Amid rising authoritarianism, climate crises, and the erosion of international law, Amnesty International has launched its annual Write for Rights campaign on Human Rights Day (10 December) to support victims of human rights violations and demonstrate the power of collective action. The campaign unites people globally to advocate for justice, dignity, and a shared future, highlighting individuals whose rights have been violated, from Indigenous reindeer herders in Norway to journalists imprisoned in Myanmar and children affected by unsafe conditions in South Africa.
Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, emphasized the importance of activism and solidarity in confronting these challenges. She highlighted that the campaign features people on the frontlines of the climate crisis, fighting environmental destruction, pollution, and displacement. By writing letters, signing petitions, or sharing messages on social media, supporters can directly impact the lives of those at risk and show that humanity can prevail even in difficult circumstances.
This year’s campaign focuses on supporting individuals such as Damisoa from Madagascar, advocating for climate-displaced people; Unecebo Mboteni, a child who died due to unsafe school conditions in South Africa; Juan López from Honduras, killed defending local rivers and national parks; Cambodian environmental defenders jailed for their activism; photojournalist Sai Zaw Thaike imprisoned in Myanmar; Sámi activist Ellinor Guttorm Utsi in Norway; Tunisian human rights lawyer Sonia facing imprisonment; and the Guerreras por la Amazonía in Ecuador, protecting communities from toxic gas flares.
Ellinor Guttorm Utsi’s campaign illustrates the impact of the initiative. Her reindeer herding land in Norway is threatened by a government plan to build wind turbines. Through Amnesty International’s support, she gains visibility and solidarity in her fight to preserve her land and cultural heritage, emphasizing the need to protect future generations.
Since its inception in 2001, Write for Rights has enabled millions to take action and positively change the lives of people whose human rights were violated. Notably, the campaign contributed to the release of Rocky Myers, a Black man with an intellectual disability who spent three decades on death row in Alabama. Following massive global support, his death sentence was commuted in February 2025, halting his execution while he continues to seek justice for violations in his case.
Amnesty International’s campaign demonstrates that collective global action, through letters, petitions, and advocacy, can protect human rights, support vulnerable individuals, and affirm that solidarity and humanity can triumph over injustice.
