Write for Rights is the world’s biggest human rights event. Started by Amnesty International over 20 years ago, this annual campaign brings together millions of compassionate people from around the world to make a stand for freedom, justice and equality. By collectively challenging injustice, we change lives. And every time we secure justice for one individual, we move closer to a world where human rights are enjoyed by all. This year we’re taking action for individuals and communities from 10 different countries who are courageously speaking truth to power.

Your words can change people’s lives. This is how.

Every year, people from around the world take part in Amnesty International’s Write for Rights campaign. It’s a really easy way to make a big difference by doing something “little”. It doesn’t take much time – all you need to do is write a letter, send a post or sign a petition. Honestly, it’s that easy to change the world! Since Write for Rights started in 2001, millions of people have changed the lives of those whose human rights have been taken away. In fact, over the past 20 years more than 56 million actions have been taken, while over 100 people featured in our campaign have seen a positive outcome in their case. It’s a privilege to see how your actions make a difference.

Meet three incredible people whose lives have been changed for the better and find out what people power means to them.

Artist and anti-war activist freed

After huge public campaigning, artist and anti-war activist Aleksandra (Sasha) Skochilenko was freed in a historic prisoner swap in August 2024. The deal was brokered between Russia and Belarus on the one hand and Germany, Norway, Poland, Slovenia and the USA on the other.

Russian authorities arrested Sasha in April 2022 after she replaced price tags at a grocery shop with information about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She was charged with disseminating “false information” about the country’s military activities.

“I want to say a huge thank you to Amnesty International. It’s hard to put my gratitude into words, because, to a large extent, I am here thanks to you,” said Sasha.

Human rights defender acquitted

Rita Karasartova is a human rights defender and expert in civic governance from Kyrgyzstan. For over a decade she dedicated her life to providing independent legal advice, helping people whose rights had been violated.

Alongside 26 others, Rita was arrested for opposing a new border agreement giving control of a freshwater reservoir to Uzbekistan.

Charged with attempting to “violently overthrow the government”, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, Rita and 21 other defendants were acquitted on 14 June 2024.

“I would like to express my huge, huge gratitude. Your timely actions – these letters, petitions, signatures, and the huge number of letters that went to the court, that went to the prosecutor’s office – it was all very powerful,” said Rita.

“In fact, it was very empowering to us all… Of course, the acquittal was totally unexpected. I don’t even know how to process it in my head. We had been playing with all sorts of scenarios, different outcomes in our heads, but we didn’t think we would all be acquitted! I thank you all.”

Student visa granted

In August 2017, Myanmar’s military unleashed a deadly crackdown on Rohingya Muslims – an ethnic minority who have faced decades of severe state-sponsored discrimination in Myanmar. Over 620,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after security forces unleashed a campaign of violence, killing an unknown number of Rohingya; raping Rohingya women and girls; laying landmines; and burning entire Rohingya villages.

Fearing for their lives, then 17-year-old Maung Sawyeddollah and his family walked 15 days to Bangladesh, where they reached Cox’s Bazar refugee camps. Fuelled by his desire to become a lawyer, Sawyeddollah wanted to seek justice for the suffering around him.

Alongside his studies, he started a campaign calling for Facebook’s owner, Meta, to take responsibility for the way its algorithms amplified anti-Rohingya incitement on the Facebook platform, fuelling the Myanmar military’s violence.

As part of his campaign, Sawyeddollah called on Meta to pay reparations– including funding for educational programmes in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps – with the hope that education would help rebuild the shattered lives of people in his community.

In 2023 Sawyeddollah was facing serious security risks in the refugee camps. Together with partners Victim Advocates International and Dev.tv, Amnesty International put together resources to help ensure Sawyeddollah’s safety. Through Amnesty’s Global Relief Team he was provided with urgent financial assistance to support his security needs throughout the year.

In August 2024, Sawyeddollah was granted a student visa and moved to the USA to study. He landed in New York City on 19 August 2024, and he is now an international student at New York University.

Amnesty worked hard support Sawyeddollah’s university applications – and it couldn’t have been done without you!

“I extend my heartfelt thanks to my parents, family, friends, relatives, and well-wishers who encouraged me to persevere. I am especially thankful to many individuals and organizations, including Amnesty International, without whose support this journey would not have been possible,” said Sawyeddollah.

