Human Rights Defenders
Donation protected
Hi Everyone,
WHAT I AM DOING: I, along with my friend Daniel Achber, am trying to raise upwards of $100,000 to support six human rights defenders and their families who have had to flee for their lives, or have been killed, because of their involvement in human rights research and activism. Among these families are more than three dozen children. These human rights defenders were and are extraordinarily impressive and brave people who have suffered greatly in the defence of noble causes, and the money we raise will go a long way toward helping them and their families out of extremely difficult situations. 100% of the donations will go directly to the human rights defenders and their families. There will be no tax receipt.
Please read below for more information on the cause, how you can help, and the 1000-mile canoe race I’m participating in to encourage further support.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND: As some of you know, for more than a decade I have been working in the field of international affairs, supporting conflict-resolution efforts and investigating war crimes and other serious violations of human rights. During this time, I have met – and in several instances worked closely with – extraordinary individuals, from conflict-affected populations, who risk their lives in the fight for peace, justice, and human rights.
Unlike me, and other expats who work for international organizations, these local human rights defenders do not have the luxury of being able to criticize the unlawful and immoral behavior of governments and non-state groups and then retreat to the safety of North America or Europe, beyond the reach of the violent actors whose behavior they have criticized. Rather, they often choose to remain, or have no choice but to remain, in areas where they are at constant risk for arrest, detention, torture, and death because of their work. Perversely, the risks they face are often elevated by their association (or their perceived association) with international human rights organizations or journalists. Each year, scores of human rights defenders living in authoritarian countries around the world are arrested, tortured, disappeared and killed, and numerous others are forced to flee their homes, often to foreign countries where they remain at risk with little or no physical or legal protections.
WHO ARE THE RECIPIENTS: I am trying to raise money to support four human rights defenders and their families, and the families of two other human rights defenders who were killed. Each of the four survivors is currently in hiding from their respective governments so I cannot provide you with their names or biographical details, but I can briefly describe their situations.
One individual is a former colleague of mine from Darfur, Sudan, who worked closely with me over several years to document crimes against humanity by Sudanese government forces, including mass killings, widespread sexual violence, and allegations of chemical weapons use. As a result of this work and his work with other human rights organizations, he and his family have twice been forced to flee for their lives. He is now in the US where he is in the process of applying for asylum and trying to restart his life. In addition to providing for his own immediate family, he is responsible for financially supporting five war orphans from Darfur, Sudan who come from his home area and are currently living in Chad.
Two individuals, one of whom was a nurse who cared for victims of violence, worked closely with me and my abovementioned colleague to unearth evidence of unlawful attacks, before being killed in attacks.
Two other individuals were forced to flee their home countries as a result of their work as human rights activists and are currently hiding in a neighbouring country where their lives remain at risk.
Finally, another individual was arrested and tortured for his work as a human rights activist. After significant political pressure was placed on his government, he was released from prison; his life remains at risk and he has been forced to flee to a neighbouring country.
HOW THE MONEY WILL BE USED: 100% of the donations will go directly to the human rights defenders and their families. The money will be divided (according to need) among the six families, which, between them, have more than three dozen children. All donations will go directly to the individuals and their families, to be used entirely at their discretion. For the families of the deceased, the money will largely go to pay for food, healthcare, and other basic necessities. For the family who has made it to the US, the money will also be used for necessities and job training, as well as to support the war orphans in Chad. For the people who are still in hiding, the money will go to help with costs to relocate to safer places. There will be no tax receipt. The money will be transferred by me to the individuals via check or Western Union.
ON A LIGHTER NOTE: In keeping with a decidedly odd cultural norm of the society that I inhabit, I am trying to increase donations by participating in an inarguably bizarre athletic competition. Because if history has taught us anything, and it hasn’t, it’s that people in wealthy countries are more likely to donate to serious causes if they are in some way linked to comically unnecessary displays of physical strength and endurance. To this end, I have enlisted the support of my most seaworthy friend, Daniel, and decided to partake in the most stereotypically Canadian activity we could find…
This, of course, is the world’s longest canoe race, the Yukon 1000 (yukon1000.org): a 1,000-mile (1,600 km), completely unsupported race down the majestic and splendidly isolated Yukon River from the town of Whitehorse in the Yukon in northwestern Canada to a remote bridge on the outskirts of Fairbanks, Alaska. The race will begin on Sunday, July 22. As may or may not be customary in such events, any efforts at communicating with the outside world during the race will result in our immediate disqualification/immense shame; however, those who decide to donate will have the unique privilege of being provided with a link to a webpage that will be tracking the progress of our trusty satellite beacon, thus allowing you to partake in the immeasurably pleasurable act of continuously monitoring our progress against our many almost assuredly strange yet wonderful adversaries .
Needless to say, none of the donations will be contingent on us finishing, let alone winning, the race. That said, Daniel is an excellent photographer, and I’m inarguably an expert at pointing out moose and telling him to photograph them. He has offered to provide prints of his pictures to anyone who donates (in quantity and dimensions that we deem commensurate with the size of your donation). So if you want to support human rights defenders, or if you want a well-composed picture of the unspoiled Canadian wilderness, or both, then this is your opportunity!
PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY: These are extraordinarily impressive and brave people who have suffered greatly in the defence of very noble causes. The money will go a long way toward helping them out of extremely difficult situations.
If anyone has any questions, please feel free contact me at any time.
Thank you very much!
