Up for Debate, or not?

Over 30 years since federal leaders held a debate on women's rights 

Dear Tracy,
 

Thank you again for supporting the call for a nationally broadcast leaders' debate about women’s rights and gender equality!

For the last several months, Amnesty International, as part of a coalition of 175 organizations, has been actively working with all federal political parties to host a nationally televised leaders’ debate on these issues. And with your support we came close to making this debate a reality.

As you may have seen in the news, we now have confirmation that two of the five major political parties will not participate in the debate. The leaders' debate has been cancelled.

But this is not the end of the road! The issues we care about can, and will, be a major part of this federal election.

SIGN OUR REVISED PETITION CALLING ON ALL FEDERAL POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS TO RAISE GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS ISSUES AT EVERY STEP ALONG THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, INCLUDING PROACTIVELY RAISING THESE ISSUES DURING EVERY ELECTION DEBATE.

This week we reached out to all of the political parties to discuss alternatives to a traditional debate. Our preferred format is one-on-one interviews with each of the party leaders. They’ll all get the same questions, and we’ll be able to stack up all their answers. We plan to release these videos at an exclusive event in Toronto on September 21st. Stay tuned for more information about the Toronto event and where you can watch the videos online. 

But it’s not just about one interview. We want issues like violence against women, women’s economic equality, and women’s leadership to be discussed online, with your local candidates, and with party leaders every single day of this federal election campaign.

Here’s some ways you can help to make sure that every candidate in the upcoming election is #UpforDebate.

1. Sign our e-action.
2. Tweet! Here’s a sample Tweet: Leaders must put #women at the centre of #elxn42! #womenmatter #upfordebate
3. Show up at all candidates meetings in your riding, as well as other campaign events, and raise questions about women’s rights and gender equality.
4. Host a local all candidates debate on women’s rights and gender equality issues.

 

TAKE ACTION

Sincerely,