Write For Rights 2013 Event Kit

Amnesty InternAtIonAl 2013 event kItWelcome to the world’s biggest event to support human rights.Here’s everything you need to get started.

Write for Rights

2013 Event Kit

Attn: Human Rights Supporter,

Canada

Writeathon.ca @AmnestyNow#write4rights1-800-AMNESTY

Amnesty InternAtIonAl 2 WrIte for rIghts KIt 2013

your Write for Rights 2013 guide

human rights cases for 2013 3

letter-writing works! 4

Planning your event, step by step 6

letter-writing tips 8

Activity ideas for hosting your own Write for Rights event 10

get the word out 12

raise money for human rights 13

Wear yellow December 10th 14

resources for your event 15

materials included in this kit: – Write for Rights posters

– Write for Rights postcards

– “tracking my case” sign-up sheet

– DVD with videos, PowerPoint on Write for Rights and other resources

every year, around December 10th, International human rights Day, activists in more than 75 countries around the world come together to write letters calling for the protection and promotion of human rights.

Why December 10? It was on December 10th, 1948, that the Universal Declaration of human rights (UDhr), was adopted at the United nations by world leaders. A Canadian, John humphrey, was one of the principal writers of the UDhr. most international human rights law uses the UDhr as a base.

Unfortunately, human rights violations, ranging from torture, unfair trials, mass killings and enforced disappearances to unlawful eviction, are still common in many countries.

the purpose of Write for Rights is to mark International human rights Day by bombarding the authorities responsible for human rights abuses with letters from all over the world on just a few selected cases.

last year, over 1.9 million actions took place in 78 different countries. In Amnesty International Canada, over 30,000 participants contributed 35,000 letters to the worldwide total.

And we have proof that our letters work. Amnesty International’s activism was a significant factor in helping many of the individuals we profiled.

Write for Rights is the power of one multiplied many thousand times over to make a difference in people’s lives.

thank you for joining us this year!

thAnk you for joInIng WRite foR Rights 2013

let us help! Contact us today: [email protected] or 1-800-Amnesty (1-800-266-3789)


BElAruS: ATTACkEd for BEiNg gAY

Ihar tsikhanyuk is a gay activist. As he was being treated for a stomach ulcer, police officers abducted him from hospital and beat him up. earlier he and his colleagues had tried to register a human rights group that supports lgBtI rights. Ihar is free but now seeks our help to make the police officers accountable for the attack.

MExiCo: TorTurE Survivor STill figHTS for juSTiCE

In february of 2011, miriam lopez dropped her children off at school and was suddenly grabbed by two men wearing balaclavas. for a week, soldiers raped her repeatedly. the torture stopped when she falsely implicated herself in drug offences. she is home but needs justice for the horrific attack.

MYANMAr: CAMpAigN for THE rElEASE of A MEdiCAl doCTor

Authorities asked a respected doctor, tun Aung, to help them keep the peace as tensions rose between rakhine Buddhists and rohinyga muslims. Witnesses say he did everything he could but violence erupted. In the aftermath, authorities arrested him. he is serving a 17-year sentence.

NigEriA: BulldozErS HAvE lEfT MorE THAN 2,000 HoMElESS

In february this year, officials ordered heavy equipment to demolish 266 homes in Badia east outside lagos. the residents have yet to receive compensation or be offered new homes. many are still living in makeshift shelters.

pAlESTiNE: villAgErS fACE oNgoiNg violENCE

Israeli settlers and army have encroached on land belonging to Palestinians in the village of nabi saleh. the residents no longer have access to the spring that provides them a source of water, nor can they freely farm on their land.

ruSSiA: ill HEAlTH ANd lENgTHY dETENTioN for pEACEful proTESTorS

three men participated in protests in moscow’s Bolotnaya square in may 2012. they were picked up, released, but then re-arrested and are still in custody without a fair trial in sight. one is going blind, one is not getting medication he needs, and one has a speech impediment that is getting worse.

