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Letter Writing Guide
for Amnesty International USA
and the Urgent Action Network
Quick & To the Point:
Write and Send it Now.
Don’t Put it Off.
Make it Short.
Be Polite.
Thanks.
Table of Contents
Why write letters? 2 Sending your Appeals 8-9
Amnesty International’s Mission 2 Email
Tips for Effective Letter Writing 3 Fax
Using shortcuts Troubleshooting for emails and fax
Salutations Telephoning officials
Closings Air Mail
Online resources Telegram/Cable
Writing Appeals Based on an Urgent Action 4-5 Beyond Letters 10
A Sample Letter 6 Variations of an appeal
Suggestions for Writer’s Block 7 Other ways to get involved with AI
Starting Children Can Be Rights Activists, too 11
Ending Appeals for when time is of the essence 11
Sample texts UN Documents (excerpts) 12
Revised July 2006
Why write letters?
Amnesty International’s Why write letters? Letters bear witness:
Mission It’s simple. “Although the official
It works. investigations still have not turned
Amnesty International's vision is anything up, the letters and faxes
of a world in which every person This guide will provide you you sent to our offices and to
enjoys all of the human rights with the tools to write an government agencies have been
enshrined in the Universal effective letter. very important. They have assured
Declaration of Human Rights us that we are not alone and they
and other international human have shown the government that
rights standards. Letters can free a Prisoner an entire international network is
aware of anything that might
Amnesty International undertakes of Conscience (POC): happen to us, and is ready to
research and action focused on “I am writing to inform you that respond.”
preventing and ending grave after 6 years, 4 months, 17 days in
abuses of the rights to physical prison, I am now free. I walked -- human rights defender Victor Manuel
and mental integrity, freedom of out of the prison gate… with my Quintana, Mexico
conscience and expression, and shoulders unbent, with my head
freedom from discrimination, unbowed. I feel great to be free
within the context of its work to again, to walk, once again, in the Letters improve prison
promote all human rights. sunshine of freedom.” conditions:
“We could always tell when
-- university lecturer in history and international protests were taking
former POC Maina Wa Kinyatti, place… the food rations increased
Kenya and the beatings were fewer.
Letters from abroad were
The International translated and passed around
Urgent Action Network from cell to cell...”
Letters can strengthen an
Amnesty International's -- a released POC, Vietnam
headquarters, the International individual:
Secretariat (IS), is located in “… Messages of solidarity that
London. All Urgent Action have been sent to me from many Letters demonstrate that
appeals are researched and parts of the world, reach my cell. there is a global
written in the IS office and sent It feels like every time a letter of
to the Urgent Action offices solidarity arrives, the rose in my community concerned for
around the world. cell blossoms. This is a very human rights:
warm feeling.” “That is the magic of AI, its
The Urgent Action -- POC Dita Sari, Indonesia ability to gather a community of
(UAN) in the peoples all over the world for the
Network common cause of humanity and
United States dignity of man and woman—not
Letters can stop torture: only to lend hope to prisoners of
In the US, the UAN consists of “You are not dead, because too conscience, but also give human
approximately 10,000 individuals, many people are concerned about fellowship and warmth.”
AI chapters, schools, faith you”
groups, professional and special -- Member of Parliament and former
interest groups. Individuals can -- a security agent to a political prisoner, POC Lim Guan Eng, Malaysia
work on any specific types of Argentina
appeals such as those listed on
page 10 of this guide.
2 ♦ Amnesty International USA ♦ www.amnestyusa.org ♦
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♦ Urgent Action Network ♦ 600 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, 5 fl, Washington, DC 20003 ♦ tel: 202.544.0200 x407 ♦ fax: 202.675.8566 ♦ e: uan@aiusa.org ♦
Tips for Effective Letter Writing
Use shortcuts Closings In the beginning…
Do whatever is necessary to make Close your letter in a formal style by AI launched its Urgent Action
your letter writing as quick and easy using: Network in 1973 during its first
as possible. This way, letters will Campaign Against Torture. This
not be put off and they can be sent • Respectfully, or Yours speedy technique relied heavily
out sooner. Start by making a respectfully, on telexes and telegrams to
generic file for each type of communicate urgent concerns
concern; paragraphs on torture, the • Sincerely, or Yours sincerely,
death penalty, disappearances, denial about torture. To learn more
of medical care and so on, can be • Yours truly, about the history of urgent
copied into your working file and actions, contact the UAN office
edited as needed. You may find it to request the “UA Bio.”
useful to refer to the sample Online Resources
passages on page 7 to get your letter
started and shake "writer's block.” AIUSA’S HUMAN RIGHTS
ACTION CENTER
Today, AI’s Urgent Action
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/action/ Network is the world’s largest
letter writing program. Other
Salutations The Human Rights Action Center is organizations, such as Global
AIUSA’s central hub for online Response (an environmental
There is no international standard actions. At the center, you will find letter writing organization) have
for addressing authorities. These pending US legislation and urgent modeled their advocacy
formalities vary according to human rights cases in the US and programs after this technique.
different governmental structures in around the world, where your action
each country. Urgent Actions and can make a difference. Actions in AI Library Online
other AI appeals will usually give the Action Center come from all
you a suggested form of salutation networks and programs of AIUSA. http://web.amnesty.org/library/
for each official. In general, you may engindex
safely use: AIUSA’S URGENT ACTION
NETWORK ONLINE The AI library contains an
• Your Majesty – to Kings, archive of most reports, news
Queens, and other monarchs. http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/ releases, and urgent actions
published from 1996 to date.
