day 2011 - amnesty international usa · 2019-12-17 · tary on maternal health—no woman, no...

Stand up for MoMS thiS Mother’S day.

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DEMAND DIGNITY: Mother’s Day 2011

Activist Guide

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA

DEMAND DIGNITY CAMPAIGN 5 Penn Plaza, 16th Fl · New York, NY 10001

AMNESTYUSA.ORG/DEMANDDIGNITY [email protected]

CONTENTS

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Amnesty International Main Messages & Talking Points

Maternal Mortality Around the World

Maternal Mortality in the United States

The Millennium Development Goals

Legislative Background Information

Key Legislative Talking Points

ISSUE BRIEF—Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011

List of Current Cosponsors

Ways to Take Action to Promote the Right to Maternal Health

THE MOTHER’S DAY EVENT TOOLBOX

Activism Resources

17 Organizing a Card-Writing Event This Mother’s Day

19 Lobbyng Your Member of Congress

23 Hosting a House Party

26 Panel Discussion and Teach-Ins

28 Raising Awareness Through Tabling

29 Generating Visibility in Your Community / Working With the

Media

Supplemental Materials

Sample documents and Amnesty International Resources

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Introduction

Executive Summary 3-4


Activist Guide




April 2011

Fellow Activist,

Thank you for committing to lead an event to support the right of every woman to a safe pregnancy

and childbirth during Mother’s Day 2011! In the month surrounding Mother’s Day this year (April

23rd to May 22nd), activists around the country will be hosting and joining events to help make

preventable maternal mortality a thing of the past.

Inside this activist guide you will find background information on maternal mortality in the US and

around the world and tips and materials to help you organize your own events in support of the right

to maternal health, including how to prepare for your event, promote it, increase it scope, run it, and

follow up after it’s done. While the guide contains basic suggestions on hosting events around this

Mother’s Day, please feel free to be creative in planning your event—and to share that creativity with

us!

Please take some time to go through the guide and familiarize yourself with the issue of maternal

mortality in the United States and around the world, and with how your advocacy can help protect

mothers worldwide. Also, please make sure to periodically check amnestyusa.org/mothersday for new

and updated actions and information, and to learn about new event opportunities in your area.

We hope that you find these materials valuable in planning your Mother’s Day event. Please let us

know how it goes, and send us pictures and copies of any media coverage your event receives. We

want to be able to share these successes to inspire other activists! You can upload pictures and com-

ments about your event to flickr.com/groups/amnestymothersday

If you have any questions that are not addressed in the guide, please contact the Demand Dignity

team by emailing [email protected].

Thank you for taking the time to support the right of every woman to a safe pregnancy and childbirth.

We look forward to hearing from you!

In solidarity,

The Demand Dignity Campaign Team

http://www.amnestyusa.org/mothersday

http://www.flickr.com/groups/amnestymothersday

mailto:[email protected]


Activist Guide




EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Every 90 seconds, a woman dies from complications of pregnancy and childbirth—that’s 1000 women every day,

350,000 each year. The vast majority of these deaths are preventable and they represent violations of essential hu-

man rights, including the right to health and the right to freedom from discrimination. Women dying in childbirth is

not just a public health emergency—it is a human rights crisis.

From April 23 to May 22, during the four weeks around Mother’s Day (May 8), members and groups around the

country will be raising their voices and hosting events in support of the right of every woman to a safe pregnancy

and childbirth. Among other activities, members and groups will be:

(1) Writing Mother’s Day Cards

This Mother’s Day, write Mother’s Day cards—in a twist on the traditional Amnesty letter—to push

domestic and international decision makers to support and protect the right to maternal health.

(2) Participating in the spring in-district lobby week on maternal health

In March, Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) introduced the Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011 to

protect women’s health in the United States. From April 29th through May 8th, you can lead or join a

delegation to lobby your congressional representatives to support this vital piece of legislation.

(3) Hosting documentary film screenings and watch parties

Use the power of film to raise awareness about maternal mortality in your community.

Host a watch party for the broadcast premier of Christy Turlington Burns’ new documen-

tary on maternal health—No Woman, No Cry—on the Oprah Winfrey Network, May 7th at

9:30 pm ET/PT

Screen the BBC documentary—Dead Mums Don’t Cry—about the efforts of obstetrician

Grace Kodindo to combat maternal mortality in Chad anytime between April 23 and May

22.

Register your event, and search for other events to join, at amnestyusa.org/mothersday

Share your event successes with us!

Fill out the brief survey form at the end of this guide, and upload photos of your event to flickr.com/groups/

amnestymothersday

If you have questions or need additional materials, contact:

Jason Opeña Disterhoft

Demand Dignity Campaigner

(San Francisco office)

[email protected]

415.288.1868

Heather Lasher

Demand Dignity Campaigner

(New York office)

[email protected]

212.633.4162

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“Women are not dying of diseases we can’t treat. … They are dying because societies have yet to make the decision that

their lives are worth saving.” - Mahmoud Fathalla, past president of the International Federation of Obstetricians Gynecologsts

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MAIN MESSAGES & TALKING POINTS: MATERNAL MORTALITY AROUND THE WORLD

With the Demand Dignity Campaign, Amnesty International is making the message heard loud and clear: every

woman’s life is worth saving.

Around the world, one woman dies from pregnancy-related complications every ninety seconds. The

vast majority of these deaths are unnecessary and preventable, caused by a lack of access to health

care or health education.

This is a not just a public health emergency — it is a human rights crisis.

These preventable deaths represent violations of essential human rights, including the right to the high-

est attainable standard of health, and the right to freedom from discrimination based on gender,

ethnicity, language, or income.

Maternal Mortality is a Human Rights Crisis

Maternal mortality ratios are typically representative of the overall strength and equity of a health care

system.

Ninety-nine per cent of maternal deaths occur in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Af-

rica and South Asia, making it the greatest health disparity between developed and developing coun-

tries.

In 2000, the United Nations set nine goals to guide the fight against poverty: the Millennium Develop-

ment Goals (MDGs). While there has been some progress toward reducing global maternal mortality,

UN data shows that only 10 countries with high maternal mortality ratios are on target to meet MDG 5

– the goal of reducing the maternal mortality ratio by 75% by 2015.

Amnesty International researchers have prepared reports on maternal health in six countries: Burkina Faso,

Nicaragua, Peru, Sierra Leone, Indonesia, and the USA. Although these six countries highlight the issues, the

right to safe pregnancy and childbirth is being compromised throughout the world. Human rights advocates in

each country are taking action to guarantee the right to maternal health care, with support from Amnesty Inter-

national members around the world.

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Every year in Burkina Faso thousands of women

die from complications of pregnancy and child-

birth. Amnesty International’s report, Giving Life, Risking Death, found that many of these deaths

could be prevented if women were given timely

access to adequate health care.

Ambitious strategies on the part of the Burkinabé

government have lowered maternal death rates in

some parts of the country. But cost remains a ma-

jor barrier to care, especially for rural women. A

2006 policy to subsidize 80% of the cost of child-

birth and make it completely free for the poorest

women is not well publicized, leaving it open for

medical staff to make illegal demands for pay-

ments.

In a February 2010 meeting with Amnesty Interna-

tional, President Blaise Compaoré committed to

lifting all financial barriers to emergency obstetric

care as part of a strategy to fight maternal mortal-

ity in the country. But so far, nothing has resulted

from his promise. This summer, Amnesty Interna-

tional will be working with activists to push Presi-

dent Compaoré to uphold his promise.

In Peru, hundreds of women die every year in preg-

nancy and childbirth, despite efforts in recent

years by the Peruvian government to reduce mater-

nal mortality. As Amnesty International docu-

mented in its report, Fatal Flaws: Barriers to Ma-ternal Health in Peru, poor, rural, and indigenous

women are at by far the greatest risk. They face a

range of barriers to accessing life-saving care: lack

of information about pregnancy and childbirth, un-

affordable cost, language and other cultural barri-

ers, long distances and lack of transportation, and

lack of available health care.

Since AI launched Fatal Flaws in 2009, AI Peru

has led the global movement in pushing for equita-

ble maternal health care in Peru, and this year’s

national election offers an unmissable opportunity

to make change. AI Peru is working with allied or-

ganization to influence the agenda of the incoming

government, including prioritizing access to mater-

nal health care for poor, rural, and indigenous

women. This summer, AIUSA will be supporting

these efforts.

MAIN MESSAGES & TALKING POINTS: MATERNAL MORTALITY AROUND THE WORLD

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Giving Life, Risking Death: Maternal Mortality

in Burkina Faso

Fatal Flaws: Barriers to Maternal Health

in Peru

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The Safe Motherhood Quilt Project, a national initiative developed by midwife and author Ina May Gaskin to honor women who have died of pregnancy-related causes since 1982

A recent Amnesty International report, Deadly Delivery: The Maternal Health Care Crisis in the USA, found un-

acceptably high rates of pregnancy-related deaths, appalling racial disparities, and rising complications in the

United States.

