J. Allen.
On May 12-13, 1973, representatives of the six early Amnesty groups from Sackville, Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Guelph and Montreal met in St. Lambert, Quebec to discuss the formation of an Amnesty section in Canada. Dr. John Humphrey, a professor at McGill University who assisted in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was elected as the section's first President.Today, Amnesty International groups have been formed in hundreds of communities, schools and campuses across the country, and more than 50,000 Canadians give their time and financial support to Amnesty's global human rights work. Amnesty volunteers are people of all ages, from many beliefs and cultural backgrounds, who share a concern for the protection of people's basic human rights, no matter who they are or where they live. Amnesty International members are part of a global, grassroots movement whose work for human rights has been honoured with a Nobel Peace Prize. Amnesty International is unique in the world, and today we want to thank all the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who have participated in Amnesty's human rights over the past 30 years.
Read about the birth and growth of Amnesty International in Canada in a special new section on our website.
Amnesty Canada Secretary General, Alex Neve, leads Amnesty mission to Côte d'Ivoire
"I just need to know if he is alive or not."
This was Habibata Bamba's plea to me when we met in Abidjan, in the West African nation of Côte d'Ivoire. Through tears she shared the painful story of the disappearance of her husband, Daouda Bamba, three months earlier. A retired teacher, he was visiting family in the north of the country when war broke out in September 2002 and split the country in two. Fighting between the government and armed opposition groups has led to widespread fear, insecurity and horrifying human rights violations.
Human rights activist freed in the Democratic Republic of Congo
"I am very grateful for all the assistance that Amnesty International has given me during my long detention."Former prisoner of conscience N'sii Luanda Shandwe is sure that Amnesty's work on his behalf had a real impact on his treatment in prison and his eventual release: "The director of the prison realized that he was dealing with a member of an international network of human rights defenders. He said it in front of several other detainees in my block. From this day the untimely searches in my cells ceased."
As president of the Committee of Human Rights Observers (CODHO), Shandwe was imprisoned for his human rights work. On January 26, the human rights activist was released from nearly a year in prison.
More good news....
Amnesty mission on the ground in Iraq
Since the beginning of the crisis in Iraq, Amnesty International has been very active campaigning to ensure the protection of civilians, and to ensure that all parties abide by human rights standards and international humanitarian law. On April 22nd, Amnesty began its first research mission in Iraq in two decades. The principal aims of the mission are to assess the situation in post-war Iraq and to investigate past human rights abuses and violations of the laws of war during the conflict.Amnesty researchers visited Basra's Governorate building following reports indicating the location of a possible secret underground prison. Amidst concerns that such sites may contain evidence of the thousands of Iraqis who disappeared under the Hussein regime, Amnesty is calling on the UK and US authorities to ensure that evidence of past atrocities are protected and preserved so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice.
More on Amnesty's position on Iraq...
Dear Friend,
We hope you enjoy this edition of Amnesty E-News, available in colour for the first time. Amnesty E-News is sent to you every few months to inform you of important human rights happenings.
If you have friends who may be interested in learning more about Amnesty or how to become a member, we would be happy to send membership information. Please contact us any time to make a comment, ask a question, update your address or email, revise your banking or credit card information, or request materials on the options for involvement available to Amnesty members and supporters. Thank you for your continued support of Amnesty International's critical human rights work.
Hala Al-Madi,
Jennifer Auten, Andrew Bales & Jeff Sinden
Member Services
Amnesty International Canadian Section (English Speaking)
1-800-AMNESTY (266-3789)
members@amnesty.ca | http://www.amnesty.ca/