Activism Guide

Over the past year, women, transgender, and non-binary people around the world have posted online their personal stories of gender-based discrimination and violence, claiming their power by telling their stories in their own words. People have globally united against hatred and fear and in support of gender justice and equality through women’s marches. Discussions in feminist and social justice circles about how to create an inclusive, feminist future are now permeating everyday conversations in public, work places, and the corridors of political power.

But not everyone has the privilege to safely share their story online. Not every survivor wants this burden placed upon them. And much work remains to create transformative societal, legislative, and judicial changes that address the multiple and intersecting root causes of gender inequality. How will Amnesty promote transformative change in support of gender equality on International Women's Day?

Time after time, supporters of Amnesty Canada have faithfully raised their voices in countless creative ways to denounce acts of terror aimed at destroying the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó in north-western Colombia. Community leaders have told us all the messages of concern, like those written by activists in Vernon, have helped to save lives.

Now the Peace Community is appealing for support again amidst dangerous new threats from armed paramilitaries, who often operate with the support or acquiescence of state security forces and authorities. On 29 December, five paramilitaries attacked and injured German Graciano Posso, the community’s legal representative. Other members of the community courageously managed to disarm and capture two of the assailants (pictured below), suffering injuries in the process, and hand them over to the National Prosecutor’s Office. Yet authorities later released the two.

On December 10, 2017 - International Human Rights Day - Amnesty International supporters in Canada and around the world took part in Amnesty's annual Write for Rights write-a-thon, the world's largest letter-writing event, now in 80 countries.

From coast to coast across Canada more than 1,500 private and public Write for Rights events took place in support of human rights defenders! The global total is already at more than 1.9 million letters, with many, many more yet to be reported. 

People took part in Write for Rights events of all kinds, indoors, outdoors, in homes, churches, community centres, pubs, cafes, at work, over lunch, over dinner or over coffee. Events were organised and attended by schools, universities, friends, family, community members, some were open to the public and some were more intimate settings. The one common thread connecting all of these events happening across every province in Canada and beyond - is the many letters that were written to authorities calling for justice and the many messages of solidarity that were sent to frontline human rights defenders.

By Sareema Husain

#WriteForRights, Amnesty International’s biggest local event of the year, took over the Centre for Social Innovation Annex on December 10.

Every year, people from more than 180 countries take part in the day-long marathon to write, tweet, email and sign petitions urging governments around the world to release prisoners of conscience and protect human rights defenders. Mary Macrae has been attending the event for years. “There’s always this question if it really works,” says Macrae. “It does.”

http://www.amnesty.ca/sites/amnesty/files/Canada Demand Myanmar stop the violence.pdfJoin Amnesty International in taking action for Rohingya refugees forced to flee their homes in Myanmar. 

Write for Rights is around the corner! Learn how you can get invovled. 

Learn how to acknowledge Indigenous territories at public events and meetings.