Amnesty's Write for Rights

To mark the world’s largest human rights event, Amnesty International Australia is partnering with the local community for the annual Write for Rights at Clancy’s Fish Pub Fremantle from 6pm, December 1.

Twenty years ago, a small group of Amnesty activists in Poland held a letter-writing marathon – the first Write for Rights.

From 2326 letters in 1991 to 4.5 million letters, tweets, petition signatures and more in 2020, Write for Rights supporters have united behind a common purpose: backing people no matter where they are in the world.

Together, they’ve helped transform the lives of more than 100 people over the years, freeing them from torture, harassment or unjust imprisonment.

Amnesty International Australia Campaigner Nikita White said Write for Rights was a powerful way for ordinary people to mobilise to create positive change.

“Amnesty International has more than 50 years of proven experience helping people at risk,” she said.

“We know letter writing works. Every year, thousands of people are saved from human rights abuses thanks to letters from people like those in the Fremantle, Melville and Cockburn communities.”

Amnesty International Fremantle welcomes members of the community to join them in the largest human rights event in the world – and pizzas will also be provided.

Email fremantleamnesty@gmail.com for enquiries. Clancy’s Fish Pub is at 51 Cantonment Street, Fremantle.

2021 Write for Rights cases
Write for Rights is a chance to chance to challenge injustice and make a difference in the cases below:

- Mikita from Belarus was wrongfully arrested at a protest when he was 16 years old and sentenced to five years in prison.

- Zhang took to social media to tell the truth about COVID-19 in China. She was detained and sentenced to four years in prison.

- Mohamed is a human rights lawyer in Egypt who has been falsely accused of terrorism, and locked in prison for defending the rights of marginalised people.

- Ciham, born in the US, was arrested and disappeared when trying to flee Eritrea. She has been missing for nine years, with no action from the US government.

- In Guatemala, Bernado has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison for his involved in a peaceful protest in protection of his people’s land.

- 15-year-old Palestinian Janna lives in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. She began documenting military violations at age seven and has been harassed and threatened for it ever since.

- Wendy was marching in a Women’s Rights protest in Mexico where she was wounded by shots fired by police. Those responsible for the violence have not been brought to justice.

- In 2020, Imoleayo joined other young people on the streets of Nigeria to protest police violence. Two weeks later, he was arrested in his home and locked in an underground cell for 41 days.

- University student Rung has been vocal about equality and freedom of expression in Thailand. In March 2021, she was jailed for 60 days. She faces dozens of charges against her and life in prison.

- In recent years, Sphere NGO in the Ukraine has suffered dozens of attacks by violent anti-LGBTQIA+ groups, with no one being held accountable.