TuNiSiA: fACEBook ACTiviST rECEivES lENgTHY SENTENCE

Jabeur mejri is serving a sentence of 7.5 years for posting articles critical of Islam on facebook. he is a prisoner of conscience whose continued detention is not justifiable.

humAn rIghts CAses for 2013A brief overview of cases we will be featuring this year. Full details will be posted in November at Writeathon.ca


Write for Rights 2012 was overwhelmingly successful in providing solidarity with people demanding their basic rights. Knowing that others are concerned about the violation of their rights is utterly affirming. It provides them stamina to continue speaking up. It makes rights holders brave. And it can temporarily quiet a tense situation. As one Colombian human rights defender declared, “Your interventions give us the oxygen we need to continue campaigning for our rights.”

THE roMA CoMMuNiTY, roMANiA: the roma community of Pata rât was living in dreadful conditions after their forced eviction from Coastei street.

Amnesty members responded in a big way, when

supporters from 80 countries wrote letters calling for justice for those who had lost their homes. members in Canada also wrote 150 messages of solidarity directly to those from the former Coastei street community. Claudia, a community member, wrote to say,

“Thank you very much to everyone for the letters that have been sent to the mayor, and also for the letters of solidarity that we received. We feel very much supported and we have confidence that with your support from around the world we will succeed. We do not give up because we know we have so many people that are standing by us in the fight for justice. We are really touched to know that people from all over the world are thinking about us and have written to us. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.”

Just days after Write for Rights ended, the mayor spoke publicly length about the situation of the roma community and presented upcoming plans to resolve the situation. the plans include desegregation of roma children, ensuring “social housing” for the residents, and developing small businesses for local employment. In addition, the new minister of regional Development met with delegates from Amnesty International, and

the european roma rights Centre. the meeting was a strong signal that the ministry wants to resolve the access of roma communities to housing.

YolANdA oQuElÍ, guATEMAlA: yolanda was threatened and then shot after speaking out against a proposed mining operation in guatemala. she survived, and received many messages welcoming her home from hospital and ensuring her that her community is not alone. looking at the cards, she exclaimed “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve received in my life! I’m going to frame them. There are some drawings from children of 8 and 9 years old that are so pretty!”

NArgES MoHAMMAdi, irAN: narges is an Iranian women’s rights activist and a mother of 5-year-old twins. she received a sentence in April 2012 of six years in prison on charges related to her human rights work. she received some of the messages we sent to her via her husband. taghi rahmani sent a gracious note of thanks to everyone who wrote to her:

“Your organization has always been a great support for me and I say that as someone who has spent 14 years of my life behind bars. My wife, Narges Mohammadi and I, as human rights activists, have always been warmed by Amnesty International’s dedication

to promoting human rights. For me, Amnesty International is the symbol of an organization that wants human rights for all people. An organization that, free from any political affiliations, urges governments and other entities to respect human rights.”

“Your organization has always been a great support for me and I say that as someone who has spent 14 years of my life behind bars.”

— Taghi rahmani, husband of Narges Mohammadi, iran

letter-wrItIng works!


Bodo CoMMuNiTY, NigEriA: In 2008, two consecutive oil spills, caused by faults in a shell pipeline, resulted in thousands of barrels of oil polluting the land and creek surrounding Bodo, a town of 69,000 people in nigeria’s niger Delta. good

news recently reached the community, informing them that the court of the economic Community of West African states has ordered the nigerian government to punish oil companies for the pollution they were causing. Dinebari David Vareba, from nigeria’s Bodo community commented on the actions taken by Amnesty International supporters: “I think this solidarity, I would say, is the highest we have had…. assisting the Bodo people to actually have a better situation in the disaster which they had.

our international office reports “that the Bodo people were positively overwhelmed by the solidarity from all over the world… It has created a profound positive impact” on them.

