JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images Images EID/AFP/Getty JOSEPH

Annual Review 2011 ’s mission Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights. Our vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. In pursuit of this vision, Amnesty International’s mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of these rights. Amnesty International seeks to expose human rights Amnesty’s Executive Committee, left to right: Lana Verran, abuses accurately and quickly. We systematically and Margaret Flynn, Shauna Maclean (staff designate to independently investigate the facts of individual cases EC), Sharmila Setaram, David Kelleher, Sarah Beamish, and patterns of human rights abuses. These findings are George Harding, Brenda Dashney, Andy Thompson, David Smith, publicized, and members, supporters and staff then mobilize Renee Saviour. persistent public pressure on governments, armed political groups, companies and others to prevent and stop these violations. Thank you for protecting human rights Amnesty International promotes public awareness and understanding of the full range of human rights, and we work Dear fellow human rights supporter, with a global community of organizations to ensure broad Thank you for your generous support of Amnesty support and respect for all human rights. International’s human rights work in 2011 and for defending Amnesty International is governed by our members; we the human rights of all. are independent of all governments, political persuasions and religious creeds. We are funded by our members and donors,

2011 was Amnesty International’s 50th year. The Images Furlong/Getty Christopher and no funds are sought or accepted from governments for anniversary was an opportunity for us to reflect on the investigating and campaigning against human rights abuses. amazing achievements of Amnesty members over the last five decades; however, ongoing and new human rights Executive Committee challenges meant we also had to remain focused on all that (as at December 31, 2011) still needs to be done before we can live in a world where the President: Sarah Beamish, Toronto, Ontario; Vice-President: human rights of everyone are respected. David Kelleher, Maxville, Ontario; Chairperson: David Smith, Hemmingford, Quebec; Secretary: George Harding, Prince More than any other year that I have been a member, George, British Columbia; Treasurer: Brenda Dashney, Greely, 2011 reminded me of the power and importance of the Ontario; Directors: Margaret Flynn, Oakville, Ontario; Renee human rights movement. The uprisings that swept across the Saviour, Toronto, Ontario; Sharmila Setaram, Mississauga, Middle East and North Africa surely captured all of us with Ontario; Andy Thompson, Waterloo, Ontario; Lana Verran, their moments of unforgettable courage and unspeakable Vancouver, British Columbia suffering. They embodied the dignity and freedom that Management Staff we work for and the violence and oppression that we fight (as at December 31, 2011) against. Executive Director: Bob Goodfellow; Secretary General: Alex Throughout 2011, you stood alongside the millions of Neve; Director of Communications and Marketing: Matt Beard; people on earth who are engaged in the ongoing struggle Director of Finance and Administration: Gordon Mair; Director of Resource Development: Rosemary Oliver; Director of Campaigns for human rights. This Annual Review documents some of and Activism: Alain Roy the incredible work we did together throughout the year in speaking out about injustices around the world. Amnesty’s Annual Review 2011 research missions, Amnesty’s campaigns, and the activism Editor: David Griffiths Contributors: Will Bryant, of countless Amnesty members—this is work to celebrate, Rosemary Oliver, Heather Warren

work that we hope you will take pride in having helped to Joss Maclennan Design, CEP 591-CLC accomplish. Printed by union labour at MPH Thank you for joining with more than 3.2 million other Graphics Inc. Published July 2012. Amnesty members around the world in making Amnesty International a powerful voice for justice and freedom. Cover Photo: A young person at a pro-reform demonstration in Bahrain on March 1, 2011. Amnesty researchers investigating human rights abuses in Bahrain in 2011 found that security forces used excessive force against peaceful protestors and detained hundreds of people, including prisoners Sarah Beamish, President of conscience.

2 Amnesty International 2011 The year in review Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Furlong/Getty Christopher

Days after President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled Tunisia in January 2011, people took to the streets to demand that no members of the previous regime stay on in the new government.

