Human Rights Article of Interest: Elise Auerbach.

"Iran needs to present a united front on science"

Iranian scientists must be allowed to interact abroad without fear of persecution, says Elise Auerbach. Link to her article. (Also see Human Rights Resources tab.)

Afghanistan Election 2014: One Woman's Voice

In Afghanistan's election on April 7, 2014, over 13,000 women were recruited to be at the polls to support women, who were threatened by the Taliban, to vote. Shukria Barakzai, one of the female members of the Afghan Parliament, was instrumental in pushing for women's participation and this brief video reflects her role. Just added this video to our sidebar. Don't miss it!

AGM 2014 Highlights

	On Saturday - in front of a packed audience of energetic human rights activists at this year's Human Rights Conference in Chicago - I announced that Amnesty will be leading a million person march on Washington D.C. to stop gun violence. This action is a pillar of Amnesty's vision to bring human rights home. To create a culture that values and respects human rights, we must start first with ourselves in our own communities. Bringing human rights home means that from Aleppo, Syria to the south side of Chicago - whether it's a war-torn region, or a neighborhood ravaged by extreme poverty and the proliferation of gangs - all kids should be safe from gun violence. We are all connected to each other. And the threat of gun violence impacts all our lives.  I will update you soon to get your help planning this march, where allies including women's rights groups, LGBT activiist, faith organizations and labor unions will join us. In the meantime, please check out some other "can't miss" moments from the AGM. Edward Snowden joined Glenn Greenwald, the journalist who first published Snowden's leaked documents for The Guardian, via video. A local volunteer activist organized a candlelight vigil for Syria to honor those whose communities are under attack. The parents of Hadiya Pendleton, a Chicago teen who was shot and killed in a park last year, shared their story as part of our panel on gun violence, which was live streamed by CAN TV. We marched to Daley Plaza to demand reparations for survivors of torture at the hands of the Chicago Police Department, where survivor Darrell Cannon told us "People power is gonna keep this issue alive." I'm proud to say we nearly doubled attendance from last year, which showcases a renewed energy to fight against injustice – and to fight for the protection of human rights. Thank you for being part of this global movement. Sincerely, Steven W. Hawkins Executive Director Amnesty International USA

Persecution of the Labor Movement by Mansour Osanlou - TODAY

Renown Iranian labor leader and former Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience (POC), Mansour Osanlou, will be a speaker at the local Amnesty International Group 139 meeting that will be held at UW-Madison, Pyle Center (702 Langdon St, Madison, WI 53) from 6:00pm to 7:30 pm. Click here for more information about Mr. Osanlou.

Open Letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Amnesty International Joint Open Letter to UN Human Rights Council, dated March 12, 2014

Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights held its 25th regular session of the Human Rights Council on March 3-28, 2014. The Amnesty International along with 25 human rights organizations wrote an open letter to the Council urging to support the resolution to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Click here for the full text of this letter.

Stand with Afghan Women to end Violence against women: Deadline - As soon as possible

Stand with Afghan Women to end Violence against women: Deadline - As soon as possible

Afghanistan is one of the worst places in the world to be female and violence against women and girls continues to be a major problem. Afghanistan is heading to the polls on 5 April, so we need to act quickly to ensure the country does not return to Taliban-era repression of women and girls. Your signature can make a big difference. Click here to sign petition urging incoming President of Afghanistan to protect and strengthen the rights of women and girls.