you're invited to the big easy!

it's right around the corner so mark your calendars!...join human rights activists and organizers from April 9 - 11th in new orleans for this annual gathering of human rights supporters, experts and activists from across the globe...

this year's all rights for all people conference is going to be big!

amazing speakers - including gloria steinem, bernice johnson reagon, and alice walker...powerful panels - discussing poverty, maternal mortality, criminal justice reform, and so many new strategies for mobilizing the human rights movement on both local and national levels...rich experiences - connect with other human rights activists making significant contributions in their communities...

come, learn, network and experience grassroots activism at its very best!

» register for the 2010 all rights for all people conference
» learn more about our all rights for all people conference
» see the conference agenda

peace out <3

guantanamo - new zip code, no human rights...

yo yo yo yo peeps...

there are troubling rumors flying around washington that president obama is on the verge of cutting a political deal with enator lindsey graham (r-sc)...the president is actually considering rolling back attorney general eric holder's decision to prosecute terror suspects using fair trials in u.s. federal court...

the result would mean that while the guantanamo prison facility would finally be closed, detainees would continue to be held indefinitely without charge and denied fair trials, but just in a new location on u.s. soil...

Call Senator Graham's office – tell him why you oppose military courts and indefinite detention
Call the White House and urge Obama to support fair trials for Guantanamo detainees
Send an email to urge your member of Congress to stand up for fair trials

peace out <3

roxana saberi freed...

amnesty international reports that american-iranian journalist roxana waberi was freed from prison in iran...

roxana had been given an eight-year prison sentence on trumped up charges of “espionage” following a brief closed door trial in tehran last month...aqmnesty international had issued an urgent action calling for her release...over 26,000 messages were sent by amnesty activists to the iranian government demanding her release...

thanks to all who took action...while roxana may be free, there are still countless other prisoners of conscience languishing in prison cells around the world...please take a moment to take action on their behalf so they can join roxana in freedom...

peace out <3

women in united states dying to give birth...

amnesty international released a startling new report that details the horrific tragedy behind maternal death rates among american women...the awful truth behind the shocking numbers is that at least half of these deaths could have been prevented...

women in the united states are more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth than in 40 other countries...more than half of these deaths occur within 42 days of giving the birth because of issues like accessibility, affordability and lack of oversight in maternal health matters...the story only gets worse when you look at the rates of pregnancy-related deaths among minority women...african-american women are nearly four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than white women...

but in a country that spends far more on health care than any other country in the world, we should be able to guarantee every woman's right to a safe childbirth...

urge the department of health and human services (hhs) to improve timely access to quality maternal care
read more about their report: deadly delivery
volunteer to meet with senators and representatives in your local district to inform them about this tragedy

peace out < 3

help protect civilians in the drc...

the situation in the democratic republic of congo (sic) remains on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe...the priority at the moment is reinforcing the capacity of the u.n.'s peacekeeping force, monuc to protect civilians and to ensure people have access to humanitarian assistance...

the following days are crucial as the u.n. security council is expected to vote on boosting the peacekeepers any day...your help is urgently needed to keep on calling on the u.s. government to support the troop increase...

it's high time for regional leaders and the u.n. security council to step up its efforts: at least 250,000 civilians, most of them women and children, were displaced by the recent fighting...these people are in a desperate situation, without sufficient food, water, medical supplies or shelter, and cannot wait any longer...

urge the u.s. government to strengthen u.n. peacekeepers
drc: demonstrate leadership to address crisis immediately
blog post:"drc: protect civilians now!"

peace out <3

neither violence against women nor poverty are inevitable...

below irene khan, amnesty international writes about the links between violence against women and poverty to mark the international day for the elimination of

violence against women...

as women around the world come together to celebrate the start of the 16 days of activism against gender violence, violence against women remains endemic in many forms, in all societies...

just last month, aisha ibrahim duhulow was stoned to death by a group of 50 men in somalia...the thirteen year-old was accused of adultery, though according to her father she was raped and had tried to report it...none of those accused of her rape nor murder have been arrested...

violence against women and girls is a priority concern for amnesty international and in 2004 a global campaign to stop iolence against women was launched...so far the campaign has contributed to successes that have brought a number of legislative and policy changes at national levels, as well as supported efforts in the international arena for the adoption of resolutions 1325 and 1820 by the united nations security council...

these resolutions on women peace and security aim to ensure women's equal participation in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict peacebuilding and to increase the human rights protection of women and girls in conflict situations...

despite these advances, violence against women and girls remains widespread across the globe...recent research in afghanistan, armenia, anada, cote d'ivoire, democratic republic of the congo, jamaica, haiti, liberia, mexico, nigeria, peru, sierra leone, south africa, venezuela, and the usa has shown that this violence is not only a human rights violation but also a key factor in obstructing the realization of women's and girls' rights to security, adequate housing, health, food, education and participation...millions of women find themselves locked in cycles of poverty and violence, cycles which fuel and perpetuate one another...

poverty is characterised by the daily experience of human rights abuses that lead people into deprivation, insecurity, exclusion and voicelessness...poverty is an affront to human dignity and the worst human rights crisis in the world...it exists in all countries and affects women disproportionately – 70% of the world’s poor are women...

neither violence against women nor poverty are inevitable, though they combine to restrict women’s choices and put women at risk from violence...while all girls have the right to education, which is vital in allowing them to choose their futures, this right is often curtailed by violence and poverty...in countries such as haiti, girls may have little choice but to grant sexual favours in order that they can pay their school fees...