The United States spends more than any other country on maternal health care and more on maternal

care—$98 billion—than any other type of hospital care, yet ranks 50th in the world in maternal mortality.

The risk is higher for women in the US than in nearly all European countries.

Every day, 2 to 3 women in the United States die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth.

African-American women are 3 to 4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white

women—this disparity has not improve in 6 decades.

Deaths are just the tip of the iceberg:

Severe complications that nearly result in death – known as “near misses” – have increased an

alarming 25% between 1998 and 2005.

More than 34,000 women nearly die each year; that’s one every 15 minutes.

Approximately half of deaths and 40% of near misses could be prevented.

Women living in poverty, women of color, Native American and Alaska Native, and immigrant women face sys-

temic inequalities and discrimination that result in dangerous barriers to care.

Women in high-poverty areas face twice the risk of dying from pregnancy-related complications as women

in low-poverty areas.

Native American women are 3.5 times more likely to receive late or no prenatal care than white women.

For women seeking care under Medicaid, burdensome bureaucratic procedures substantially delay access

to prenatal care.

The government has an obligation to address and eliminate these disparities, including through vigorous

enforcement of non-discrimination laws.

To reverse this crisis, the government must ensure that all women have access to timely, quality maternal

health care services before, during, and after pregnancy.

American’s health care crisis is exacerbating the problem. 1 of every 5 women of reproductive age is unin-

sured. Many women begin pregnancy with untreated medical problems, increasing pregnancy risks.

MAIN MESSAGES & TALKING POINTS: MATERNAL HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES

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Half of all pregnancies are unplanned.

Many women are without affordable contraceptive services.

This increases the risk of delayed prenatal care, and increased risk of complications: 1 in 4 women

do not receive adequate prenatal care, and women with no prenatal care are 3 to 4 times more

likely to die than women who receive prenatal care.

The United states has no nationally-implemented protocols to prevent, recognize, and treat the leading

causes of childbirth-related deaths.

Most pregnancy-related deaths occur days or weeks after birth, but unlike in many other countries, few

women receive home visits that could prevent or recognize complications before they become serious.

A lack of accountability is leading to an overall failure to address fundamental systemic problems.

Expanded data collection and review of maternal deaths and complications is needed.

By not counting, reviewing, and learning what happened to cause these deaths, opportunities are

missed to prevent future deaths.

Amnesty International calls on the US government to develop a coordinated and consistent approach to mater-

nal care that corrects the disparities, improves conditions for women’s health overall, and makes sure all

women have access to good-quality, safe maternal care.

There is no robust or systematic government response to this critical problem. Amnesty International is urg-

ing the government to direct and fund the Department of Health and Human Services to prioritize and co-

ordinate efforts to improve maternal care and maternal health, including taking steps to:

expand data collection and review of deaths, complications, and performance measures;

ensure all women have prompt access to prenatal care and home visits after birth;

develop and put in place evidence-based protocols to prevent, recognize, and respond to leading

complications that cause maternal deaths; and

prioritize eliminating disparities, including by vigorously enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws.

State health departments should improve maternal health data collection and review by establishing a ma-

ternal mortality and morbidity review board, by including a maternal death checkbox on their standard

death certificates, and by mandating separate reporting of maternal deaths and severe complications.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act took vital steps forward in expanding access to health care, but

more work remains to be done to improve the quality of materal care, ensure accountability, and eliminate dis-

parities.

Congress should pass legislation to improve domestic maternal health outcomes, such as the Maternal

Health Accountability Act of 2011 (HR 894), which would

Help establish maternal mortality review boards in every state, by setting up a new grant program;

Fight disparities with new research and pilot programs;

Improve data collection and maternal health research on severe maternal complications

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MAIN MESSAGES & TALKING POINTS : MATERNAL HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES

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THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

“We will not enjoy development without security, we will not enjoy security without development, and we will not enjoy either without respect for human rights.” - Kofi A. Annan

What are the Millennium Development Goals?

In September 2000, 198 world leaders met at the United Nations Millennium Summit and committed to the

most prominent global anti-poverty initiation ever undertaken. This plan was represented by eight goals—the

Millennium Development Goals:

Associated with each of these goals were specific targets, such as halving the proportion of people whose in-

come is less than $1 per day (MDG 1), reducing the maternal mortality ratio by 75% (MDG 5), and signifi-

cantly improving the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers (MDG 7). In many cases, however, even these

modest targets associated with these goals will not be met by 2015—their deadline—without a much greater

commitment from the global community.

MDG5—Improve Maternal Health

The targets for MDG5 are to:

Reduce by 75% the maternal mortality ration between 1990 and 2015

Achieve universal access to reproductive health by 2015

Unfortunately, MDG5 has seen the least progress of all the goals, and maternal mortality ratios remains the

greatest disparity of any global health issue. Though maternal mortality rates have fallen over the last decade,

progress. While a 5.5% reduction per year, the rate has been only 2.3%. Further, where progress has been

made, this progress has often times been uneven, with many populations—like the poorest of the poor, racial

minorities, and rural women—being left behind. For instance, though Peru saw a 61% drop in rates of mater-

nal deaths between 1990 and 2008, poor and Indigenous women remain at much greater risk.

Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty

Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education

Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower

Women

Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality

Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health

Goal 6: Combat HIV / AIDS, Malaria, and other dis-

eases

Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability

Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

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THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Putting Human Rights at the Heart of the Millennium Development Goals

While the goals helped to put the fight against poverty on the world’s agenda, they do not fully reflect the

promise of the Millennium Declaration, in which world leaders pledged to strive for the protection and promo-

tion of all human rights. States human rights obligations are not adequately reflected in the MDGs, despite

the importance of human rights—including economic, social, and cultural rights—for improving the lives of

people living in poverty.

As documented in Amnesty International’s report, From Promises to Delivery: Putting Human Rights at the Heart of the Millennium Development Goals, truly incorporating human rights would help ensure that marginal-

ized populations aren’t left behind in development. Putting human rights at the heart of the MDGS would

mean that countries:

Ensure that all populations benefit from development, including minorities and the poorest of the

poor

Ensure that those living in poverty are active participants and partners in development

Ensure that development policies and processes are accountable to the full spectrum of human

rights standards—civil, cultural, economic, political, and social.

Last September, the U.N. Millennium Development Goals Summit in New York reviewed progress on the MDGS

and charted a way forward to 2015. Amnesty International lobbied inside the meeting, and rallied outside of

it, to push for human rights. While the summit failed to make concrete commitments to incorporate human

rights into the MDGs, the summit’s plan of action did acknowledge that, “the respect for and promotion and

protection of human rights is an integral part of effective work towards achieving” the MDGs.

Human rights advocates now have two urgent tasks:

Push governments to incorporate human rights into current MDGs policy, between now and 2015

Lay the groundwork for ensuring that the development framework that succeeds the MDGs—MDGs

2.0—has human rights at its heart, including key principles of freedom from discrimination, active

participation, and accountability

Though the next summit on the MDGs won’t be held until 2013, countries are setting their MDGs policy now.

As human rights advocates in the most powerful country in the world, AIUSA activists have a key role to play in

ensuring that the United States supports putting human rights at the heart of the MDGs.

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LEGISLATIVE TALKING POINTS:

Although the United States spends more than any other country on health care and more on maternal care –

$98 billion – than any other type of hospital care, women in the US have a greater risk of dying from preg-

nancy-related complications than women in 49 other countries.

Approximately half the deaths and 40% of near misses could have been prevented with better access to

good quality maternal health care.

Amnesty International’s report, Deadly Delivery: The Maternal Health Care Crisis in the USA, found that a

crisis in maternal health care in the United States is leading to unnecessary deaths and serious complica-

tions. Opportunities to save women’s lives are being missed because of the numerous obstacles and failures

in the health care system that stand in the way of women getting the care they need.

In the US, two to three women die every day from complications of pregnancy and childbirth.

African American women are nearly four times more likely to die than white women

Women in high-poverty areas are twice as likely to die than women in low-poverty areas

There has been no improvement in the rate of maternal deaths for over 20 years, or in racial disparities for

60 years.

Deaths are just the tip of the iceberg: each year, more than 34,000 women suffer a “near miss”- a compli-

cation a complication so severe that they nearly die. These complications have risen over 25% since 1998.

Accountability for maternal health outcomes is lacking at the federal and state level, and most states have

no process to review and analyze maternal deaths in order to prevent future deaths.

Women dying in pregnancy and childbirth is not just a public health emergency; it is also a human rights

crisis. These preventable deaths represent violations of essential human rights, including the right to the

highest attainable standard of health, and the right to freedom from discrimination.

status, Indigenous status, or income level.

The United States has an important role to play in reducing maternal deaths.

Congressman John Conyers introduced the Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011 (H.R. 894) to:

Provide funding for states to establish multidisciplinary Maternal Mortality Review Committees to

expand the examination of pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated deaths, in order to reduce

preventable maternal mortality.

Develop definitions of severe maternal morbidity (complications) to improve data collection and ma-

ternal health research; and

Develop a program to reduce and eliminate disparities in maternal health outcomes.

