Media advisories

Amnesty International’s expert on Haiti, Gerardo Ducos, will be in Haiti between 8 and 22 January 2011. As part of the visit, Ducos will launch the report Aftershocks: Women speak out against sexual violence in Haiti’s camps at a press conference on Tuesday 11 January in Port-au-Prince. The report, which features the stories of over 50 survivors of sexual abuse, looks at the continuing failure to protect girls and women living in makeshift camps from the risk of rape and sexual assault.

Survivors of sexual violence, who are already struggling to overcome the trauma suffered after losing their loved ones, their homes and livelihoods after the earthquake, have no access to medical care and have little hope to see their attackers brought to a court.

When:

Tuesday 11 January, 10am local time.

Where:

GARR offices (Groupe d'Appui aux Rapatriés et Réfugiés) 69, Christ Roi, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Who:

On December 10th, International Human Rights Day, Chinese prisoner of conscience and co-author of CHARTER ‘08 Liu Xiaobo will be awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. Despite this tremendous international honour, he remains imprisoned in China for his peaceful advocacy for human rights and democracy. Chinese authorities have refused to release him and have also refused to allow his wife to travel to Norway to accept the award on his behalf. On December 10th, a delegation of leading human rights advocates will seek to deliver to the Chinese Embassy petitions signed by thousands of Canadians from across the country urging the Chinese government to release Liu Xiaobo immediately. The advocates have written to the Ambassador, seeking a meeting. It is not yet clear whether Embassy officials will meet with the delegation or agree to receive the peitions.

The human rights advocates will make comments to the press at the time of the petition delivery.

Place: Embassy of the People's Republic of China
515 St. Patrick Street, Otttawa

Date: Friday, December 10, 2010

Time: Between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m.