others who go in search of a public place with lighting by which to do their homework because their home has no electricity, are attacked by groups of men...as a result of the abuse, it is likely that girls' education will be disrupted or discontinued...

violence against women is a human rights abuse for which states are responsible...amnesty international will continue to demand accountability from both national and international actors for these violations...it will continue to call upon states and the international community to ensure equal access to rights and services for women and girls...

this includes systemically incorporating the analysis of the impact on the enjoyment of women and girls' human rights into all strategies, programs and reporting related to poverty reduction and achievement of the millennium development goals...

this must also include progress made in the elimination of gender-based violence...human rights violations cannot be stopped, poverty ended, nor development achieved without the active participation of the people affected by these abuses, in particular women and girls...

peace out <3

obama's 100 day challenge...

talk of change is good...sunday a week ago, president-elect obama stated in an interview on cbs that he will follow through with his commitment to close Guantanamo... in the hope of turning words into actions, amnesty international is calling on president-elect barack obama to take concrete steps in his first 100 days in office...this means: announce a plan and date to close guantánamo issue an executive order to ban torture ensure that an independent commission to investigate abuses committed by the u.s. government in its "war on terror" is set up

taking these steps would send a clear message to the rest of the world that, once again, the u.s. will be a leader for human rights...

call on obama to demonstrate a commitment to human rights in his first 100 days
visit this blog to read zeke johnson's "3 steps for president obama

peace out <3

ensure that suspected war criminals in darfur are investigated by the international criminal court...

the crisis in darfur...you remember darfur, don't you?

well, sending mixed messages can only make things worse for the people of darfur...yet the u.s. government, my government led by the bush administration, has chosen to play with fire...sudanese president omar al-bashir may never have to answer for his alleged crimes if the investigation against him is suspended...but you can ensure justice for the people of darfur...

one week the u.s. government is telling us that they would never condone delaying the international criminal court’s (icc) investigations in darfur...another week, secretary of state condoleezza rice is reported to be supplying sudanese officials with a list of conditions that sudan would need to meet in order to discuss delaying the icc’s investigation of cashir...justice cannot be bargained away – help ensure the icc investigation of bashir...

even entertaining the idea of supporting the deferral of the icc's investigation sends the wrong signal to the people of darfur...so join me in urging u.s. officials to continue being strong advocates for justice in darfur - in both words and actions...

yes, the conflict in darfur is complex, to say the least...but we must never lose sight of the underlying issues - human rights, freedom and justice...

small steps you can take to support justice in darfur:

• check out the darfur now action guide
• order your copy of the movie, darfur now: an inspiring journey following six passionate individuals working to bring about an end to the conflict in darfur
• stand up for darfur by organizing a screening of darfur now in your home, classroom, or a local venue such as a library or community center

five long years have passed in darfur without a break in the violence...we cannot undo these senseless acts, but we demand that justice be served in the end...

peace out <3

help free a prisoner of conscience...register today for the global write-a-thon...

why do we do what we do???

consider...

a mother in the congo fights against a military responsible for assaulting her children...

a priest in eritrea is humiliated - stripped of his role in the church by a government violating basic laws and principles...

a teacher in myanmar is serving life in prison simply for criticizing the authorities...

so what can you do???

well, stories like these deserve happy endings.you can help write those endings by joining the global Write-a-thon...

these cases and others will be the focus of amnesty international's upcoming global write-a-thon on december 5 - 14, 2008...in the days surrounding international human rights day on december 10, tens of thousands of caring people around the world will take part in the world's largest letter writing event...please join this worldwide effort...be a part of the global write-a-thon...

during last year's global write-a-thon, people in more than 30 countries sent over 150,000 letters, postcards and emails on behalf of prisoners of conscience, human rights defenders, and others at risk...at least three of the prisoners were freed because of your support...

you might remember that this time last year, student leader zmitser dashkevich was in prison in belarus for his peaceful political activities...just weeks after his case was included as a global write-a-thon action, authorities released zmitser...

that's the power of this event...help make this year's global write-a-thon even stronger!

last year, your letters made a difference...now others need your help...register today for amnesty international's global write-a-thon and make a real difference in someone's life...

peace out <3

president-elect obama: 100 days to demonstrate commitment to human rights...

the election of barack obama to the u.s. presidency opens new opportunities for an end to the seven-year assault on human rights by the u.s. administration...

amnesty international urged u.s. president-elect obama to make human rights central to his new administration on wednesday...the organization is calling for certain concrete steps in his first 100 days in office that would demonstrate a genuine commitment to bringing the usa into line with its international obligations...

the new president will have the authority to rectify some of the unlawful policies and practices adopted during his predecessor’s term in office in the name of counter-terrorism and national security...

counter terror with justice: a human rights challenge

in the first 100 days, the peeps over at amnesty international is calling on the new administration to:

• announce a plan and date to close guantánamo
• issue an executive order to ban torture and other ill-treatment, as defined under international law
• ensure that an independent commission to investigate abuses committed by the u.s. government in its “war on terror” is set up

these demands are part of a “checklist” of actions amnesty international is asking the new u.s. president to take during the first 100 days in office...

promoting human rights at home and abroad

amnesty international has numerous human rights concerns in relation to the usa...the organization is seeking a meeting with president-elect obama to discuss how the usa will take forward policies that will advance internationally recognized human rights both at home and abroad...

call on president-elect barack obama to demonstrate a commitment to human rights in his first 100 days in office

counter terror with justice: a human rights challenge for the next u.s. president

peace out <3