JANUARY 2011 TUNISIA: You inspired a former prisoner TUNISIA: of conscience to join Amnesty International President flees following protests RSF On January 14, 2011, after weeks of anti-government In January 2011, Tunisian journalist Fahem protests, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled Tunisia, Boukadous announced that he had joined ending a 23-year rule notorious for human rights abuses. Amnesty International—one more member For human rights supporters, 2011 was both an in a growing global movement of over exhilarating and deeply distressing year. In countries across 3 million people. North Africa and the Middle East, people demanded their Just days earlier, Boukadous had been freedom. The protests began in Tunisia in December 2010 freed from jail. He was one of several and soon inspired demonstrations in other countries. In political prisoners released after the fall of President Zine El many instances the authorities responded with violence and Abidine Ben Ali. brutality. Arrested for reporting on public protests in 2008 In 2011, teams of Amnesty International human rights and convicted after an unfair trial, Boukadous had been experts were on the ground in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Algeria sentenced to four years in prison. Amnesty International and Bahrain, investigating and reporting on human rights declared that he was a prisoner of conscience and Amnesty abuses. Amnesty also mobilized quickly in response to members campaigned for his freedom. human rights abuses against protestors elsewhere—in Syria, After his release, Fahem Boukadous said that he had Yemen and Sudan. None of this work could have happened joined Amnesty International after being inspired by all the without the support of Amnesty International members. Amnesty members who had stood by him during his trial.

annual review 2011 3 CANADA: Youth of First Nations community tell their story through film When the youth of the Lubicon community of Little Buffalo, Alberta, told Amnesty International they wanted a chance to tell their own stories, Amnesty got in touch with Jaro Malanowski, an Edmonton filmmaker with long experience working with First Nations youth, to lead a video-training workshop at the school in Little Buffalo. For decades, the Alberta provincial government has been allowing massive oil and gas development on Lubicon land with little protection for the community’s culture, health and livelihoods. The January 2011 workshop with the Lubicon high- school students resulted in a short documentary about what it’s like to live without clean water. The students were responsible for every aspect of the production, from the Images PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty concepts to the interviews and the filming to the editing. The video premiered in the Lubicon community and was made available to a broad audience on YouTube.

FEBRUARY 2011 Egyptians celebrate in Cairo after President Hosni Mubarak stepped down on February 11, 2011 CHINA: Government tries to crush EGYPT: pro-democracy activists’ dissent People power forces president out Dozens of Chinese activists and government critics were On February 11, 2011, the momentous news was arrested in February 2011 as the Chinese government grew announced that President Hosni Mubarak had stepped fearful that the revolutions in the Middle East and North down as Egyptian leader. The news came after 18 days of Africa would inspire Chinese citizens to demand change in continuous protests by hundreds of thousands of people their own country. demanding an end to a corrupt regime. Many protesters Amnesty International members responded to several paid a high price. At least 840 people were killed, more Amnesty Urgent Action appeals to protect jailed Chinese than 6,400 were injured, and hundreds were imprisoned activists from torture and ill-treatment. Among the activists and tortured. detained or arrested from February 19 to 21 were: When the protests in Egypt began, Amnesty International • Ding Mao, detained in Mianyang city, Sichuan province quickly dispatched a research team to Cairo to witness, • Ran Yunfei, detained in Chengdu, Sichuan province investigate, and expose ongoing human rights abuses. Two • Liang Haiyi, arrested in Harbin, Heilongjiang province of the Amnesty researchers were detained and held in • Chen Wei, arrested in Suning, Sichuan province military custody with 33 other human rights activists and • Hua Chunhui, arrested in Wuxi, Jiangsu province journalists. Some activists who simply mentioned “Jasmine Revolution” From the beginning of the crisis, Amnesty’s 3 million on the micro-blogging website Twitter were arrested and members were mobilized to put pressure on the Egyptian accused of serious political charges such as “subverting government to respect the rights of its citizens—whether state power”. (The term “Jasmine Revolution” can refer to it was the right to peacefully protest without fear of being the 2010-2011 Tunisian Revolution, as well as other popular jailed or attacked, or the right not to be tortured. movements in the Middle East and North Africa, and pro- Amnesty continued to closely monitor the human democracy protests in China.) rights situation in Egypt throughout 2011, demanding that Amnesty International reported that the crackdown on Egyptians be able to participate meaningfully in shaping dissent in China in 2011 was the heaviest for several years their future and that any political transition be accompanied as the authorities tried to silence a whole new generation of by full respect for human rights. activists.

