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Write for rights
Join us in making the world more just. Use your voice to stand up for those who are punished for using theirs!
What is Write for Rights?
Write for Rights is the world's largest letter-writing campaign. People in 180 countries write millions of letters each year to support people who are being harassed, threatened, and wrongfully imprisoned. Together we create change: innocent prisoners are released, and people in danger receive protection.
On this page, you will find suggestions on how you can create attention around this year's Write for Rights- persons and the human rights violations they are a victim of. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Carina.
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Take action and protect their rights today
Shahnewaz Chowdhury
Shahnewaz is an engineer and environmental activist from Bangladesh, who uses Facebook to express his opinions. He wrote a critical Facebook post about a coal-fired power plant in his town, and encouraged youth to protest against the coal-fired power plant. In the same post, he also criticized police violence against protesters. 12 people were killed while demonstrating against the power plant. Shahnewaz is accused of spreading false information and creating chaos. If found guilty, he risks up to ten years in prison.
Netsai Marova
Netsai was a student and activist in Zimbabwe. She fought for cheaper school meals and access to housing for students from poor families. In May 2020, Netsai and her friends Cecillia and Joanah led a protest against the government, due to the poor handling of the corona pandemic, and hunger in the country. Shortly afterward, all three were abducted and subjected to torture by the police. They were found in a ditch two days later, with marks of abuse. Now the women are accused of lying about the abduction and the torture they were subjected to. All of them are now risking five years in prison for false testimony, and for the protest they led.
Aleksandra (Sasha) Skochilenko
Aleksandra is a popular artist in Russia. She makes a living by writing songs and comics. She has also written a book about mental health issues. When Russia invaded Ukraine, Aleksandra protested against the illegal war. She did so by swapping price tags with anti-war slogans in the supermarket. In Russia, it is forbidden to criticize Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Aleksandra was therefore imprisoned for what she did. She is risking 10 years in prison. We are worried for Aleksandra's health in prison. She has celiac disease and is not offered an appropriate diet. This can lead to organ failure or auto-immune diseases.
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara
Luis is a famous Cuban artist and activist. Dancing and painting are among the things he is known for. He is fighting for artists' freedom of speech and has participated in many protests about this. Luis was arrested during a free speech protest in 2021. He is now risking seven years in prison, just for protesting peacefully.
What you can do
National Write for rights competition
Do you have a creative side? This year we are giving out an award to the Amnesty group, school class, or individual who creates something creative to put focus on Netsai, Luis, Shahnewaz, and Aleksandra's situation. What you want to do is entirely up to you. It can be anything from drawing - to dancing or juggling. Only the imagination sets the limits. Send a picture or video of your contribution to [email protected] and write “SFL konkurranse” in the subject field. The winner will be announced in January.
Write a letter of solidarity
The purpose of a letter of solidarity is to show support to people fighting a hard battle for both their own and others' human rights.
We encourage you to invite friends, colleagues, family, or your Amnesty group to write letters together.
Are you struggling to find the right words and want to sign pre-written letters to the authorities in Bangladesh, Cuba, Russia, or Zimbabwe? These can be found further down on the page.
Send the letters to Grensen 3, 0159 Oslo. Mark the envelope with “Amnesty International Norway, Write for Rights," and the name of the person the letters are to. The deadline for submitting letters is January 5th.
Dress up in Luis`s favorite color on his birthday
Luis Manuel loves the color pink, and he is often seen in pink suits. Dress up in pink on December 2nd and post it on social media in honor of Luis.
Tag Luis Manuel
Twitter: @LMOAlcantara
Facebook: Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara
Instagram: @luismanuel.oteroalcantara
Post the Facebook status Shahnewaz got arrested for
Follow in his footsteps and post the same on your social media followed by the text “for writing this on Facebook, Shahnewaz Chowdhury risks several years in prison”.
Tag Shahnewaz on Twitter: @Shahnewaz9
Organize a trip against torture
Make a poster with information about the torture Netsai experienced in Zimbabwe. Invite friends along for a walk in the area you live in and take pictures of yourselves holding these posters. Post the photos on your social media with the hashtag #JusticeForNetsai.
Tag Netsai on Twitter: @MarovaNetsai
Stunt
Aleksandra was arrested for spreading what the Russian authorities believed to be false information about the war in Ukraine. Stand up for the injustice Aleksandra is experiencing by printing out information about Aleksandra`s story and attach it to groceries in a store.
Contact the management in the store in advance of the stunt to ask for permission.
Tag Aleksandra on Instagram: @skochilenko
Organize a free speech event
All of this year`s Write for Right- persons have in common that they are experiencing sanctions for using one of the most basic human rights, freedom of speech.
Creating awareness about freedom of speech can be anything from inviting your closest friends to a bonfire in nature where you sit down and talk about the possibilities and limitations of freedom of speech to arranging a seminar or debate in the city where you live.
If you wish to organize a large event, you should consult with the regional manager in the area in which you live.
Print out pictures of Netsai, Luis, Aleksandra and Shahnewaz
Invite your Amnesty group to a photo shoot where you hold their pictures up in front of your own.
Tell their story and encourage your followers to write letters to Luis, Netsai, Aleksandra, and Shahnewaz so they know there are many people out there who care about them.
Write an article in the local newspaper/ student paper
When people have their rights violated, it is important to let the world hear about them. You can contribute to this by writing an article about one of this year`s Write for Rights persons.
It is often very helpful to have someone else look over your article. Send a draft to your regional office to get help along the way.
Do you have questions or need guidance?
Contact the responsible for Write for Rights in your region, below