Amnesty International will launch its annual global letter-writing campaign on December 10, Human Rights Day, to fight injustice and support people whose human rights are threatened at a time when the global order is at stake.
As wars intensify in the Middle East and Sudan and anti-abortion rhetoric and policies continue, activists from around the world are risking their lives to speak out against oppression and injustice. Many were threatened, imprisoned and even killed. This year’s “Write for Rights” campaign targets people whose human rights have been violated. Joel Paredes from Argentina was blinded by a rubber bullet while protesting peacefully in his hometown of Humahuaca; Manaher Al-Otaibi from Saudi Arabia Manahel al-Otaibi was jailed after freely expressing his views on social media, while Wet’suwet’en land defenders were convicted of protecting their ancestral lands in Canada.
“By writing letters, signing petitions and sharing stories, you can support activists whose lives are at risk.
Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnès Callama
“People are imprisoned, shot, tortured, forcibly disappeared and murdered simply for defending human rights, protesting or expressing anxiety about the state of the world. This is intolerable. In a world of ongoing conflict, shrinking civil space and an increasingly severe climate In emergencies, we need their voices to be heard more than ever,” said Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnès Callamard.
“By writing letters, signing petitions and sharing stories, you can support activists whose lives are at risk and demand that governments stop suppressing rights and freedoms. You can demand justice and hold governments accountable. Those responsible for human rights abuses Responsible people thrive in silence and indifference. They shrink when we come together, speak out, organize, and unite to overcome the divisions they create. So join us in taking a stand for human rights.
defend human rights
This year, Amnesty International’s Write for Rights campaign will support many individuals and groups defending human rights. Individually and collectively, they represent the world we want, not the world we live in.
- Neth Nahara from Angola was jailed for criticizing the president on TikTok.
- Wet’suwet’en land defenders from Canada fight to protect their ancestral lands.
- Joel Paredes from Argentina was blinded by a rubber bullet during a peaceful protest.
- Kyung Seok Park, from South Korea, fights for the rights of people with disabilities.
- Dang Dinh Bach from Vietnam was imprisoned for protecting the environment.
- Maryia Kalesnikava from Belarus was kidnapped and imprisoned for demanding change.
- Manahel al-Otaibi from Saudi Arabia was imprisoned for supporting women’s rights.
- Oqba Hashad, from Egypt, was detained and tortured for his brother’s activities.
- Şebnem Korur Fincancı, from Türkiye, was convicted for defending human rights.
Şebnem Korur Fincancı is currently awaiting the outcome of her appeal against an unfair sentence, but she remains hopeful about humanity. A forensic expert, she has decades of experience documenting torture in Türkiye and around the world. Sebnem was attending a conference on prisons and health issues in Germany when a reporter asked her about the use of chemical weapons by the Turkish armed forces. She saw some footage and asked what she thought about it. Later, during a brief live television appearance where she was asked to comment on the images, she said the footage suggested the use of chemical gases and called for an independent investigation.
Sebnem said: “The Turkish political authorities said that I committed a serious crime and that I defamed the Turkish Armed Forces and they will deal with me accordingly.” “In 2023, they found me guilty. [terrorist] I was publicized and sentenced to two years, eight months and fifteen days. The case is now before the Supreme Court of Appeal, which is likely to uphold my conviction. My only fear was the fear of giving in. As long as I don’t bow my head, I’ll keep hope alive.
give people hope
Over the past few years, Amnesty International’s supporters have made a real difference to people’s lives, bringing hope in the darkest of times.
From Brazil to Guatemala, from Kyrgyzstan to Zimbabwe, activists are freed and justice is served – as in the case of Rita Karasartova, a human rights defender and expert on civil governance from Kyrgyzstan .
For over a decade, Rita has dedicated her life to providing independent legal advice to people whose rights are violated by a corrupt and unreliable legal system. Rita was arrested along with 26 others in October 2022 for opposing a new border agreement that gave control of freshwater reservoirs to Uzbekistan and accused of trying to “violently overthrow the government”. Rita participated in Amnesty International’s “Write for Rights” campaign last year, and following calls from people around the world, Rita and at least 21 other defendants were acquitted on June 14, 2024.
“Your prompt action – these petitions, the signatures and the numerous letters sent to the courts and the prosecutor’s office are very powerful,” Rita said. “This gives us all strength. The acquittal was completely unexpected. We had been imagining all kinds of scenarios and different outcomes in our minds, but we didn’t expect that we would all be acquitted! Thank you everyone.
Join this year’s event and become part of a community committed to making the world a more just and compassionate place. Join Write for Rights today.
