Write for Rights

Your words can change lives.

  • Campaigns
© Patrick Melon

Write like someone’s life depends on it

Sometimes a letter can change someone’s life. That’s the premise of Write for Rights, Amnesty’s global letter-writing campaign. Today, it’s one of the world’s biggest human rights events.

Every December, Amnesty supporters across the globe will write millions of letters for those whose basic human rights are being attacked. They are people like you, continuing a long tradition of writing letters to right some of the world’s biggest wrongs.

And it’s not just letters – it could be petitions, emails, Tweets, Facebook posts, photos, postcards. Your words really can change lives. Join us.

ACTIONS WORLDWIDE
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LETTERS, EMAILS, PETITIONS AND MORE

Your words make a difference

Why do we need to take action?

In country after country, people’s freedom – to speak out against injustice, to live on their ancestral lands, to not be discriminated against – is under threat. Our letters, words and actions will put pressure on authorities to take immediate action, so thatthose who abuse and torture will be brought to justice. And those unjustly imprisoned will taste freedom onceagain. 

Who do we write to?

Every year, we ask supporters to write two letters. One is to the person in authority – it could be a king, president or head of police – who can help make change happen. And the other letter is to the person (or group of people) we are fighting for, so they know we will never forget them.

Does it work?

Yes! Every year, real change happens because of your letters and actions. People wrongfully imprisoned are released. Torturers are brought to justice. And people in prison are treated more humanely.

Write a letter, change a life

  • Ma Khin Khin Leh from Myanmar was released in 2009 after featuring in Write for Rights. She had been arrested in July 1999 after the authorities could not find her politically active husband. - Private
  • Ethiopian opposition leader Birtukan Mideksa was released from jail in 2010 after featuring in Write for Rights the year before. “Your letters kept hope alive at the darkest hours of need.”
  • Jabbar Savalan, a youth activist jailed in Azerbaijan, was pardoned and released in 2011 within days of your letters arriving in the country. “The support I received was so great that I did not feel like I was imprisoned.” - IRFS
  • The Mexican government accepted responsibility for the rape by soldiers of Valentina Rosendo Cantú and Inés Fernández Ortega. "Without your letters, your action and your solidarity, we would have not achieved this moment," Valentina said. - Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Montaña de Tlachinollan
  • Vladimir Akimenkov was released in December 2013 after being detained following a protest in Bolotnaya Square, Moscow, Russia. “I want to express my deep gratitude. Your letters influenced my release.”
  • Ales Bialiatski, a political prisoner in Belarus, was released in 2014 after receiving 40,000 letters. "The huge quantity of letters gave me a powerful sense of optimism. When I received them I was very, very happy." - RFE/RL
  • Moses Akatugba was granted a full pardon in Nigeria after pressure from Amnesty supporters. He had been wrongfully sentenced to death for a crime committed when he was 16. “The story changed when Amnesty International came in.”
  • USA prisoner Albert Woodfox walked free in February 2016 – 44 years after he was first put into solitary confinement. More than 200,000 people took action for Albert during Write for Rights 2015. - © Travis Spradling/The Advocate via AP
  • In April 2016, student leader Phyoe Phyoe Aung (right) was finally released from prison in Myanmar after more than 394,000 Amnesty supporters took action for her during Write for Rights. - Credit: YE AUNG THU/AFP/Getty Images
  • Yecenia Armenta, who had been tortured into confessing to involvement in her husband’s murder, was finally freed in June 2016. Here she reads messages from supporters while still in prison. - © Amnesty International
  • Yves Makwamba (top) and Fred Bauma, youth activists from the DRC, were released from prison at the end of August 2016. An amazing 170,000 people took action for them. - © Amnesty International

Success stories

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HOW IT WORKS

Globe icon Globe icon

Activists in more than 200 countries and territories write millions of letters, emails, tweets and petitions…

Man behind bars icon. Man behind bars icon.

…for people who’ve been tortured, denied refuge, locked up for speaking out…

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…and put pressure on governments, leaders and decision-makers…

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…to make change happen – releasing activists, convicting torturers and changing abusive laws.

YOUR WORDS BRING HOPE

Writing a few words of support to the women, men and children we are working for this year will help them know they are not alone.

© Amnesty International

Now, write a letter

Petitions are great, but we also know that sending real letters can grab even more attention. Imagine a prison suddenly receiving sacks of postcards, drawings and other letters. They make that person's situation hard to ignore - and can help make them safer. If you want to lend your pen to this kind of direct action, download our sample letters here. 

Download now
© Gao Yuan

Ai Weiwei and Write for Rights

In a first for Amnesty’s Write for Rights campaign, we’ve joined forces with acclaimed artist Ai Weiwei to bring you the unique set of portraits used above.

In 2015, Ai Weiwei was joint recipient of Amnesty’s Ambassador of Conscience Award. As an activist artist who has faced the consequences of speaking up for justice through his artwork, he has a great deal in common with the people whose rights we are writing for this 2016.

Your words will change lives

Write for someone’s rights today

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