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 background.

Linda MacDonald, MEd, BN

I was born in Charlottetown, P.E.I, Canada into a family of domestic violence 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 two grandgirls. I have worked as a hospital based nurse, community health nurse and home care coordinator. I am now retired from my nursing career. 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 a 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 all across the Canadian Arctic, eventually moving back to Nova Scotia. My family has enlarged to include one grandson. I enjoy travelling, 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.

Nursing Awards and Nominations

In 2013, The College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia selected Linda for the Excellence in Nursing Clinical Practice Award.

In 2003, we were nominated for the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia Client/Public Health Advocacy Award in recognition for our education and activism advocating for recognizing the human rights violation of ritual abuse-torture, a form of non-State torture.

In 1998, Linda and Jeanne were nominated for the Registered Nurses Association of Nova Scotia Client/Public Health Advocacy Award for our work with the Anaphylaxis Support Group and in creating safe environments in schools.

In 1991, the Registered Nurses Association of Nova Scotia presented Jeanne with the Excellence in Nursing Practice Award.