Who are we? Global movement of people fighting injustice and promoting human rights Over 3 million members worldwide Tens of thousands of supporters across Canada Work to end human rights abuses at home and around the world

Why us? Launched 2 year campaign to Stop Torture on May 13, 2014 Campaigning against torture is in our DNA 50+ years of experience Successes include the adoption of the Convention against Torture We have the knowledge, expertise, and street cred to really make a difference

Why now? Torture is never justified—never—not under any circumstances Post 9/11 some governments began to justify torture in the interest of public safety and national security Torture is on the rise 141 countries tortured in past 5 years Time to Stop Torture once and for all

What is torture? Severe physical or mental pain or suffering Intentional State authorities directly involved or knew and failed to prevent it Done for a specific purpose

Why torture? To make people talk To make people stay silent To punish To show results To extort money Countless other reasons…

How to stop torture Torture thrives behind closed doors Throw open the doors Make sure governments put in place measures to make sure that the spaces and conditions where torture occurs aren’t present—these are called safeguards

What are safeguards? Documenting arrests and prison transfers (make sure people aren’t held incommunicado) Having lawyers present at interrogations Granting prisoners access to independent healthcare professionals and services Refusing to use information obtained under torture in court cases

What’s our focus? Sound the alarm bell and raise awareness Stop Torture everywhere it occurs Focus on: Mexico, Philippines, Morocco, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan And Canada too!

Canada End Canada`s complicity in torture Call for Canada to join the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against torture

Mexico Tortured to sign false statements used as evidence to prosecute—to show Mexico’s crime fighting ‘success’ Claudia Medina— arrested, tortured, released, lodged complaint, not seen justice

Philippines Torture thrives because police can get away with it Alfreda—arrested, tortured, jailed—and waiting for a fair trial and an investigation into her torture allegations

Morocco Courts accept confessions made after someone has been tortured Ali Aarrass—arrested, extradited to Morocco despite warnings he would be tortured, and he was tortured—and should be released

Nigeria Forced confessions used in court Moses—arrested at age 16, tortured, sentenced to death—for allegedly stealing 3 cell phones

Uzbekistan Courts rely on forced confessions Dilorom—prisoner of conscience, sought asylum in Australia, returned home amidst assurances she would be safe, was arrested at airport, tortured, and remains in jail

What can you do? LEARN ACT SHARE

Learn

Act Pledge to Stop Torture at Sign our e-actions Collect petition signatures Write letters

Act Stage a photo action and share the photos on social media This one visually shows how you can be the barrier between the torturer and the tortured

Share Spread the word on social media! Facebook: #StopTorture #AmnestyCanada

Get involved locally! Join your local Amnesty community group Join a Stop Torture Street Team and take the campaign to local festivals, concerts, markets, etc. Want to get involved but not sure where you “fit” in this campaign? Contact

Thanks! Together we can Stop Torture!