Every year we suggest you use your sponsored event to highlight an individual at risk. This year we have been asking you to support the cases of:
Last year Team Amnesty supported:
Good news - thank you to everyone who took action on the following cases:
Turkey: Ferhat Gerçek
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Ferhat is also being prosecuted in connection with the dispute, which was over the sale of a legal left-wing magazine, and could face more than 15 years in prison if found guilty. Take action now Are you supporting Ferhat? Download a press release to publicise your activity (Word) |
Days before his 18th birthday, Ferhat Gerçek was shot by police and lost the use of his legs. Seven police officers face trial for 'wounding with intent as a result of excessive use of force' but flaws in the investigation mean that the perpetrator may evade justice. Support Zimbabwe (WOZA) activists
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In September 2010 WOZA members were amongst 83 activists arrested during a peaceful protest against abuses by police including the beating of suspects. They were detained in filthy conditions for two nights before being released on bail. Take action Are you supporting WOZA? Download a press release to publicise your activity (Word) |
Members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) have been repeatedly arrested while taking part in peaceful demonstrations to highlight problems faced by women as a result of worsening economic and social conditions and human rights violations in Zimbabwe.Good news: U Win Htein (Burma) released
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'Basically I looked at things from three perspectives: the religious, political and social. From a religious point of view, I had done nothing wrong... From the political point of view, what we were trying to achieve was for the good of the people, for the prosperity of Burma. And from the social perspective, the NLD had no personal grudge with the military regime... So I knew deeply that I hadn't done anything wrong. These outlooks kept my faith intact, and kept me from breaking down.' - U Win Htein, explaining in an interview how he survived his first imprisonment, 1996 |
U Win Htein was arrested in 1996 and sentenced to 14 years in prison, solely for the peaceful expression of his opinions. He is a senior assistant to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar (Burma)'s detained opposition leader.
On 15 July 2010, U Win Htein was released from prison on completion of his sentence and has been reunited with his family. The Burmese government has a track record of keeping political prisoners behind bars beyond the end of their sentences, so his release was by no means guaranteed.
U Win Htein's family know that Amnesty members all over the world have been campaigning for his release and take a lot of encouragement from this support. Thank you to everyone who took action on his case.
Good news: Case against nine women's rights defenders (Nicaragua) closed
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- Luisa Molina, one of the nine human rights defenders |
'Defending human rights in Nicaragua means taking on emotional, political and personal risks. We are going to keep on, because we believe justice is on our side.'Nine well-known women's rights defenders, who work with survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse, faced legal proceedings for their involvement in the case of a nine-year-old girl. The girl, known as 'Rosita', became pregnant after being raped in 2003 and obtained a legal abortion in Nicaragua.
Following the news in May 2010 that the investigation against the nine women has been closed, we are no longer asking for people to take action on this case. Find out more