Jonathan Loeb
WHAT I AM DOING: I, along with my friend Daniel Achber, am trying to raise upwards of $100,000 to support six human rights defenders and their families who have had to flee for their lives, or have been killed, because of their involvement in human rights research and activism. Among these families are more than three dozen children. These human rights defenders were and are extraordinarily impressive and brave people who have suffered greatly in the defence of noble causes, and the money we raise will go a long way toward helping them and their families out of extremely difficult situations. 100% of the donations will go directly to the human rights defenders and their families. There will be no tax receipt.
Please read below for more information on the cause, how you can help, and the 1000-mile canoe race I’m participating in to encourage further support.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND: As some of you know, for more than a decade I have been working in the field of international affairs, supporting conflict-resolution efforts and investigating war crimes and other serious violations of human rights. During this time, I have met – and in several instances worked closely with – extraordinary individuals, from conflict-affected populations, who risk their lives in the fight for peace, justice, and human rights.
Unlike me, and other expats who work for international organizations, these local human rights defenders do not have the luxury of being able to criticize the unlawful and immoral behavior of governments and non-state groups and then retreat to the safety of North America or Europe, beyond the reach of the violent actors whose behavior they have criticized. Rather, they often choose to remain, or have no choice but to remain, in areas where they are at constant risk for arrest, detention, torture, and death because of their work. Perversely, the risks they face are often elevated by their association (or their perceived association) with international human rights organizations or journalists. Each year, scores of human rights defenders living in authoritarian countries around the world are arrested, tortured, disappeared and killed, and numerous others are forced to flee their homes, often to foreign countries where they remain at risk with little or no physical or legal protections.
WHO ARE THE RECIPIENTS: I am trying to raise money to support four human rights defenders and their families, and the families of two other human rights defenders who were killed. Each of the four survivors is currently in hiding from their respective governments so I cannot provide you with their names or biographical details, but I can briefly describe their situations.
One individual is a former colleague of mine from Darfur, Sudan, who worked closely with me over several years to document crimes against humanity by Sudanese government forces, including mass killings, widespread sexual violence, and allegations of chemical weapons use. As a result of this work and his work with other human rights organizations, he and his family have twice been forced to flee for their lives. He is now in the US where he is in the process of applying for asylum and trying to restart his life. In addition to providing for his own immediate family, he is responsible for financially supporting five war orphans from Darfur, Sudan who come from his home area and are currently living in Chad.
Two individuals, one of whom was a nurse who cared for victims of violence, worked closely with me and my abovementioned colleague to unearth evidence of unlawful attacks, before being killed in attacks.
Two other individuals were forced to flee their home countries as a result of their work as human rights activists and are currently hiding in a neighbouring country where their lives remain at risk.
Finally, another individual was arrested and tortured for his work as a human rights activist. After significant political pressure was placed on his government, he was released from prison; his life remains at risk and he has been forced to flee to a neighbouring country.
HOW THE MONEY WILL BE USED: 100% of the donations will go directly to the human rights defenders and their families. The money will be divided (according to need) among the six families, which, between them, have more than three dozen children. All donations will go directly to the individuals and their families, to be used entirely at their discretion. For the families of the deceased, the money will largely go to pay for food, healthcare, and other basic necessities. For the family who has made it to the US, the money will also be used for necessities and job training, as well as to support the war orphans in Chad. For the people who are still in hiding, the money will go to help with costs to relocate to safer places. There will be no tax receipt. The money will be transferred by me to the individuals via check or Western Union.
ON A LIGHTER NOTE: In keeping with a decidedly odd cultural norm of the society that I inhabit, I am trying to increase donations by participating in an inarguably bizarre athletic competition. Because if history has taught us anything, and it hasn’t, it’s that people in wealthy countries are more likely to donate to serious causes if they are in some way linked to comically unnecessary displays of physical strength and endurance. To this end, I have enlisted the support of my most seaworthy friend, Daniel, and decided to partake in the most stereotypically Canadian activity we could find…
This, of course, is the world’s longest canoe race, the Yukon 1000 (yukon1000.org): a 1,000-mile (1,600 km), completely unsupported race down the majestic and splendidly isolated Yukon River from the town of Whitehorse in the Yukon in northwestern Canada to a remote bridge on the outskirts of Fairbanks, Alaska. The race will begin on Sunday, July 22. As may or may not be customary in such events, any efforts at communicating with the outside world during the race will result in our immediate disqualification/immense shame; however, those who decide to donate will have the unique privilege of being provided with a link to a webpage that will be tracking the progress of our trusty satellite beacon, thus allowing you to partake in the immeasurably pleasurable act of continuously monitoring our progress against our many almost assuredly strange yet wonderful adversaries .
Needless to say, none of the donations will be contingent on us finishing, let alone winning, the race. That said, Daniel is an excellent photographer, and I’m inarguably an expert at pointing out moose and telling him to photograph them. He has offered to provide prints of his pictures to anyone who donates (in quantity and dimensions that we deem commensurate with the size of your donation). So if you want to support human rights defenders, or if you want a well-composed picture of the unspoiled Canadian wilderness, or both, then this is your opportunity!
PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY: These are extraordinarily impressive and brave people who have suffered greatly in the defence of very noble causes. The money will go a long way toward helping them out of extremely difficult situations.
If anyone has any questions, please feel free contact me at any time.
Thank you very much!
Jonathan Loeb
Fundraising team (3)
Jonathan Loeb
Organizer
New York, NY
Dan Achber
Team member
Jacqueline Loeb
Team member
