Your words can change people’s lives. This is how.
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 23 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.
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER ACQUITTED
Rita Karasartova, who was a featured action in W4R 2023, 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 June 14, 2024. Rita’s case was a featured action in Amnesty’s Write for Rights 2023 campaign. She said:
“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,”
“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.”
Picture Credit: © Third Party
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.
Picture Credit: © Third Party
STUDENT VISA GRANTED
Maung Sawyeddollah was 15 when Myanmar’s military unleashed a campaign of killings and violence against people from the Rohingya ethnic group. Incitement circulated on Facebook, and amplified by the platform’s algorithms, fed into these attacks. Fearing for their lives, Sawyeddollah and his family fled to Cox’s Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh.
Fueled by his desire to become a lawyer, Sawyeddollah and others from his community called on Meta, owner of Facebook, to pay reparations for its role in the atrocities, including funding for educational programs in Cox’s Bazar.
Sawyeddollah was facing serious security risks in the refugee camps. Through Amnesty’s Global Relief Team, he was provided was provided with urgent financial assistance to support his security needs throughout the year, and in August 2024, Sawyeddollah was granted a student visa and moved to the USA to study.
He is now an international student at New York University– 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.
Photo Credit: © Private
YOU TOO CAN CHANGE THE WORLD AND HERE’S HOW
Each year, Amnesty International uses the power of words to advocate for people who are unjustly imprisoned and or experiencing human rights abuses by inviting millions of people to write letters, emails, and social media posts directed to those responsible for human rights violations demanding action.
This year’s Write for Rights 2024 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.
One action does make a difference because it is through the power of our collective action that we see results!
Aleksandra (Sacha) Skochilenko thanks Amnesty for the Support!
An intimate interview with Russian artist and activist Alexandra Skochilenko, following her release from a Russian prison. Filmed in Berlin, including at Amnesty International’s office. Alexandra reflects on the challenges she faced and the global solidarity that kept her going. For fundraising efforts to continue supporting human rights defenders like her.