WORLD FEDERATION OF UKRAINIAN WOMEN ORGANIZATIONS
CALL TO ACTION
SOLIDARITY with NADIYA SAVCHENKO Hunger Strike
March 8 2015 – International Women’s Day
The World Federation of Ukrainian Women Organizations calls upon women around the world to unite in support of Nadiya Savchenko on March 8 – International Women’s Day – by joining Nadiya Savchenko in her hunger strike for one day.
In June 2014, Nadiya Savchenko, a Ukrainian military pilot and former officer of the Ukrainian army, serving in a Ukrainian volunteer battalion in eastern Ukraine, was captured by Russian terrorists and illegally transferred to Russia.
She is being held in prison in Moscow where she awaits a trial date in May 2015 on charges that she provided the coordinates of two Russian journalists who were killed in a mortar attack in the Luhansk region. Savchenko denies the charges and cell phone records confirm that she was in the custody of Russian forces when the journalists were killed.
Since December 13, 2014, Nadia has been on a hunger strike protesting her illegal detention. She has lost 17 kilograms (37 pounds) or 26% of her body weight. Her situation is critical.
The UN Commissioner for Human Rights and governments across the world have called for Savchenko’s immediate release.
Show your support for Nadiya Savchenko by joining this international hunger strike. Notify local media to bring attention to Nadiya’s critical situation and call for her immediate release. Local events can include demonstrations, marches, vigils or meetings in community centres or even private homes. Invite a speaker, send articles to local newspapers, issue a media advisory, publicize your event on social media, send messages of support to Nadiya, upload photos and reports about your event to the Nadiya Savchenko Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/nadiyasavchenko1).
Donations equivalent to the cost of food you would have consumed on this day can be made to the Patriot Defence Fund (www.patriotdefence.org) in support of Ukraine’s army.
Join us in supporting Nadiya. Together we can make a difference.
For information contact:
Renata Roman Oksana Rewa
Vice President, Ukrainian Canadian Congress – National Ukrainian Canadian Congress Toronto