According to Amnesty’s Senior Campaigner for Write for Rights, May Carolan:

“Amnesty is at its best when we’re working alongside human rights defenders who are at risk, like Sawyeddollah, supporting them in their darkest moments and making sure their voices are heard.

“Thank you so much to everyone who supported Sawyeddollah’s case through Write for Rights and ensured that the Rohingya cause is not forgotten by the international community. Since the campaign, Sawyeddollah has gone on to become the first Rohingya to be issued a student visa directly from the refugee camps in Bangladesh.”

This year’s campaign will feature ten individuals and groups from all around the world. From a TikToker in Angola to a women’s rights defender in Saudi Arabia, these inspiring people are connected because their human rights have been violated.

Every action makes a huge difference, as you can see from the stories above, so please do write a letter, sign a petition or share our social media posts. With your help, we’re hoping to help change the lives of even more people this year.

CALL TO ACTION: Transform the lives of people whose rights have been wronged. Join Write for Rights today.

These are a handful of those lives changed over nearly two decades of Write for Rights.

In 2024 you can take action for 10 cases during Write for Rights and together, we can make even more of a difference.

The post You can make a difference: Good news from Write for Rights impact in 2023 appeared first on Amnesty International Australia.

Here in Australia, you have continued to campaign for Indigenous justice, support people seeking safety to rebuild their lives, and respond to crises, whenever and wherever they occur.

Individuals at Risk

Julian Assange is Freed

Julian Assange landed in Australia on June 26, bringing the 14-year global campaign for his freedom to an end. Jennifer Robinson, a human rights lawyer, barrister, and long-standing member of the legal team defending Julian Assange, told us that Amnesty’s campaign, which included all 125,000 of you in Australia, has had a ‘huge impact’. We handed over every one of your signatures to the US consulate, adding up to more than 400,000 globally.

Our movement held events, attended protests, tweeted, called their local members of parliament and emailed the US Embassy. Thank you for being a part of the relentless fight for Julian’s freedom. You demonstrated that people power really does work.

Rita Karasartova has been acquitted

Last year we wrote to you about Rita Karasartova who, alongside 26 others, was arrested for opposing a new border agreement that gave control of a freshwater reservoir to Uzbekistan. Rita was charged with attempting to “violently overthrow the government”, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.

After 6,676 Amnesty supporters in Australia took action, Rita was finally acquitted in June. She wrote this message of thanks to everyone who supported her:

“I would like to express my huge huge gratitude to the Amnesty team!

Your timely actions – these letters, petitions, signatures, and the huge

number of letters that went to the court, that went to the prosecutor’s

office – it was all very powerful. In fact, it was very empowering to us

all. I realized every time I opened the envelopes and read the letters,

how powerful solidarity was.”

A glimmer of hope for Hoo Yew Wah

Hoo Yew Wah’s sentence of imprisonment for natural life has been commuted to 30 years imprisonment, in a long-awaited moment in the Federal Court of Malaysia,

He was arrested on 31 March 2005 when he was just 20 years old, after he was found in possession of 188.35 grams of methamphetamine. His case was riddled with human rights violations, and yet was sentenced to death for drug trafficking. After almost two decades in prison, this is a glimmer of hope for Hoo Yew Wah and his family to soon be reunited again.

“Our global campaign for Hoo Yew Wah has witnessed overwhelming support from around the world, with over 200,000 people joining the call for the commutation of his death sentence. Today’s positive outcome in his case is a reminder that there is global support for the abolition of the death penalty, and that human rights change is always possible through collective action.”

Amnesty International Malaysia’s Executive Director, Katrina Jorene Maliamauv

Around the World

A historic vindication of Palestinians’ rights

Thanks to your support, when the crisis escalated in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel, Amnesty’s researchers, fieldworkers and campaigners were able to act fast, gathering evidence and advocating for an immediate and ongoing ceasefire. Amnesty research has been cited by South Africa at the International Court of Justice and by Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese in her report to the Human Rights Council.

Recent months have seen crucial developments in international law seeking justice for more than two million civilians who, over the last ten months, have and continue to experience the worst of humanity.

In an historic vindication of Palestinians’ rights, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories unlawful in July. This landmark ruling underscores the urgency for global action against the brutal occupation of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the 17 year siege on Gaza and the continued building of illegal settlements – and the need for Australia to take a stand. The occupation is enabled by a system of oppression and domination – the crime against humanity of apartheid – which Amnesty determined in 2022.

