SNP MSP Bob Doris supports Amnesty's campaign marking International Human Rights Day

MSP Bob Doris has joined with concerned individuals from around the globe to write a letter in support of Amnesty International's new Write for Rights campaign ahead of International Human Rights Day (10th December).

Amnesty’s campaigns range from online petitions and other methods of digital communication to public rallies and demonstrations. But in the organisation’s 50th year, Amnesty is asking people to return to the humble hand-written letter which has proved to be such a powerful tool for change.

The Write for Rights campaign focuses on ten critical cases and it is as important now than ever for citizens around the world to contribute their voice. The cases illustrate the diversity of Amnesty’s work; from people facing the death penalty, to people imprisoned for peacefully calling for political change, to communities facing forced eviction and women who are challenging the impunity which allows soldiers in Mexico to avoid justice for rape.

Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow, said: "I am proud to support Amnesty International in their fight to uphold human rights on a person to person basis. Everyone has the ability to pick up a pen and paper and send a message of support to someone in need. The impact of such a simple act should never be underestimated.

"I have chosen to write for the rights of Filep Karma, who is being held by the Indonesian government for his participation in a peaceful political ceremony. I strongly believe in the value of freedom of expression and I look forward to a day when individuals like Filep must no longer be prisoners of conscience.

“I have submitted a Motion to Parliament calling upon my fellow MSPs and the Scottish public to rally with me in support of Amnesty International and human rights.

Shabnum Mustapha, Programme Director for Amnesty International in Scotland, said: “The power of a simple hand-written letter is the ability to embarrass, persuade, protect, coerce and force people to alter their behaviour, and ultimately to change the world. When Amnesty began, 50 years ago,  our founding members had no idea whether ordinary people writing letters to Heads of State and other people in power would make any difference. It turns out that it did, and it still does.

The ten individuals and groups who feature in Amnesty International’s Write for Rights campaign, include; Chen Guangcheng and Yuan Weijing, two legal activists in China who, together with their 5 year old daughter, are currently under house arrest and have faced a relentless campaign of harassment and persecution, since attempting to bring a lawsuit against local officials accused of rights violations; Jabbar Savalan, a 20 year old history student in Azerbaijan who is serving a prison sentence for anti-government comments he posted on Facebook; 75 year old Hakamada Iwao, believed to be the world's longest serving death row inmate who has spent the last 43 years awaiting execution in Japan and Inés Ferndández Ortega and Valentina Rosendo Cantú, two rape survivors in Mexico who have tirelessly campaigned to have the perpetrators of the attacks brought to justice.

Background information

On Saturday 10 December (Human Rights Day) Amnesty International is hoping that an unprecedented number of people across Scotland and around the world, will write to people with the power to stop human rights abuses. Thousands of school pupils across Scotland will be writing letters on behalf of the cases on Friday 9 December.

To find out more about the ten cases, visit www.amnesty.org.uk/write

Note:

Motion S4M-01451 - Supporting Amnesty International’s Write for Rights Campaign (Glasgow)
That the Parliament supports Human Rights Day on 10 December 2011 and celebrates the 63rd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; however, while it laments that human rights violations still occur globally on a daily basis, it strives to protect human rights in Scotland and internationally and, accordingly, supports Amnesty International’s Write for Rights campaign which aims to unite people all around the world in writing to figures of authority across the planet urging them to stop human rights violations; recognizes the power of the individual to support the oppressed and challenge oppressors, and encourages the Scottish people, including our elected representatives, to Write for Rights and exercise their freedom of expression by defending the rights of others.