GTA Amnesty International Newsletter – February 2023

THE ACTIVISM GUIDE IS OUT!

There are countless opportunities to get involved with Amnesty International. Our Activism Guide is your resource for the latest campaigns and actions.  The Activism Guide is a living resource and so we encourage you to bookmark this page and check back for recent updates and new materials and resources.

AITO JANUARY MONTHLY MEETING

Thursday February 16th, 7pm EST Please join us for our next monthly AITO members meeting, taking place Thursday, February 16th at 7 PM EST. All groups, teams and networks are encouraged to attend to share a report on your plans and activities. For new members and volunteers, there are many learning opportunities and it is a great way to discover how the organization works and how you can become more involved.    Registration is required in advance at:  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkd-Gvpj0uH9Ccfx1nI9bhlt7B28GVhhnY After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

SOLIDARITY WITH IRAN

FILM SCREENING: PERSEPOLIS AND PANEL EVENT   The AI Canada Gender Rights Specialized Team will hold a film screening and panel discussion to raise awareness of Iranian women’s protests against systemic gender oppression that have been ongoing since the arrest and death of Masha Amini in September 2022.  Film screening (online streaming): Sunday February 26th at 4pm EST. Free event. Zoom registration is required. Panel discussion (online): Sunday March 5th at 2:30pm EST. Free event. Zoom registration is required.  To attend the event as well as to receive film screening access please ensure you register on zoom. While we hope you will join us for both, the screening and the panel, please know you can attend just one, or both events. IMPORTANT: After you register you will receive a link that will allow you to join the panel discussion on March 5th so do save that link.   All zoom registrants will also receive an email with access information to the film streaming platform (this will happen one or two days before the screening date).  Details of guest panelists and zoom registration link.

THEY WON’T SILENCE US!

They Won’t Silence Us: Indigenous, Black and Racialized Women Speak Out Join us for an in-person panel-discussion in Toronto on March 7th to explore the nuances of intersecting racialized and gendered political violence targeted against women politicians, activists and journalists.  The event will be at the Toronto Reference Library from 7:30pm – 9:00pm. Bookmark this page and stay tuned for more details!

MATCHSTICK: MAGAZINE FOR YOUTH BY YOUTH

MATCHSTICK IS RECRUITING!  Are you passionate about using art and written word to spark change? Do you have a keen eye for detail and storytelling? Apply to join The Matchstick’s new Editorial Team! Deadline for Editorial Team Applications is February 20th.  The Matchstick is an initiative of the AI Canada’s National Organizer Program and is Amnesty Canada’s digital art magazine, for youth by youth. It features content produced by young artists who want to use their work to bring light to Amnesty’s ongoing Human Rights campaigns and build a digital archive of global solidarity. Whether you are drawn to visual arts or literature, there is room for each medium of expression here!  2023 CALL FOR SUBMISSION NOW OPEN!  The Matchstick will consider all work connected to justice, human rights advocacy, and the power of activism. We especially encourage submissions that align with the following Human Rights Campaigns: Indigenous Rights, Refugee Rights, Women’s Human Rights Defenders, Indigenous Water and Land Defenders, Climate Justice, Anti-Black Racism and Corporate Accountability. To learn more about Amnesty’s campaigns you can refer to our Activism Guide.      If you are interested in submitting your work to The Matchstick, please check the guidelines and fill out our submissions form before 11:59 pm, April 30th, 2023.  Deadline for submissions is April 30th. If you have any questions or require further details please contact:  edumitru@amnesty.ca.