Who We Are  About Us

We are Self-funded Independent Scholars, Human Right Educators & Defenders, Researchers, Grassroot Supporters and Listeners of Atrocities

Our work includes: Supporting the Human Rights of Women who have survived Non-State Torture, International Human Rights Education, Speaking, Consulting, Research, Activism, Writing, and Listening to those who have survived atrocity. We both have a nursing and educational background. 

Linda MacDonald, MEd, BN

I was born in Charlottetown, P.E.,  Canada into a violent family and have worked very hard to free my-Self from the effects of such victimization and trauma. I am married and have three adult children, one son, two daughters and three grandgirls. I have worked as a hospital based nurse, community health nurse and home care coordinator. I love to travel, cook and try different foods, watch movies and documentaries and have a good laugh. I believe very strongly that the United Nations is integral to our evolution as a species. .  People ask me how I maintain the energy to do the human rights work of exposing sexualized violence, including non-State torture (NST). My answer is I have known since I was a little girl of three how wrong violence in families is and that no child should be trapped in such suffering. I do this work because I am incensed with the reality of global misogyny and sexualized violence, and because I care about my adult children, grandchildren and the children of the world wanting a better life for them all. Till my last days I plan to continue to stand for the human rights and liberation of women and children to be treated as persons with respect and dignity and to have NST recognized as a crime and human rights violation in the 21st Century.

Jeanne Sarson, MEd, BScN

I was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and am of Acadian-Metis descent. I only knew my father as an extremely violent and misogynistic man. My mother, was a pioneer woman in that she moved out of the social norm of the time and became a single mother raising my younger brother and me. Following my nursing education, I nursed in St. John, New Brunswick then moved to Inuvik, Northwest Terrorities, where I married. My partner and I honeymooned on Hershel Island, in the Beaufort Sea, which was inhabited temporarily by three Inuit families. Our twin sons were born in Whitehorse, Yukon. In total, my partner and I spent 11 years working and living in small isolated communities across the Canadian Arctic, eventually moving back to Nova Scotia. My family has enlarged to include one grandson, and one great-granddaughter. I enjoy traveling, gardening, and express my creativity writing about NST with the 'dream' that one day I will see the world embrace the elimination of all forms of relational violence including NST. 

Awards and Nominations

In 2026 we were recognized by https://womensenews.org/ as honorees of the Champions of Human Rights Award for our activism and writings related to the human rights violation of non-State torture (NST).

In 2017 we were chosen by the Women’s Peacepower Foundation for the Women of Peace Award highlighting our advocacy work focused on non-State torture (NST) and human trafficking.

In 2015 the Canadian Federation of University of Women  (CFUW) gave us their first International Relations Award for our focus on the prevention of violence against women and girls. In particular, it centered on gaining the human right equality not to be subjected to torture that is perpetrated by private individuals or groups, such as that inflicted within families, by carers of children, human traffickers, pimps and pornographers. Truro women receive International Relations Award | PNI Atlantic News

In 2003 we were nominated for the College of Registered of Nova Scotia client public advocacy award.

In 1998 we were nominated for the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia nursing award related to anaphylaxis awareness.

In 1991 Jeanne was awarded by the Nova Scotia Registered Nurses Association an Excellence Nursing Award in Clinical Practice.

How have we stayed with this work so long?

We go to sleep each night knowing that there are babies being born into this world forced to live the reality of daily torture and suffering, and that these infants and children have no one to speak for them. We stay with the issue of non-State torture for them—the wee ones.

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