2015 annual report - Amnesty International

2015 ANNUAL REPORT
© David Fraser
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL | CANADIAN SECTION (ENGLISH SPEAKING)
© Paul Thompson/Amnesty International
Amnesty activists outside the Saudi Arabian embassy in Ottawa call for
the release of jailed blogger Raif Badawi (see page 8 for more on Raif’s story).
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Amnesty International | Canadian Section
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Yara Bader is a Syrian human rights activist, a journalist and director
of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom. In August 2015, Yara
spoke before hundreds of Amnesty members who had gathered in
Dublin, Ireland, for Amnesty’s International Council Meeting (ICM).
I had the honour of attending the ICM as one of the four delegates
from our Canadian Branch.
Those few hours last August perfectly captured the essence of our global
movement. Each of us is united with millions of fellow Amnesty supporters
around the world. Together we stand in solidarity with those on the front
lines, people like Yara and Mazen. And we never give up. Moments
of joy—like Mazen’s release—inspire us to continue our work to build
a world where the human rights of everyone are respected.
Yara joined us by Skype. She spoke about her husband, Mazen Darwish,
who at that point had been in prison for three and a half years. Mazen
was jailed on trumped-up terrorism charges; but, in truth, he was being
punished for speaking out against human rights violations in Syria. Yara’s
courage and her passion were deeply moving, and I was proud that
Amnesty members were standing alongside her.
At the heart of Amnesty International is your support. Your activism and
your gifts help drive our global movement. Thank you for what you make
possible: every campaign, every research mission, every in-depth report,
every press release, every letter-writing appeal and every online action.
A few hours after Yara’s address, an extraordinary turn of events made
the day even more inspiring. News came through that Yara’s husband,
Mazen, had just been released! His freedom, conditional at first, was
confirmed three weeks later when all charges against him were dismissed.
Sharmila Setaram, President
Annual Report 2015
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Amnesty International | Canadian Section
© Paul Thompson/Amnesty International
Honduran human rights defender Angel Colón with Alex Neve
at Amnesty’s 2015 AGM in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
TOGETHER WE ADVANCE HUMAN RIGHTS
AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY GENERAL
We were reminded in 2015 that human rights struggles are often
for the long haul. We were reminded too that continuing to shine
the Amnesty candle does lead to change and that justice will prevail.
Back in 2004, Amnesty International launched the Stolen Sisters
report, which documented the alarming levels of violence and
discrimination against Indigenous women and girls in Canada.
For more than a decade we stood alongside the families of murdered
and missing women, Indigenous women leaders and others in pressing
for a public inquiry and national action plan to address the violence.
Together we never once wavered. And finally, in December 2015,
a landmark moment. Within six weeks of the federal election, Canada’s
new government announced there would be a full public inquiry.
Following the election of a new government, we now face opportunities
to press for meaningful change for advancing human rights in
Canadian foreign policy and domestic affairs. Change is urgently
needed after years of inaction. Many of our demands for change
over the past decade are already reflected in commitments from
the new government, such as joining the UN Arms Trade Treaty,
reversing refugee healthcare cuts and protecting the rights of
transgender individuals. But we must remain vigilant to ensure
that promises are fulfilled.
At the very heart of all of our efforts is the determination of Amnesty
supporters across Canada. Together we continue to advance human
rights at home and around the world.
Alex Neve, Secretary General
Bob Goodfellow, Executive Director
Annual Report 2015
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AMNESTY’S ACTIVISTS:
STANDING UP FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
“My freedom is your victory!”
– ANGEL AMILCAR COLÓN QUEVEDO THANKING AMNESTY ACTIVISTS FOR THEIR SOLIDARITY
Inspiring moments filled the weekend when Amnesty members gathered
for our Annual General Meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in May 2015.
We welcomed two very special guests: Honduran human rights defender
Angel Amilcar Colón Quevedo who was unjustly jailed in Mexico until
Amnesty activists took action; and Connie Greyeyes-Dick who works
tirelessly to defend the rights of Indigenous people in her community in
northern British Columbia. Part of the AGM was a dynamic Human Rights
Conference hosted at Halifax’s Central Library.
Amnesty’s youth leadership program went from strength to strength
in 2015. Groups of Amnesty Youth Organizers are now established in
Vancouver, Calgary, Waterloo, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and St John’s.
Toronto’s Youth Leadership Council took on the role of organizing the
anti-death-penalty event Cities for Life. Activists from the Maritimes took
part in a training weekend for youth in Halifax; a similar event in Toronto
was attended by youth from Ontario and Quebec.
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Amnesty International | Canadian Section
Write for Rights had its most successful year ever. The 600 events
across Canada far surpassed the previous record of 330 events.
