A harsh winter for Syrian refugees: Please help

A harsh winter for Syrian refugees

Dear Tracy,

I'm Susan Sarandon and I believe passionately that we must do everything that we can to help Syrian refugees.

Amnesty researchers have been on the ground in Syria for nearly five years. They have investigated and reported on war crimes against civilians.

Now our teams are working in Greece, Hungary and other EU countries to monitor the health and safety of refugees there and to pressure governments - like those of the U.K., U.S. and Canada - to do more to help.

With the coming winter presenting additional dangers, some of the 11 million displaced Syrians are surviving on as little as 50 cents a day. The continuing conflict ensures that none of them will be able to return home anytime soon.

Please help. Make a tax-deductible contribution to support Amnesty's efforts today. For a short time, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar.

We must ensure that no more lives are lost and that all those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity are brought to justice.

Right now, Amnesty is investigating and documenting the situation facing refugees in Europe and around the world, and we are advocating for:

• Improved humanitarian access for the most vulnerable Syrians so they can get blankets and other winter essentials.
• Governments to take in more refugees.
• The U.S. government to move quickly to offer safety and enough funding for food and other necessities for the refugees we resettle.

Unlike many other organizations, Amnesty doesn't accept funding from governments for their research or advocacy for human rights. That would only jeopardize the pressure they can apply.

The human rights crimes in Syria have been called a "moral obscenity" that should "shock the conscience of the world."

Please help support Amnesty's efforts advocating for families who are suffering through this crisis. Donate now.

Sincerely,
Susan Sarandon
Mother, Actress, Activist

You can help Stop Torture in Mexico

Torture can be stopped in Mexico! 

Please give by December 31st! Your donation to Amnesty's Stop Torture campaign will be matched dollar-for-dollar

If you had been hung upside down, suffocated, beaten and raped I imagine you’d be like me and confess to anything. But Yecenia Armenta lasted 15 hours and it was only after police threatened to rape her two children and cut them up into pieces that she confessed.

Yecenia was tortured by Mexican police after she refused to confess to her husband’s murder.

Yecenia has spent the last three years in prison, charged without any proof on the strength of her “confession” for a crime she says she did not commit.

Now, at long last, independent medical experts have concluded that she was indeed tortured. 

Yecenia deserves to be free. Her torturers must be brought to justice. “I don’t want to spend another day here,” she says. “I want my story to be heard, and I'm asking you to help me."

Will you make a donation today to help us free Yecenia? We can then keep the pressure on the Mexican authorities to release Yecenia and to bring her torturers to justice.

	TORTURE CAN BE STOPPED IN MEXICO
	Amnesty International’s campaign to StopTorture in Mexico is making a difference. Torture survivor Angel Colon was freed in October 2014.   In February, Claudia Medina, whose struggle for justice for the torture she endured is central to Amnesty’s Stop Torture campaign, had all of the groundless criminal charges she faced dropped.    In April, criminal charges were brought against the police officers who tortured Adrián Vázquez. His lawyer passed on his thanks: "This would not have happened without Amnesty’s support." Please donate now

Yecenia is not alone. Amnesty International research confirms that the use of torture is widespread in Mexico. Our Stop Torture campaign is shedding light on this illegal, needless and cruel practice, and is making a difference for others in Yecenia's situation.

On December 10th, thousands of Amnesty supporters around the world will be taking action for Yecenia for our global letter-writing marathon, Write for Rights, to pressure the Mexican government to release Yecenia and bring those who torture to justice.

Your gift will help us campaign to stop the horrible practice of torture wherever it occurs, and push for Yecenia's freedom. 



A very generous supporter of Amnesty International has agreed to match dollar-for-dollar all gifts up to $25,000. Please give today and your support will be doubled.

And you will help us stop torture.

With hope and thanks,

Alex Neve
Secretary General
Amnesty International Canada

Refugee bashing must stop: Please help

Refugee bashing must stop: Please help

Dear Tracy, I want to make sure you saw this note about what we're up against and why we need your help now. Many international and U.S. leaders are leveraging the tragedy in Paris to spread hate and fear-mongering in an attempt to deny Syrian refugees safe haven. It's a chorus of voices stigmatizing a population that has already lost everything and has fled their homes in an effort to save their lives. These voices demand the United States turn its back on a commitment to inclusion and helping those in less fortunate situations. They also blatantly endorse discriminatory policies. Amnesty is working to fight against this rhetoric and advocate on behalf of Syrian refugees who are fleeing violence and brutality. Please make an urgent donation to Amnesty so we can advocate for families who have risked everything in search of safe haven from war. Amnesty has been working on the front lines of the Syria crisis since it erupted over four years ago. We've sent crisis investigators into Syria to research human rights atrocities and we have released reports that have garnered widespread media coverage, calling attention to the severity of the conflict. We've been working in Greece, Hungary and Jordan documenting treatment of refugees and inspecting detention centers. We've been pressuring governments - like those of the U.K., U.S. and Canada - to take in more refugees. We have lobbied Congress to robustly support resettlement programs in other countries where over 80% of the global refugee population is currently housed. Now, we must refute this wave of hateful rhetoric. Please help. Unlike many other organizations, we don't accept funding from governments for our research or work campaigning for human rights. That would only jeopardize our credibility and undermine the pressure we can apply. We are counting on people like you to help us say "We won't stand for refugee bashing." Sincerely, Adotei Akwei Director of International Advocacy Amnesty International USA

