During Write for Rights 2019 millions of people around the world came together to change lives. Amnesty activists picked up their pens to combat injustices faced by 10 courageous young people, and that simple action is already making a difference.
Australia writes for rights
Almost 149,000 Australian Amnesty supporters took over 222,000 actions. Amnesty Action Groups held over 63 Write for Rights events; activists collected actions at U2’s Australia concerts and took the actions to the streets at blitzes in Adelaide.
In Melbourne, activists held their second annual letter writing marathon at the Melbourne Multicultural Hub. They were joined by an inspiring lineup of speakers including Simon Lewis, an Australian lifeguard who has worked migration routes in Europe. At the end of the day youth activists from the Centre for Multicultural Youth, School Strike 4 Climate, Seed, and Amnesty spoke on the future of human rights.
Action Groups also took Write for Rights to the newsroom and were featured in 12 articles reaching an audience of 270,000 Australians. The Townsville Group’s Write for Rights event was even featured on Win News!
Around the world
Around the world people took over 6,000,000 actions in nearly 70 countries. Activists in the UK held a football match in solidarity with Elyas, and the Youth Committee in Cote d’Ivoire held a marathon on the beach. Together, from Algeria to Venezuela, they pressured governments around the world to respect their rights.
Making a difference
When we mobilise, our movement can make a real difference in people’s lives. Every year, real change happens because of these actions, and 2019 was no different.
Yasaman’s sentence shortened
On 5 February 2020 we learned that a court in Tehran reduced the sentences of women’s rights defenders Yasman and her mother Monrieh to five years and six months .
Ibrahim found
On 36 November 2019 Ibrahim appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution in Egypt. After more than 167 days of enforced disappearance and anxiety, his family now know that he’s alive.
Trần Thị Nga released!
Vietnamese activist Trần Thị Nga was released in January, after serving three years of a nine year prison sentence. She has since safely arrived in America along with her family.
“I thank Amnesty International for your tireless effort in demanding for my freedom, I am happy that my family are now reunited and living in peace.”
TRẦN THỊ NGA’S MESSAGE TO AMNESTY SUPPORTERS FOLLOWING HER RELEASE
We will continue to campaign for the immediate and unconditional release of Yasaman and Ibrahim, and to call on governments to combat injustices and respect human rights. Want to get involved in a movement that makes a difference? Find out how here.