Amnesty Community Groups and Action Circles organized many
of the best attended write-a-thons.
Online activists mobilize in their thousands whenever human rights
are threatened. The growth in online activism by 50% in 2015 was
astonishing even by the high standards set by this program in recent
years. By year-end, we were able to call on a community of online
activists numbering more than 275,000.
© Evelien VanderKloet/Amnesty International
Activists at Amnesty’s youth conference on human rights in Halifax, Nova Scotia, October 2015.
Annual Report 2015
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AT THE HEART OF AMNESTY’S WORK:
PROTECTING INDIVIDUALS AT RISK
“If you doubt these campaigns make a difference, I’m living proof that they do”
– MOHAMED FAHMY
Defending and protecting individuals at risk is at the heart of what
Amnesty International does. This work draws new supporters to the
movement while continuing to engage activists who have been taking
action for many years.
Throughout 2015, Amnesty supporters spoke out passionately for
the rights of Saudi Arabian blogger Raif Badawi, who was sentenced
to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in jail for setting up a website for
political debate. Week after week, Amnesty activists demonstrated
in front of the Saudi embassy in Ottawa; just as they demonstrated
on the streets of other Canadian cities. They were standing with
Ensaf Haidar, Raif’s wife, who has been leading the campaign to win
Raif’s freedom from her home in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Our work will
continue until Raif is free.
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Amnesty International | Canadian Section
We celebrated a huge victory on September 23, 2015, when
Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy was released from prison in
Egypt. Fahmy was one of three Al-Jazeera journalists who received
lengthy prison sentences after being found guilty of spreading false
news and supporting the banned Muslim Brotherhood. Amnesty
supporters had been part of a global human rights campaign to free
the three men. Mohamed arrived back in Canada on October 11,
and he has been working closely with our Branch ever since.
Raif Badawi and Mohamed Fahmy are just two of the thousands
of individuals whose human rights Amnesty supporters worked to
protect in 2015.
© STR/AFP/Getty Images
Canadian Al-Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy with his
wife, Marwa, celebrating freedom in Cairo, Egypt.
Annual Report 2015
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STANDING WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
IN THE STRUGGLE FOR THEIR RIGHTS
The federal government announced on December 8, 2015, that it would
conduct a national inquiry into the violence facing Indigenous women
and girls in Canada. This commitment was long overdue. For years,
Amnesty supporters had joined Indigenous women’s organizations
in calling for action. Following December’s announcement, Amnesty
supporters continued to call on the government to ensure that the
voices of affected families and communities be heard, that the inquiry
be truly national and comprehensive, and that effective action be taken,
both during the inquiry process and during the implementation of the
inquiry’s findings.
In 2015, Amnesty Canada campaigners Jackie Hansen and
Craig Benjamin carried out several research missions to northeastern
British Columbia. They visited communities in the Peace River Valley
to better understand the patterns of violence facing Indigenous women
in the region, and the impacts of resource development projects on
Indigenous peoples, and how the impacts may be different for people
of different genders.
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Amnesty International | Canadian Section
“The way I see it, they are stealing from future
generations, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.
We are not here just for us but for the ones that will
come after us.”
– HELEN KNOTT, TREATY 8 STEWARD OF THE LAND,
ON THE SITE C HYDROELECTRIC DAM PROJECT.
One of the largest resource development projects underway anywhere
in Canada is the $9 billion Site C hydroelectric dam, which will turn
100 square kilometres of the Peace River into a reservoir, flooding land
that is crucial to Indigenous peoples. Amnesty International supporters
stood with First Nations and local farmers in their call for an immediate
halt to construction of the Site C dam.
© Amnesty International
Amnesty campaigners Jackie Hansen and Craig Benjamin spent several
weeks in northeastern British Columbia learning how Indigenous families
and communities are affected by resource development projects.
Annual Report 2015
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CAMPAIGNING TO STOP
TORTURE ONCE AND FOR ALL
In the fall of 2015, In/visible Scars, an inspirational travelling photo
exhibition, put the spotlight on eight courageous torture survivors or their
loved ones living in Canada and their personal journeys to becoming
tireless and passionate activists against torture. The exhibition was shown
in communities across Canada and helped galvanize Amnesty’s work
around the ongoing Stop Torture campaign.
Amnesty’s activists continued to press the Canadian government to join
the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT). This
treaty calls for regular national and international inspections of detention
centres to make sure torture is not taking place. By the end of 2015, more
than 25,000 people in Canada had signed the OPCAT petition.
