Amnesty International Canadian Section (English-Speaking) is seeking interested and qualified members to join our Board of Directors and to do the important governance work that keeps our organization healthy and able to carry out its human rights work. 

 

We are also seeking qualified candidates to participate in Amnesty’s global governance structures as a member of our 2026 Global Assembly Delegation. 

Amnesty International Canadian Section (English Speaking) operates as democratic association where its members vote for their governance leadership on the Board of Directors and Global Delegation. To have your name on the ballot and partake in the election, it is required that you are a member of the association. To become a member, you must have donated any amount to Amnesty this year and informed us of your choice to join. More information can be found here: https://amnesty.ca/who-we-are/members/ 

 

Positions Open for Nomination (please note that these are all volunteer positions): 

 

Board of Directors (7 positions) 

The Chair's overall responsibility is to provide leadership and direction to the Board and staff. The person serves as an ex-officio member of all Board committees and chairs the Annual General Meeting. The Chair also maintains regular contact with the Secretary General and Executive Director and liaises with the International Board and International Secretariat. 

Directors attend and actively participate in Board meetings and the Annual General Meeting. They approve the annual budget for the Branch, review and assess annual financial statements, mandates, and strategic plans, and participate in and/or lead various committees. 

About the Board 

Amnesty International Canada’s Board of Directors is made up of 10 elected members who volunteer their time to service as fiduciaries who steer the organization towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, as well as by making sure Amnesty International Canadian Section (English Speaking) has adequate resources to advance its mission. 

 

The Board monitors progress towards our strategic plan, approves the allocation of resources, and provides oversight to the work of senior management to ensure our objectives are implemented and finances are appropriately managed. The Board also provides governance to the organization, leadership, and direction throughout the year and implementing decisions made by the membership at the Annual General Meeting. 

 

The Board is also responsible for participating in global governance and ensuring our section is complying with global policies and working in alignment with the global movement’s strategic goals and priorities. 

Time commitment for the Board positions requires a consistent availability of 10 hours per month on average for meetings (in EST) and committee work. In addition, Board members must be available for several in-person events throughout the year. The Board must also have capacity to handle any significant risks facing our organization in a timely fashion, which could include significant hours of work in short periods as necessary. 

Global Assembly (1 position): 

The Global Delegate, alongside the Chair of the Board and the Secretary General, represents our Amnesty International Canada (English Speaking) members at the international level of our movement during the Global Assembly and Regional Forum. 

 

About the Global Assembly 

 

The Global Assembly is Amnesty International's highest decision-making body and is the international equivalent to our Annual General Meeting. The Global Assembly is held annually and includes delegates from Amnesty Sections and Structures around the world. 

 

The Member Delegate will work with, prepare for, and attend the 2026 Global Assembly with the Amnesty Canada delegation, including preparation for the Amnesty International Regional Forum that will take place in the spring of 2026 prior to the Global Assembly in the fall. 

As the Global Member Delegate will be representing Amnesty International Canada (English Speaking) on the international level, it is vital for applicants to have a deep understanding of Amnesty’s work and experience within our movement. 

The monthly time commitment of the Global Delegate involves consulting with members and reading to prepare for the Regional Forum and Global Assembly in-person events which are several days each plus travel. On average it is 10 hours a month. 

Nominations Process, Deadlines and Contact Information 

All members interested in applying for the Board of Directors or Global Delegation must fill out the nominations form on or before the end of 14 APRIL 2025.  

Upon receiving all applications, the Nominations Committee will review all applications, confirm the membership status of candidates and their nominators, and write a report to Amnesty International Canada Section (English Speaking) membership that highlights all eligible and qualified candidates to serve on the Board or as a Member Delegate to the Global Assembly. Members will be able to review the Nominations Committee’s report and decide to vote for any eligible candidate at our Annual General Meeting, June 6-8th, 2025. This year’s Annual General Meeting is being held in-person in Toronto, Ontario. Attending the Annual General Meeting is encouraged but not mandatory for candidates.  

Should you have any questions, please reach out to nominations@amnesty.ca . Best of luck to all candidates! 

 

About Us 

 

Amnesty International is a movement of 10 million ordinary people in more than 150 countries who come together to achieve extraordinary results in defending and promoting human rights. We get discriminatory laws changed and prisoners of conscience released. We’ve helped stop torture, commute death sentences and worked to end violence against women. We are in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples demanding that their rights be respected. 

 

Our Commitment to Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression, Decolonization, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 

 

Amnesty International Canada prides itself in being an anti-racist organization. It welcomes and encourages applications from members of equity seeking groups including women, transgender, non-binary, and LGBTI individuals; First Nations, Metis, and Inuit individuals, persons with disabilities, and members of racialized and marginalized groups. We believe our work is stronger when it benefits from the experience, knowledge and wisdom of people who have faced systemic barriers and encourages applications from qualified candidates who have lived experience as a member of historically underrepresented communities. 

 

Amnesty International Canada values qualified diverse candidates who bring skills that contribute to our anti-racist and anti-oppression transformational journey. At Amnesty International Canada, everyone is expected to contribute to an inclusive environment and bring the knowledge, experience, and ability to incorporate anti-racism, anti-oppression, intersectionality, gender mainstreaming, inclusion, and accessibility practices to external and internal work and to all interpersonal interactions.