Women human rights defenders. Whether we’re defending the rights of women, girls and LGBTI folks, or advocating for land and environment, we’re more likely to be marginalized by government and within civil society movements. Our work is often less visible in the media, and the harassment and...

At Amnesty International, #WeDefend the rights of human rights defenders. Join us. By Guadalupe Marengo, Head of Global Human Rights Defenders Programme, Amnesty International During the last few weeks, we have seen how attacks on human rights defenders continue to escalate all over the world as...

Maya-K’iche human rights defender Lolita Chavez is known to Canadians for her determined and principled stance on the right of Indigenous peoples to determine what happens in their territories. Lolita has spoken to Canadian leaders, investors and the public about the ways in which the Guatemalan...

By Guadalupe Marengo, Head of Global Human Rights Defenders Programme, Amnesty International Recent attacks on human rights defenders across the world show the urgent need for Amnesty’s new campaign to defend the defenders. On May 10, a courageous Mexican mother and human rights defender, Miriam...

Celebrate Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQIA+ land and water defenders during National Indigenous History Month 2023.

June is Pride Month in Canada—a time dedicated to celebrating 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities across Canada, advocating for equal rights, and fostering a world where everyone can embrace their true selves without fear, violence or discrimination. Pride Month commemorates the Stonewall riots of June 1969,...

May 5 is Red Dress Day, a day to remember and honour missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples (MMIWG2S+). Red Dress Day serves as a painful reminder of the ongoing genocidal crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people and invites...

Earth Day 2024 will be celebrated on April 22. It’s a day to support protecting our beautiful blue planet and all its life. Amid the urgency of the climate crisis, it’s clear that action is needed every day to protect the environment on which our shared future depends. It’s a matter of...

Technology facilitated gender-based violence continues to be a concerning issue across Canada. Cyberbullying and online harassment on social media platforms, the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, doxing, swatting, and the use of spyware to track or control someone, are just a few...

During his visit to Canada in March 2023, the UN Special Rapporteur of Indigenous Peoples, Francisco Calí-Tzay also expressed his deep concern over the countless reports and testimonies he heard about missing and murdered Indigenous women, Two Spirit and gender diverse people across Canada...

“It’s troubling to see so many dead fish all year round. That’s why I want to ensure those responsible for contamination are held accountable. It’s not easy. I’ve been shot at. But despite the attacks and the threats, more women have joined our cause.” These are the words of Yuly...

On March 8, people around the country will come together to celebrate International Women’s Day 2024 in Canada. It’s a global day organized annually that recognizes and celebrates women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. But International Women’s Day is more...