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Listen to Sarah Morris, Advocacy and Policy Manager at Amnesty Aotearoa, tell us about this exciting new big picture campaign that aims to strengthen community decision-making as a powerful way to protect human rights. This campaign is a response to what Amnesty's been noticing NZers talk about; Are our politicians really listening to a diverse range of views? Is NZ a fair place to live for everyone? What about respect for Te Tirti o Waitangi? Amnesty is getting curious and asking kiwis around the motu what they think is needed to improve how decisions are made. This campaign is about people being able to meaningfully participate in the decisions that shape their lives, not just once every three years, but every day, in workplaces, schools, community halls, and all types of public life. Go to https://morevoices.nz to share your thoughts and get involved.

Listen to Catherine speak with Sanat Singh from, "On a Roll", a non partisan rangitahi-led campaign urging young people to get on the roll before the 25 October deadline. Sanat explains that it's a myth that young people are apathetic; Instead he suggests older people and politicians should, "get curious about what they care about" and "talk with" instead of "talking about" young people. Hear Sanat speak about strengthening and honouring the fundamental right to vote so that it becomes a part of our cultural identity. If you want to help the movement go to: https://onaroll.nz, volunteer, go to an event, and check in with the young people in your life and ask them if they are enrolled. What if we all showed up? And, keep showing up for the people of Sudan. Go to https://amnesty.org.nz/humanitarian-catastrophe-in-sudan/ and demand that the NZ government do more. Now.

This month, listen to Catherine explain what is happening in Sudan and how you can stand with the people. This is NOT a civil war but a brutal war against civilians sustained via a lucrative war economy driven by gold and vital commodities like gum arabic. The chance to move towards democracy post the non-violent revolution of 2018/2019 was stolen from the people by the brutal power struggle between the leaders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). UAE's support of the RSF is prolonging the violence against civilians. The RSF is currently encircling the strategic city of El Obeid. Fears rise of another looming massacre like El Fasher where atrocities committed last October and November amount to genocide. The NZ Government needs to do more! Stay tuned for a link to a webinar with Sudan Advocacy Network Aotearoa's chairperson, Fatima Sanussi in conversation with David Vega, Amnesty International Campaigns Manager. TAKE ACTION: sign the petition from the Sudan Advocay Network Aotearoa https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/urgent-establishment-of-a-sudan-special-humanitarian-visa-pathway Sign the Amnesty petition: https://amnesty.org.nz/humanitarian-catastrophe-in-sudan/. DONATE: to Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) - Sudanese award winning grassroots network that delivers life-saving humanitarian assistance where state institutions have collapsed and international reponses have fallen short.

Let's not forget the people of Myanmar where a drop in humanitarian assistance is worsening the suffering of millions of people after five years of conflict-related violence, says a UN report from June 2026. ASEAN leaders meet with military backed negotiators and rebel groups. Also, a conversation from the archives - listen to Dr Mariana Cifuentes talk about her experience of the 2021 coup, reflections on Aung San Suu Kyi and a hopeful message, "art and culture actually can be a way to foster peace." Check out Dr Cifuentes' new project: yaygyiyar.org

The #NoHarmware campaign led by Amnesty International and Tāhono Trust (an organisation seeding and supporting cross-sector action across Aotearoa) is proud to release an open letter signed by businesses, media organisations, and not-for-profits across the motu calling on the government to strengthen tech accountability for online harm. The letter warns that harmful online activity – including scams, impersonation, misinformation, abuse and extremist content – is having a significant impact on communities, businesses and trust across New Zealand. The signatories are calling for an independent regulator to police the online world and demand more accountability, transparency, integrity and safety. Listen to Anjum Rahman, Tāhono Trust's founder and project lead tell us more, " ...they [the signatories] all recognise that there is a big problem here. It's impacting us, it's impacting our well-being, it's impacting the way we do business". "It really is about consumer power, community power. Even though these are global multinationals, we have seen changes in the past when communities and people are vocal about the need, and when we're vocal together." Use your Freedom! For the Action Toolkit for this campaign and to sign the letter, click HERE: https://amnesty.org.nz/no-harmware/

In this episode Catherine speaks with Dylan Chand, winner of the 2025 Gary Ware Legacy Award, an Amnesty NZ award supporting people under 25 who are passionate about protecting and promoting human rights. With the support of the award, Dylan will develop and host the Girmitiya Exhibition, a project sharing the experiences of Indian indentured labourers who were taken to Fiji under the British colonial system between 1879 and 1916. Known as Girmitiya these communities played a significant role in shaping Fiji’s culture and history, yet many of their stories have remained unheard. For Dylan this project is about identity, belonging, and creating opportunities for future generations to better understand where they come from.

