B’nai Brith Canada ran this ad below in Saturday’s National Post, which it said "goes to the heart of our advocacy messaging on human rights in the world today, and the hypocrisy of those who ignore abuses worldwide in order to falsely target the Jewish State."

Syria is known for torture of dissidents, slaughter of unarmed protestors, targeting of the Kurdish minority, and persecution of women, who are subject to oppressive laws that remove their financial rights if they refuse marital relations with their husbands, or leave their homes or get a job without their husband’s consent.

Mass slaughter and rape by government-backed Arab Janjaweed against Black civilians in Darfur has left a sea of human misery in its wake. Though the civil war is over, slavery is still rampant, with Black slaves captured by the North during the hostilities yet to be returned to their homes.Shooting of protestors, hauling civilians before military courts and torture of detainees are common occurrences in Egypt.

Religious persecution of Christian Copts, the Islamic minority Ahmadiyya sect, and the Baha’i is ongoing. Homosexuals have been arrested and imprisoned in recent years under laws prohibiting “debauchery” or “shameless public acts”.

Mock trials and imprisonment of human rights activists, journalists and aid workers are ongoing; they face mistreatment, torture or even death in custody. There is endemic persecution of the Baha’i minority, homosexuals face the death penalty, and those who want to create independent trade unions, or women who campaign for equal treatment under the law, are brutally repressed.

Over 100,000 stateless Bidun residents are denied citizenship, as well as health-care, education and jobs. Migrant domestic workers are abused and restrictive codes of conduct for interactions between males and females are rigorously enforced. The authorities do not allow freedom of expression and assembly.

Torture is used against dissidents, students and members of the political opposition. Many Ethiopians live in abject poverty without access to clean water or health care, and NGO activity has been curtailed. Female genital mutilation continues to be practiced.

“Honour killings” and other violence against women go unpunished. Rape, sexual assault and beatings are used to enforce restrictions on women’s fundamental human rights.

Countless Somalis have been displaced in a 21-year conflict that has crippled the economy and led to widespread famine and drought. Targeted rape is rampant, as are stonings, floggings and amputations, recruitment of child soldiers and human trafficking.

Domestic violence against women is condoned, and the gay community has been targeted by a bill making its way through parliament that threatens homosexual “repeat offenders” with life imprisonment. Police use torture, extortion and extrajudicial killings as tools of repression.

Everyday, in countries around the world, horrible atrocities and untold suffering take place. Torture and slaughter of protesters in Syria. Murder and rape in the Sudan. Religious oppression in Iran and Egypt. In many countries, stoning, genital mutilation, persecution of homosexuals and “honour” killings. The need to protest injustice and offer a helping hand is overwhelming.Why then, in this world of crisis and abuse, are unions, church groups, gay and lesbian advocates and self-styled human rights activists obsessed with sending “flotillas” to Gaza, using the ruse of sending aid simply to deliver politicized messaging against the Jewish State?

Can someone explain to them that there are victimized and destitute people across the globe, who really need their help? People who really need someone to speak out on their behalf? How heartbreaking that the only answer they get is yet another flotilla to Gaza.

It’s time to send aid to those who need it and to speak out about the real human rights abuses in today’s world.