Amnesty International’s Recommendation

Please urge your Member of Congress to contact Representative John Conyers to become a co-sponsor of the

Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011 and to vote for the bill when it comes to the floor.

Main Message

Background

Legislative Response

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Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011, H.R. 894

A lthough the United States spends more on health care than any other country, UN data places the US 50th when it comes to a woman’s risk of dying from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Two to three women die of pregnancy-related complications every day in the United States – and about half of these deaths could be prevented, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Deaths are just the tip of the iceberg: severe com-

plications that nearly cause deaths – known as "near misses" – are rising at an alarming rate. More than 34,000 women nearly die in childbirth each year, and thirty percent of all women who give birth in the United States – over 1 million women each year – experience some type of complication that has an adverse effect on their health. While the United States does poorly overall, women of color, immigrant women, indigenous women, and low-income women face particu-lar risks. For example, African American women in the US are three to four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than white women, and this disparity has not improved in six decades. On March 12, 2010, Amnesty International USA released a report, Deadly Delivery: The Maternal Health Care Crisis in the USA, that reveals a maternal health care system in desperate need of repair. Amnesty found that hundreds of maternal deaths in the United States could have been prevented by high-quality, accessible, affordable and timely medi-cal care. On March 3, 2011, Congressman John Conyers introduced the Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011, H.R. 894. This bipartisan legislation would provide grant funding for states to establish maternal mortality review committees to examine pregnancy-related deaths and to identify ways to reduce maternal deaths. The legislation would also help elimi-nate disparities in health care, risks, and outcomes. The Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011, as a condition of receiving grants, would require states to:

Require health professionals and facilities to report all pregnancy-related deaths;

Investigate and develop case findings and summaries for maternal deaths;

Establish review committees with OB-GYNs, midwives, nurses, social workers, health care facility represen-tatives, members of affected communities, and other relevant stakeholders to recommend prevention strate-gies, and;

Disseminate findings and recommendations. The Act would also develop methods to identify and monitor severe maternal complications, improve data collection and research, and develop a program to eliminate disparities in maternal health outcomes. The lack of reliable data on maternal deaths is contributing to the US’s inability to robustly respond to this human rights crisis. Preventable maternal mortality violates a variety of human rights, including the right to the highest attainable stan-dard of health; the right to life; and the right to freedom from discrimination. The Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011 is a step towards reducing the needless loss of women’s lives that tragically affects so many families in the United States and is a step towards preventing the "near misses" and severe complications that have risen steadily for decades. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA RECOMMENDATIONS:

U.S Representatives should contact Representative John Conyers to become a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Maternal Health Accountability Act (H.R. 894).

U.S Senators should introduce a Senate companion to the Maternal Health Accountability Act (H.R. 894).

I S S U E B R I E F

Amnesty International is a grassroots organization with 2.8 million members worldwide working to promote

and defend human rights.

For information, contact Cristina Finch at 202-544-0200 or [email protected], or visit www.amnestyusa.org/

demanddignity



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CURRENT COSPONSORS OF THE MATERNAL HEALTH ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2011

ALABAMA

Rep. Terri Sewell [D, AL-7]

ARIZONA

Rep. Raul Grijalva [D, AZ-7]

CALIFORNIA

Rep. Karen Bass [D, CA-33]

Rep. Lois Capps [D, CA-23]

Rep. Sam Farr [D, CA-17]

Rep. Bob Filner [D, CA-51]

Rep. Barbara Lee [D, CA-9]

Rep. Laura Richardson [D, CA-37]

Rep. Fortney Stark [D, CA-13]

Rep. Maxine Waters [D, CA-35]

Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D, CA-6]

COLORADO

Rep. Diana DeGette [D, CO-1]

CONNECTICUT

Rep. Joe Courtney [D, CT-2]

Rep. Christopher Murphy [D, CT-5]

GEORGIA

Rep. Sanford Bishop [D, GA-2]

Rep. Henry Johnson [D, GA-4]

HAWAII

Rep. Colleen Hanabusa [D, H1-1]

ILLINOIS

Rep. Jesse Jackson [D, IL-2]

Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D, IL-9]

MAINE

Rep. Chellie Pingree [D, ME-1]

MARYLAND

Rep. Elijah Cummings [D, MD-7]

Rep. Donna Edwards [D, MD-4]

Rep. Andy Harris [R, MD-1]

MICHIGAN

Rep. Dale Kildee [D, MI-5]

NEW JERSEY

Rep. Steven Rothman [D, NJ-9]

NEW YORK

Rep. Louise Slaughter [D, NY-28]

NORTH CAROLINA

Rep. Bradley Miller [D, NC-13]

OHIO

Rep. Timothy Ryan [D, OH-17]

Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D, OH-10]

TENNESSEE

Rep. Steve Cohen [D, TN-9]

TEXAS

Rep. Eddie Johnson [D, TX-30]

VIRGINIA

Rep. Robert Scott [D, VA-3]

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Del. Eleanor Norton [D, DC-0]

WISCONSIN

Rep. Tammy Baldwin [D, WI-2]

Rep. Gwen Moore [D, WI-4]

* List current as of 13 April 2011. Be sure to check http://

opencongress.org/bill/112-h984/show for an updated list of co-

sponsors.

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WAYS TO TAKE ACTION TO PROMOTE THE RIGHT TO MATERNAL HEALTH

WRITE MOTHER’S DAY CARDS

This Mother’s Day season, we’re putting a new face on a tried and true Amnesty International tactic—writing

letters. Use our case sheets and sample letters to write messages inside Mother’s Day cards to push domestic

and international decision-makers to protect the right to maternal health in the United States and around the

world. The cards will be sent to six different domestic and international decision-makers: your congressional

representatives, urging them to support the Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011; President Compaoré,

calling on him to uphold is promise of lifting financial barriers to maternal care in Burkina Faso; the president

elect of Peru, asking him to prioritize maternal health; and Secretary Clinton, calling on her to ensure that hu-

man rights are at the heart of the Millennium Development Goals. Order free copies of the cards and case

sheets at amnestyusa.org/mothersday.

LOBBY YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS

Nothing impacts elected officials like person to person contact. During this year’s spring lobby week

(Saturday, April 29th through Sunday, May 8th), lead or join a delegation to lobby your Senators and Repre-

sentatives. Visit your congressional representatives’ district offices and urge them to protect maternal health by

supporting the Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011. Register at amnestyusa.org/lobby.

HOST A FILM SCREENING OF DEAD MUMS DON’T CRY

This 49-minute BBC documentary follows Grace Kodindo, an obstetrician in Chad, as she struggles to keep

women from dying in pregnancy and childbirth. Contact the Demand Dignity Campaign at demanddig-

[email protected] to request a loan copy of the film and a film guide to host a showing of the film as a stand-

alone piece, or as an introduction to a larger event.

HOST A HOUSE PARTY TO WATCH NO WOMAN, NO CRY

On Saturday, May 7th (9:30pm ET/PT) the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) will air the broadcast premier of No

Woman, No Cry, Christy Turlington Burns’ documentary about maternal mortality in Tanzania, Bangladesh, and

the United States. Contact the Demand Dignity Campaign at [email protected] to request a film guide

to host a house party to watch the film and write Mother’s Day cards.

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WAYS TO TAKE ACTION TO PROMOTE THE RIGHT TO MATERNAL HEALTH

WRITE AN OP ED, LETTER TO THE EDITOR, OR BLOG POST ABOUT MATERNAL HEALTH

The media can be a powerful tool in helping to raise awareness about the human rights crisis of maternal mor-

tality. Write op eds, letters to the editor, or blog posts to help inform your community about maternal health

and about how they can get involved. How-To Guides and sample materials are included in this kit.

RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT MATERNAL MORTALITY BY TABLING AT LOCAL EVENTS

Tabling is an effective way to raise awareness about the Demand Dignity Campaign, and particularly maternal

mortality, in your community. A How-To guide is included in this kit.

IF YOU’D LIKE TO DO SOMETHING MORE, OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT….

We would be happy to support you with materials. Contact us at [email protected] or 212.633.4162.

ORGANIZE A PANEL DISCUSSION OR TEACH-IN

Use the resources contained in this action guide to organize and event to help educate your community about

maternal mortality in the U.S. and around the world, and to encourage them to take action. Inside, you’ll find

the tools you need to make your event a success, including background information and actions to take.

NOTE: Please send all completed Mother’s Day cards, petitions, and postcards to:

Amnesty International USA

Demand Dignity Campaign

5 Penn Plaza, 16th Floor

New York, NY 10001

15

PREGNANT FOR A DAY

Host a “Pregnant for a Day” event on your campus or in your community to raise awareness about maternal

mortality. Write or paint maternal health facts on t-shirts for participants to wear over balloon “bellies.” Con-

tact us at [email protected] for more information.

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Gather all the materials you will need for your Mother’s Day event, including:

Mother’s Day cards and case sheets. Register and pledge to write cards at

amnestyusa.org/mothersday to receive hard copies of the cards and case sheets.

