Group 74 presents
WOMEN HEALING THE WOUNDS OF WAR

CAUSE Canada in conjunction with WUOMI launches a National Tour with Special Guests from Sierra Leone, West Africa

Mothers and children are not nameless victims in war. As an international development and relief organization in post-war Sierra Leone, CAUSE Canada works in solidarity with women who have survived the brutality of rape, exploitation, mutilation, torture and displacement. Women are given educational and vocational training opportunities. Collectively the women are participating in income generating projects. Their groundbreaking stories of courage and resilience give voice to some of the most unforgettable social justice issues of this century.

Theresa Benjamin and Gertrude Vakaba from Sierra Leone, West Africa will be on a National Tour to share these inspiring stories of hope in schools and communities across Canada.

Theresa Benjamin is a primary health care professional from Sierra Leone who works at the village level on immunization programs, training midwives, and providing assistance to refugees in camps. During the rebel invasion, Theresa herself became a refugee, spending six weeks in the jungle escaping from rebel forces until arriving at a refugee camp in neighbouring Guinea. She will talk about her first hand experiences of being in the midst of a civil war, and the demanding work of meeting the needs of women and children in post-war Sierra Leone.

Gertrude Vakaba is an 18 year old who will be presenting a youth perspective on peace and reconciliation in Sierra Leone. In conflict zones, basic education is often lost to an entire generation of children. Amidst the youth who have been directly affected by the war, Gertrude is one of the few who can dream of a better future because of her access to education. Despite the formidable challenges, many youth in Sierra Leone have chosen not to remain voiceless.

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When
Monday
October 20, 2003

Time
7:45 p.m.

Where
Timothy Eaton Memorial Church
(230 St. Clair Avenue West)

Special Sneak Preview
Violence Against Women Campaign

Join the Amnesty Women’s Action Network for a special preview of Amnesty’s upcoming two-year campaign focusing on violence against women.

Featuring…

Cheryl Hotchkiss, the women’s human rights campaigner for Amnesty International in Canada.

Cheryl will present an overview of the campaign, and discuss ways that Amnesty members in Toronto can get active and make a difference in the fight to end violence against women.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

For more information, please contact:
Consuelo Porras, 416-241-0019
Jennifer Foulds 416-778-7789,
Email: jenniferfoulds@hotmail.com

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Workshop on ESC Rights

When
Wednesday
October 15, 2003

Time
6:30 p.m.
– refreshments / meet and greet
7:00 p.m.
– campaign overview w/ Cheryl Hotchkiss
8:00 p.m.
– brainstorm – bringing the campaign to Toronto

Where
Metro Hall
Room 303 (3rd Floor)
55 John Street
(nearest intersection is King and John St.; nearest subway station is St. Andrew)

The Amnesty Toronto Business & Human Rights Group presents a Workshop on ESC (Economic, Social and Cultural) Rights.

The workshop will be given by Béatrice Vaugrante, president of the francophone section of Amnesty International Canada and chair of the francophone Economy and Human Rights Group.

The workshop will take place on Sunday, October 5 at 2:00 pm at Amnesty Toronto's office at 56 Temperance St.

To register or to request more information please contact

Maria Amuchastegui
maria@amuchastegui.com
416-996-6867

Topics covered will include:

1. The economic sphere and human rights

• The effects of globalization
• Seminal texts, international legislation
• Economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights
• Key initiatives

2. Amnesty's position

• The interdependence of rights
• Amnesty's position on ESC rights

3. Ways of taking action

• Engagement and opposition
• Corporate social responsibility
• Socially responsible investment

4. What you can do

• Your role, your resources

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Workshop on ESC Rights

When
Sunday
October 5, 2003

Time
2:00pm

Where
Amnesty International Toronto Office
8th floor
56 Temperence St.

Public Information Table

AI group 63 will be holding a public information table Saturday Oct 4 at the Bloor St United Church (corner of Bloor and Huron) from 10 AM to 2 PM.

This table will officially launch the 'Paper Chains for Colombia' project. In the 'paper chains' action Group 63 will be collecting messages for human rights defenders from across Canada written on paper chain links. These links will collected for the next seven months and finally will be assembled at the AI Annual General Meeting (Ottawa, May 2004).

The paper chains will be used to drape the Human Rights Monument in Ottawa during the AGM. Copies of the messages will be sent to various human rights groups in Colombia along with pictures of the event. Come on out and write your own message of solidarity and support for the brave defenders of human rights in Colombia.

Further information: abuxton254@aol.com

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Paper Chains For Colombia

When
Saturday
October 4, 2003

Time
10:00am - 2:00pm

Where
Bloor Street United Church
(corner of Bloor and Huron)