Learn about Madrasas, the Taliban Religious Schools Radicalising Boys and Girls and Why the West isn't Doing More to Stop the Worst Women's Rights Situation in the World. Tune into Part 2 of Catherine's interview with Dr Lauryn Oates (PhD Language Literacy Education), Executive Director of the Canadian Human Rights organisation, Right to Learn. Listen to Dr Oates talk about; how poverty is severely reducing access to education for women and girls, the large-scale uptake of Taliban religious education across Afghanistan and why the West should be worried, and why there isn't more outrage and action. Read more and donate at rightolearn.ca, Use your freedom and sign Amnesty’s petition at https://amnesty.org.nz/break-the-silence/ https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/06/gender-apartheid-must-be-recognized-international-law/ Afghanistan: The Taliban Must Immediately Revoke the Criminal Procedure Regulation of the Courts - Amnesty International

This month Catherine speaks with Dr Lauryn Oates, Executive Director of Right to Learn Afghanistan, a charity that for twenty-five years has championed education programs and made the right to education for women and girls a reality. With the Taliban in power, the current system of ‘gender apartheid’ sees girls over the age of 12 banned from education, resulting in at least 2.5 million school-aged girls out of school. Women are also banned from universities and a now-closed loophole that exempted health care training, to which many students switched their studies, has cut off training for new female nurses, doctors and midwives. Yet, Right to Learn Afghanistan continues to push back with online schools, grants and scholarships. Dr Oates (PhD Language & Literacy Education) explains there are significant risks for participants but, as the female suicide rate surges, female students tell them, "The biggest risk is having no education at all." Listen out for Part 2 of this interview next month. Read more at rightolearn.ca, Use your freedom and sign Amnesty’s petition at https://amnesty.org.nz/break-the-silence/

After years of false starts, Labour and National have teamed up to co-sponsor a bill requiring companies to investigate their supply chains for risks of forced labour. Listen to Rebekah Armstrong, Head of Advocacy and Justice at World Vision New Zealand explain why this political cooperation is momentous, how the new law will work, and the difference it will make to businesses, consumers and victims/survivors. Also, Take Action re Iran protests. Sign a petition calling on the international community to urgently act to stop further protest bloodshed in Iran: https://www.amnesty.org/en/petition/end-protest-massacres-in-iran/

This month Campaigns Manager, David Vega dicusses Amnesty Aotearoa's new report titled: “Navigating injustice: Climate displacement from the Pacific Islands of Tuvalu and Kiribati to Aotearoa New Zealand".  David outlines how existing migration pathways don’t provide well for the humanitarian needs of people seeking safety from the impacts of climate change and disasters as they’re labour-focussed, making them arbitrary and discriminatory. Amnesty Aoteroa calls on the NZ Government to establish a special rights-based humanitarian visa to allow Pacific People most impacted by climate change to move to or continue living in NZ. This matters because, as a Pacific nation we are “all in this together” – he waka eke noa.

ACTivate is a monthly show brought to you by the Christchurch branch of Amnesty International Aotearoa/New Zealand, an organisation dedicated to campaigning for human rights.

It's White Ribbon Day this month and election year is looming, so what better way to stand up against violence towards women by listening to this engaging conversation on harmful online misogyny. Canterbury University’s Senior Law lecturer, Dr Cassandra Mudgway, explains how violent gender-based online abuse significantly harms female politicians. It changes the way they campaign, how they avoid speaking about publically about hot-button topics and affects the time they remain in politics. New Zealand needs a tougher response and Dr Mudgway recommends an online safety regulator with enforcement powers, regulating tech companies and codes of conduct around elections. This podcase is an action prompt to pick up a pen and write to local MPs about reforming the law.