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Amnesty International | Canadian Section
The shocking disappearances of 43 students from Ayotzinapa, Mexico,
on September 26, 2014, horrified the world. Throughout 2015, Amnesty
supporters in Canada called on the Mexican authorities to find the
missing students, fully investigate the disappearances and bring those
responsible to account. Amnesty supporters’ unflagging activism was
deeply appreciated by the families of the disappeared. “Thank you for
your solidarity,” wrote Hilda Legideño, whose son Jorge Antonio is one
of the missing. “The lies of the government have been exposed thanks
to international organizations and the work you have been doing outside
of Mexico. This has helped so much. Please accept a sincere hug and
thanks from all of the parents.”
© Florin Zamfirescu/Amnesty International
Profiled in the In/visible Scars photo exhibition, Martha Kuwee Kumsa
spent 10 years in an Ethiopian prison because of her work as a
journalist and her support for the rights of the Oromo people.
Annual Report 2015
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MAKING CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABLE
FOR THEIR BEHAVIOUR
In July 2015, an Amnesty Canada research team arrived in the village
of Likely in central British Columbia. The previous summer, Likely had
been the scene of one of the largest tailings pond breaches in Canadian
history when the Mount Polley copper mine tailings dam burst, sending
25 million cubic metres of water and mine waste rushing into local
creeks and Quesnel Lake. Amnesty campaigners Fiona Koza and
Tara Scurr and Business and Human Rights coordinator Stephanie
Gervais visited Likely to document people’s stories about what happened
that day, and to investigate how the company and the government of
British Columbia responded to the disaster. Further research followed
July’s initial fact-finding mission and additional work highlighting the
human rights impacts of the disaster is expected in 2016.
Our business and human rights work in 2015 continued to focus
attention on Canadian mining and oil companies whose foreign
operations impact human rights. An Amnesty report revealed how
Ivanhoe Mines (now called Turquoise Hill) lied publically about its
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Amnesty International | Canadian Section
copper sales to the Myanmar security forces, and may also have
breached Canadian economic sanctions on Myanmar. We pressed
for accountability, including filing a complaint to the British Columbia
Securities Commission regarding the activities of Ivanhoe Mines/
Turquoise Hill in Myanmar
As part of the Open for Justice campaign, we worked with coalition
partners to call on the government to create an extractive-sector
ombudsperson with the power to independently investigate complaints
and make recommendations to corporations and Canada’s government.
We supported communities seeking justice through the courts. Our work
continued in the civil case in Ontario against HudBay Minerals, and
we sought intervener status in British Columbia in a case involving
a Canadian company in Guatemala.
© Private
Farmers protest before riot police at Letpadaung copper-mine in Myanmar. In 2015,
an Amnesty report revealed that a Canadian company, Ivanhoe Mines, had been part owner
of the mine but ownership was transferred in circumstances that were not fully explained.
Annual Report 2015
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AMNESTY SUPPORTERS
MAKE IT CLEAR: “REFUGEES WELCOME HERE”
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On September 2, 2015, the world finally woke up to the crisis facing
Syrian refugees when the body of a three-year-old boy washed up on
a beach in Turkey. Canadians took particular note when they learned
that the family’s decision to risk their lives was precipitated by the
rejection of an uncle’s decision for resettlement in Canada. In the
following weeks, there was an outpouring of goodwill towards refugees.
But after years of cuts, the infrastructure in Canada to support
refugees has been weakened. Amnesty pressed the government to
adequately fund and support the organizations that deliver services
to refugees. Amnesty also called on the government to ensure that
refugees were resettled from other countries such as Eritrea,
Colombia and Afghanistan.
In 2015, Amnesty International launched Refugees Welcome Here!,
a joint campaign with Amnesty Canada’s francophone branch and
the Canadian Council for Refugees. Activists urged John McCallum,
the new Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, to maintain
the federal government’s commitment to resettle 25,000 refugees
in Canada. And we had long called on the federal government to
restore health coverage to refugees. In early 2016, both these goals
were achieved.
Amnesty supporters can be proud of contributing to a Canada that
shows compassion for refugees and welcomes them into communities
from coast to coast.
Amnesty International | Canadian Section
© Eugen-Florin Zamfirescu/Amnesty International
Amnesty International activists in Toronto demonstrating in support of refugees.
Annual Report 2015
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OVERSEAS MISSIONS
BY AMNESTY CANADA STAFF
ALEX NEVE’S MISSION
TO SOUTH SUDAN AND SUDAN
ALAIN ROY’S SECONDMENT TO
AMNESTY’S WEST AFRICA REGIONAL OFFICE
In May 2015, Amnesty Canada’s Alex Neve was part of a research
mission to South Sudan and Sudan. Years of armed conflict
in both countries has forced hundreds of thousands of people
to flee their homes.
