Write for Rights (W4R) is Amnesty International’s annual campaign, sending greetings cards to prisoners of conscience, their families and other human rights defenders around the world. In 2022, more than 5 million messages of support and appeal letters were sent during the W4R campaign. They made a big difference to the people and communities confronting injustice and facing human rights violations.

We will be holding W4R events, where you can come along and write cards or letters, at Bournemouth Library on Friday 8th December and Saturday 9th December. Both 1.30 to 3.30.  Details of all cases are below, along with videos of their case and letters to authorities you can download. You can also download a copy of the W4R 2023 booklet.

Poland: Justyna Wydrzyńska

Prosecuted for defending safe abortion

Activist Justyna Wydrzyńska felt compelled to help a woman in an abusive relationship access a safe abortion. But it is a crime in Poland to help a woman access an abortion outside the two remaining legal grounds, in the case of pregnancy resulting from an illegal act such as rape or incest, or danger to a woman’s health or life. Now Justyna has been convicted, setting a dangerous precedent and making access to safe abortion even harder for those who seek one.
Justyna Wydrzyńska’s own abortion experience, with no support or access to reliable information, gave her the strength and motivation to help others make informed decisions about their reproductive lives. Justyna co-founded Abortion Dream Team, an activist collective campaigning against abortion stigma and offering advice on accessing safe abortion in Poland, where abortion laws are among the most restrictive in Europe.
In February 2020, Justyna was put in contact with Ania (not her real name). Ania was in an abusive relationship, pregnant and desperate, saying she would rather die than continue with her pregnancy. Justyna, a survivor of a violent relationship herself, knew she had to help. She sent Ania her own abortion pills through the post, but Ania’s partner intercepted the package and contacted the police, who confiscated the pills.
In November 2021, the public prosecutor brought charges against Justyna for “helping with an abortion”. In March 2023, she was found guilty and sentenced to eight months’ community service. Her lawyers have appealed.
Justyna’s conviction sets a dangerous precedent. Without the support and trustworthy information that she and other activists provide, people like Ania would be alone and without access to safe abortion.
Demonstrating her courage in spite of the hostility she faces, Justyna says: “I was driven by the will to help when no one else wanted to or could help. For me, helping Ania was an obvious, decent, and honest thing to do.”

Take Action: Demand that Justyna’s unjust conviction is overturned

Tell Polish authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure that Justyna’s unjust conviction is overturned and to refrain from bringing any other charges against her for carrying out her legitimate defence of human rights.
Write to:
Prosecutor General National Prosecutor’s Officeul. Postępu 3 02-676 Warsaw Poland
Email: biuro.podawcze.pk@prokuratura.gov.pl
Sample Letter
Salutation: Dear Prosecutor General
Twitter / X: @PK_GOV_PL
Hashtags: #IAmJustyna #W4R23

Justyna Wydrzyńska

Help keep Justyna’s spirit strong
Send her your message of solidarity and hope.
Justyna Wydrzyńska c/o Amnesty International Polska Sapieżyńska 10A 00-215 Warsaw Poland
Email: dla.justyny@amnesty.org.pl

Justyna is heavily featured in the October Europe Newsletter (and the AIUK coordinator has organised a demonstration outside the Polish Embassy in London on Saturday 2nd December)

[click to continue…]

The latest update from the AIUK Europe Country Coordinators Team:-

Introduction

As the year 2023 nears its closure we can report some positive developments from Türkiye and Poland but there are still many Human Rights Challenges! Please find an Urgent Action for Türkiye.

There are also leaflets for the 2 demonstrations we are organising: For Saturday 2nd December we are gathering at 3pm in front of the Polish Embassy in London at 47 Portland Place. We have teamed up with a number of Polish organisations to call for the prosecution of Women’s Human Rights Defender Justyna Wydrzynska to be reversed and for women in Poland to have access to safe and legal abortions in Poland.

Please also sign the petition at https://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions/JusticeforJustyna

On 14th December Amnesty International is releasing the investigation into the drowning of 600 people when a small boat packed with an estimated 750 people sank near the coast of Greece. Together with Care4Calais we are organising a vigil outside the Embassy of Greece on 14th December at 3pm.  Please join us if you can!

