FREEDOM UNDER THREAT

Sochi Winter Olympics Action Toolkit

SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS CAMPAIGN KIT

Amnesty International Canada 312 Laurier Ave East Ottawa Ontario K1N 1H9

1
www.amnesty.ca

Whats going on in Russia?

Ever since Vladimir Putin returned as Russian President, the space for freedom in Russia has been shrinking. The rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly have come under increasing attack, despite the fact that these rights are guaranteed by the Russian Constitution and international human rights treaties joined by Russia. The Winter Olympic Games are being held in Sochi, Russia from February 7-23, 2014. Amnesty International believes that hosting the Olympic Games is a privilege and the respect of rights and freedoms should be demanded of any host country. While the spotlight is on Russia for the Olympics we want to shine a light on human rights and demand that Russia respect the right to freedom of expression, association, and assembly.

Being out and loud and proud in Russia can land you in prison
On June 30th, Russia passed a law banning "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" which they say could morally corrupt children. As a result of this new law, discrimination, harassment and attacks targeting LGBTI people in Russia have intensified greatly.

It's getting harder and harder to protest in Russia

The right to freedom of assembly has been severely restricted by complicated approval procedures which make it difficult to organize events. Many peaceful protests and gatherings have been arbitrarily banned or dispersed, including a group of young people having a snowball fight. Defamation was re-criminalized on June 30th, and new laws on treason, espionage and blasphemy were passed posing chilling threats to people criticizing government officials or policies.

And it's more difficult than ever to operate an NGO

New restrictions on freedom of association mean that organizations receiving foreign funding must describe themselves as "foreign agents" if they are considered to be involved in undefined "political activities"--a requirement which is inconsistent with international human rights standards. If an NGO doesnt register, it faces hefty fines, its work can be suspended or shut down completely, and its leaders can even face prison time.

SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS CAMPAIGN KIT

Take action!
Spread the word. Learn more about Russias human rights record and share this information with family, friends, and colleagues: www.amnesty.ca/russia. Go viral! Social media is a great way to shine a spotlight on human rights in Russia, and its also a great way to get around state media sensors and let activists in Russia know that we support them. Use hashtags: #Sochi2014, #Olympics, #humanrights, #RussiaCrackdown, #FreePussyRiot, #LGBTI. Try this Sample message: @AmnestyNow: #Russia hosting the #Olympics is a privilege! Respect #humanrights and freedoms! #RussiaCrackdown bit.ly/ russiarights Sign our online petition urging President Putin to stop attacks on civil society: www.amnesty.ca/ russiarightss and gather signatures for the hard copy petition included in this kit (pg 6). Sign our online petition demanding that Pussy Riot be freed: www.amnesty.ca/get-involved/take-actionnow/free-pussy-riot and gather signatures for the hard copy petition included in this kit (pg 7). Write for Rights! During Amnestys annual letterwriting marathon in November-December, one of the cases we will spotlight is that of opposition protestors arrested for peacefully protesting in Bolotnaya Square, Moscow, in May 2012, www.amnesty.ca/write-for-rights/cases/the-bolotnaya-three. Share your message and raise awareness with a store window display. Dress mannequins up like Pussy Riot, add Pride flags, and Russian symbols such as Matryoska dolls. Add a poster with more information from our Flickr page at www.flickr.com/ photos/aicanada/. Have petitions inside the store for curious shoppers to sign. Calling all sports fans. Set up a table outside a local sporting event with petitions, postcards and information about the campaign. As people walk by, explain the ongoing crackdown on human rights in Russia and encourage attendees to call on Russia to Go for Gold in human rights by signing the petition or postcard.

SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS CAMPAIGN KIT

Extra, extra read all about it!

Russia Makes the Headlines!
Lets put Russia in the headlines for something other than the Olympics! On the front page of a newspaper make and paste your own front page. Use the title RUSSIA TODAY and include headlines about the discriminatory new laws in Russia that we want to eliminate. (Contact us if you would like samples of headlines to include.)

Get others involved!

The more people the better. In a busy public space get people to freeze in pose reading the newspaper and take photos.
Check out these photos from a flash mob action held on November 16, 2013 in Toronto.

Lets make Russias dismal human rights record famous!

Upload your photos to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and other social media sites. Do you have questions about the campaign, pictures or action ideas youd like to share? Contact: jhansen@amnesty.ca or hhomes@amnesty.ca

SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS CAMPAIGN KIT

Q&A

Q: Why is Amnesty launching this campaign now?

A: While Russia gears up for the Winter Olympic Games, set to take place in Sochi from February 7-23, 2014, the countrys human rights situation is worsening. While all eyes are on Russia we will shine a light on the countrys dismal human rights record and raise awareness about the human rights violations occurring in Russia.

Q: How long is this campaign and will it carry on throughout the Olympic Games?
A: The campaign will run from October 7, 2013 to February 3, 2014ending three days before the Olympics begin. Amnesty will not continue campaigning during the Olympics so to not interfere with or distract media attention from the sporting events.

Q: Is Amnesty boycotting the Olympics?

A: Amnesty is not boycotting the Olympics, calling for relocation of the Olympics, or asking the International Olympic Committee to take actions in relation to Russia. No boycott is necessary as this campaign focuses on the ongoing violations of freedom of expression, association and assembly in Russia rather than on human rights abuses resulting directly from the organization of the Olympics in Russia. We are for human rights, not against the Olympics.

Q: Is Amnesty approaching Olympic athletes to join in the campaign?

A: Amnesty is not approaching Olympic athletes to join this campaign. Olympic athletes are governed by Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter which sets out restrictions regarding their involvement in advertising, demonstrations and propaganda. Amnesty fully respects the Olympic Charter and the sensitivities surrounding athlete involvement in our campaigning.

Q: Id like to create some images of my own for the campaign. Can I use Olympic symbols?
A: Please do not use images like the Olympic rings or the Olympic torch because of copyright laws. Using the Olympic symbols might give the wrong messageremember we are for human rights, not against the Olympics. Contact us if youd like some creative ideas for images.

SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS CAMPAIGN KIT

SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS CAMPAIGN KIT

SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS CAMPAIGN KIT

Resources
For a general overview of the human rights situation in Russia read Amnesty Internationals report, Freedom Under Threat, Clampdown on Freedoms of Expression, Assembly and Association in Russia, bit.ly/16lSaap No Room to Breathe, The Wire, http://bit.ly/HQfyBl The Bolotnaya Three, Write For Rights Case file http://www.amnesty.ca/ write-for-rights/cases/the-bolotnaya-three Lifesaver: Russia, Protect Freedom of Expression, http://bit.ly/1fGydM3 Are We Really Foreign Agents?, Blog Post, http://bit.ly/1a5ITCp G20 leaders must reject Russias homophobic law, News Updates, http://bit.ly/17hxv5i Russia a dark day for freedom of expression, News Updates, http:// bit.ly/15UZW6k

SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS CAMPAIGN KIT