Additional Demand Dignity Campaign cards, one-pagers, maternal health stick-

ers, maternal health postcards, and Mother’s Day pins. Order by emailing de-

[email protected].

Request a loan copy of Dead Mums Don’t Cry to screen the film.

Additional “Maternal Health is a Human Right” t-shirts to sell or give to partici-

pants. Order by emailing [email protected].

A “Maternal Health is a Human Right” poster. Download a file to take to your

local printer at amnestyusa.org/mothersday.

An AIUSA banner or poster, available at amnestyusa.org/store.

AIUSA brochures, stickers, and promotional materials to encourage your friends

to join Amnesty. Order by emailing [email protected].

Amnesty materials to sell or give to participants, such as calendars, t-shirts,

posters, pins, or stickers, available at amnestyusa.org/store.

THE MOTHER’S DAY EVENT TOOLBOX

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ORGANIZING A CARD-WRITING EVENT THIS MOTHER’S DAY

Use this checklist when organizing your Mother’s Day card-writing events

BEFORE YOUR EVENT

AI members write letters during the 2010 Global Write-a-Thon.

Ask friends to help you organize your event

Determine who will take responsibilities for spe-

cific tasks. Remember to follow-up.

Decide what type of event you would like to host

This guide contains how-to information for hosting

card-writing events, film screenings, panel discus-

sions, teach-ins, but feel free to be creative in your

planning. You can incorporate writing Mother’s

Day cards into many different activities, like Happy

Hours, Campus or Book Club Activities, Poker or

Game Night, a Dessert Party, Coffee Shop, Church/

Youth Group, Potluck Dinner, etc.

Establish a time and date

Try to hold your event on days between April 23

and May 22 to join with the events of other Am-

nesty activists all around the country.

Secure a location

Decide where your Mother’s Day event will be

held and ensure that you will have enough ta-

bles, chairs, and other equipment you may

need, such as microphones and speakers. If

you are planning to hold your event in a stu-

dent building, coffee shop, or other open

venue, be sure to obtain permission before-

hand if necessary.

Program

How do you want your event to flow? Make an

agenda. Events can sometimes work best

when there is an immediate call to action: “We

need you to write cards to support mothers

worldwide.” It is also important to have a very

clear goal you hope to achieve. For example,

“by the end of the evening, we would like to

have written 100 cards.” You may also want

to consider:

Inviting a speaker

Providing food

Showing a clip of Dead Mums Don’t Cry

Materials and Cost

Visit amnestyusa.org/mothersday to register

your event and request materials, such as:

Mother’s Day cards

Postcards

Stickers

Buttons

Background materials

A loan copy of Dead Mums Don’t Cry And more!

Contact the media

Notify your local media about your upcoming

Mother’s Day event. The coverage you receive

will help draw more participants to your event.

Write a letter to the editor

Ask your local newspaper to post your event

in their calendar section

Distribute a media advisory

Contact your local radio station

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ORGANIZING A CARD-WRITING EVENT THIS MOTHER’S DAY

Publicize

There are many other ways to spread the word

about your Mother’s Day event.

Use the Mother’s Day event flyer tem-

plate located in this action guide, or

download one at amnestyusa.org/

mothersday. Add details about your

event and post the flyer around your

community.

Ask friends to bring at least one other

friend to your Mother’s Day event.

Post your event on Facebook, Myspace,

Twitter, and Meetup.com. Make sure to

provide a link to AIUSA’s Mother’s Day

web page: amnestyusa.org/mothersday.

Contact your Regional office to have

them add your Mother’s Day event to

their event page on AIUSA’s website.

Call and send email reminders to

friends, co-workers, classmates, etc.

Bring a sign in sheet

Use a sign-in sheet! This will allow you to follow

up with participants later about other AI events.

A sample is provided in this guide.

Use the Maternal Health is a Human Right

poster and/or an AI banner for visibility

Download a file to print your own “Maternal

Health is a Human Right” poster at am-

nestyusa.org/mothersday, and contact your re-

gional office for a copy of an AI banner.

Make sure to bring:

Enough copies of the Mother’s Day cards

and case sheets for everyone.

Your Mother’s Day Event toolbox

Food and drink to enjoy while writing let-

ters.

Your camera to take pictures of your event!

Don’t forget to mail all of your cards back to

the Demand Dignity Campaign!

Send a thank you to those who attended your

event. Invite them to join your group, and to

join AIUSA.

Report back

Let us know how many cards were sent by fill-

ing out the very brief evaluation form in this

guide and sending it to demanddig-

[email protected]. Please also send us photos of

your event, or of your card writers, and copies

of your sign in sheets.

THE DAY OF YOUR EVENT

AFTER YOUR EVENT

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Through coordinated legislative advocacy, AIUSA activists gain the power to influence important human rights legislation. All groups are asked to participate in at least one of AIUSA’s coordinated lobbying efforts each year. Contact your legislative coordinator (LC) by calling 1.866.219.4466 to ask about current lobbying efforts in your state, background on your legislators, and tips to maximize your efforts.

What is Lobbying?

Lobbying is getting your government to work for you. It is not limited to the hallowed halls of Congress or

restricted to professional lobbyists – it is a tool we can all use to communicate with our decision-makers

and shape the communities in which we live.

Lobbying takes many forms, such as writing a letter, showing up for a public event, making a phone call,

sending a fax/email/form letter, or anything else you can do to provide your elected official with information

about your issue and a request for him/her to act on it.

Do Your Homework

Find out what positions your elected member has taken in the past on maternal health legislation.

Familiarize yourself with the specific legislation you want to address using the information contained in

this action guide, including the talking points and the information you can provide to your legislator. Once

you’ve done your homework, you are ready to make contact with your legislator.

Contact Your Elected Official

Be ACCURATE: The key to influencing the people who represent you is proving to them that you are a well-

informed, committed, and persistent constituent. You need to be a credible source of information – if you

don’t know something, tell your Congress member you will find out and get back to him/her.

Ensure that as a representative of Amnesty you represent AIUSA’s views accurately. Use the legisla-

tive talking points and legislative issue briefs (contained in this action guide) to fax or bring to a

meeting with your legislator’s office. The talking points are for your use in preparing for your meet-

ing; leave the issue briefs with your legislator’s office.

Be BRIEF: The official and his/her staff are incredibly busy, and so are you. They appreciate it when you

respect their time, so get to your request in the first few minutes. Be ready with the bill number and the

specific action you want your legislator to take (for example, cosponsor / support the Maternal Health

Accountability Act of 2011, HR 894). Provide a copy of any relevant materials you will be talking about,

such as the Issue Briefs contained in this action guide or a list of current cosponsors.

Be COURTEOUS: Always, always, always be courteous! A thank you letter to the staff member for listening

to your concerns, especially if they take action, is ALWAYS recommended. Commend your elected official

publicly, including letters to the editor or items in a newsletter (and share copies with his/her staff).

HOW TO LOBBY YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

How do I Lobby?

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HOW TO LOBBY YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

Ways to Lobby

Write A Letter

Handwrite your letter if possible. Be sure to include your name and address on the letter and envelope so

they know you are a constituent.

Be brief and personal. Share your knowledge and experiences with maternal health. Feel free to mention

any organizations you are working with on this issue.

Be specific. Cite a specific bill number (HR 894). Be sure to include the specific action you want your

elected official to take (e.g. cosponsor/support the Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011). Ask them

to respond with information about the action taken.

Thank your official for any positive steps s/he has taken in the recent past.

Follow-up. Continue to maintain contact with the office to ensure that your elected official fulfills his/her

commitments. Continue to provide information, and thank him or her for any positive actions taken.

Make a Phone Call

Call your US Senator / Representative by contacting the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202.224.3121. Ask to

speak with the legislative assistant dealing with women’s issues and/or human rights concerns.

Identify yourself as a constituent. You might also mention your AI group, if appropriate.

Be specific. State that you are calling about the Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011 (HR 894) and

that you would like your legislator to cosponsor/support the legislation. Ask if your legislator has taken a

position on the bill. Volunteer to provide further information about the bill or about maternal health in gen-

eral. Ask for the name of the person you spoke to and let him or her know that you will be calling back to

follow up.

Follow up with a thank you note and any information you promised to provide.

Schedule an In-Person Meeting

Personal meetings are the most effective method of lobbying. Your group can organize a meeting with your

member of Congress on the issue of maternal health, or join an AIUSA lobbying delegation in Washington

DC or at your representative’s district office in your state.

If you are interested in meeting with your legislator in person, please contact your legislative coordinator for

more tips on effective in-person lobbying.

Concentrate on building a relationship. Lobbying can take awhile, and the more focused you are, the better

the results. Remember that the bill you are working on may not pass during this session or that you may

undertake another legislative initiative next year. Establishing this relationship is key to your work in future

sessions.

Thank your legislator publicly. Write a letter to the editor or a short article for your group’s newsletter. Be

sure to share the information with your legislator.

Continue to track the bill and provide periodic updates to your legislator as necessary.