4 Amnesty International march 2011

LIBYA: Amnesty International members stood alongside those at risk

Anti-government protests in Libya in February 2011 were International Amnesty followed by eight months of armed conflict. By late August, forces opposing Colonel Mu’ammar al-Gaddafi, Libya’s leader for 41 years, had taken control of most of the country. In March, Donatella Rovera, Amnesty International’s crisis researcher, was in Benghazi in eastern Libya as the city came under attack from forces loyal to Colonel al-Gaddafi. Amnesty members delivering petition signatures to the Syrian The following month, Donatella was in Misratah during the Embassy in Washington DC. 165,000 Amnesty members and siege of the city, and she uncovered evidence of widespread supporters signed a petition demanding that Syria end human rights abuses against its citizens. human rights abuses against civilians. In August, Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty’s North Africa researcher, was in the capital Tripoli to investigate human rights violations. April 2011 Because of the committed support of Amnesty members, Amnesty International researchers were able to work in Libya throughout 2011. Throughout the long crisis, the Amnesty SYRIA: researchers identified emerging human rights issues. They uncovered evidence that Colonel al-Gaddafi’s forces targeted Amnesty International members civilians and killed prisoners in custody. They also highlighted call for an end to the bloodshed the plight of hundreds of thousands of people who had been In April 2011, following the murder and torture of civilians displaced by the conflict. by members of the Syrian security forces, Amnesty Amnesty’s reports alerted the world to the desperate International launched a global petition calling on Syria to need for humanitarian aid in many cities. In August, the end the bloodshed. researchers focused the world’s attention on revenge attacks Within a few weeks, 165,000 Amnesty International against black Libyans and people from sub-Saharan Africa members and supporters had signed the petition, and suspected of being pro-Gaddafi. in May, Amnesty delivered the signatures to Syrian embassies around the world. Small pro-reform demonstrations began in Syria in March 2011 and grew into mass protests after security forces cracked down violently on people in the

Amnesty International Amnesty city of Dera’a who were calling for detained children to be released. Protests spread to other Syrian cities and government forces responded with brute force, sometimes using snipers to shoot at peaceful crowds. Amnesty International urged the UN Security Council to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court for Amnesty International possible crimes against humanity. Amnesty also called researcher Donatella for an international arms embargo and for the assets Rovera (inset) was in the of Syrian President Assad and those close to him to be Libyan city of Misratah frozen. during the siege by forces Investigating human rights abuses in Syria was loyal to the former leader challenging because the Syrian authorities barred Colonel al-Gaddafi. Amnesty International from entering the country. But Amnesty research teams travelled repeatedly to neighbouring Jordan and Turkey to investigate the crisis. At the border, they interviewed Syrians who had fled their country. Many of those interviewed had been tortured and ill-treated while in detention.

annual review 2011 5 Katja Tähjä Katja Amnesty International members in Finland marked the movement’s 50th anniversary by releasing yellow balloons at a special event celebrating the occasion.

2011 Many people have to drink, cook with and wash in polluted May water, and eat fish contaminated with oil and other poisons. The oil industry is responsible for the pollution, but the 50TH ANNIVERSARY: Nigerian government has also been to blame for its failure to control the industry. Celebrating 50 years of Amnesty Amnesty International’s global campaign began by members protecting human rights calling on the Nigerian government to hold the oil industry May 28, 2011, was Amnesty International’s 50th anniversary. to account. The campaign’s overall goal is to ensure the oil It was on May 28, 1961, that a newspaper article by industry ends decades of pollution and cleans up the Niger Amnesty’s founder Peter Benenson called on people to Delta for the 30 million people who live there. protest the jailing of men and women for their political and religious beliefs. : The 50th anniversary was celebrated by Amnesty members around the world and members in 58 countries Jenni Williams inspires Amnesty’s marked the day with a special toast to freedom. The date Canadian members also kicked off a year of special human rights campaigns including a campaign to protect freedom of expression, a Jenni Williams, a Zimbabwean Paul Thompson/Amnesty campaign calling for the Niger Delta to be cleaned of oil , visited pollution, and a campaign supporting Egyptian women’s Canada in May 2011 and demands to have an equal voice in their country’s future. was the inspirational keynote speaker at Amnesty’s Annual General Meeting in Montreal. NIGERIA: Jenni is a founding member of You demanded an end to polluted WOZA (Women of Zimbabwe Arise), a movement of 80,000 courageous human rights activists peacefully protesting water for 30 million people against the worsening human rights crisis in Zimbabwe. On May 28, 2011, Amnesty International launched a major Amnesty International members in Canada have had

global campaign to end pollution-related International Amnesty a close relationship with WOZA for many years. Amnesty human rights abuses in the Niger Delta. members have taken action to help protect WOZA activists Underneath the Niger Delta lie massive oil from police ill treatment, and have helped raise much deposits. Oil has generated an estimated needed funds for WOZA. US$600 billion in revenue since the “Amnesty International is our big sister,” said Jenni when 1960s; yet the majority of the Niger Delta’s she visited Amnesty’s Ottawa office to meet with members, 30 million people live in extreme poverty. volunteers and staff. “When I’m in prison, if I know that someone, my big sister, is shouting for me, telling people Above: Emmanuel Kuru is a fisherman and farmer in the about me, then I feel less distressed, less frightened and Niger Delta. An oil spill polluted his land and devastated his less alone.” livelihood. “We are stranded,” he told Amnesty International.

