Media advisories

The victor in Russia’s presidential elections on 4 March must place human rights at the heart of their political agenda, Amnesty International said.

During the past few weeks, all the presidential candidates have touched on issues preventing Russian society from fulfilling its rich potential.

In A Human Rights Agenda for Russia, Amnesty International details how human rights-based solutions are essential for Russia to move forward.

“As the first generation of post-soviet voters heads to the polls, the hopes and expectations of all Russians remain what they always were – the full enjoyment, for so long denied, of their most basic rights as individuals and as citizens,” said Sergei Nikitin, Director of Amnesty International Representative Office in the Russian Federation.

“During elections, we often hear the right words from the various candidates. This time, the future president must lay out specific steps for change and demonstrate action – there can be no more excuses.

Amnesty International Canada /Amnistie Canada    Assembly of First Nations     Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers)   First Nations Summit    Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)    Indigenous World Association   International Indian Treaty Council (IITC)    KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives     Kanehsatake Cultural Center    National Association of Friendship Centres    Native Women's Association of Canada    Treaty Four First Nations    Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs

On February 22 and 23, Canada’s record on combating discrimination will be examined by a high level body of the United Nations. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is the independent expert body that monitors compliance with the international treaty of the same name.

As a signatory to the Convention, Canada is required to report regularly to the Committee on measures taken to comply with its provisions. Key issues concerning the rights of Indigenous peoples were glossed over or ignored in Canada’s report.

 On Friday 20 January, the fifth anniversary of the illegal rendition of a Canadian citizen Bashir Makhtal from Kenya to Ethiopia, family, friends and human right supporters will be holding a vigil outside the Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office in the Langevin Block to draw attention to his plight.

 Bashir Makhtal, originally from the Ogaden region of Ethiopia was arrested at the Kenya-Somalia border in December 2006 and flown in shackles to Ethiopia in January 2007. After 18 months without access to a lawyer or consular officials he was eventually of accused of providing support to an armed group, the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF).  He was sentenced to life imprisonment after a grossly unfair trial in 2009. In the absence of credible evidence, the basis for the charges seemed to be the role his grandfather played in the founding of the ONLF decades ago.

 Supporters of Bashir Makhtal will bring their concerns about his illegal rendition and unfair trial to the attention of Prime Minister Harper. They will be renewing the call that has been repeatedly made for his direct intervention with the Ethiopian government on this case.

On 22 November Amnesty International is releasing a new report Broken Promises: Egypt's Military Rulers Erode Human Rights.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) has repeatedly pledged to break the cycle of repression entrenched over the past 30 years, but it has resorted to familiar patterns of abuse.

Released ahead of the start of elections on 28 November, the report analyses how the rhetoric has obscured the increasing suppression of people who dare to defy, question or criticize Egypt’s military rulers.

When: 0001hrs GMT on 22 November.

Spokespeople: Egypt researchers Said Haddadi and Mohamed Lotfy (English, Arabic, French) and Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director (English, French) will be available for interview from London.

John Tackaberry,
Media Relations,
Amnesty International Canada
613-744-7667, ext 236

The government of Canada has an obligation to start an investigation into former US President George W. Bush’s alleged involvement in, and responsibility for crimes under international law, including torture, while he is visiting Canada on 20 October, says Amnesty International. A memorandum, that has been given to the government, will be made public at a press conference in the Charles Lynch Theatre, Centre Block, House of Commons on Wednesday 12 October at 10:30 a.m.

 
Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada (English branch) and Beatrice Vaugrante, Director General of the Francophone branch of Amnesty International Canada, will present the details of the extensive submission outlining the responsibilities of the Canadian government. The submission asserts that Canada must investigate the role of the former US President in these crimes and secure his presence in Canada during that investigation.

Speakers:    Alex Neve, Secretary General, Amnesty International Canada (English branch)
                      Beatrice Vaugrante, Director General, Amnesty International Canada
                      (Francophone branch)

The struggle for basic rights in Zimbabwe will be examined in meetings and talks this week in Ottawa by Jenni Williams, the Executive Director of powerful social justice movement led by and for women called Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA).

Jenni Williams is in Ottawa after attending a special joint Annual General Meeting of the English and French branches of Amnesty International Canada in Montreal 28-29 May marking 50 years of work by the international organization.

WOZA was formed in 2003 to defend human rights amidst the political violence in Zimbabwe, and continues their work today by mobilizing to improve living conditions for all Zimbabweans. At the age of 47, Jenni Williams has experience more brutality than most of us will face in a lifetime. WOZA members constantly experience harassment and abuse by the police for engaging in peaceful forms of activism.

Action must be taken by Canada to pressure Syria to respect human rights. Amnesty International Canada and Canadian citizens who have been victims of human rights violations in Syria will outline a series of proposals for  the Canadian government at a press conference.

 Amnesty International has repeatedly urged the Syrian government to rein in its security forces, cease unlawful killings and other excessive force, and for independent investigations and accountability - with those responsible for human rights violations being brought to justice. The Syrian authorities have failed to take these steps. Canada must join the international community in adopting  measures to increase pressure on the Syrian government to do so. Petitions calling for an end for killings, respect for the right of peaceful protest, and to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC) will be presented to Syrian officials around the world, including to the Syrian Embassy in Ottawa following the press conference. 
 
Speakers will highlight actions that should be taken by the Canadian government to put further pressure on Syria to ensure the protection of human rights.