Share the news of your interaction with AIUSA by filling out a Debrief Form (contained in this action guide)

and sharing it with your volunteer Legislative Coordinator and the Washington DC office of AI.

What are the Next Steps?

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HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

Any Member of Congress can introduce a bill. Once a bill is introduced, it is labeled with the sponsor’s

name and is given a bill number (e.g. H.R. 1 or S. 1).

Prior to a bill’s introduction, other Members of Congress can contact the bill’s sponsor and ask to become an original co-sponsor of the legislation. During the period prior to a bill’s introduction, you can contact your representatives to encourage them to contact the bill’s sponsor and ask to become an original co-sponsor. Once a bill is introduced, you can contact your representatives to encourage them to contact the bill’s sponsor to show their support for the legislation by becoming a co-sponsor of the bill.

Once a bill is introduced, it is referred to the appropriate committee by the Speaker of the House or the pre-

siding officer in the Senate. Bills can be referred to more than one committee, or different parts of a bill

can be sent to different committees; bills can also be referred to subcommittees within committees. Com-

mittees and subcommittees debate the bill, can offer to amend the bill, and may hold hearings on the legis-

lation. In order for a bill to leave committee, it must be voted out of committee. Failure to act on a bill in

committee is equivalent to killing the bill.

If your Member of Congress is a member of a committee or subcommittee charged with reviewing a piece of legislation Amnesty International supports, you can contact them to ask them to support the legislation in committee, and to support its passage out of committee to the floor of the chamber. Even if your elected official is not a member of the committee, he or she can support for the legislation by cosponsoring the bill.

Once a bill is passed out of committee, the legislation is placed on the calendar of the respective chamber,

where the Speaker of the House or the Senate Majority leader determine which bills will reach their chamber

floor. Once a bill is brought to the floor of the chamber, debate can begin. In the House, the length of de-

bate is determined by rules developed by the Rules Committee. In the Senate, debate is unlimited unless

cloture is invoked (a cloture vote requires the support of 60 Senators). Unless cloture is invoked, Senators

can use a filibuster to prevent a bill from coming to the floor for a full vote.

Once debate is closed, the bill is voted on. If the bill is passed, it will be sent to the other chamber unless

the other chamber is already considering a similar piece of legislation. If either chamber does not pass the

bill, the legislation dies. If both chambers pass the same piece of legislation, the bill is sent to the Presi-

dent. And if the House and the Senate pass different bills, they are sent to a Conference Committee for rec-

onciliation.

During the period prior to debate and a final floor vote on the bill, contact your Members of Congress asking them to support the legislation by voting for its passage. If the bill is in the Senate, you can also ask your Senators to show their support for the legislation by becoming a co-sponsor of the bill at any point until a final vote on the bill has taken place.

I. Legislation is Introduced

II. Committee Action

III. Floor Action

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HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

Members from each chamber form a conference committee and meet to reconcile the differences be-

tween the bills passed by each chamber. If the Conference Committee reaches a compromise, the

committee prepares a written report, which is submitted to each chamber. This report must then be

approved by both the House and the Senate.

Before a bill can become law, it must be sent to the President for review. If the President signs the

bill, or does not sign it within 10 days of receiving it if Congress is in session, the bill becomes law. If

Congress adjourns before the 10 days, and the President fails to sign the bill, it does not become law.

If the President vetoes the law, it is sent back to Congress with a note listing his or her reasons. The

chamber that originated the bill can attempt to override the veto by a two-thirds vote. If the veto of the

bill is overridden in both chambers, the bill becomes law.

Once a bill is signed by the President or his/her veto is overridden by both chambers, it becomes law

and is assigned an official number.

Glossary of Terms

Cloture: a procedure used in the Senate to end a filibuster. Under Senate rules, invoking cloture requires

an affirmative vote by 3/5 of the entire Senate and will limit remaining debate to 30 hours. Cloture is not

a vote on the passage of the bill.

Co-Sponsor: A member or members who add his or her name(s) formally in support of another member’s

bill. In the House, a member can become a co-sponsor of a bill at any point up until the last authorized

committee considers it. In the Senate, a member can become a co-sponsor of a bill at any point before the

final vote takes place on the bill.

Filibuster: An informal term used in the Senate to describe an attempt to block or delay action on a bill or

other matter by lengthy debate, numerous procedural motions or other obstructive actions. It can be stopped

only by a three-fifths cloture vote of the senators present and voting.

Original co-sponsor: a member who is listed as a co-sponsor at the time of a bill’s introduction.

Sponsor: the original member who introduces a bill.

Veto: a presidential power to refuse a bill or joint resolution, preventing its enactment into law. A veto can be

overturned only by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House.

IV. Conference Committee

V. The President

VI. The Bill Becomes Law

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HOW TO HOST A FILM SCREENING OR HOUSE PARTY

A film screening is an opportunity to raise awareness

and mobilize action in support of our human rights

work. Film screenings are an invaluable way of com-

municating your message in a non-threatening, cas-

ual and friendly atmosphere and a fun and energizing

way to educate people about human rights! Amnesty

International relies on its members to expose and

stop human rights abuses worldwide. By hosting a

screening, not only are you helping to raise much

needed support for our work, but you are joining a

global movement for human rights worldwide! All you

need is a cool environment, some snacks, and a mas-

ter plan.

Get as creative as possible when planning your

screening. Some people have them in recreational

centers, dorms, local workshop centers—or even their

homes! It can be small and intimate, or large and full

of new people. Whatever works for you will work for

your screening! Here are some things to keep in

mind when thinking about what you want to accom-

plish with your screening:

Set a goal for attendance.

Inform: One purpose of the screening is to inform

your guests about the work of Amnesty Interna-

tional, and more specifically, the work to end pre-

ventable maternal mortality. Make sure that you

are fully versed on the issue of maternal health

and with the goals of the Demand Dignity Cam-

paign so that your attendees are informed and

prepared to act.

Act: After watching the film and discussing its

content, your guests will want to get involved. It

is vital to engage this energy in order to promote

human rights by offering concrete actions for

guests at the party.

Still need a copy of the film? Contact the De-

mand Dignity Campaign at demanddig-

[email protected] to make sure you get it in time, as

well as to request a copy of our film guides. And

contact your cable television provider to make

sure you can access the Oprah Winfrey Network

to view the broadcast premier of No Woman, No Cry.

Get your invitations out early! Today there are more

ways of getting the word out than ever—don’t depend

on one exclusively. And remember, people threw suc-

cessful screening before email existed!

Set Goals. If your goal is to bring 100 people to

your screening, then brainstorm a list of 300

people to invite. The rule of thumb is that 1 in 3

people will actually attend.

Send an email to all invitees. Make sure you

mention why you are hosting the screening, for

example, “we want to urge our representatives to

support legislation to protect maternal health.”

Don’t forget to include pertinent information, in-

cluding the event location, and your phone num-

ber, and email address.

Snail mail. Same rules apply. A personal invita-

tion is still a very impressive way to get the world

out. They remain popular because they work.

Phone calls. Call all the people you invite, get

them to come, and remind them to be on time.

You should start calling 10 days before the

screening even if invitations are still in them

mail. Reminder calls (a call back to all ‘yeses’)

make a big difference in turnout. Make sure to do

them in the three evenings immediately preced-

ing your screening.

Keep good records. Who’s been called already,

and who hasn’t been reached? Who’s a yes, a no,

a maybe?

Screenings are a great way to bring new supporters to

Amnesty International. You can invite friends,

neighbors, and co-workers who might not necessarily

be involved in human rights issues but may have an

interest in maternal health. Of course, invite your

own Amnesty International colleagues, guests from

other active AI groups in your area, and allied groups

Step 1: Planning Your Party

Step 2: Invitations

Step 3: Promoting Your Event

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and organizations that may be working on the same

issues but from a different angle. Spread the word far

and wide! Don’t forget to use social media outlets!

The basis of your screening is to inform, act, and gen-

erate membership. But let’s not forget the details! A

good agenda will hold your party together. The best

way to have a screening that flows seamlessly is to

think through the agenda from start to finish ahead of

time. Your screening can range from a small intimate

gathering of friends at your house to a larger group of

friends and friends of friends—it depends upon how

ambitious you are. Be clear from the beginning the

theme of your screening and set goals for yourself.

This will help you keep on track. Prepare for the post-

viewing discussion beforehand by preparing the dis-

cussion questions.

Arrival of Guests (approximate time 20—30 min-

utes). Guests arrive, mingle, look over literature,

and partake in refreshments. Have everyone sign

in. Be sure to get the names, email addresses,

and phone numbers for everyone who attends.

Introduction (approximate time: 10 - 15 min-

utes). Once everyone has arrived, introduce your-

self, talk about the work of AI, and then introduce

the issues. Spend some time explaining the big

picture—how maternal health is a human right,

how maternal health is linked to poverty, and how

human rights can help combat poverty. Ask your

guests what they know about the issue and how

and why they got involved. This is the perfect se-

gue to start the film.