6 Amnesty International : Emadeddin Baghi released, thanks Amnesty International members

HENGHAMEH FAHIMI/AFP/Getty ImagesHENGHAMEH FAHIMI/AFP/Getty “I would like to send my warmest regards to Amnesty International all our friends on the team in Amnesty,” said members had stood Iranian human rights activist and journalist alongside jailed Iranian Emadeddin Baghi after his release from prison journalist Emadeddin Baghi on June 21, 2011. since his arrest in 2009. He was arrested in December 2009 during a time of large-scale protests in Iran following the disputed presidential election of June 2009. Amnesty members in Canada and around the world campaigned for his freedom. Above left: Alex Neve collecting personal testimonies of At the end of August 2011, two months after Baghi’s human rights abuses in Guiglo village, western Côte d’Ivoire. release, a further 70 prisoners of conscience and political prisoners were released in Iran. Among them were prisoners whose freedom Amnesty members had campaigned for.

June 2011 ImagesFREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Chinese artist and CÔTE D’IVOIRE: political critic Ai Weiwei. How your support ensured victims of conflict were not forgotten Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada, led an Amnesty International mission to Côte ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images JONES/AFP/Getty ED d’Ivoire in June 2011. The Amnesty mission investigated a human rights crisis that erupted after a disputed presidential election. The conflict that followed forced more than one million people to flee their homes. Environmental and Alex and the team travelled to isolated parts of Côte human rights activist d’Ivoire, collected evidence of massacres and met with many Hu Jia. resilient local human rights defenders who were working to end the violence. CHINA: After the mission, Alex and the other researchers wrote a report exposing crimes against humanity and war crimes Ai Weiwei and Hu Jia released in Côte d’Ivoire. The report put numerous recommendations Two Chinese prisoners, whose freedom Amnesty to the new government in Côte d’Ivoire and the international International members had campaigned for tirelessly, were community, including the urgent need for an action plan to released from jail in June 2011. end insecurity. Ai Weiwei, a well-known Chinese artist and political Later in the year, there were a number of positive critic, was released on bail on June 22. Ai Weiwei had been developments in Côte d’Ivoire. The International Criminal arrested in April. Upon his release, Ai Weiwei was warned Court charged Côte d’Ivoire’s former president Laurent not to talk about his treatment in detention, and he remained Gbagbo with crimes against humanity. And in July 2011, under tight police surveillance. after Amnesty pressed the United Nations to keep their Just a few days after Ai Weiwei’s release, prisoner of troops in the country, the UN Security Council passed a conscience Hu Jia was freed on June 26. Hu Jia is one resolution renewing the UN mission in Côte d’Ivoire for of China’s best-known environmental and human rights another year. activists. He had been arrested in December 2007 and imprisoned for “inciting subversion”. Like Ai Weiwei, Hu Jia’s freedom was severely restricted after his release.

annual review 2011 7 august 2011 CHILE:

Amnesty International Amnesty Amnesty members protest visit of Chilean torture ship to BC In August 2011, Amnesty International members protested the visit of the Chilean vessel “Esmerelda” to Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. The protestors spoke out against the use of the ship as a roving “goodwill ambassador”. During Chile’s 1973 military coup, the ship had served as July 2011 an interrogation centre for political prisoners. Survivors described incidents of beatings, electric shocks, and sexual Amnesty International on tour with assault taking place on board the vessel. Irish rock band U2

Irish rock band U2’s worldwide 360° tour continued through International Carlos Flores/Amnesty 2011 with Team Amnesty on site to gather signatures for petitions on critical human rights issues. Volunteers gathered more than 26,000 signatures at U2’s Canadian concerts. Pictured here are volunteers who attended the July concert in Montreal.

