Group 75 Oakville was founded in 1981 by Sandra DesCotes Onufryk, Wendy Belcher, and Dave Kinmond. Sandra was the group’s first chair. Group 75 has expanded over the years to include a Clarkson contingent and, recently, a Milton group.
We have had 17 prisoners of conscience assigned to us, imprisoned in countries such as Poland, East Germany, India, China, Czechoslovakia, and Indonesia. All 17 prisoners have been released.
Our group became part of the South American Regional Action Network. Today, in response to the changing nature of human rights violations around the globe, Amnesty has shifted its focus to systemic concerns that cross national boundaries. In 2007 we have, once again, been assigned a prisoner of conscience.
Group 75 has also participated in many national and international campaigns on topics such as ending political killings, torture, the death penalty, the disappeared, and refugees, and has worked on country campaigns for China, Sudan, and Namibia.
Group 75 continues to play an active role in the ongoing fight for human rights.