• Your Excellency – to all The Urgent Action Network online Documents are available in
heads of state, cabinet level is the central location for current English, French, and Spanish.
ministers, prime ministers, Urgent Actions and information
ambassadors and governors. about the program in the US. From
this page, you can link to the Online Human Rights
• Your Honor – for judges and monthly newsletter (which contains Documents
procurators. updates on all Urgent Actions), a
form for joining the UAN, this For an extensive list of United
• Dear Sir/Madam – for local letter writing guide, Frequently Nations human rights treaties,
authorities, prison visit the UN office of the High
commanders, police chiefs. Asked Questions about the UAN, Commissioner for Human
and the history of the UA program. Rights’ website:
• Dear Admiral, General, We appreciate your ongoing http://www.unhchr.ch/html/intl
Captain, etc. – for military suggestions for making this site inst.htm
officials. more useful. For an abbreviated list of UN
documents, see page 12 of this
guide.
♦ Amnesty International USA ♦ www.amnestyusa.org ♦ 3
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♦ Urgent Action Network ♦ 600 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, 5 fl, Washington, DC 20003 ♦ tel: 202.544.0200 x407 ♦ fax: 202.675.8566 ♦ e: uan@aiusa.org ♦
Anatomy of an Urgent Action
Below are some guidelines to help you navigate an Urgent Action case sheet as you begin writing a letter to a government
official. These recommendations can also be applied to any other Amnesty International action. The most effective appeal you
can write on any action is simple, quick, and to the point.
Write as soon as If you have
you can. Try to questions, please
write as close as call, write, fax, or
possible to the date email the AIUSA
a case is issued. Urgent Action
UANetwork Office AIUSA 600 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington DC 20003 T. 202.544.0200 F. 202.675.8566 E. uan@aiusa.org amnestyusa.org/urgent/ office.
25 February 2003
UA 56/03 Fear of torture/Prisoner of Conscience
TOGO Marc Palanga (m), leader of the Union des forces du changement (UFC),
Union of Forces for Change
Marc Palanga, a local leader of the Union des forces du changement (UFC), Union of Forces for Change, is
Be factual in your being held at Kara Gendarmerie (Police station) in northern Togo, following his arrest on 22 February. There
are concerns for his safety as he has received medical treatment at Camp Landja, military barracks, possibly for
appeal. Relay the injuries sustained whilst being tortured.
If you receive a
details of the case On 9 February, Marc Palanga and five other UFC members were arrested by police officers from Kara. On at
as you know them. least two occasions they were taken to Camp Landja and tortured by Togolese military personnel. No reason reply from a
was ever given for their arrest and they were released without charge on 17 February. government official
Do not discuss
Shortly after his release Marc Palanga went to Sokodé, central Togo, where he received treatment for the to one of your
ideology or politics. injuries sustained while in detention from 9 to 17 February 2003. He was re-arrested on 22 February on
appeals, please
Your message must suspicion of having held a meeting in Sokodé. Amnesty International believes that Marc Palanga has been
arrested solely on account of his peaceful involvement with the UFC and considers him to be a prisoner of send the reply to
be for the benefit of conscience.
the Urgent Action
the victim and not a BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Amnesty International receives regular reports of the arrest, torture, intimidation and harassment of members of office. The UA
vehicle for political
the opposition in Togo, especially in the north of the country which is the stronghold of President Gnassingbé office tracks all
opinions. Eyadéma's ruling party. Marc Palanga was previously arrested in October 2001 and sentenced to six months’
imprisonment after being convicted of the defamation of the President’s son, Ernest Gnassingbé. During the replies to cases and
past decade, the organization has documented scores of cases where victims have been targeted because of their
political or human rights activities, particularly around the time of important elections. The Togolese forwards the
Presidential elections are due to take place later this year. information to AI
Amnesty International has repeatedly raised its concerns with the Togolese authorities about the widespread use researchers in
of torture and ill-treatment, and about the lack of safeguards provided to people held in detention. Police are
allowed by law to detain people in custody for up to 48 hours, before bringing them before a judge. The period London and
Remember the of detention is renewable once, with the authorization of the Public Prosecutor. In its concluding observations
country specialists
Amnesty on Togo in October 2002, the United Nations Human Rights Committee, considering its periodic report under
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, noted “with concern the many allegations that torture in AIUSA, thus
International is common practice in Togo, particularly on arrest, during police custody and in places of detention…...”
Amnesty International believes that the principal reason for the persistence of torture in Togo is the impunity helping them learn
mission. Keep your enjoyed by the perpetrators.
what the official
letters within AI’s
response is to a
mission.
Amnesty International's mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave given case.
abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from
discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all human rights.
You may refer to Amnesty International in your letter, unless
otherwise stated in the case sheet, however, appeals written in a
personal or professional capacity will show the diversity of concern
regarding the particular individuals(s) and human rights abuses.
4 ♦ Amnesty International USA ♦ www.amnestyusa.org ♦
th
♦ Urgent Action Network ♦ 600 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, 5 fl, Washington, DC 20003 ♦ tel: 202.544.0200 x407 ♦ fax: 202.675.8566 ♦ e: uan@aiusa.org ♦
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