Action Focus
Action Focus is an opportunity to become better informed on crucial Africa-related issues and to take
action for human rights and justice. Although one person acting alone may not be able to do very much,
hundreds of people acting together and speaking with one voice can be a formidable force for change!
Some Action Focus items target major issues involving Africa and offer alternative analyses and responses.
They provide a more radical perspective than what is often found in government and mainstream media sources
and they are accompanied by suggestions for action. Other Action Focus items are direct calls for immediate
urgent action coming from AfricaFiles' sister organizations, such as the members of KAIROS - Canadian Ecumenical
Justice Initiatives or the Africa Canada Forum. They often involve writing letters
to MPs or other leaders about abuses and injustices or joining in some other kind of campaign action.
Current Actions
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Sudan: Four men arrested unlawfully risk torture
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Sponsor: Amnesty International
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Target: Sudanese authorities and human rights representatives
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Action Site: http://www.amnesty.ca/urgentaction
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Other Contact Info: UrgentAction@amnesty.ca
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Amnesty International requests your urgent appeals on behalf of four men unlawfully arrested by Sudanese authorities one month ago. They have not had full access to judicial assistance or to their families. None of the detainees, who are currently held in the NISS detention in Zalingei, have been charged with criminal offences or have had access to legal representation. Amnesty is concerned for their safety following reports of the frequent use of torture or ill-treatment by the NISS. A relative said after a visit to one of the detainees that he was reportedly “shaking and not able to stand properly." Targets and suggested wording for messages appear below. Please send blind copies of any actions to info@africafiles.org. JS
Click here to read more . . .
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Act By: 16 June 2008
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Zimbabwe: Two trade unionists detained by police risk torture
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Sponsor: Amnesty International
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Target: Zimbabwean government officials
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Action Site: http://www.amnesty.ca/urgentaction
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Other Contact Info: UrgentAction@amnesty.ca
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Leading trade unionists, Lovemore Matombo and Wellington Chibebe, were arrested on May 8 and are in possible grave danger of torture. They were severely tortured in police custody in September 2006. Amnesty International requests urgent intervention to secure their release, security while in custody, and access to legal counsel, family, and any medical attention they may require. Targets are listed below. Please blind copy any actions to info@africafiles.org. JS
Click here to read more . . .
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Act By: 15 June 2008
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Democratic Republic of Congo: Lawyers and murder trial monitors receive death threats
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Sponsor: Amnesty International
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Target: Democratic Republic of Congo government officials
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Action Site: http://www.amnesty.ca/urgentaction
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Other Contact Info: UrgentAction@amnesty.ca
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Unknown people are threatening lawyers and human rights activists who are monitoring a controversial murder trial. Amnesty International urges 1) that authorities ensure that independent trial observers and lawyers named below who are involved in the appeal hearing of four men accused of the murder of radio journalist Serge Maheshe be protected against further threats and possible attack; 2) that a prompt, impartial and independent investigation be launched into the threats which began on 17 April and that those responsible to be brought to justice; 3) that authorities respect and guarantee the right of individuals to observe trials and report on their compliance with international fair trial standards, in accordance with Article 9 of the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders; and 4) that authorities put an immediate end to the harassment of lawyers and human rights activists in the DRC, and ensure that they are able to pursue their legitimate professional activities free from fear of intimidation and other human rights violations. Targets listed below. Please send blind copies of any interventions to info@africafiles.org. JS
Click here to read more . . .
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Act By: 1 June 2008
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Zimbabwe: Human rights defenders endure violence, harassment and arrest
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Sponsor: Amnesty International
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Target: Zimbabwean police, defence forces & government representatives
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Action Site: http://www.amnesty.ca/urgentaction
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Other Contact Info: UrgentAction@amnesty.ca
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The leaders of the Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (ZESN), a coalition of 38 organizations that deployed local observers during the elections, are being harassed by the authorities, in an apparent attempt to prevent them observing a possible run-off election in the coming weeks. Amnesty International has grave concerns for their safety and urges the Commissioner-General of Police to immediately end the apparent harassment and intimidation of ZESN leaders who are carrying out their legitimate work as human rights defenders, and furthermore, that the commissioner-general of police and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander ensure that police officers and soldiers act according to regional and international standards of conduct and respect human rights law. Full appeal suggestions and targets listed below. Please send blind copies of any interventions to info@africafiles.org. JS
Click here to read more . . .
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Act By: 1 June 2008
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Sudan: "Su-dan, Whose Oil?" Campaign
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Sponsor: Fatal Transactions
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Target: Chinese government officials and oil companies
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Action Site: http://www.fataltransactions.org; www.ikvpaxchristi.nl; www.ecosonline.org; www.su-dan.org
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Other Contact Info: wesselink@ecosonline.org
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Africa’s natural riches do not deliver peace and sustainable development. The Fatal Transactions’ campaign is working to change this through research and lobby, while informing a large European public about the realities of Africa’s economy. In Sudan, a handful of companies is cashing in annual profits of billions of dollars. Roughly 25% of total production value disappears out of the country that way. They have knowingly invested in a civil war and hundreds of thousands of people have been violently displaced without any form of compensation. The Sudanese state has no environmental law enforcement mechanisms while the industry is running a purely cost driven operation in the midst of the world’s largest pristine wetlands. the campaign, "Sudan, Whose Oil", urges the Chinese Government to take responsibility for the actions of its own companies abroad. See www.su-dan.org. Targets listed on-line at www.su-dan.org. Please send blind copy of any interventions to info@africafiles.org . JS
Click here to read more . . .
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Act By: 19 May 2008
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