Alain Roy, Amnesty Canada’s Campaigns and Activism Director, spent
much of 2015 at Amnesty’s newly established West Africa regional
office in Dakar, Senegal. Created as part of the movement’s goal to
move closer to the ground, the Dakar office is one of many new regional
hubs around the world, which are responsible for carrying out regional
research, handling regional communications work, and leading on
campaigns and crisis work in the region.
In Sudan’s South Kordofan state, Alex met Alfadil Mohamed. Alfadil’s
wife and unborn child were killed by shrapnel from a Sudanese Air
Force bomb. He asked why, after so many years of death raining down
from the sky, the world had done nothing to stop the abuses in South
Kordofan. He put it starkly: “Is it because we do not matter?” Alfadil’s
words cut to the very heart of the struggle for universal human rights.
Governments promise that everyone’s rights matter, while betraying that
promise every day. And as Amnesty supporters we hold governments
accountable for that betrayal.
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Amnesty International | Canadian Section
As Deputy Director of the new Dakar office, Alain worked closely with
campaigns and communications colleagues—a young, confident and
keen group of human rights professionals. Alain’s role was to help these
highly-skilled individuals work together as a team to address human
rights issues in the region.
BELOW:
© Alain Roy/Amnesty International
© Alex Neve/Amnesty International
Alex Neve (right) with Alfadil Mohamed (centre)
in Sudan’s South Kordofan state.
LEFT:
Alain Roy visiting the Burkina Faso office of Amnesty International.
In 2015, Alain worked out of Amnesty’s newly established West Africa
regional office in Dakar, Senegal.
Annual Report 2015
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BOB GOODFELLOW:
A LEGACY OF HUMAN RIGHTS LEADERSHIP
BOB GOODFELLOW RETIRES IN THE FALL OF 2016 AS AMNESTY CANADA’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
ALEX NEVE REFLECTS ON BOB’S OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
AND TO HUMAN RIGHTS.
Back in the summer of 1988 two dedicated Amnesty activists in Halifax
took their leave of Atlantic breezes and headed up to Ontario. Both were
determined to stay true to the human rights path. One, myself, wasn’t
entirely sure yet where that was heading. The other, Bob Goodellow, knew
it was taking him straight to a job with Amnesty in Ottawa. And he never
looked back; until now. After 28 years of hard-working and visionary
leadership of our branch, Bob is retiring this year.
We could not have been in the hands of a better Executive Director
over these exciting, challenging and transformative years for Amnesty
International in Canada. Bob’s attentiveness, integrity, caring nature and
passion for human rights has seen us through steady financial growth,
has ensured that we have a strong organization in place to support our
vital human rights program, and has made valued contributions to the
growth of Amnesty at the global level as well.
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Amnesty International | Canadian Section
Bob’s legacy extends to bricks and mortar as well. Nearly 15 years ago,
he knew it was time for us to take the leap and buy the beautiful building
in Ottawa that has become our national office; now a prominent, wellrecognized part of Ottawa’s human rights landscape.
We sometimes think of the office, situated in Ottawa’s diplomatic row, as
the Human Rights Embassy. Bob is very fond of an evocative poem that
the Irish poet Seamus Heaney once wrote for Amnesty, known as “From
the Republic of Conscience”. Put the Embassy and the Republic together
and it is all very clear. Bob Goodfellow has been our tireless Ambassador.
And we send him enormous appreciation for all that he has done.
© Paul Thompson/Amnesty International
Amnesty Canada’s Executive Director Bob Goodfellow with his wife Ellie
at a celebration of Bob’s career. Bob is retiring in the fall of 2016 after
28 years in leadership roles at Amnesty.
