Write for Rights

Amnesty Groups around the world organised 'Write for Rights' events on 10th December, Human Rights Day.

write for rights 2011 - amnesty international

The idea was to hold letter-writing events on behalf of ten particular victims of human rights violations.

Every letter sent amplifies the call for freedom

Each one makes it harder for a president or police chief to ignore our appeals. We've helped thousands of prisoners of conscience claim their freedom

Taking part in Norwich

Here in Norwich, we held a 'Write for Rights' event at the Norwich Playhouse on December 10th 2011, between 10:30am and 4:30pm.

Between these times, people were invited to drop in and write a letter to governments around the world in support of one of the campaign appeal cases whose rights are being denied or abused.

Image Gallery

A number of photographs were taken on the day, which you can view via our Gallery page

Celebrity Support

Local actor Matilda Ziegler attended the event to write a letter in support of the ‘Write for Rights’ cases.

She has had leading roles in many plays and television programmes, including ‘Eastenders’, ‘Mr Bean’, ‘Lead Balloon’ and ‘Lark Rise to Candleford’.

This year’s Write for Rights Cases

For each letter we're asking you to write, Amnesty have produced a video of support explaining the case.

This years 10 cases include:

  • Zimbabwean women’s activist group Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) who are regularly intimidated, arrested and unlawfully detained when they take part in peaceful protests to demand basic rights [video]
  • Jabbar Savalan – a 20 year old history student in Azerbaijan who is being persecuted by the authorities and is serving a two-and-a-half year prison sentence in response to his peaceful anti-government activism, including comments he posted on Facebook [video]
  • 75 year old Hakamada Iwao – believed to be the world's longest serving death row inmate who's spent the last 43 years awaiting execution in Japan [video]

For a full list of this years 10 cases please visit www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=10673

Use your freedom of expression to stand up for the freedom of others - and encourage friends and family to do the same

Norwich Playhouse

42 - 58 St. George's Street
Norwich, NR3 1AB [map]

You can read more about Amnesty's Write for Rights for 2011 including all of this years cases at www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=10673

Press

For further information regarding this event please contact the Norwich & District Amnesty International Group via info@norwichamnesty.org.uk.

Take Part after 10th December

If you were not able to make an event on the 10th December, there is still time, Amnesty still need you writing.

Sending a card with a simple, personal greeting is a powerful way to show support for someone facing human rights abuse.

Every card matters.

Vist the Amnesty Greetings Card Campaign Cases 2011 page to see how you can continue to make a difference and make your voice heard where others can not.