As the war in the Middle East and Sudan rages on, and anti-abortion narratives and policies continue, activists from around the world are putting their lives on the line to speak out against oppression and injustice. Many are being threatened, jailed and even killed. This year’s Write for Rights campaign features people whose human rights have been violated. Joel Paredes, from Argentina, was blinded by rubber bullets while peacefully protesting in his hometown of Humahuaca; Manahel al-Otaibi, from Saudi Arabia, was jailed after freely expressing herself on social media; while the Wet’suwet’en land defenders have been criminalized for protecting their ancestral land in Canada.

By writing letters, signing petitions and sharing stories, you can support activists whose lives are in danger.

Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General

“People have been jailed, shot, tortured, forcibly disappeared and murdered, simply for speaking out to defend human rights, for protesting or voicing their anxieties about the state of the world. This is intolerable. Amid persistent conflicts, shrinking civic space and an intensifying climate emergency, we need to hear their voices more than ever,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.

“By writing letters, signing petitions and sharing stories, you can support activists whose lives are in danger and demand that governments stop clamping down on rights and freedoms. You can demand justice and hold governments to account. Those responsible for human rights violations thrive in the midst of silence and indifference. They shrink when we come together, speak loud, organise, and unite across the divisions they create. So join us. Take a stand for human rights.”

Defending human rights

This year, Amnesty International’s Write for Rights Campaign will be supporting a number of individuals and groups who are defending human rights. Individually and collectively, they stand for the world we want, not the world we live in. They include:

• Neth Nahara, from Angola, jailed for criticizing the president on TikTok.
• Wetʼsuwetʼen Land Defenders, from Canada, who are fighting to protect their ancestral lands.
• Joel Paredes, from Argentina, blinded by rubber bullets at a peaceful protest.
• Kyung Seok Park, from South Korea, fighting for the rights of people with disabilities.
• Dang Dinh Bach, from Viet Nam, imprisoned for defending the environment.
• Maryia Kalesnikava, from Belarus, abducted and jailed for demanding change.
• Manahel al-Otaibi, from Saudi Arabia, imprisoned for supporting women’s rights.
• Oqba Hashad, from Egypt, detained and tortured for his brother’s activism.
• Şebnem Korur Fincancı, from Türkiye, convicted for defending human rights.

Şebnem Korur Fincancı is currently waiting to hear the outcome of her appeal against her unjust conviction, but she still maintains hope in humanity. A forensic medical expert, she has decades of experience documenting torture in Türkiye and around the world. Şebnem was in Germany for a meeting about prisons and health, when a reporter asked her about the Turkish Armed Forces’ use of chemical weapons. She was shown some video footage and asked what she thought of it. Later, during a short live TV broadcast where she was invited to comment on the images, she said the video suggested the use of chemical gas and she called for an independent investigation.

“The political authority in Türkiye said that I had committed a serious crime, that I had slandered the Turkish Armed Forces and that they would deal with me accordingly,” said Şebnem. “In 2023, they convicted me of [terrorist] propaganda and sentenced me to two years, eight months and 15 days. Now the case is before the Court of Cassation, which will likely uphold my conviction. My only fear is the fear of submission. As long as I don’t bow, I maintain my hope.”

Giving people hope

Over the past few years, Amnesty supporters have made a real difference to people’s lives, providing hope during the darkest of times.

From Brazil to Guatemala, Kyrgyzstan to Zimbabwe, activists have been freed and justice has been served – as in the case of Rita Karasartova a human rights defender and expert in civic governance from Kyrgyzstan.

For over a decade Rita dedicated her life to providing independent legal advice to people whose rights were being violated by a corrupt and unreliable legal system. Alongside 26 others, Rita was arrested in October 2022 for opposing a new border agreement giving control of a freshwater reservoir to Uzbekistan and charged with attempting to “violently overthrow the government”. Rita was part of Amnesty’s Write for Rights campaign last year, and following calls from people around the world, Rita and at least 21 other defendants were acquitted on 14 June 2024.

Your timely actions – these petitions, signatures and the huge number of letters that went to the court and the prosecutor’s office were all very powerful,” said Rita. “It was empowering to us all. The acquittal was totally unexpected. We had been playing with all sorts of scenarios and different outcomes in our heads, but we didn’t think we would all be acquitted! Thank you all.”

Join this year’s campaign and become part of a community working to make the world a more just and compassionate place. Join Write for Rights today.

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Yet spend five minutes Googling “pen pals” and the articles and studies are either geared towards children and tweens, the elderly, or even prisoners. Many mental health charities also offer pen pal schemes to support people through particular challenges such as depression.

Most report benefits of boosted happiness, supporting braindevelopment, increased connection, feelings of acceptance, cross-cultural learning and even boosting physical health.

Factors all adults could benefit from, particularly given increasing rates of burn out, stress and loneliness.

Here are five reasons why you should get out that pen today and find yourself a pen pal.

Writing is good for your brain

Studies continue to highlight the benefits of journaling for mental health. The process of writing out the words on paper can even aid brain cognition and function. Mental health charities have shared case studies of how writing helps normalize people’s feelings and allow them to process them in different ways. And given that humans are social beings, expressing yourself to a pen pal may just enhance these benefits further.

We spend more than a day a week online

With the average person in the U.K. now spending more than one day a week online, the challenges of disconnecting and non-screen time are only growing. One study showed that 40% of adults in the U.K. look at their phones within five minutes of waking up—increasing potential for racing thoughts and anxiousness to kick in early in the day. Whilst there are many pros to what technology provides, over-use is leading to heightened stress.

Writing creates connection

Whilst we are more connected than ever digitally this continues to be reported—we’re feeling more distanced than ever.

More than 9 million people say they always or often feel lonely—and that’s just in the U.K. Recognising the weight of the issue, the U.K. even appointed its first ministerial lead for loneliness in 2018. Chronicloneliness can have a negative impact on mental and physical health, with individuals more prone to depression and an increased risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.

While handwritten letters may not fully replace sitting opposite someone for a cup of tea, there’s an element of deeper connection that is present. Some studies have shown boosts to mood and reductions in stress from expressive writing.

More joy and delight in our lives

Just thinking of the last time you received an actual letter in the post is likely to fill you with at least an inkling of delight. There’s something surprising and delighting about receiving a handwritten note.

Dr Stuart Brown, renown “play” expert, and Brene Brown show how play is critical for our wellbeing and living a full life. Play can also help relieve stress and even stimulate creativity. Who couldn’t do with more of that? Writing letters could be a way to sprinkle back some joy and delight.

Even if you’re not doing it for the benefits to your mental health, brain cognition or deep social connection, having a pen pal at its least will give you an element of play and surprise in your life.

Find penpals on: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WorldLetterWritingDayPenPals/

The post Five Reasons You Need To Start Writing Letters Today appeared first on World Letter Writing Day.