Stop Deaths at Sea!  Vigil 14th Dec

Stop the Deaths at Sea! Safe and Legal routes for refugees! Seeking asylum is a Human Right! Refugees Welcome!  Vigil 14th December 3pm at the Embassy of Greece.

On 14th of June 2023 the “Adriana” packed with an estimated 750 refugees sank off the coast of Pylos, Greece. Over 600 people, many women and children died at sea.  Amnesty’s investigation points to the action of the Greek coastguard contributing to the sinking of the boat.  The full report will be released on Thursday the 14th December. The policies of Fortress Europe, to keep refugees out at all cost, have again cost many lives.  Amnesty Europe have teamed up with Care4Calais https://www.facebook.com/care4calais/ to organising a vigil outside the Embassy of Greece on 14th December, when the report is released. We are calling for safe and legal routes for refugees and for the Universal Human Right to seek asylum from persecution to be respected by all countries including the UK.

For further information on the demonstration please contact Ulrike.schmidt@amnesty.org.uk [click to continue…]

Group Newsletter end November 2023

November 27, 2023

Welcome to the latest newsletter. Please note we won’t be meeting at Moordown In December, as we are gathering for two Write 4 Rights (W4R) events instead (see below). Our next meeting at Moordown Community Centre  is on Thursday 4th January 2024, 7.30pm – 9.00pm. Write for Rights 2023: Justyna Wydrzyńska W4R 2023 It’s great to announce that Bournemouth library […]

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Quiz Night Autumn 2023

November 12, 2023

Many thanks to everyone who came to our Quiz Night, We had a great evening and raised over £250. Special thanks to the Brunswick again for giving us a great venue, for free. Also David Rogers for setting the questions and Sally Hawksworth for being the hostess. If you missed you can download copies below. […]

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South America Newsletter November 2023

November 9, 2023

This month we bring you news that: Colombia – Colombia’s Defence Minister has apologised to the families whose sons were wrongly killed by the military. Venezuela – The Supreme Court has suspended the results of October’s opposition primary election. Brazil – Amnesty’s Write for Rights 2023 campaign features Ana Maria Santos Cruz, who is fighting […]

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Group Newsletter November 2023

November 1, 2023

Welcome to the latest newsletter. Our next meeting  is on Thursday 2nd November 2023, 7.30pm – 9.00pm at Moordown Community Centre. This is a reminder our quiz night is next week on… Friday 10th November 8pm  at the The Brunswick Hotel, 199 Malmesbury Park Road, BOURNEMOUTH,  BH8 8PX Our quizzes are informal but competitive! We are returning to one […]

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Europe Newsletter October 2023

October 20, 2023

Here is our latest Newsletter with updates and actions.  AIUK Europe Team:- Ulrike Schmidt  (Central and Eastern Europe and Balkans),  Jovana Bosnjak (Western & Northern Europe), Chris Ramsey (Türkiye) Cyprus Letter Writing Action On 27th August, after an anti migrant demonstration organised by the far right and supported by some local representatives, refugees, migrants and […]

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South America Newsletter October 2023

October 4, 2023

Dear Friends, This month we bring you news that: Region – Amnesty denounces the failure of Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Chile to protect Venezuelan refugees. Colombia – We are calling for a fundamental reform of the National Police in a petition you can sign. Brazil – Ana Marian Santos Cruz, who is seeking justice for […]

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Group Newsletter October 2023

October 4, 2023

Welcome to the latest newsletter. Our next meeting  is on Thursday 5th October 2023,  7.30pm at Moordown Community Centre. We are delighted to announce, its time to get ready for our… We are delighted to announce we have a date for our next Quiz Night. This will be on Friday 10th November 8pm  at the The Brunswick Hotel, 199 […]

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Jamnesty September 2023

September 10, 2023

Our Music Benefit event, held at Chaplin’s Bar in Boscombe on Saturday, was a great success – no mean feat given the competition for public attention (and occasional noise!) from the airshow. We collected over £1600.  This couldn’t have happened without the generous support of many musicians, poetry readers, face painters, cake makers as well […]

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