Amnesty International Canada
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Take action to end the Safe Third Country Agreement: Read testimonies from refugees who were returned to the USA, Record a message about why you care about refugee rights, Tweet your MP.

Loujain al-Hathloul may have been released from prison last week, but she still isn't free. Loujain and other women human rights defenders continue to be criminalized for their peaceful advocacy. Call on Saudi Arabia to stop criminalizing women's rights activists immediately.

It's a welcome step, but Canada's new initiative narrowly focuses on arbitrary detention for political purposes and does not go far enough to protect all prisoners abroad.

THE SKIN WE'RE IN by Desmond Cole is the book club selection for January + February. This is an absolutely unmissable read and powerful anti-racism educational tool. Pick up your copy today and follow Amnesty International Book Club for more exciting news!

We wanted to make sure the world didn't forget that Saudi Arabia still has 5 women human rights activists behind bars, so we left a reminder outside their embassy in Ottawa.

Walid al-Hathloul, the brother of jailed women's rights defender Loujain al-Hathloul, writes: "Let’s not be fooled once again: Saudi Arabia is trying to use its G20 presidency to refurbish its horrendous image. Canada and the other members of the G20 must seize this opportunity to demand the release of my sister and the other human rights defenders. Otherwise, their silence will be interpreted as tacit consent." Amnesty International joins Walid in calling on Canada to demand the urgent release of all women human rights defenders who are unlawfully detained in Saudi Arabia. https://nationalpost.com//walid-al-hathloul-canada-must-de

Paing Phyo Min (aka De Yay) loves singing, playing the guitar and Taylor Swift. The 22-year-old student leader is also a member of the Peacock Generation, a poetry troupe dedicated to Thangyat a traditional version of slam poetry. In 2019, Paing Phyo Min and other Peacock Generation members were arrested after performing Thangyat dressed as soldiers while making fun of the military. He was sentenced to six years in prison. Call on Myanmar to release Paing Phyo Min>>https://bit.ly/2J1ZLFp

Today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, Saudi Arabia had the opportunity to release Loujain al-Hathloul, who has been tortured, at times held incommunicado, and jailed for over two years, simply for peacefully advocating for women’s rights. But Saudi Arabia did not release Loujain today. Instead, they exposed the Kingdom’s hypocrisy on women’s empowerment by transferring her case to an anti-terrorism court.

It has been 1 year since Paing Phyo Min (aka De Yay) was sentenced to 6 years in prison for performing Thangyat a traditional version of slam poetry that made fun of the Myanmar military. Expressing ideas freely should not be a crime. Join our call for Paing Phyo Min’s immediate and unconditional release.

12,160 people in Canada are calling on Minister François-Philippe Champagne to urge authorities in Saudi Arabia to release the jailed women’s rights defenders Minister Champagne please make this your top priority as you participate in the G20 Leaders’ Summit hosted by the Kingdom this week.

Remember to sign up for Write for Rights this year! COVID restrictions mean W4R events might look different but there are tons of ways to host them safely: online and with your household members. Register here >>> writeathon.ca

Saudi Arabia hosted the G20 last weekend, with women’s empowerment listed as a key item on the agenda. Despite this, Nassima is one of five women imprisoned for campaigning for women’s rights, some of whom report being tortured and sexually abused while incarcerated.

"Why did police disperse the occupation and arrest 13 activists 12 of whom were later charged with mischief when community members from the three groups were already due to meet with city representatives later that day to address their concerns? The brief explanation provided by the Ottawa Police Service raises more questions than it answers.

Saudi women human rights defender Loujain al-Hathloul has been on a hunger strike for three weeks. Why? To demand access to phone calls and visits with her family. Loujain shouldn’t even be in jail! Call on Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to raise the ongoing detention of Loujain and other activists at this week’s G20 Leaders’ Summit, hosted by Saudi Arabia.

Help free Paing Phyo Min! Sign up to Write for Rights on December 10th>>https://writeathon.ca/sign-up/

They were three teenagers at sea, desperate to escape Libya’s violence. When the rubber boat they and 100 others were in sank, they were rescued by the oil transporter, El Hiblu. They thought they were safe, but the El Hiblu tried to return them to Libya and almost certain torture. A protest ensued. The youths acted as interpreters to help preserve their lives and those of their fellow passengers. Now they’re facing a life sentence.