Perhaps Chief Baribor Koottee put it best: “We as a people thank all those who have nursed this initiative. We are sure that this struggle on our behalf will yield fruit gradually. We are hopeful for the best. We are encouraged. In fact, it is this kind of support that is helping us to live on”.

gAo zHiSHENg, CHiNAgao Zhisheng is a lawyer unlike many in China: he is courageous enough to represent victims of human rights violations. gao Zhisheng has experienced every form of human rights violation. he remains in prison today.

however, a month after Write for Rights 2012, family members were able to visit him in prison for the first time in nine months. the visit was tightly controlled. gao Zhisheng’s brother

and father-in-law were only allowed to meet with him for half an hour. they could not ask any questions about his treatment or his case. nor could they ask if he had received any letters. he looked fine physically and appeared clear-minded. gao Zhisheng did not speak much but simply asked that his wife geng take good care of the children and not worry too much about him in the prison. geng later wrote that the visit “could not be achieved without the international community’s concerns and the effort and support from the membership of Amnesty International, for which my family and I feel most grateful. I hope Amnesty International will continue to promote this activity, allowing more people to come to know my husband’s situation, until he gains his freedom.”

CHiou Ho-SHuN, TAiWANChiou ho-shun has survived 24 years now in a taiwanese detention centre. Amnesty International has been trying to get him off death row. After receiving a deluge of supportive and thoughtful messages, he wrote:

“Recently, I have been receiving cards and letters from friends around the world. It’s very touching. And a tremendous thanks for all those seeking justice for me and supporting me with all your heart. I also thank you for the love and care you’ve shown me, and to maintain the fairness and the righteousness of the Taiwanese justice system, I will fight until the end. Dear friends, all of the true passion you have shown me will bring my strength and give me courage. Words cannot express the gratitude I have towards everyone. Thank you! Finally, to all my friends, please accept my blessing, and may you and your family enjoy peace and harmony.”

“We as a people thank all those who have nursed this initiative. We are sure that this struggle on our behalf will yield fruit gradually. We are hopeful for the best.”

— Chief Baribor koottee, Bodo community, Nigeria

“I have been receiving cards and letters from friends around the world. And a tremendous thanks for all those seeking justice for me and supporting me with all your heart.”

—Chiou Ho-shun, Taiwan


what: Decide what kind of event works best for you. “events” can involve one person, ten, or hundreds. they can be public or private. And they can run for an hour, an evening, or a day.

organize events in your classroom, school cafeteria, faith group, workplace or community. how about in a pub or coffee shop, a bookstore, or among family and friends? see the Activity Ideas section for more ideas.

when: this year human rights Day is on a monday. Choose a day that works best for you—on December 10th itself or just before or after.

who: students. Co-workers. family and neighbours. members of your Amnesty group. Book club. faith community. Decide who you want to attract to your event and how best to attract them.

where: Choose a location that is inviting and accessible to the people you want to attract—around a kitchen table, in a school gym or classroom, in a workplace lunchroom, during or after a faith service, at your local library, café or pub, or among email friends.

register your event: register your event at Writeathon.ca as early as you can. If you are still waiting to finalize the exact time and location of your event, include instructions for your viewers on how to contact you for more information. letter-writers need to know well in advance if there is an activity planned in their community. once you have the complete information, go back on-line and edit your registration. Check to see if other Write for Rights events are happening where you live. If so, consider coordinating your activities or ways to give each other support. many larger communities can easily support several write-a-thons.

Attract participants: Distribute Write for Rights flyers and posters. Use the space on posters to include information about your event. Use the tips and resources in the get the Word out section to attract even more participants.

plAnnIng your event: STEp BY STEp

order materials: Check the Write for Rights resources section and order your supplies as soon as possible. ordering last minute means higher shipping fees plus lots of anxiety as to whether your supplies will arrive on time.

Download appeal cases: Actions will be posted throughout november as they are finalized and all will be at Writeathon.ca by December 1.

we are here! make sure passersby notice where and when your event is taking place. Before and during your event, set up large signs outside and around your event location. Use street or hallway signs to publicize your ever-increasing letter-writing tally—it’s a great way to encourage more people to join your event.