LIBYA: Freed prisoner of conscience thanks Amnesty International members A prominent Libyan prisoner of

Amnesty International Amnesty conscience thanked Amnesty International for working on his behalf while in detention. Jamal al-Hajji, a long-term critic of Colonel Mu’ammar al-Gaddafi, was freed from the An Amnesty International research team brought messages notorious Abu Salim prison of support from Amnesty members to a Nicaraguan centre for on August 24, 2011, following women and girl survivors of sexual violence. seven months of detention for demanding reform. He endured NICARAGUA: You helped defend appalling conditions during several months in solitary women’s and girls’ rights confinement. In Nicaragua, in July 2011, an Amnesty International “Words cannot express my gratitude for Amnesty research team visited the Asociación Mery Barreda for International’s support. I want to thank all Amnesty staff and women and girl survivors of sexual violence. Amnesty members who highlighted my plight throughout the years,” International launched a global campaign in 2011 to defend he told Amnesty International delegates who met him at his women’s and girls’ rights in Nicaragua. In the spring of Tripoli home. 2011, Amnesty members around the world sent tens of “It is incredible to see at what lengths some leaders go to thousands of “butterfly” solidarity messages to Nicaraguan remain on the throne,” he said. “We must support all people non-governmental organizations that are demanding a who call for greater freedoms and human rights. When the national plan from the Nicaraguan government to end sexual rights of innocent people are being violated anywhere, we violence against women and girls. must all stand up everywhere in their defence.”

8 Amnesty International Yusef Abdallah, aged 15, Southern Kordofan, Sudan, August 2011. He lost his right eye and part of his nose when Sudanese Armed Forces bombed the field where he was grazing his family’s cows in Korungo village on July 8, 2011.

Children of the Al-Sir family coming out of a foxhole that Amnesty International Amnesty the family dug in their courtyard. They hid in it whenever International Amnesty they heard Sudanese army planes above. The children’s mother, brother Yasser, 9, sister Amani, 2, and cousin Musa’ab, 4, were killed when the area around their home in Um Sirdeeba village was bombed on June 19, 2011.

SUDAN: A displaced family shelters in a cave in Southern Kordofan, Sudan, August 2011. More than 200,000 people were forced Amnesty International members help to flee their homes for fear of aerial bombardments by the bring a humanitarian emergency to Sudanese Armed Forces.

global attention International Amnesty In August 2011, researchers from Amnesty International and (HRW) journeyed to Sudan, to the Nuba Mountains region of Southern Kordofan. It was exactly a month after South Sudan’s independence from Sudan and the contested border region between the two countries had become the source of conflict that had forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. The Amnesty International and HRW researchers found that a bombing campaign carried out by Sudanese Armed Forces since early June had killed and maimed many civilians. The researchers were present when three bombs were dropped and photographed the incident. In all the attacks investigated by researchers, there were seemingly no legitimate military targets near to where the bombs struck. One man described his pregnant wife, mother of ten The Amnesty International and HRW research mission children, coming under attack during an air strike in Um helped bring the conflict to global attention. The United Sirdeeba, east of Kadugli, Southern Kordofan’s capital: “My Nations Security Council and the African Union both began wife, Mahasin, was planting crops in the field next to our to speak out about the crisis in Sudan. Throughout the home when we heard a plane, an Antonov, circle above. She year, Amnesty International continued to work to protect shouted to the children: ‘Lie on the ground as the bombs are the human rights of civilians in the region and pressed the coming now.’” The bomb exploded near the family’s home, Sudanese government to allow international aid agencies to killing his wife, two of his children and a nephew. provide much-needed help to civilians.

annual review 2011 9 september 2011 Carlos Flores/Amnesty International Carlos Flores/Amnesty

Medellin, Colombia: Demonstrators light candles over a female symbol drawn on the ground to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. COLOMBIA:

You stood alongside women’s human International Amnesty rights defenders Angélica is never alone. Everywhere she goes, she’s accompanied by armed security guards in a bullet-proof car. For Angélica, travelling alone is simply too dangerous. She is a Colombian human rights activist, working to protect women Amnesty activists in Belgium hold a vigil to demand clemency survivors of sexual violence in the midst of Colombia’s for Troy Davis. In a letter to one Amnesty member, Davis wrote, 45-year-long armed conflict. “I just wanted to say thank you for the handmade cards. They But defending human rights is a very dangerous job in put a smile on my face despite the sadness that surrounds me. Colombia. Over the past few decades, many of these leaders Please continue to join Amnesty and others in our fight to save have been threatened and killed, and others have even been my life and free me.” subjected to sexual violence themselves because of the work they do. In November 2009, Angélica was the victim of UNITED STATES: sexual abuse allegedly committed by paramilitaries. She was beaten badly and warned not to report the attack. State of Georgia executes Troy Davis Angélica’s case is not isolated. In Colombia, women and Amnesty International members campaigned over many girls are experiencing widespread sexual violence by all sides years to prevent the execution of Troy Davis in the US state in the country’s long-running armed conflict. Almost all of of Georgia. Although they failed to prevent the September 21 the paramilitaries, security forces and guerrillas who commit death by lethal injection, more than one million people took these crimes are never brought to justice. action to try to stop the execution. In September 2011, Amnesty International released an in- Davis had been sentenced to death in 1991 for the depth report into the sexual violence that women experience murder of police officer Mark Allen Macphail in Savannah, from armed groups. The report was the result of a detailed Georgia. There were serious doubts about Davis’s guilt. The two-year investigation. Amnesty researchers collected case against him primarily rested on witness testimony, but evidence from survivors, witnesses, women’s organizations since his 1991 trial, seven of nine key witnesses recanted and networks, human rights groups, government and state or changed their testimony. Some witnesses alleged that officials, lawyers and judges, and Indigenous organizations, they were pressured or coerced by police into testifying or as well as international bodies. signing statements against Troy Davis. Many human rights activists like Angélica told Amnesty’s researchers that in addition to the protection they receive, the state should bring to justice those responsible for the abuse.

