Amnesty International Nepal launched the Write for Rights 2019 campaign, Amnesty’s annual letter-writing campaign, whereby supporters worldwide write letters for people whose rights are under threat or are being violated on November 28. The Write for Rights campaign will run from November 28 to December 20. This year Amnesty International is throwing its might behind the children and young people who are fighting some of the world’s biggest crises. Many have stepped in where adults have failed to lead and are facing terrible danger as a result. Write for Rights 2019 will see Amnesty supporters stand in solidarity with young individuals from Belarus, Canada, China, Egypt, Greece, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines and South Sudan.
Among others, Amnesty International Nepal is campaigning for Yasaman Aryani, a young Iranian activist, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison for defying the country’s forced veiling laws; Sarah Mardini and Sean Binder, two humanitarian workers, who were charged with ‘people smuggling’ by Greek authorities for participating in a rescue operation of refugees and are now facing up to 25 years in prison, and 17-year-old Magai Matiop Ngong of South Sudan, who was sentenced to death in November 2017 while still a child, in contravention of both South Sudanese law and international law.
Additionally, as part of its “Violence against Women” campaign, Amnesty Nepal supporters will also collect petitions demanding the Nepali government implement the 2017 Supreme Court order on regulating sale of acid. The petitions will be delivered to Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa.
“Incidents of acid attacks, which mainly target young girls, have been on the rise in the country. It’s time for the government to take this issue seriously and regulating the sale and distribution of acids which are currently easily available in the market can be a good first step,” said Nirajan Thapaliya, Executive Director of Amnesty International Nepal.
