Your Rights at Risk: Call to Withdraw Bill C-51

Bill C-51, The Anti-Terrorism Act, proposes major changes to Canada's national security laws. Widely expanded powers and new criminal offences raise serious human rights concerns including asking judges to authorize CSIS "threat reduction" activities that could include human rights violations, suppressing freedom of expression, and a lack of review or oversight of complex national security activities.

Governments have not only the right, but the responsibility to respond to concerns about threats and attacks — including terrorism — and protect their citizens. But not at any cost.

Recent history is all too full of examples on every continent of what can happen when security laws and practices disregard human rights: torture and ill-treatment, indefinite detention, unfair trials, unlawful killings, irresponsible arms transfers, civilian casualties, profiling and other forms of discrimination, and crackdowns on protest and dissent.

Canada's own complicity in a number of cases including Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad Abou-Elmaati, Muayyed Nureddin, Omar Khadr, Abousfian Abdelrazik, and Benamar Benatta remains unresolved.

Your voice is needed now! Laws intended to protect us from threats should not put our human rights at risk. Join Amnesty's call to withdraw Bill C-51. National security reforms must meet Canada's human rights obligations.
Dear Minister,

I believe my government should protect Canadians from threats including terrorism. But not at any cost.

I am concerned that the widely expanded powers and new criminal offences in Bill C-51 put our human rights at risk, including:

1. A vague definition of "threats" that could include a wide range of protest activity that may not be lawful, but is certainly not criminal.
2. Asking Federal Court judges to authorize CSIS "threat reduction" activities that could include human rights violations in Canada and in other countries. 
3. Supressing freedom of expression by making it a crime to advocate or promote the commission of terrorism offences "in general". 
4. Lowering the threshold for, and extending the duration of, preventative detention without charge.
5. Expanded information-sharing without sufficient safeguards to prevent the sharing of unreliable, inaccurate, or inflammatory information domestically and internationally.
6. Inadequate appeal procedures for individuals who find their names on no-fly lists.  
7. No increased review or oversight of increasingly complex national security activities.


I urge you to withdraw Bill C-51. National security reforms must meet Canada's human rights obligations.

Human rights should not be seen as obstacles or impediments to security, but rather as the very key and roadmap to security. I further urge you to:

- Adopt a legislated human rights framework for Canada's national security program.
- Carry out and make public a full assessment of past cases and existing laws, tools and resources in the area of national security before considering expanded powers and other reforms.
- Establish robust oversight and effective review of agencies and departments engaged in national security activities.

[Your comments here]

Sincerely,
[Your name
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