10 Amnesty International UNHCR/H. Caux UNHCR/H.

In this file photograph, displaced children attend a bush school in the Central African Republic (CAR). Fighting between government forces and rebels has forced thousands of people in the CAR to flee their homes. For decades, people in the country have been terrorized by armed groups.

The Amnesty report demanded urgent action to break the october 2011 terrible cycle of human rights abuses. Amnesty is calling for a new approach to the situation and is pressing the African CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Union to take the lead in building a coalition of governments to protect civilians and promote human rights in the Central You called for an end to decades of African Republic. Amnesty pressed for a solution focused human rights abuses not only on military assistance, but also humanitarian and medical support to the civilian population. Félicité, a 26-year-old mother of two, was abducted in the southeastern Central African Republic by fighters belonging to the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Led by the notorious Joseph Kony, the LRA kill in cold blood, force children to become soldiers, rape women and girls and have forced thousands out of their villages. International Florin Zamfirescu/Amnesty The LRA fighters took Félicité and dozens of other captives to the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. Félicité and other women and girls were forced into sexual slavery by LRA commanders, while boys and men were forced to fight for the LRA. Félicité escaped the camp when it was attacked by the Ugandan military. She eventually returned to the Central African Republic but she lives in fear of further attacks. Félicité told her harrowing story to an Amnesty International research team in the Central African Republic. CANADA: The Amnesty researchers met and interviewed scores of Team Amnesty runs marathons to victims of LRA abuses, including those who have been abducted and taken to LRA camps. promote human rights The researchers’ investigations led to an Amnesty On October 16, 2011, Amnesty International runners sported International report released in October 2011. The report their “Amnesty at 50” T-shirts at the Toronto Waterfront described how the people in the Central African Republic marathon and ran to raise awareness for Amnesty’s work. have been terrorized for decades by armed groups who have Throughout the year, athletes in other Canadian cities ran in been able to operate with great freedom. races to promote human rights.

annual review 2011 11 REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun Zeya REUTERS/Soe

Released prisoner of conscience Su Su Nway arriving in Yangon, Myanmar, on October 16, 2011.

MYANMAR: Prisoner of conscience November 2011 Su Su Nway freed Labour rights activist Su Su Nway was freed from prison in Kamiar and Arash Alaei in the Myanmar (Burma) in October 2011. A few days after her United States after their release. release, she arrived in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, to be greeted by supporters (she had been jailed in a location a long way from Yangon and her family). Su Su Nway’s release came after relentless campaigning by human rights organizations including Amnesty International members. She thanked all those who had worked for her freedom.

At the time of her release, Su Su Nway was serving a Amy Har seven-and-a-half-year sentence for treason. She had been arrested in November 2007 after putting up an anti- government banner near a hotel where a United Nations human rights envoy was staying. She had also been jailed IRAN: “We are now free and we are once before. In 2004, she became the first person in safe”—freed Iranian doctors thank Myanmar to sue the government successfully for subjecting her and her village to forced labour. That time, the Amnesty International members government retaliated by imprisoning her for eight months. Imprisoned Iranian doctors Arash and Kamiar Alaei were Su Su Nway was one of at least 313 political prisoners at a low point until they heard of Amnesty International’s released in Myanmar in 2011. Time will tell if this large campaign to free them. number of releases was a turning point for human rights It was the fall of 2008 and after four months in ’s in Myanmar. It was certainly a positive development and notorious Evin prison they feared they had been forgotten. gave grounds for cautious optimism even if human rights Both had been convicted of “co-operating with an enemy continued to be abused—the authorities continued to arrest government”. Neither had been politically active. human rights activists throughout the year and more than Amnesty International considered them prisoners of 1,000 political prisoners, including prisoners of conscience, conscience, jailed because of their groundbreaking work remained behind bars. with US medical institutions in the field of HIV/ AIDS