Create a welcoming atmosphere: Welcome participants and help them get comfortably involved in letter-writing. Copy and distribute the handy one-page “letter Writing tips”—remember that many people may be writing appeal letters for the first time. Prepare pre-printed address labels to make the addressing of envelopes easier. show an Amnesty video or PowerPoint introduction (on the DVD). Include snacks, Amnesty candles, and music. for public events, bring in guest speakers for short presentations.

Set up an area for children


Involve children: set up an area where children can create their own colourful messages with crayons and paints. Use our special online children’s cases. see “Involving Children” at Writeathon.ca.

Create excitement and momentum: Include a people counter and a letter counter where participants can see the growing number of participants at your event and the number of letters they are writing. ring a bell or blow a horn and announce your totals during your event.

tools of the trade: have lots of writing paper, pens, envelopes and stamps on hand. If you are using computers and printers, check the day before to ensure everything is working and that you have plenty of paper and ink. Use a jar to collect donations for postage.

Ask for donations to Amnesty International: there are many more cases to work on than will be featured during Write for Rights, and Amnesty needs financial support to continue our work beyond this event.

thank participants – then make follow-up contacts: thank participants for their positive contribution to human rights Day.

gather names and emails and send them to Amnesty International Canada’s national office. We will send a thank-you to each participant, along with updates on the cases they worked on.

If you are an Amnesty group, make follow-up calls inviting your guests to participate in upcoming events.

And lastly, have fun!

Step by step planning will help make your event a success

Have fun!

include a letter counter, announce totals


1. Give the factsGive as much information (date and place of the violation, names and other facts about the victim) as possible. Name the human right that has been violated. This will convey that you are informed as well as concerned.

2. Follow the facts and instructions given by AmnestyEach appeal includes instructions on what to say in your letter. Be sure to follow these exactly—if the action asks for a prisoner to receive medical treat, say that—don’t ask for things that aren’t included in the instructions.

3. Be briefA short letter is adequate and certainly better than no letter at all. Describe your concern in the first sentence and make a request in the second. A good rule is not to write more than one page (one side of a paper).

4. Be courteous and respectfulRemain impartial. Avoid making reference to any particular religious beliefs, cultural norms or political ideologies.

5. Base your appeals on official human rights standards.Human rights are based on international laws and obligations. Letters are more persuasive when they are based on these obligations. Political judgments or jargon are not effective and can sometimes do harm.

6. Make it personalUse your own voice. Writing a letter in your own words and with your own style will be more effective than a form letter. You may also wish to give an idea of who you are as this indicates that the letter is genuine and that people of all ages and walks of life are interested in the case.

7. Watch your languageEven if you are writing to a country where English is not an official language, a well-written English letter is better than a letter in another language that may contain mistakes. In the same manner, if you are fluent in another language and feel that an appeal may be more effective written in that language, write away!

8. End with a requestIt can be very effective to end your letter with a question that asks for action (e.g. Have you initiated an inquiry to find those responsible for carrying out these attacks? Can you write back to me with news about the steps you have taken to address this troubling matter?).

letter-wrItIng tIps


remember: A five minute hand-written letter like this could have more influence on a government leader than 200 emails on the subject.

Date: Standard, but it gives the reader a sense of immediacy: you expect results!

underline for emphasis:You really mean it!

Ignore minor boo boos:Just keep writing...

Be confidentYou can be sure the point you’re making is correct because Amnesty has done the research.

signature: Your signature, name and address prove you are a real person.

Courteous right to the end.

no marks for style but make printing legible. Make your letters hand-written whenever possible.

polite respectful

to the point: Indicate in a single sentence what you are writing about.

what you want: A simple “to do” list written with Amnesty instructions.

CC as per the instructions. That means you write two copies of the same letter, one to each person.

keep it short:Odds are an intern is reading your letter and deciding what to do with it in 15 seconds.

your letter


you can Write for Rights anywhere!At home, in your community, at work or at school. make a party out of it—order food, invite some friends, and get writing! If you’re feeling competitive, start up a Write for Rights Challenge. here are some ideas to get you started...