Watch the film (approximate time: depends

on the film).

Discussion (approximate time: 15 minutes).

Prepare provocative questions ahead of time

to get the discussion going, or use the ques-

tions contained in the Dead Mums Don’t Cry and No Woman, No Cry film guides.

Request for Action (approximate time: 30 min-

utes). After discussing the pressing need to end

preventable maternal mortality, explain the power

of collective action—millions of people speaking

in one voice do get heard—and urge people to

write Mother’s Day cards.

Wrap Up Session (approximate time: 5 minutes).

Thank everyone for coming, and make sure to get

contact info for those who want to pursue more

work on the issue.

Sign-in Sheet. This is important. Sign in everyone

who attends your party by posting someone at the

door, or have members circulate the room. Don't

forget to call back any newcomers whose names

appear on the sheet.

Pens and paper. Be sure you have enough, in-

cluding paper for note taking.

Mother’s Day Cards. Again, be sure you have

enough. Request cards and case sheets by regis-

tering at amnestyusa.org/mothersday.

Step 4: The Agenda

The Three Keys to Hosting a Great Screening

1. Personal contact with your potential guests. Follow-up calls to invitations and reminder calls en-

sure great attendance.

2. Organizers’ rule of thumb: if you really want folks to turn out, invitees should be contacted 3

times! Invitation. Follow-up phone call. Reminder phone call.

3. Show your enthusiasm! The best way to motivate your guests to attend your screening is to demon-

strate your own enthusiasm. Let your guests know every time you talk to them why you care about

Step 5: Make a Checklist

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Name tags. Do you want them to help you identify

guests? It’s up to you.

Amnesty International literature, including

Demand Dignity and maternal health literature.

Have enough on hand, including membership

brochures, handouts on the Demand Dignity cam-

paign and maternal health, maybe even a goody

bag with buttons and stickers. Make sure all your

actions and handouts are displayed prominently.

Contact the Demand Dignity campaign at de-

[email protected] or 212.633.4162 for ma-

terials.

Equipment. Nothing is more embarrassing than

having a house full of people and not being able

to get your DVD player to work. Make sure it’s

ready BEFORE guests arrive!

Munchies. Can’t have a party without them. It

doesn’t have to be a lot—this isn’t a State Dinner

you’re hosting. But remember the rule of halves

applies: if you invite 50, expect 25 to show up.

Document the event. Assign someone to take pic-

tures, and send them to the Demand Dignity

campaign at [email protected].

And don’t forget—If you’re holding the screening

somewhere other than your home, in an audito-

rium, for example, make sure to scout out the site

in advance.

Once people arrive, your main responsibility shifts to

managing the evening. Make sure everything is ready

to go. It’s important to try to stick to the time limits

so that guests who can’t stay as long still get to par-

ticipate.

Don’t worry if this is your first screening. You just

need to play the film, get the discussion started, re-

mind people of the agenda if the discussion runs

over, and summarize any decisions taken.

And don’t forget to pitch AI! Part of your presentation

should include information on the various ways your

guests can become more involved with Amnesty In-

ternational; by joining your group, starting their own

group, or by joining the Demand Dignity Campaign.

Highlight the events section on AIUSA’s website as a

resource to find out about more interesting events,

such as Regional Conferences or state meetings, or to

contact the Regional Office. Finally, urge them to

become individual card-carrying, dues paying mem-

bers. They can join at amnestyusa.org/join.

You should assign someone from your group to han-

dle general hosting duties, such as keeping the

goodie bowls full and the drinks flowing, cleaning up

mishaps, or taking those photos so that you can stay

focused on running the meeting. But don’t worry—

your guests won't care if you don’t get things perfect.

It’s a film screening, so have fun.

Make sure a few folks from your own group stick

around to help with the cleanup. But there is more to

do:

Get back to us! Please send us your feedback,

suggestions, your completed Mother’s Day cards,

and the following statistics so that we can im-

prove our future actions and better support your

activism: (1) date you held your screening; (2)

number of attendees; (3) number of actions

taken; (4) number of people who joined your

group; and (5) the number of new AIUSA mem-

bers. And please send pictures! Email us at

[email protected].

Thank yous. Don’t forget your just departed

guests. A quick follow-up thank you note is al-

ways appreciated. Then send them a follow-up

action within a week or two. And don't forget to

include information on how they can get more

involved with Ai by joining a group or by becom-

ing individual dues paying members.

Start planning your next event!

Step 6: The Big Night Arrives

Step 7: After the Screening

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mailto:[email protected]?subject=Mother's%20Day%20spike%20materials

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Mother's%20Day%20spike%20materials

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Mother's%20Day%20Spike%20Pictures

http://www.amnestyusa.org/join

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Mother's%20Day%20Film%20Screening%20Follow-up


Activist Guide




HOW TO HOST A PANEL DISCUSSION OR TEACH-IN

Deadly Delivery : The Maternal Health Care Crisis in the USA Speakers Tour—NY, NY (2009)

Reserve a neutral location to host your event. If your

group plans to have the forum on a campus, make

sure a room is reserved through the proper channels.

Community areas such as libraries or recreation cen-

ter meeting rooms are also a possibility but always

make sure you have permission to use the facility be-

forehand.

Once you have secured a time and a place, decide

what aspect of maternal mortality you would like your

speakers to address.

Set a time limit for each speaker and choose

what kind of discussion, if any, should follow.

Decide who will be facilitating and/or speaking at

the event.

Ask your speakers to notify you what they plan on

discussing so that you can decide the order of

speakers and can better publicize the event.

Also ask if the speakers will need any technical

support such as a laptop or projector. Secure

these items as soon as possible. If you do not

have these resources, be sure to notify the speak-

ers so that they can modify their presentation.

Once you have secured a time and a place, begin

to plan the program of the teach-in.

First and foremost, decide who will be facili-

tating and/or speaking at the event.

Define the key messages your group is trying

to teach and figure out what is the best way

to convey this information.

Plan on making the teach-in as interactive as

possible with group discussion and activities. Get

resources such as copies of Amnesty Interna-

tional reports on maternal mortality, video clips

from Dead Mums Don’t Cry, fact sheets, etc

which will strengthen your presentation.

Plan on distributing informational handouts that

are useful both as a take home guide and as a

resource list for participants.

A member of your group should open the session

with an informative talk introducing your group, the

type of activities that you have been working on,

background information on AI's work on Demand Dig-

nity, and information about maternal health.

Design one or more small group activities to allow

participants to have more in-depth discussions about

maternal mortality, such as how they can get in-

volved or plan a next activity.

Invite community members and other students,

faculty, and teachers to your forum.

Flyers can be posted on community boards in

some grocery stores or around schools.

Word of mouth is an especially good way to

promote your event.

Create quarter page flyers and have group

members carry some with them at all times to

pass out to fellow employees or classmates.

Mass emails are also an easy way to get the

word out.

Pick a Location

Preparing for a Panel Discussion

Publicize Your Event

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Preparing for a Teach-in

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HOW TO HOST A PANEL DISCUSSION / TEACH-IN

As with all your group events, a sign-in sheet should

be passed around to all attendees. This will make it

possible for your group to follow up with these indi-

viduals later and also provide a possible pool of future

members.

Plan on ending your forum with ways that participants

can become involved. Bring Mother’s Day cards and

case sheets for participants to write. You can also di-

rect them to amnestyusa.org/maternalhealth as a place

to get more information on maternal mortality and the

Demand Dignity Campaign.

Pass out an evaluation form so you can learn from your

audience how to do an even better job next time. Also,

report back to the Demand Dignity team about the

successes and challenges of your event by emailing

the form at the end of this guide to demanddig-

[email protected].

Follow-up is an important way to make sure that par-

ticipants stay involved. Hosting an event or action

within two weeks of the forum is a great way to tap

into the energy generated from the forum. Consider a

rally or a letter writing drive related to maternal mor-

tality. If a follow-up event is not feasible, at least

make sure to contact the attendees from the forum to

thank them and extend an invitation to work with your

Amnesty group in the future.

Secure time and place for panel

Invite and confirm people who will facilitate

or speak at the event

Publicize

Send out emails

Ask organizers/friends to commit to bringing a

number of people

Finalize program content and format

Arrange for multimedia facilities (laptop, pro-

jector, etc.)

Call and send email reminders to members,

friends, co-workers, classmates, etc.

Bring a sign in sheet

Bring Mother’s Day cards and case sheets for

writing at your event

Bring copies of the petition in this toolkit for

guests to sign

Bring evaluation forms to hand out at the end

Send thank you cards to speakers

Follow up with attendees

Host follow-up action event

Report out about the successes and chal-

lenges of your event to demanddig-

[email protected]

Follow Up With Participants

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Panel Checklist

Solicit Feedback

Include an Action

Sign People In

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mailto:[email protected]?subject=Mother's%20Day%20Event%20report%20back

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Mother's%20Day%20Event%20report%20back


Activist Guide




HOW TO RAISE AWARENESS THROUGH TABLING

Tabling is a simple and effective way to make Am-

nesty International more visible in your community or

at your school. It's also an important tool for recruit-

ing new members, gathering signatures, and building

support for your group's work.

