DEMAND A CEASEFIRE! |
We are witnessing horror unfolding on an unimaginable scale in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The unparalleled escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas and other armed groups has taken a devastating toll on civilians. The level of casualties is unprecedented. Countless lives have been shattered, ripped apart, and upended. Amnesty International continues to closely monitor the human rights and humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. Information, news and ways to take action |
TAKE ACTION DURING THE 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE |
Join Amnesty International Canada in taking action during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence that starts on November 25, the International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women , and runs through to December 10, International Human Rights Day. 16 Days Guest Blog Series Join us from November 25th to December 10th , to celebrate the stories, struggles and activism of Indigenous, Black and racialized women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ activists, defenders and community organizers from across the Americas. We are thrilled to share the following guest essays during the #16Days that make visible the perspectives of Indigenous, Black, and racialized women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ defenders and community activists across the Americas. The links to these guest blogs will become available as we publish them throughout the 16 Days: In Guatemala, women are under attack. Maya Kaqchikel lawyer and human rights defender Wendy Geraldina López Rosales reflects on gendered and racialized attacks on Indigenous women land defenders and justice workers in Guatemala. Breaking the Silence: Transnational Advocacy and Gendered Violence in Afghanistan by Shabnam Salehi who writes about the lived experiences of Afghan women defenders in exile in Canada and the importance of transnational advocacy in the struggle against gender apartheid in Afghanistan. Stories of Water by Black Colombian community leader and water defender Yuvelis Morales, of the Colombia Free from Fracking Alliance. This personal reflection examines how Climate Justice, Gender Justice and Racial Justice are intertwined. The Hidden Figures of #EndKiwiFarms by Liz Fong- Jones. Liz shares her personal and professional insights and struggles with transphobia, anti-2SLGBTQQIA+ hate and extremism in online spaces. On the frontlines: Defending the territory of Indigenous lands and Indigenous women’s bodies in northern Mexico by Mariana Villarreal, Coordinator of the Network in Defense of Indigenous Territories of the Sierra Tarahumara (REDETI). Mariana’s guest essay focuses on the experiences of Indigenous women defending lands, forests, water and Indigenous rights in Chuihuahua. Gendered Impacts of Resource Extraction by land and water defender and Tiny House Warrior Kanahus Manuel (Secwépemc Nation). Kanahus reflects on the impact of resource extraction, colonial expropriation and gendered and racialized violence on Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ defenders. It is vitally important to listen to what these leaders want to tell us and learn from their wisdom! READ MORE |
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): 75th anniversary on December 10th, 2023 |
“We should celebrate the UDHR […] because of all those who have disrupted history with it.” For organizations like Amnesty International who are committed to protecting and fighting for human rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights acts as a guiding inspiration for our mission and vision. Seventy-five years ago, the United Nations set out a vision for a set of universal human rights principles shared across countries and cultures: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Based on this foundation, in the last 75 years, the international community has agreed on a comprehensive international human rights law framework and continues to create a growing set of mechanisms and bodies to support states in protecting human rights. Commemoration efforts by member states should fully acknowledge this advancement and strongly condemn and counter any efforts to turn the clock back on this progress. The 75th anniversary of the UDHR provides an opportunity to reflect on, and reinvigorate and recommit to these founding principles. The anniversary should not only be an occasion for a celebration of these principles but also be an opportunity for concrete action to address the many outstanding challenges that remain in fully realizing the values that underpin the UDHR. READ MORE |
TORONTO WRITES FOR RIGHTS! |
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