Earlier in May, the ICJ ordered Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah and outlined in that no uncertain terms; any ongoing military action could constitute an underlying act of genocide. This came only days after the International Criminal Court applied for arrest warrants for senior Israeli and Hamas leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity. These positive breakthroughs would not have happened without millions of people across the world calling for a ceasefire and pushing their governments to apply international pressure.

New investigation on foreign weapons Sudan

In July, Amnesty International’s new investigation found that foreign weapons are being imported in large quantities into Sudan, fuelling relentless civilian suffering. Our researchers analysed more than 1,900 shipment records and digital evidence – including approximately 2,000 photos and videos – identifying recently manufactured arms and ammunition from a range of countries including China, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The full report details how these weapons are not only fuelling violence, but are also enabling grave violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes. In just days time, Amnesty’s Sudan team will be presenting your petition signatures during their advocacy visit, calling on the UN Security Council to extend the existing arms embargo beyond Darfur to the rest of Sudan.

Latest report on Bangladesh: Repackaging Repression: The Cyber Security Act and the Continuing Lawfare Against Dissent

Amnesty International’s new report analyses five speech crimes listed under the Cyber Security Act (CSA), and calls on the new government of Bangladesh to repeal the CSA or amend it in accordance with international standards.

The Act is a continuation of successive repressive legislations in Bangladesh that have repeatedly facilitated the state’s crackdown on civic space and human rights, including during the student-led quota-reform protests, and has been weaponized to target journalists, human rights defenders and dissidents despite the former government’s repeated assurances to the contrary.

Refugee Rights

“Thanks to your support, I recently had the opportunity to participate in the international consultations with the CRCP and UNHCR NGOs in Geneva.”

Attending these consultations as a person with lived experience and representing an international human rights organisation filled me with a sense of pride and responsibility. This privilege is inaccessible to millions of refugees, making it crucial for me to advocate for this highly vulnerable population. Over 340 delegates from 44 countries participated in the Consultations on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways

(CRCP), including representatives from NGOs, refugee-led organisations, UN and intergovernmental bodies, private sector organisations, and academic institutions. I provided an update on Amnesty International Australia’s Global Refugee Forum pledge and our domestic campaign to increase Australia’s refugee intake, focusing on Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh, Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Iran, and neighbouring countries.

During the UNHCR NGO consultations, I expanded my network with UNHCR staff and people on the ground who are assessing refugee claims and providing protection to refugees in camps and urban areas.

I raised issues concerning Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Afghan refugees, and West Papuan refugees in PNG. We joined NGOs from 26 countries to call on states to expand their refugee intake to address the current global refugee displacement. This lifeline is crucial for refugees at greatest risk in host countries, particularly LGBTQI+ refugees in countries where same-sex intimacy is criminalised, women and girls experiencing sexual and gender-based violence, people with disabilities and complex health needs, and other refugees facing imminent danger.

Thank you for your continued support.
Zaki Haidari, Refugee Rights Campaigner

Indigenous Justice

A road trip on Larrakia Country

The Northern Territory election is less than two weeks away. Amnesty’s Indigenous Justice team is currently on a road trip throughout the territory – visiting communities, listening to the voices of First Nations peoples, shining a light on community-led alternatives to prison and calling on the government to ensure the protection and empowerment of First Nations children.

You can find out more about the campaign in the latest Community Is Everything monthly newsletter – a celebration of First Nations films, music, books, businesses, mob who inspire us and more.

Human Rights Act

We’ve taken a significant step closer

On May 31, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights recommended the Federal Government legislate a Human Rights Act. When we presented at the inquiry, the Committee noted that thousands of you sent submissions calling for the government to protect human rights in our federal laws – proving again that when you speak out, people in power listen. The housing crisis, a broken aged care system and the impacts of climate change all illustrate why we need a Human Rights Act so that people can take action when their rights are abused. Now, we’re calling on the Albanese government to accept the Committee’s recommendation and commit to the legislation of a Human Rights Act before the election. To do that, we need to show the government that people like you want a Human Rights Act over the coming months. Take action, and tell the Albanese government you want a future where people can right wrongs with a Human Rights Act today. Without it, powerful people can abuse human rights with no consequences.

The post A snapshot of your impact: Assange is freed, a historic vindication of Palestinians’ rights, the Indigenous Justice team in the Northern Territory appeared first on Amnesty International Australia.