12 Amnesty International treatment and prevention. Amnesty issued reports and updates on the brothers’ case and Amnesty members campaigned on their behalf, pressing the Iranian authorities to respect their human rights. Kamiar was finally released in December 2010 and Arash in August 2011. They were reunited in the fall of 2011 and moved to the United States to continue their medical work. In November 2011, they wrote to thank Amnesty International members. “As a result of your support, we are now free and we are safe,” they said. “When we got the message about your campaign through our family, it was like getting new blood that warmed our hearts and gave us energy to be strong, to tolerate the situation, and not to become broken. “Thanks to your efforts, we are rejoicing at being reunited and we want to extend your advocacy by being the voice of the voiceless for others who may face a similar situation to ours. This is at least one way we can pass on the kindness Images ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty you have shown to us…. from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for campaigning for our freedom.”

DECember 2011 Amnesty’s global Write for Rights The 2011 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Liberian President Ellen letter-writing marathon Johnson Sirleaf (right), Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee On or around December 10, 2011—International Human (left) and Yemeni activist Tawakkol Karman (centre) at the award Rights Day—special Write for Rights letter-writing events ceremony in Oslo, Norway, on December 10, 2011. were held around the world to mark Amnesty’s 50th anniversary year. Amnesty members wrote letters to save lives, stop torture and free prisoners of conscience. In Women’s rights activists awarded Ottawa, Amnesty members held their event at the Canadian Museum of Nature on December 8. On December 10, Nobel Peace Prize Niagara Falls was illuminated in Amnesty International On December 10, 2011, at a ceremony in Oslo, Norway, the yellow. The event was part of Amnesty’s global Shine a Light 2011 Nobel Peace Prize was presented to Liberian President campaign. Activists at Niagara Falls held special lanterns Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian activist Leymah Gbowee and highlighting specific human rights cases. Yemeni activist Tawakkol Karman. The Nobel Committee honoured the women “for their Susanne Ure/Amnesty International Ure/Amnesty Susanne non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s Amnesty members in rights to full participation in peace-building work”. Ottawa held their Write Johnson Sirleaf is the first woman to be democratically for Rights event at the Canadian Museum of elected as President of an African country. Amnesty Nature, which was lit International in the past considered her to be a prisoner of up in Amnesty yellow. conscience, jailed for her opposition to the ruling government in 1985. Gbowee mobilized women across ethnic and religious lines to help end war in Liberia and ensure women’s participation in elections there. Karman is a Yemeni human rights activist and a leading figure in mass protests against the government during 2011. When her life was threatened in January 2011, Amnesty International members demanded that the Yemeni authorities ensure her safety.

annual review 2011 13 SUMMARIZED financial statements

Amnesty International Canadian Section (English Speaking) (Incorporated under the laws of Canada) It all starts with YOU and your Statement of Financial Position gifts to Amnesty International As at December 31, 2011 None of Amnesty’s life-saving work would be possible without you. 2011 2010 $ $ How Amnesty puts your gifts to work CURRENT ASSETS Cash 1,177,398 1,007,620 • Research missions investigate and expose the truth Short-term investments 234,553 122,979 • Global campaigns focus attention on pressing Accounts receivable 123,745 113,135 human rights issues such as violence against Prepaid expenses 142,353 118,690 women, torture, child soldiers and the small arms 1,678,049 1,362,424 trade INVESTMENTS 389,187 486,298 • Putting pressure on governments and others in power helps stop abuses CAPITAL ASSETS 1,985,951 2,032,906 • Comprehensive human rights reports are respected 4,053,187 3,881,628 and trusted internationally CURRENT LIABILITIES • Crisis response work: Amnesty anticipates urgent Accounts payable and situations and acts quickly to protect human rights accrued liabilities 788,668 565,056 • Extensive media and communications work Deferred revenue 4,177 increases awareness of human rights issues Current portion of • Education and training programs build a world long-term debt 75,022 71,134 where human rights are respected Current portion of obligations under capital lease 8,937 17,270 872,627 657,637