World AIDS Day: Eliminating a deadly disease within a generation

IN THIS ISSUE World AIDS Day: Mani Djelassem Virgille’s Story, The Power of a School Bag in Syria, IKEA Soft Toy Campaign for Education

World AIDS Day – Mani Djelassem Virgille’s Story #EndAdolescentAIDS December 1st is World AIDS Day. It is a day to remind us of both the progress and the continued battle children face against HIV and AIDS. It is also the day that keeps us focused on the goal of an AIDS-free world by 2030. Mani Djelassem Virgille is a young girl living with HIV. She found relief and hope when she joined a teenagers’ club and became a spokesperson for the group, speaking out to advocate for the elimination of HIV and AIDS. “I could not stand idly by. I knew I could take action and be responsible for my life.”The goal of an AIDS-free world is ambitious, but attainable. It has been integrated into the new Sustainable Development Goals, the world’s Global Goals to see us through to 2030. While data indicates that great progress has been made in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, children and adolescents under 15 years of age who are living with HIV are still considerably less likely to receive the treatment they need in comparison to adults living with HIV. Read Mani’s full story »

The Power of a School Bag Siblings Abdullah and Nagham never fight about having to share anything. They are happy to use the same school bag even if it means they have to coordinate with each other between classes. Most children in Lattakia, Syria, are refugees from the conflict-stricken city of Aleppo in Syria. They were eager to be admitted to the school and catch-up on the years of classes they missed while fleeing the war zone. Owning a school bag gives the ultimate hope to children: it becomes a symbol of determination and a symbol of a better future. Through UNICEF Canada’s Survival Gift store, you can open the door to learning by purchasing actual school supplies for children in need. You can purchase exercise books, pencils, entire kits full of fundamental learning supplies for whole classrooms or send a child to school. Send a child to school for $60 »

Celebrating the Holidays with our Partners! This Holiday season, you can support UNICEF and celebrate in style at the same time with gifts that give back from our valued corporate partners. At H&M, for every gift card that you purchase 5 per cent will be directed to support education programs in Myanmar through the H&M Conscious Foundation. Check out IKEA stores for the Soft Toys for Education campaign where €1 is donated for each soft toy sold! Lastly, if you are looking for impactful cards this holiday season, consider UNICEF greeting cards which are sold in Pier 1, IKEA and Hallmark stores across Canada. Learn more at unicef.ca/partners-in-action.

Extended: Your donation tripled for today only!

Extended: Your donation tripled for today only!

Dear Tracy,

We were blown away by the generosity of Amnesty donors on Giving Tuesday yesterday. We were so blown away that the group of donors has agreed to extend their two-to-one match challenge for today only.

That means your gift will go three times as far. Donate now X3.

Human rights are one thing you can't buy online. But you can donate to help Amnesty work on behalf of prisoners of conscience, refugees, human rights defenders, journalists and others at risk of human rights abuses all over the world.

While the retailors continue to urge you to buy, today you can give.

Choose human rights. Make your donation go three times as far.

Sincerely,

Steven W. Hawkins
Executive Director
Amnesty International USA

Sincerely,
Steven Hawkins
Executive Director
Amnesty International USA             

Food for Thought...A FEW FESTIVE WAYS to help Canadians in need

A Few Festive Ways to Support Canadians in Need Today is Giving Tuesday! A great time to start thinking about the holiday season and ways to spread good cheer and help put food on the tables of those in need. Supporting food banking is the perfect way to participate in the spirit of the season.   READ MORE on how to get you, your family, friends or your company sharing the holiday spirit >>> And remember...  You have 31 days to make a difference this December! PepsiCo Foods Canada will match your donation to Food Banks Canada this month, up to a maximum of $40,000! You can also check out our new online recipe book to find some great #recipesthatgive for the holidays! You can submit your own by sharing the link to your favourite recipe on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #recipesthatgive. We will find it and add it to the collection!                                     https://www.foodbankscanada.ca/recipesthatgive

Today only: Your donation will be tripled

Today only, your donation will be matched two-for-one! Dear Tracy, There are only a few more hours for you to take advantage of our two to one match challenge. Today is Giving Tuesday - a day dedicated to giving back to those who need our help. To mark the day, a group of donors will match your donation two-to-one. That means your gift will go three times as far, but only until midnight tonight. Donate now X3. Human rights are one thing you can't buy online. But you can donate to help Amnesty work on behalf of refugees, activists, journalists and others on the frontlines of the world’s most pressing human rights crises. Retailors are urging you to buy, today, please give! Be part of Giving Tuesday. Today only, your donation will be matched two-for-one! $25 becomes $75 $50 becomes $150 $100 becomes $300 Choose human rights. Make your donation go three times as far. Sincerely, Joan Baez Singer, songwriter & human rights defender