At home•Throwacocktailparty,pizzanight,orpotluck.•Orderdeliveryortakeoutinspiredbyacountry

you’re writing on.•Showafilmordocumentarytomotivateletterwriters

to respond.•Hostanopenhouseorparty,invitingfriendsand

neighbours to stop by and write a letter.•Haveatobogganorskatingpartyandwarmupby

the fireplace with hot chocolate and letter-writing.

At work•Setupaletter-writinghubin your lunch room or near the coffee machine. Promise tasty snacks and people will come! offer ready-to-sign petitions or postcard actions.

•Throwapotluckand letter-writing lunch event for

your colleagues.

In your school•Offerexamstudydistractionsinthelibrarywith

letter-writing cases and holiday treats. or have a hot chocolate stand by the library with petitions to sign.

•Setupaskip-daywherestudentscanskipstudyperiod for a small donation and a letter.

•Orderpizzaandsellitformoneyorletters(e.g.$3donation or write 3 letters for a slice).

•Setupaletter-writingboothinthecafeteriaoratrium, show videos or have creative solidarity actions available.

In your community•Gotopubsandcafés.Gatherwithfriendsatyour

favourite hangout. Ask the owner to sponsor your event. It’s good for business!

•Visitbookstores,librariesorshoppingmalls.Allyou need for a public display is permission, a few Write for Rights posters, a petition and Amnesty bookmarks or buttons to give away. If the venue asks for insurance coverage, contact us and we will handle the paperwork.

•Thinkwarmthoughts.Setupahotchocolateandletter-writing stand at a bus station or skating rink.

•Connectwithlocalartistsandcraftspeopletosupport your Write for Rights activity. for example, a group in Coquitlam asked a local potters’ guild to create unique candle sticks –one for each participant. the participants later lit the candles for a short vigil in honour of those who risk their lives for human rights.

ACtIvIty IDeAs


•Askthemayorinyourtownormunicipalitytomarkhuman rights Day in the community. you can organize a flag raising ceremony and raise the Amnesty banner in front of city hall.

In your spiritual community•FeatureoneoftheWrite for Rights cases and ask your

community to sign a petition or postcard. or make an announcement about human rights Day.

•OrganizeaWrite for Rights event with coffee, tea and snacks after a service, or with your community. Advertise the event in your community newsletter.

•Provideeachmemberwitha“candleofhope”– a simple white candle wrapped with a ready-to-sign appeal.

Ideas that work anywhere•CreateaWrite for Rights Challenge: organize a

“challenge” in your school or workplace. Challenge another class or department to see who can write the most letters or raise the most money. or offer prizes to individuals who write the most letters or raise the most.

•PromoteWrite for Rights! Post your letter-writing event and tally on facebook and twitter. Ask your friends to do the same.

•FundraiseforAmnesty.Inviteyourletter-writerstohelpyou fundraise for Amnesty so that we can continue our human rights work beyond Dec. 10th.

Whatever you do, tell us about it! Share your photos and report at writeathon.ca or @Amnestynow


you can help get Amnesty’s human rights message out to others and recruit people to your event by making the most of local and social media.

Use #write4rights with all your posts to help add yourvoice to the international momentum!

promote your event locally•Sendthedescriptionofyoureventtolocalmedia,

event websites, community associations and organizations. Connect with other local activists and arts to get the word out.

•SubmitaLettertotheEditoraboutoneoftheWrite for Rights cases, inviting readers to join your event.

•Hand-deliveraletterforsignaturetoaradiostationhost.

•Askapopularlocalmusiciantoperformatyourevent.

•Connectwithlocaleventandsocialissuebloggerstohelp get the word out.

•CreateaFacebookeventforyourWrite for Rights

•UseexistingeventsbetweennowandDecember10th such as film festivals and holiday events, to promote Write for Rights 2013.

Please send a report of any media coverage you receive to Beth Berton-hunter, media relations, at [email protected]. other organizers will be inspired by your ideas and success.

for a full media kit and more ideas go to Writeathon. ca and click on resources or call 1-800 AMNESTY (1-800-266-3789). the online media Kit includes sample letters, news releases and tips for contacting the media.

promote Write for Rights across Canada•Joinouronlinecommunity!Follow“Amnesty

International Canada” on facebook and @AmnestyNow on twitter to get Write for Rights updates and share them with your contacts. you can also share your ideas and chat with [email protected] to get free materials.

