Posted: 31 October 2003
This year's Amnesty International campaign highlights women imprisoned for
their beliefs and those who fight for justice on behalf of others.
Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:
"The greetings card campaign offers encouragement and lights a flame of
hope for women during their dark days in prison or their fight for
justice.
"These greetings send also a message to the authorities responsible for
human rights violations telling them that the international community is
aware of their actions."
Twelve prisoners of conscience from last year's campaign have since been
released including Amina Lawal who was originally sentenced to death by
stoning for adultery. About 40 new cases are highlighted by the 2003
greetings card campaign, including:
- Philippines: Larina Perpinan is among seven young offenders who have been sentenced to death. She was
reportedly under the age of 18 at the time the crime was committed. More
than 1,000 people are estimated to be on death row in Philippines.
- Tibet: Phuntsog Nyidron, A Buddhist nun in her mid-twenties, was sentenced to 9 years
imprisonment for taking part in Tibetan independence demonstrations in
1989. She had her sentence extended to a period of 17 years imprisonment
for composing and recording in prison pro-independence songs. This is the
longest known current sentence for a female political prisoner in Tibet. (Picture available for press use)
- Cuba: Marta Beatriz Roque Cabello, age 57, was head of the unofficial Cuban Institute of Independent
Economists. She was detained in the aftermath of the wave of mass arrests
that began on 18 March 2003 in Cuba. Together with 77 others she was
arrested when security agents searched homes across the island
confiscating computers, fax machines, typewriters, books and papers. (Picture available for press use)
- Algeria: Families of the disappeared in Relizane and Constantine regions. Relatives have been harassed for protesting about those who have
"disappeared". Over the last few years, around 3,000 dossiers on the cases
of people who have "disappeared" in Algeria since 1993 have been compiled
by Amnesty International. These are people who were taken away from their
homes, workplaces and elsewhere by members of the security forces, but of
whose current whereabouts the authorities deny any knowledge. (Picture
available for press use)
"Just adding one more card to your list this year could make an incredible
difference to somebody's life," concluded Kate Allen.
Full details of the greetings card campaign, with profiles of the cases,
addresses and how an appeal can be made, will be posted on the Amnesty
International website www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=713. Or you can email: greetings@amnesty.org.uk
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