Join the campaign and change a life today

When we all act together, we have the power to change lives.

Write for Rights is the world’s biggest human rights event, where millions of people around the world come together to protect the rights of others.

It began when a group of activists in Poland held a 24-hour letter-writing marathon, writing letters day and night on behalf of people whose rights had been wronged. 20 years later, and it has turned into our biggest campaign where we all come together to protect the human rights of people at risk.

From 2,326 letters in 2001 to 4.5 million letters, tweets and petition signatures today, Write for Rights supporters have used the power of their voice to help others. Together, they’ve helped transform the lives of more than 100 people, freeing them from torture, harassment, or unjust imprisonment.

From the bottom of my heart, this campaign has kept me alive, it’s what has stopped them from killing me because they know that you are there.
JANI SILVA, environmental defender, 2021

TAKE ACTION AND PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS TODAY.

हिरासतमा मृत्युका घटनाहरू रोक्न माग गरौँ
ACT now

NOW, WRITE A LETTER

Signing a petition is a great way to take part in the campaign. But did you know there are other ways to take part in Write for Rights?

Imagine being locked away, alone, not knowing if anyone cares where you are. Now imagine receiving a letter from someone, telling you they believe in you. That’s what real letters can do: bring hope to people in the direst of situations. When letters arrive in huge numbers, they are also an unmistakable reminder to prison authorities and others that the world is watching.

If you want to lend your pen to this kind of direct action, download our handy letter-writing kit below.

GET THE WRITE FOR RIGHTS KIT
Get the Write for Rights kit – featuring template letters, case cards and more

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Read about our successes

Over 6.5 million
actions in 2019

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Take a short online course

Take 15 minutes to learn more about Write for Rights

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Get our schools toolkit

Guidance for teachers to bring Write for Rights into the classroom

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SUCCESS STORIES

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.” – © Private

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.” – © Denis Bochkarev

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.” – © HURSDEF

Albert Woodfox finally walked free in February after nearly 44 years in solitary confinement in a US prison. “I can’t emphasise enough how important getting letters from people around the world is. “It gave me a sense of worth…[and] strength.” – © Pierre-Yves Brunaud / Picturetank

US whistle-blower Chelsea Manning was freed in May 2017, after her 35-year prison sentence was cut short by outgoing President Barack Obama. More than a quarter of a million people wrote for her release. – © Courtesy of Chelsea Manning

Father of seven and online activist Mahadine was freed in April 2018 after more than 18 months in a Chad prison on fabricated charges. 690,000 people wrote for his freedom. © Amnesty International – Amnesty International

Gulzar Duishenova’s campaign for disability rights paid off in March 2019 when Kyrgyzstan finally signed up to the Disability Rights Convention. Supporters wrote nearly 250,000 messages backing her calls. – © Svetlana Zelenskaya/Amnesty International

Magai Matiop Ngong was only 15 when he was sentenced to death. But thanks to the amazing support of people like you, his death sentence was cancelled in July 2020. People around the world wrote an incredible 765,000 actions, including letters and tweets, calling for Magai’s life to be spared –and it worked. – © Amnesty International

In June 2021, NGO worker and human rights defender Germain Rukuki was released from prison after being found guilty of a slew of sham charges and sentenced to 32 years in prison in Burundi. He was jailed before getting a chance to hold his youngest child, born just weeks after he was taken in July 2017. His family fled the country for fear of reprisals. Germain will soon be reunited with his family, after more than 400,000 actions calling for his release.

HOW IT WORKS

People in more than 170 countries and territories write millions of letters, emails, tweets and petitions…

…for people who’ve been harassed, threatened and locked up, just for who they are …

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

…to make change happen – releasing activists and protecting people who stand up for change.

CHECK OUT OUR WRITE FOR RIGHTS VIDEOS

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Write for Rights