LONG-TERM DEBT 411,801 486,823 What you achieve as an OBLIGATIONS UNDER Amnesty Member CAPITAL LEASE 89,316 44,019 • You free prisoners of conscience 1,373,744 1,188,479 • You prevent political killings and disappearances NET ASSETS • You save people from torture General Fund Unrestricted 47,520 58,150 • You protect the rights of children Invested in capital assets 1,400,875 1,413,660 • You strengthen the human rights of women Internally restricted funds 841,025 844,180 • You protect the rights of Indigenous peoples Externally restricted funds 390,023 377,159 • You stand alongside brave human rights defenders 2,679,443 2,693,149 • You protect the rights of refugees 4,053,187 3,881,628 • You call for an end to poverty-related human rights violations Note: In 2009, Amnesty International Canadian Section (English Speaking) changed from • You demand dignity for everyone having a fiscal year ending on September 30 of each year to a fiscal year ending on December 31. The 2011 summarized statements presented here are for a 12-month period ending December • You bring human rights abusers to justice 31, 2011. However, the 2010 statements are for a 15-month period ending December 31, 2010. Please contact the Ottawa Office at 613-744-7667 or email [email protected] to receive the complete audited statements.

Amnesty International 14 Amnesty International Statement of revenue and expenses For the year ended December 31, 2011

General Internally restricted Total general and Externally Total Total fund funds internally restricted funds restricted funds 2011 2010 2011 2011 2011 2011 (12 months) (15 months) $ $ $ $ $ $ Revenue Resource development revenue 11,211,171 11,211,171 12,012 11,223,183 14,138,310 Less resource development expense (3,581,647) (3,581,647) (3,581,647) (4,399,960) 7,629,524 7,629,524 12,012 7,641,536 9,738,350 Groups / networks 57,115 3,084 60,199 3,500 63,699 116,835 Publication sales 7,255 7,255 7,255 18,632 Investments 9,294 9,294 9,954 19,248 23,246 Miscellaneous 41,616 1,800 43,416 43,416 90,419 7,744,804 4,884 7,749,688 25,466 7,775,154 9,987,482 Expenses Action Strategies 2,140,902 1,254 2,142,156 12,602 2,154,758 2,746,067 Grassroots Activism 2,311,097 9,243 2,320,340 2,320,340 2,762,316 Communications and Public Awareness 2,479,856 2,479,856 2,479,856 3,154,554 Organization 826,364 7,542 833,906 833,906 1,218,528 7,758,219 18,039 7,776,258 12,602 7,788,860 9,881,465 Excess (Deficiency) Of Revenue Over Expenses (13,415) (13,155) (26,570) 12,864 (13,706) 106,017

Amnesty International at a glance Bequests keep the candle bright • Founded in 1961. Amnesty International gratefully acknowledges the estate gifts received during • A Nobel-Prize winning movement of “ordinary” people achieving 2011 from the following donors. We honour the memory of these dedicated extraordinary results. Amnesty supporters. Their final gifts serve as a lasting legacy of their • More than 3.2 million members in more than 150 countries and commitment to protecting human rights for everyone. territories. Merton Atkin Edith Dennis Charlotte Prowse • More than 80,000 members in Canada. Frederick James Bevis Bernard Roy Evans Julia Estelle Reddin • Independent of any government, political belief, or religion. Michael Brand Wilma Jean Forsyth Charlene Faith • Amnesty’s human rights work is funded solely by members Roseman like you. Amnesty accepts no money from any governments for Cornelia Brown Brian James Iverson investigating and campaigning against human rights abuses. Wendy Marilyn Burns Allan Levin Joan Gertrude Sargeant • 120-140 research missions undertaken each year. Lois Carrier Helen Mazewski Celestine Sebastien • 300-400 Urgent Actions each year protect many thousands of people, Wallace R. Compton Cameron Colin McLean communities, human rights organizations and families. Inga Tallert Doreen and Bernard Harold McSherry • More than 44,000 people freed from prison, protected Crook David Troyer from torture and secured from death threats since William Pinson Philip Crosthwait Charles Edward Amnesty was founded. Mary Polovnikoff Watters Amnesty International Amnesty

Amnesty International research missions expose human rights violations Amnesty International undertakes 120-140 research missions each year. Here, Amnesty International researcher Aster van Kregten interviews a woman in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, October 2011. The woman was one of 17,000 residents of an informal settlement in Port Harcourt who were forcibly evicted by the authorities in 2009. In 2011, more than 200,000 people continued to live at risk of forced eviction from waterfront communities in Port Harcourt. Amnesty International has demanded that the authorities in Nigeria end forced evictions that violate residents’ human rights and ensure that alternative housing is International Amnesty offered to evicted residents.

1-800-AMNESTY (1-800-266-3789) www.amnesty.ca

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