Most high school and college campuses invite stu-

dent groups to table in common areas with only mini-

mal restrictions. Tables are often welcome at street

fairs, churches, community events, coffeehouses and

even in some malls and shopping centers. Wherever

you decide to go, make sure you have permission

from those in charge, and remember to play by the

rules so you will be welcome back in the future. Keep

in mind that the appearance of your table and your

volunteers are important. Both should be neat, wel-

coming, and inviting.

Be friendly and invite passers-by to stop at the

table.

Make sure you have the necessary information to

answer general questions about Amnesty Interna-

tional and the organization’s work.

Some people may feel intimidated to walk up and

ask questions; make sure you acknowledge each

person, welcome them to your table, and try to

engage them in conversation.

Initiate conversations with table visitors. Ask:

“Are you familiar with the work of Amnesty Inter-

national?” “Have you heard of our Demand Dig-

nity Campaign?” “Are you interested in maternal

health?” “Have you taken action for human

rights today?” While it is important to greet each

person, respect those who may not want to have

a conversation, but just want to browse.

Prepare volunteers. Have them practice their in-

troduction to Amnesty International and what

they will ask people to do.

Check to see if you need to reserve a table.

Have at least one banner, and consider a

mounted poster (download one to take to your

local printer at amnestyusa.org/mothersday) to

ensure passersby know you're there.

Use music or a video to draw attention to your

table. Consider showing a 3 minute clip from-

Dead Mums Don’t Cry, available at

www.youtube.com/watch?v5g0vz8bC8s

Make sure to have a sign-up sheet for visitors'

contact information (one is included in this

guide)

Create an area where people can help themselves

to general AI information, such as brochures or

postcards.

Distribute copies of the flyers contained in this

guide to advertise future events and group meet-

ings.

Feature the Mother’s Day card writing action,

postcards, or a petition so all visitors can take

action for maternal health.

Bring plenty of pens!

Put out a donation jar, if permitted.

Be prepared to ask people to join your group and

to become members of Amnesty International.

Follow up by inviting people who signed in to

your next event and meeting.

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Check List

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Activist Guide




TIPS FOR WORKING WITH THE MEDIA

GENERATING VISIBILITY IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Keep it simple. Whether it’s a telephone call, a

media advisory, a letter to the editor, or an opin-

ion editorial, always try to focus on the messages

you’ve developed for your event (see the Main

Messages & Talking Points part of this guide).

Repeat what you want to see in the paper rather

than improvising under pressure.

Localize. Local journalists look for a local angle—

stress to them that you represent a local Amnesty

International group while pointing out that you

are part of a global organization with more than 3

million members. You can also check am-

nestyusa.org/mothersday for a map of the US with

links to state-based data on maternal health.

Monitor. Become a local media watcher. Watch

local television news, listen to local radio, and

read local newspapers with an Amnesty Interna-

tional eye. Analyze which stories work and why.

Look out for journalists, including columnists,

who cover stories that may relate to our concerns.

Contact. Keep a record of contacts you make at

local newspapers and radio and television sta-

tions, and note any journalists who seem particu-

larly interested in Amnesty International’s issues.

You will want to contact them at a later date

when you are holding events.

Look for community event calendars in local

newspapers and on television stations’ websites.

Ask calendar editors to post the time and location

of your Mother’s Day event on these calendars so

that other community members can participate.

Invite a local radio or television station reporter

cover your event. (A college or local NPR station

will probably be the best outlet).

Focus on local and small-time publications. It is

much easier to get letters into and coverage from

publications in your community.

Ask an interested newspaper columnist to report

on your Mother’s Day event. City desk editors may

also assign a reporter cover the event.

Submit letters to the editor directly to online

news sites by emailing them to the email ad-

dresses provided on the news outlet websites.

Take pictures of your Mother’s Day event and post

them to your Facebook pages. Encourage other

participants at your event to do the same.

Film your event and post it to YouTube. You

need a YouTube account in order to upload a

video, but it is an easy process once you have

created one.

Tweet about your upcoming Mother’s Day

event. Real-time updates are very helpful,

and it’s important to be active with this. Up-

date your Twitter profile at least 4-5 times

per day leading up to and during your event.

Write blog posts that include information

about Amnesty’s Mother’s Day generally, and

your group or event in particular. Contact your

favorite blogs and ask them to post something

about maternal health and spread the word

even further.

Post photos from your event to:

www.flickr.com/groups/amnestymothersday.

Like YouTube, you need to create an account,

which is easily, especially if you already have

one on Yahoo!

Note: Be sure to link each of the above-

mentioned social media outlets to each other.

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Activist Guide




HOW TO WRITE A MEDIA ADVISORY

A media advisory serves as a “teaser,” alerting journalists to a future event.

Make sure you start with a a headline that is both informative and catchy (but don’t be too clever, or clichéd).

Often this is the only part of a media advisory that a journalist will read—they use the headline to decide

whether to read on.

Your first paragraph should always include the “5Ws” so that journalists can get a quick idea of what it’s about

without having read all the way through. The remaining paragraphs should expand on the basic information pro-

vided in the first paragraph.

Always give a punchy quote by an Amnesty International spokesperson. This helps to give the story a more per-

sonal feel, and you will notice that newspaper articles always try to include something someone said.

Remember that the aim of a media advisory is to get media coverage for your event, so don’t cram it full of de-

tailed or unnecessary information.

Always stress the local angle—make it clear to journalists why your event is something that locals will be inter-

ested in.

If there is a photo opportunity, state this at the bottom of the advisory, with dates, times, and contact numbers.

Always try to find out the name of the editor to whom you will be sending the press release so that you are send-

ing it to a person rather than a title.

Local press: send it to the News Editor (if there is an unusual speaker, the press release can also be

sent to the Features Editor for a feature story or profile of the event.

Local Radio: Send it to the News Editor / Program Organizer

Local TV: Send it to the News Editor (only if you think it is a very photogenic, or very strong, story)

A media advisory must arrive at news outlets 3-5 business days before the event.

Most local papers go to print on Monday / Tuesday, and are in stores on Thursday / Friday, so if you want a jour-

nalist to come to your event, send it to them the previous week so they have time to put it in the paper’s diary. If

you want the paper to include the advisory in order to advertise your event, send your advisory to arrive on their

desks the previous Thursday / Friday.

For radio and TV, send the press release to arrive two days before the event.

ALWAYS follow up your media advisory with a phone call the day after it arrives on the editor’s desk. Call to

make sure that assignment editors and targeted reported received the advisory, and offer to answer any of

their questions. Always be considerate of their time. Try to be brief, and call between 10:00 AM and 2:00

PM, before journalists are on deadline.

If you would like a listing of local media outlets and their assignment editors in your community, please

email a request to [email protected].

What to Include

How to Distribute Your Media Advisory

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SAMPLE MEDIA ADVISORY

Amnesty International [Your Group Name] Hosts Panel Discussion On Maternal Mortality

Clear heading so journalists know what the press release is about

(City where the event will take place) – On [Date of Event] at [Time of Event] members of Amnesty Interna-

tional [Your Group Name] will host a panel discussion at [Location of Event] on the topic of maternal deaths to

raise awareness about the tragic price of poverty worldwide – one woman dying in childbirth every 90 seconds

of every day. The panel will feature [Names and titles of speakers].

The Five W’s – Who, What, Where, When, and Why are in the first paragraph

The latest United Nations estimates show 358,000 women died in childbirth during 2008 -- about 1,000

women each day.

Some women die in their homes, unattended by anyone with medical skills. Some die while to trying to get to

hospitals, on foot, in cars, on motorbikes. Some die in hospital beds, having reached the hospital too late to

get the treatment they needed. Still others arrive at the hospital to find it lacking the trained personnel or sup-

plies they need. The tragedy occurs worldwide, including in the United States, where two to three women die

in childbirth every day. About half of these deaths could be prevented in the United States if maternal health

care were available, accessible and of good quality for all women, according to Amnesty International's report,

"Deadly Delivery."

The latest U.N. statistics place the United States 50th, behind 49 other countries in terms of the rate of mater-

nal deaths, showing the United States slipping even lower than previous estimates. Countries like Bulgaria,

South Korea and Kuwait are ranked ahead of the United States, according to the new U.N. estimates.

Within the United States, [Your State] currently ranks [Xth] in terms of maternal mortality with a ratio of [X],

and [Your State] does not currently have a maternal mortality review board to monitor the issue of maternal

death.

The rest of the press release gives more detailed information, and includes a local angle (check the state-based fact

sheets included in this toolkit to find statistics and information about your state)

At an event last September n Times Square to draw attention to the tragedy of preventable maternal deaths,

Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty International USA, said: "The clock is ticking for women around the

world. No woman should die while giving birth, when most deaths are preventable. Governments need to do

much more to make certain that the most disadvantaged and poorest women have equal and timely access to

life saving care.” A quote from an Amnesty International staff or activist member is included, as journalists often like to have a more per-

sonal comment to include.

MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release:

[Date submitted to the media]

Contact: [Your name]

[Your contact number and email]

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SAMPLE MEDIA ADVISORY

Barriers to care reflect disparities among different racial and ethnic groups and affect maternal health in devel-

oped, as well as developing countries. In the United States, according to Amnesty International's March 2010

report, Deadly Delivery, more than two women die every day from complications of pregnancy and childbirth.

Approximately half of these deaths could be prevented if maternal health care were available, accessible and

of good quality for all women without discrimination in the United States.

To request a copy of this report please email [email protected].

Date, time, and place of the discussion: [Insert date and time of event]

Place: [Insert address of event]

Date, place, and time of the event is repeated at the bottom

For more information, contact [Your Contact Information], and please visit: www.amnestyusa.org

Contact information is repeated at the bottom of the media advisory

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million

supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The

organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people

wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.

Short version of Amnesty International’s mandate is included

# # #

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SAMPLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR

To the Editor:

Every 90 seconds, somewhere in the world, a woman – most likely living in poverty – dies giving birth. That’s

almost 1,000 women every day; more than 350,000 women each year. The vast majority of these deaths are

preventable. Though 99% of maternal deaths occur in the developing world, developed nations are not unaf-

fected: the U.S. currently ranks behind forty-nine other nations in terms of maternal mortality, with two to

three women dying every day and tens of thousands more suffering complications that nearly result in death.

Maternal deaths are not just a public health emergency – they are a human rights crisis. They represent viola-

tions of essential human rights, including the right to the highest attainable standard of health, and the right

to freedom from discrimination based on such factors as gender, race, ethnicity, immigration status, Indige-

nous status, and income level.

Now, the United States Congress is poised to make a difference to end preventable maternal mortality within

the United States. Representative John Conyers (D-MI) has introduced legislation that will help combat mater-

nal deaths by establishing a maternal mortality review board in every state by setting up new grant programs;

fight disparities in maternal health outcomes with new research and pilot programs; and develop definitions of

several maternal complications to improve data collection and maternal health research.

Members of Congress now have the opportunity to help put an end to preventable maternal deaths by support-

ing this important bill. I hope that Representative [Insert name of your representative] will cosponsor the Ma-

ternal Health Accountability Act of 2011 today and support it when it comes to the floor of the House OR (if

your member of Congress is already a co-sponsor) I applaud Representative [insert name of your representa-

tive] for demonstrating his/her commitment to maternal health by co-sponsoring and supporting the Maternal

Health Accountability Act of 2011.

[Name]

[Address]

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Activist Guide




SAMPLE OPINION EDITORIAL

Help Stop Preventable Maternal Deaths

By [Your Name, Group No., Amnesty International USA]

Every 90 seconds, somewhere in the world, a woman – most likely living in poverty – dies giving birth. That’s

almost 40 women every hour and more than 350,000 women each year; the vast majority of these deaths are

preventable. Though 99% of maternal deaths occur in the developing world, developed nations are not unaf-

fected: the U.S. currently ranks behind forty-nine other nations in terms of maternal mortality, with two to

three women dying every day and tens of thousands more suffering complications that nearly result in death.

These deaths represent violations of essential human rights, including the right to the highest attainable stan-

dard of health, and the right to freedom from discrimination, based on such factors as gender, race, ethnicity,

immigration status, Indigenous status, or income level. Women dying in childbirth is not just a public health

emergency – it is also a human rights crisis.

Amnesty International has identified the obstacles to accessing maternal health care faced by pregnant women

around the world, including in the United States, where women face a greater risk of dying in childbirth than

do women in forty-nine other countries, and the maternal mortality rate among African-American women is al-

most four times higher than that of white women.

The United States Congress now has an opportunity to address these tragic statistics. In March, Representative

John Conyers (D-MI) introduced the Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011. This vital piece of legislation

can make a real difference in the lives of pregnant women.

Congress should act quickly to pass the Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011 into law.

A lack of adequate attention to maternal health continues to take the lives of hundreds of thousands of women

and girls each year, and denies countless others their dignity. As Mamoud Fathalla, past president of the Inter-

national Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said:

“Women are not dying of diseases we can’t treat… They are dying because societies have yet to make the deci-

sion that their lives are worth saving.”

Lawmakers need to know that women’s lives ARE worth saving. I urge Representative [Insert name of your Rep-

resentative] to take action today and become a cosponsor of the Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011

and support it when it comes to the floor of the House OR (if your member is already a cosponsor) I applaud

Representative [insert name of your Representative] for demonstrating his/her commitment to maternal health

by cosponsoring and supporting the Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011.

[Add a once sentence description of the author]

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SAMPLE BLOG POST

Help Stop Preventable Maternal Deaths

By [Your Name, Group No., Amnesty International USA]

As you are reading this post, two women will die giving birth.

That’s because every ninety seconds, a woman – most likely living in poverty – dies from complications related

to pregnancy or childbirth. That’s almost 1000 women every day, more than 350,000 women each year. The

vast majority of these deaths are preventable. Though the majority of these deaths occur in developing coun-

tries, developed nations are not immune.

These deaths represent violations of essential human rights, including the right to the highest attainable stan-

dard of health, and the right to freedom from discrimination based on such factors as gender, race, ethnicity,

immigration status, Indigenous status, or income level. Women dying in childbirth is not just a public health

emergency – it is also a human rights crisis.

For many of us, maternal mortality may seem a distant and incomprehensible concern. “Women don’t really

die giving birth anymore, do they?” we think. And, “That’s something that happened in the middle ages, not

now.” Women dying in childbirth, however, is not a long-forgotten risk, it is not an isolated incident, and it is

not restricted to far off lands. Nearly a thousand women die each day attempting to give life, including in the

US, and many more suffer irreparable harm from near misses.

The United States Congress now has an opportunity to address these tragic statistics. In March, Representative

John Conyers (D-MI) introduced the Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011. This vital piece of legislation

can make a real difference in the lives of pregnant women.

Congress should act quickly to pass the Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011 into law.

A lack of adequate attention to maternal health continues to take the lives of hundreds of thousands of women

and girls each year, and denies countless others their dignity. As Mamoud Fathalla, past president of the Inter-

national Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said:

“Women are not dying of diseases we can’t treat… They are dying because societies have yet to make the deci-

sion that their lives are worth saving.”

Constituents now have an opportunity to let lawmakers know that women’s lives ARE worth saving, and that

they want more to be done to address maternal mortality both in the United States and around the world. They

can take action to stop maternal deaths by urging their members of Congress to co-sponsor and support the

Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011. [Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011] for a link to email

your member of Congress, urging them to cosponsor and support this legislation.

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Stand up for MoMS thiS Mother’S day.

Save the date!

every 90 SecondS A womAn dieS from complicAtionS of child birth.

we cAn chAnge thAt.

Local Contact Information

Event Details

this mother’s day, join the demand dignity campaign in shining a light on the human rights crisis of maternal mortality, by participating in events in your community!

find more eventS online todAy by viSiting aMneStyuSa.org/MotherSday or uSe the contAct info below.

Mother's Day 2011 Maternal Health Event

Name City State Zip Email Phone

Jane Smith Anytown NY 12345 [email protected] 123-456-7890

MOTHER’S DAY 2011 EVENT REPORT FORM Thank you for taking action in support of the right to maternal health this Mother’s Day! The following

information will be used by the Demand Dignity Campaign to record all Mother’s Day events held by groups and

members. Please submit this form to the Demand Dignity team no later than 30 days following your event by

email to [email protected]. Events submitted prior to June 1st will be considered for inclusion as a

feature in our upcoming Demand Dignity Monthly Digest!

Group name: __________________________________________ Group #: ___________

Contact person: __________________________________________

Contact email: __________________________________________

Contact phone: __________________________________________ work home cell

Event name: __________________________________________ Event date: ___________

Event location: ______________________________________________________________________

Event details (including speakers and topics):

Number of attendees: __________________________________________________________

Was there media coverage? yes no (if yes, please send copies of all media articles, footage, or links to the Demand Dignity team)

Which action(s) did participants take? _______________________________________________

How many actions were taken by participants? _______________________________________________

Would other materials have been useful at your event? If so, what kinds of materials?

Additional comments:

Don’t forget to send us pictures from your event so we can share them with fellow Dignity activists!


Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 3 million supporters, members, and activists in more than 150 countries and territories who campaign to end grave abuses of human rights. Our vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. We are independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest, or religion, and are funded mainly by our membership and public donations.

AmnestyAmnesty International’s Demand Dignity Campaign works to end the human rights abuses that imprison people in poverty. One prior-ity is the human rights scandal of maternal mortality, which takes the life of one woman every 90 seconds - 99% of them in develop-ing countries - in deaths that are almost always preventable. In the United States, it is more dangerous to give birth than in 49 other countries, and African-American women are at almost four times greater risk than white women.

day 2011 - amnesty international usa · 2019-12-17 · tary on maternal health—no woman, no...

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