Amnesty International is marking its 50th anniversary on 28th May with the launch of a Global Call to Action designed to help tip the scales against repression and injustice, with events held in more than 60 countries in every region of the world.
The anniversary comes against the backdrop of a changing human rights landscape, as people across the Middle East and North Africa courageously confront oppression, tyranny and corruption -- often in the face of bloodshed and state violence.
Canadian NGOs have little in the way of positive feedback for Toronto's G8/G20 summits, giving low overall marks when asked to grade the political and fiscal pledges made at the weekend meetings.
"I'd say D-. There was a complete lack of accountability, urgency and shame," said Robert Fox, Executive Director of Oxfam Canada. "There were several critical commitments we were looking to get and we're walking away without them."
"I'd give them a D. The only saving grace is that Canada did put $1.1 billion toward maternal and child health. Any time you can save some lives, you have to give credit for that," said Dennis Howlett on behalf of Make Poverty History and Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP).
27 June 2010
Toronto and the G8/G20: Peaceful protest suffers amidst heavy security measures and acts of vandalism
As the Annual General Meeting of Amnesty International Canada (English branch) concluded today in Toronto, Amnesty International members from across the country expressed their very deep concern that important rights associated with peaceful protest have suffered considerably in the city over the weekend.
International Human Rights Day is celebrated every year on December 10 since 1948. The date was chosen by the United Nations to honour the day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. It was the first declaration that asserted international human rights as a result of atrocities committed during the Holocaust.
The theme of the day varies from year to year, from ending poverty to stopping discrimination. There are many different organizing opportunities around this day. In 2008, activists organized a campaign against proposition eight, making gay marriage illegal, by calling in "gay" to work to protest.
On March 28, the Supreme Court refused to hear the death penalty case of Troy Anthony Davis. It was his last appeal. Davis has been on Georgia's death row for close to 20 years after being convicted of shooting to death off-duty police officer Mark MacPhail in Savannah. Since his conviction, seven of the nine non-police witnesses have recanted their testimony, alleging police coercion and intimidation in obtaining the testimony. Despite the doubt surrounding his case, Troy Anthony Davis could be put to death within weeks.
Sunrise - 6:30 am to 3:45 pm Saturday, April 16 Beit Zatoun is pleased to participate again this year in Yoga Day for Amnesty International. Being Beit Zatoun, this means bringing new, diverse and engaging dimensions to make the day truly special and meaningful to participants and the community. Santi-Purna means "day-full of prayers for peace" - we invite everyone to be part of this day. All proceeds to Amnesty International (tax receipts available through Amnesty International). Yoga practice ~ breathing exercises, postures, mudras, mantras and devotional singing on the theme of peace from many cultures.
Make a donation to support Amnesty's campaigning on behalf of WOZA.
In Zimbabwe, human rights activists are not supported in their work, but often detained and beaten instead. Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) is an organization of women's human rights defenders that peacefully protest to demand better access to food, health care and education for all Zimbabweans.
With two world premieres, five Canadian premieres, and three Vancouver premieres, the Amnesty International Film Festival is celebrating its 15th anniversary with an outstanding selection of award-winning films on human rights and social justice. From protecting the right to protest, to revealing genocide and holding militia leaders accountable for horrific war crimes, this is a festival that over the years has left no human rights issue unexamined.
The festival opens with a gala evening featuring The Vancouver Raging Grannies, poet Fatou Wurie, and the Vancouver premiere of Sounds Like a Revolution. Gala tickets only $45.
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