Annual Report 2015
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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2015
2015
$
2014
$
2,321,835
1,798,504
20,000
30,000
ASSETS
Current Assets
Loan receivable
Investments
419,374
288,393
1,658,174
1,647,088
4,419,383
3,763,985
Current Liabilities
919,365
697,906
Long-term debt and obligations under capital lease
193,950
186,622
1,113,315
884,528
3,306,068
2,879,457
1,926,982
1,631,371
Internally restricted funds
801,652
811,061
Externally restricted funds
577,434
437,025
3,306,068
2,879,457
Capital assets
LIABILITIES
NET ASSETS
Net assets are comprised of:
General fund
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Amnesty International | Canadian Section
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015
GENERAL FUND
INTERNALLY
RESTRICTED FUNDS
TOTAL GENERAL & INTERNALLY
RESTRICTED FUNDS
EXTERNALLY
RESTRICTED FUNDS
TOTAL
TOTAL
2015
$
2015
$
2015
$
2015
$
2015
$
2014
$
Fundraising revenue
13,210,523
–
13,210,523
139,447
13,349,970
11,865,608
Less fundraising expenses
(4,352,279)
–
(4,352,279)
–
(4,352,279)
(3,790,257)
8,858,244
–
8,858,244
139,447
8,997,691
8,075,351
42,710
5,052
47,762
–
47,762
54,841
9,573
–
9,573
–
9,573
17,502
389
–
389
–
389
2,541
29,990
–
29,990
–
29,990
–
3,137
–
3,137
12,631
15,768
11,614
50,256
–
50,256
–
50,256
18,107
8,994,299
5,052
8,999,361
152,078
9,151,429
8,179,956
Action Strategies
2,135,385
–
2,135,385
16,669
2,152,054
2,186,921
Grassroots Activism
2,195,607
25,862
2,221,469
–
2,221,469
2,090,510
Communications and Marketing
2,782,365
1,437
2,783,802
–
2,783,802
2,491,322
REVENUE
Groups/networks
Merchandise sales
Publication sales
Event revenue
Investment revenue
Miscellaneous
EXPENSES
Information Technology & Systems
Organization
Net revenue (expense) for the year
508,984
–
508,984
–
508,984
368,474
1,046,347
12,162
1,058,509
–
1,058,509
987,081
8,668,688
39,461
8,708,149
16,669
8,724,818
8,124,308
325,611
(34,409)
291,202
135,409
426,611
55,648
Annual Report 2015
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IMPLEMENTATION OF
AGM 2015 RESOLUTIONS
RESOLUTION A-1
RESOLUTION A-2
RESOLUTION B-3
BRANCH VISION
RECOMMITTING TO A YOUTH STRATEGY
BY-LAWS
The Branch’s Vision 2020 statement
was accepted. Vision 2020 will guide
the Branch’s work to the year 2020.
The Branch proudly recommitted to
being a leader in the global movement by
implementing the principles and strategies
of youth engagement, activism, participation
and protection outlined in the International
Youth Strategy.
A number of Branch by-laws were
amended to ensure consistent use of
terminology and to ensure that all text
was consistent with past AGM decisions.
RESOLUTION B-4
RESOLUTION B-5
RESOLUTION B-6
RELATIONSHIP WITH AMNISTIE INTERNATIONALE
CANADA FRANCOPHONE
BOARD POSITIONS
REVISIONS TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE
The position of Board Secretary will be
eliminated in 2017 and an additional position
of director will be created.
A member must be registered as
a member 30 days prior to the start
of the meeting of members to
be able to vote at the meeting.
RESOLUTION B-7
RESOLUTION C-8
RESOLUTION C-9
STANDING ORDERS
AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR 2014
APPROVAL OF AUDITORS—FISCAL 2015
Standing Orders were amended to ensure
that they reflect the Canada Not-for-profit
Corporations Act.
The audited financial statements for
the fiscal period January 1, 2014, to
December 31, 2014, were accepted.
Deloitte LLP have conducted the audit
for fiscal 2015. Summarized financial
statements are on pages 22 and 23 of this
Annual Report. Complete audited financial
statements are available upon request at
613-744-7667 or [email protected]
The Branch’s by-laws were amended to
affirm the close and cooperative relationship
with Amnesty Canada’s francophone Branch
while recognizing that the two Branches
are separately incorporated and independent
of each other.
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Amnesty International | Canadian Section
© Amnesty International
2015-16 BOARD:
Top row, left to right: Andrew Thompson, Sharmila Setaram, Nancy Kingsbury, Renee Saviour
and Lana Verran. Bottom row, left to right: Johsa Manzanilla, Gloria Nafziger (Staff Representative),
Tim Carpentier, Bill Rafoss, Samantha Burdett and Brian Radburn.
2015-16 BOARD
OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CANADA
PRESIDENT: Sharmila Setaram, Mississauga, Ontario
VICE-PRESIDENT: Samantha Burdett, Courtice, Ontario
CHAIR: Andrew Thompson, Waterloo, Ontario
TREASURER: Brian Radburn, North Vancouver, British Columbia
SECRETARY: Nancy Kingsbury, Ottawa, Ontario
DIRECTORS:
› Tim Carpentier, Toronto, Ontario
› Johsa Manzanilla, Winnipeg, Manitoba
› Bill Rafoss, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
› Renee Saviour, Toronto, Ontario
› Lana Verran, Vancouver, British Columbia
Annual Report 2015
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© Paul Thompson/Amnesty International
Amnesty International members gathered
at the 2015 Annual General Meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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