Amnesty International asks people to send seasonal greetings to victims of human rights abuses

This year's Amnesty International campaign highlights Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights 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's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights 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