Amnesty International invites the public to the 2021 writing marathons
of his campaign WRITE FOR RIGHTS:
Writing messages to change lives
Amnesty International invites the public to participate in the 20th edition of Write for Rights, the world’s largest human rights event, which runs from 22 November 2021 to 31 January 2022. Every December, people around the world write millions of messages of hope to people unjustly incarcerated or persecuted.
This year, Chloé Savoie-Bernard, author and poet, and Mariana Djelo Baldé, author and content creator, join Amnesty as spokespersons and demand justice for 10 new individuals and groups who are showing courage to defend their rights. Among them are an environmental defender imprisoned in Guatemala for campaigning against the destruction of one of his country’s sacred rivers, a 15-year-old girl who disappeared in Eritrea, and a citizen journalist imprisoned in China for publishing information about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Success of the campaign
Writing letters really helps to make changes for people whose case is highlighted by the Write, It Liberates campaign. Since 2001, 127 people have been released. Last year, more than 4,496,875 actions and messages were sent and this had a concrete impact.
· In Saudi Arabia, women’s rights defender Nassima al-Sada, imprisoned for her activism, was finally released
· In Burundi, after four years behind bars, human rights defender Germain Rukuki was released in June
· In Chile, during protests against the government, Gustavo Gatica was blinded by an officer. Following the numerous actions, the officer in question was arrested and charged for his crime.
· In Myanmar, Paing Phyo Min, a 23-year-old comedian, was jailed for criticizing the military in a show. Sentenced to more than six years in prison, he was finally released thanks to the actions of the campaign.
· In Algeria, Khaled Drareni was imprisoned for 11 months because of his work, but the thousands of cards sent made it possible to free him.