•Youcanalsoshareyourideaswithus–dropusanote att [email protected]

•Use #write4rights with all your posts.

get the worD out

@AmnestyNow /amnestycanada


Invite your guests to donate to Amnesty International or help you fundraisethese powerful stories of people at risk are brought to you as a result of meticulous research – the kind of research that could not happen without your financial support!

you can help continue Amnesty’s life-saving work and get more letters mailed by inviting the guests at your event to make donations to Amnesty International.

rAIse money for humAn rIghts

Don’t be shy! just remember: you’re giving people the chance to stop human rights violations. people won’t know unless you ask them – and the worst that will happen is they will say no. Most people will be happy to donate when they realise they can create real change for others.

“I count the times Amnesty members have saved me.” – wangari maathai, nobel peace laureate, kenya

Collect money in a cookie jarAs part of this kit we sent you some stickers – why not put one on a glass jar and invite everyone to make a donation to Amnesty International in honour of International human rights Day.

you can mail the funds back to Amnesty International at Write for Rights 2013, 312 laurier Ave e, ottawa, on, K1n 1h9. [Please note thatdonationsof$10ormorearetaxreceiptable,andwewouldrequire the full name and mailing address of each donor. Please note: we regret we are unable to provide a tax receipt for money used to pay for stamps at your event.]

“Amnesty International is a symbol of human rights and freedom, not just in Azerbaijan, but everywhere in the world. I am grateful for all the hard work done by your organisation and other organizations which fight for freedom in Azerbaijan.”

– jabbar savalan, was arrested the day after he posted on facebook calling for a “Day of rage” in Azerbaijan, inspired by protests in the middle east and north Africa.

thanks to 2011 Write for Rights campaign that sent 130,000 actions, Jabbar savalan was released two weeks later.


wear yellow on December 10 and spread the human rights message!Whether it’s a party at your home, workplace, or school, create fun and exciting visuals by using Amnesty’s signature colour to enhance your event!

•DeclareDecember10thedaytowearyellowatyourschool or workplace. you can charge a toonie for each person wearing something yellow and perhaps double for those who aren’t.

•Setupayellow-themedbakesaletodrawpeopleover to your letter writing table. Perhaps throw a yellow cloth over your table and sell lemon tarts, banana cream pie, yellow cupcakes or pineapple cake.

•Howaboutayellow-themedpartyorballusingayellow disco ball, or yellow balloons? you could develop a fun yellow-themed quiz night or play songs with yellow as the theme or title.

•BuyoneofourexclusiveAmnestyInternationalyellow toques for yourself, or as a gift for a loved one. take advantage of our limited time offer of $20atoque!

for more fundraising ideas, order our ’50 Ways to raise money for human rights’ booklet for free at [email protected].

weAr yellow DeCemBer 10th!

Paul thompson/ A

mnesty International


Amnesty toques

Buy one of our exclusive Amnesty international yellow toques for yourself, or as a gift for a loved one. Take advantage of our limited time offer.

$20.00+ HST

free posters

11”x17” posters that you can personalize with your Write for rights event time, date and location.

AvAIlABle now for your event

free stICkers

free Amnesty international stickers.

free Booklet

“50 Ways to raise Money for Human rights” - great fundraising tips.

free postCArDs

4”x 6” postcards: let people know about your event!

orDer now!

to order contact us at

1-800-AMNESTY (1-800-266-3789) or

[email protected](shipping and handling may be extra)

t-shIrts

get your Amnesty International t-shirt. many sizes available.

$35.00+ HST

thank you! You are about to participate in the world’s largest letter writing event—either on your own or with others in your community. We deeply appreciate your activism. Write on!

DeCemBer 10 2013Writeathon.ca @AmnestyNow#write4rights1-800-AMNESTY

Documents

Write For Rights 2013 Event Kit