Write for Rights 2023
Write for life is the world's largest letter-writing campaign.
On this page, you will find information on what you can do in addition to writing letters to raise awareness about the human rights violations that Ahmed, Narges, Rocky, Justyna, and Thapelo are subjected to.
Because the world is changed by people - like you!
On this page, you will find information on what you can do in addition to writing letters to raise awareness about the human rights violations that Ahmed, Narges, Rocky, Justyna, and Thapelo are subjected to.
Because the world is changed by people - like you!
Viktig informasjon
This is an action circular, a tool for you as an activist to work on this campaign.
The guide is an aid, not a recipe you must follow to the letter. There is room for creativity in how you can raise awareness about the individuals and human rights abuses they are victims of.
If you have any questions, contact the regional office where you live. You can find their contact information at the bottom of the page.
På
RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THEIR CASES
The more people informed about the cases we advocate for, the more will get involved. Increased engagement gives us a greater chance to influence their cases. Take the initiative to do something creative that captures people's attention. This can be done as an individual or in collaboration with your group
WRITE FOR LIFE AWARD 2023
This year's 'Write for Rights' award goes to the individual who submits the most compelling readers post/ opinion piece about one of the people we are advocating for this year. This can be sent to for example a newspaper.
HEART STUNT: THE GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA
Send a heart by mail to the Governor of Alabama, Kay Ivey. Decorate the heart and write messages such as "SAVE ROCKY." Feel free to include a personal letter expressing your thoughts and demanding a halt to the execution.
Address
Kay Ivey
Office of the Governor
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36130
USA
Contact Kay Ivey on social media
Facebook: @KayIveyAL
Instagram: @governorkayivey
Twitter: @GovernorKayIvey"
PROTEST AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
Join us and express opposition to the use of the death penalty!
Apply for permission from the municipality to hold an event in a square or another well-visited location, followed by a torchlight procession. Before the torchlight procession, you can give speeches and collect signatures for Rocky. Feel free to distribute posters to attendees with images and messages highlighting Rocky's case and the issues surrounding the death penalty.
You can either create your own posters in Canva (ask the regional office for access), organize a poster workshop beforehand, or contact the regional office to check if they can provide ready-made posters.
On the posters, you can include slogans such as "NO TO THE DEATH PENALTY," focus on Rocky's unjust trial, marked by racism, with the slogan "BLACK LIVES STILL MATTER," or print out the human rights abuses Rocky has been a victim of.
If you have access to a gas mask or jumpsuit, you may consider decorating statues along the route or wearing it yourself.
STAND
Let each person who visits your stand and signs the petition light a candle.
SOCIAL MEDIA / POSTERS
Use the platforms you are on to spread the stories of the individuals we are advocating for!
You can create your own posts for social media (SoMe) and posters for events in Canva. Contact a staff member in your region to get access.
Here's how:
- Log in to Canva.
- Click on "create design" and choose whether you want to create a poster, Instagram story/post, etc.
- Go to "brand" in the left margin.
- Explore "photos" and "graphics" to find files you want to use.
- Reach out to a staff member at the regional office if you have any questions.
- You can also use the posts created centrally and by activists (see attachments).
IMPORTANT DATES
You can, of course, post and campaign throughout the entire Write for Rights period, but it may be beneficial to generate extra attention beforehand and on dates relevant to events in the world.
- Formula 1 in Abu Dhabi: November 26th
- UN Climate Meeting in Dubai: November 30th - December 12th
- National Day in the Emirates. Pardons are occasionally granted to inmates on this day: December 2nd
- International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: November 25th"
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights turns 75: December 10th
- Protest agains the death penalty: November 30th
- International Human Rights Defenders Day: December 9th.
- The Nodel Peace Prize celebrations: December 10th
BANNERDROP
Create captivating banners with slogans about this year's Write for Rights candidates. Hang them in prominent places such as building facades and along busy roads.
It's important that you ensure the banner is securely fastened so that it does not affect safety.
Some examples of slogans:
- Justice for Justyna
- #ProtectThapelo
- Stop the execution of Rocky
- Support Justyna's fight for women's rights. DEMAND JUSTICE IN POLAND!
- Free Ahmed #PrisonerOfConscience
- #SaveRocky from the gas chamber in Alabama
- Mother of two sentenced to 154 lashes: Women's rights in Iran NOW!"
EXHIBITION AND CREATIVE ACTIVISM
Are you skilled at writing poems, painting, drawing, or simply eager to do something creative? Create an exhibition that visually represents the individuals we are advocating for. For instance, you can display pictures of them with a call for writing messages around the images.
Consider where you would like to host the exhibition and if you have any natural partners to contact. This could include galleries, libraries, or cultural centers.
Ahmed is a poet and has written several poems translated into English. These can be displayed at an exhibition or read aloud at events. You can find excerpts of the poems he has posted on Twitter here, eller bruke følgende eksempler på sitater:
“There is no way that we can measure the public opinion here [in the UAE] because there is no free will. People are afraid to talk. At the same time, people are not going to stop. We are not going to stop, we have to continue […] Removing one stone from the mountain is better than keeping the mountain as it is…”
“The only way to counter repression is by revealing it. And yes, there is always that possibility that I will go back to jail. But if [activists] do not talk, who will?”
Write solidarity letters!
You can gather your group, a bunch of friends, or organize a larger event where you write letters together.
In previous years, several activists have also had great success in organizing letter-writing marathons—an event where you aim to write as many letters as possible in a specific period.
The deadline for submitting solidarity letters is January 5th. Amnesty Norway collects all the letters at our main office in Oslo and forwards them to our international secretariat in London. They are then delivered to the individuals we are advocating for or their families.
You can also deliver letters to the regional office in your area. See contact information further down the page.
Address
P.O. Box 702 Sentrum, 0106 Oslo
GINGERBREAD CITY
Many cities collect contributions to built a city of gingerbread. Perhaps you could bake something that puts focus on one of the persons we are advocating for this year?
In Stavanger, a youth group submitted a contribution that was meant to resemble the Abortion Dream Team van. It had a poster with a QR code linking to Justyna's case hanging beside it.
If it's not organized where you live, there's nothing stopping you from initiating it yourself. Contact places like the cultural center, cultural school, community center, and schools to see if anyone wants to collaborate, both with baking and local support for the stunt."
MOVIE TIPS
What better way to delve into a theme than to explore it through movies and series? These films and series can be watched alone, with your group, or as part of larger collaborative projects. If you're considering showing the film to a larger audience, make sure you have the necessary rights in place beforehand.
- Dead Man Walking- Tim Robbins
- Dancer in the Dark- Lars von Trier
- The Life of David Gale- Alan Parker
- Little Woods- Nia DaCosta
- 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days- Cristian Mungiu
- Obvious Child- Gillian Robespierre
- White torture- Narges Mohammadi
- Until We Are Free- hirin Ebad
MARK THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Get in touch with the local cinema in your area and inquire if they are interested in hosting a screening about reproductive rights on November 25th.
Before the film, you can talk about Justyna's case. It's also possible to invite a panel discussion or debate after the film if you have the capacity to organize it.
Bilde
Carina Sibe Kråkenes
Organisasjonsutvikler i region Sør og Vest
E-post
Tlf
Bilde
Bilde
Tanja Clifford
Regionleder vest
E-post
Bilde
Bilde
