Resources for Activists

These resources for activists are yours to use whenever you have an opportunity to participate in a school or community event, including festivals and street fairs, conferences, concerts, film screenings or other locations for public outreach. Collecting signatures on petitions is a long-tested way to engage people with our human rights goals and make a difference in the lives of others. If you need funds for table fees and other community outreach costs, apply as far ahead as possible.

Resources for activists

Download these resources to assist you with community outreach.

Guide to Tabling

Use our practical guide to tabling any time you have an opportunity to host an information or action table. Let us know how it goes!

Sign-up Sheet

Use this handy form to collect contact information from people who drop by your table or event. Be sure to invite them to your next meeting or event!

Amnesty 101 Slideshow

This slide deck will come in handy when you are presenting to an Amnesty group or in a classroom or public setting. Each slide includes notes and suggestions.

Meeting your MP

Use this step-by-step guide to help prepare to meet with your Member of Parliament or any other key decision-maker!

Petitions for community outreach

When you table at a school or community event, a key activity is to collect signatures for high-priority actions. Each petition comes with instructions on where to send signatures and a contact e-mail address if you have questions. Please forward completed petitions to the designated office after each event — with your help we can keep up the pressure on governments to do the right thing!

Pride petitions for tabling (May 2025)

ALBERTA

Halt Anti-2SLGBTQQIA+ Policy Matters

UGANDA

Ensure Online Safety of LGBTQQIA+ People

RUSSIA

Stop Criminalization of LGBTQQIA+ People

USA/El Salvador

Free Andry

Current petitions

CANADA

No Weapons for War Crimes

CANADA

Push for a Ceasefire in Gaza

IRAN

Stop Revenge Executions

RUSSIA

War Censorship Laws

SUDAN

Arms Embargo Now

Additional current petitions

COLOMBIA

Keep Hope Alive

HONG KONG

Drop the Charges and Release Chow Hang-Tung

CANADA

Protect Wet’suwet’en Land and water Defenders

HONDURAS

Protect Water Defenders

PERU

Stop Violent Repression

CANADA

Torture-Free Trade Treaty

SRI LANKA

Protect the Protest

CANADA

Human Rights and the Environment must not be Sacrificed in Ecuador Trade Talks

IRAN

Free Zeynab Jalaian

AFGHANISTAN

Roll Back of Rights

CANADA

Stop Funding Fossil Fuels

CANADA

Bring Huseyin Celil Home

ECUADOR

Protect the Environment and Amazonian Women and Girls

Canadian Human Rights Education

Learn about human rights activism and campaigning from our Online Learning Centre.

Whether you are new to Canadian human rights activism or looking for new ideas to revitalize your local campaign actions or community organizing, this is your invitation to upskill your activism. Welcome to the Amnesty International Online Learning Centre!

These bite-sized video courses were created for busy activists. In 15 minutes or less, you can learn how to write effective letters, organize campaigns and community events with others, get creative with your activism, and prepare to meet with your Member of Parliament and other key decision-makers.

Very importantly, learn how to document your activism so that more people will see what you’ve done and be informed and inspired to become human rights activists themselves. Learn how to do all this while ensuring you look after yourself and your fellow activists!

GETTING STARTED: AMNESTY 101

Enjoy these ad-free video courses and download resource pages for more information and links to additional activism and human rights education resources. The Online Learning Centre welcomes your feedback and ideas for additional video courses and other resources. Be sure to download the resource page for each course.

Watch Amnesty 101 to get you started, bookmark this page, and come back for more human rights education!

New Member Orientation Video (18 minutes)

To view the resources in the video above, please download our Resources Toolkit below.

Download the Resource page

UPSKILL YOUR ACTIVISM

Learn how to take your activism to the next level (10 to 15 minutes each).

LETTER WRITING

LOBBYING FOR ACTIVISTS

Additional Resources

Free resources to help you understand world events, current campaigns, and strategic action.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ACADEMY

Training a new generation of human rights defenders – strengthening the movement through action-oriented education.

Through human rights education, you can empower yourself and others to develop the skills and attitudes that promote equality, dignity and respect in your community, society and worldwide.

Amnesty International offers a wide variety of human rights courses in more than 20 languages. Every single one is free to anyone with an Internet connection. These courses range from 15 minutes to 15 hours, and many offer an official Amnesty International Human Rights Academy Certificate upon successful completion. Amnesty International’s Human Rights Academy is regularly updated with new content. Know your rights! Take a free online course today.

Get funding for your activism projects!

From organizing a Regional Meeting to tabling at your local community fair, Amnesty International can help you with expenses related to your activism work.

There are three sources of funding available to support your activism projects. If you are unsure where to apply or have any questions, please write to smaclean@amnesty.ca.

Tabling and Small Events

Amnesty International activists often need funding for one-time, relatively small costs. This funding is intended for amounts up to $500 to cover smaller costs such as event registration, tabling fees, printing costs, and venue rentals for tabling, workshops, or other small events.

Regional Meetings

Regional Meetings are held in provinces across the country as an opportunity for Amnesty International members and supporters to connect and deepen their engagement. Funding is available to support your Regional Meeting, particularly in years where there is no large AGM.

Activism Fund

Amnesty International (Canada) has established a fund to support new, innovative, creative initiatives and to support the building of strong and vibrant activism in key areas.* We are open to considering a range of ideas, with emphasis on piloting new approaches.**

Key Areas*

Innovative activities that educate and mobilize the public about the Branch’s human rights priorities
Stimulating Amnesty International supporters’ activity with a new form of activism
Increased communication and/or collaboration of members and supporters
Deepening activism on a current Branch priority country or theme
providing opportunities for members/supporters to learn about current human rights issues and build their skills as activists

Examples of activities the fund**

Bringing in trainers to educate and inspire our members about an upcoming human rights campaign
Providing an on-line skills share session for Amnesty members from different regions
Bringing together Amnesty activists who share common challenges to explore solutions – such as dealing with the cost and isolation of members living in Northern Canada or working with a diaspora community
Organizing a human rights tour of rural areas in a province. At each stop, setting up our Amnesty displays, showing a human rights film, and promoting Amnesty to people who don’t normally hear about Amnesty.
Hosting a human rights learning activity in partnership with other organization

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply?

Anyone within the Branch – individuals, community groups, or networks.

How are applications made?

To apply for funds a fully completed application form must be emailed to Shauna MacLean (smaclean@amnesty.ca). Be sure to include the budget. Responses to requests will be provided within 3 weeks of the application deadlines.
Applications will be reviewed as they come. You are advised to check before developing applications late in the year to ensure that monies remain to support activities.

How are applications assessed?

Proposals will be assessed by a 3-person committee comprised of two Members of the Branch and one Staff member from the national office. The Committee can also provide assistance to groups and individuals applying in a number of ways: helping members form ideas more fully, working to develop a realistic budget, combining ideas where appropriate and ensuring ideas are shared across the Branch.

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Urgent Actions

Write for Rights

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Reports

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Upcoming Events

Find a Local Group

Book Club

Volunteer

Membership

Human Rights Wins of 2024/25

Our Impact

Ways to Give

About Us

Resources for Activists