Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Urgent Actions, But Were Afraid To Ask
Amnesty International's Urgent Action Network provides a rapid response to urgent situations involving prisoners of conscience, detainees, and other individuals facing immediate human rights violations. Functioning much like an emergency room staff in a hospital, members of the Urgent Action Network in 90 countries compose and send appeals to government officials who are in a position to ensure the safety and fair treatment of those whom AI seeks to protect. But is letter-writing effective?
Featured Guest: UAN StaffFrom our featured guest: "We hear from individuals who have been released from prison, from family members, from human rights workers in the countries our UAs target. And it's their words that keep us going, and keep our letter writers going. For example, convinced that appeals from Amnesty International's Urgent Action Network had a huge impact on her treatment in prison, Turkish human rights defender Sevim Yetkiner recently thanked Amnesty International and said, 'The 21 days that I spent in prison reinforced my commitment in the struggle for human rights. This is a struggle that everyone in society should join. The appeals sent by AI members are effective and important -- I have seen first-hand how important they are.'"
Question Submitted by Christy:
Our church would like to start a chapter of AI. How can we become volunteers for Urgent Action?
UAN Staff answers:
We would love to see your church start a letter writing group! Since 1975, AI has had an Inter-Religious Urgent Action Network, whereby communities of faith receive UAs on a monthly basis to share with their faith community and organize letter writing. The Inter-Religious Urgent Action Network was established in 1975 on the belief that people of all religious persuasions have a vital role to play in the work of eliminating injustice and the practice of torture and executions throughout the world. All churches, synagogues, mosques, religious organizations and communities in the United States are encouraged to join Amnesty International in this important work. To learn more about this option and sign up, visit the interfaith sign up page or email us at uan@aiusa.org.
Faith communities have worked letter writing into their activities and often feature their monthly cases in their community’s bulletin and newsletter. In addition, different faith communities have taken unique and inspiring approaches towards their work on UAs that extend beyond letter writing. For example, the coordinator for the St. Mark's Cathedral letter writing group in Seattle wrote: "When I receive the appeal from you at the beginning of each month, I immediately call the church and place the names of the prisoners on the prayer list for that month. They are then included in our intercessions at every service. It has become an integral part of our worship."
- Natasha
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Question Submitted by Eavan:
This probably sounds stupid, but why would the same people holding prisoners of conscience in prison allow them to see letters from AI activists? How do the prisoners know that letters are being written on their behalf? Why don't the authorities just destroy the letters?
UAN Staff answers:
First a note: the Urgent Action technique has us writing letters to government officials. However, AIUSA's Casework Program issues (and the UA office distributes) the Summer and Holiday Card Actions each year which ask us to write hopeful, supportive cards and letters directly to prisoners.
Why would officials let the prisoners see the cards? First, the officials who decide to detain people are not the ones who guard them in prisons. Prison officials may not see any reason to keep mail from detainees. Second, prison rules and practices vary widely around the world, but we have usually found that mail addressed to prisoners gets through to them.
Prisoners often find out that letters are being written on their behalf because government officials may let them know that they are subjects of many letters sent from around the world. Also, with many Urgent Actions, we ask that people send copies of their letters to a human rights group or other supportive organization that will then inform the prisoner.
Yes, authorities may destroy our letters but not before taking notice of their content and realizing their import.
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Question Submitted by Christopher:
While letter-writing in general seems to be inarguably important, I've heard a lot of debate about what form it should come in. A lot of the AI actions are via e-mail, and I've heard many say that folks in the US congress, for example, more or less ignore e-mail. Snail-mail would seem the most powerful, but after 9/11, with all of the radiation treatments that mail gets going to the US gov't, many say that FAX is a better option. Of course, I don't know what the situation is in this regard with other gov'ts around the world. Could you illuminate? What's the best way to be effective?
UAN Staff answers:
Great question, Christopher -- you've touched on an issue that many letter writers have wondered about for years. But unfortunately, we don't have an easy answer. It would be great if the officials we send appeals to could also reply to us and say “hey, that fax you sent really got to me, so I’m letting this prisoner of conscience go,” but they seem to be close-mouthed about what is most effective. From our experience here at the UA program, however, the key to having your appeals be effective is to be quick, polite, and to the point. Send your appeals in whatever method is most efficient or appealing to YOU. After all, it’s not just your letter, or my letter, that is having the greatest effect. The greatest effect we have through Urgent Actions, and all AI actions, is the diversity through which people communicate. From a child’s hand-written letter, to a student’s email, to a doctor’s telegram or fax, it is the very mix of how our appeals get sent and how we each word our same concern for the human rights of the individual in question. Keep in mind that we are bombarding the officials from all avenues of communication that are open to us – there’s no safe haven for them to hide from our appeals. They listen to emails, they listen to letters. We have file cabinets full of government replies that officials have sent to UA members in response to their emails, faxes, telegrams, and letters. Sure they don’t want to say our appeals made a difference, but having heard from prisoners where the torture has stopped, where their situation has improved, and where they have been freed, we know that it’s the diversity in our approach that is most effective.
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Question Submitted by Claudia:
Would it be possible for you to include with the Urgent Action Newsletter a running total - for the year, perhaps - of people released? I also wonder whether it would be effective to create posters featuring people who have been released and their statements?
UAN Staff answers:
Hello Claudia, In fact we do include releases and general improvements that occur in UA cases in our monthly newsletter which accompanies UAs which are mailed and is available on line for those who receive emailed cases each month. A running total of releases is a good idea and may be possible, but it runs a bit counter to our tendency and AI's tendency not to appear braggarts where releases and "good outcomes" are concerned. In other words, we take great joy at releases but we don't "keep score" in our UA promotional materials.
Re: posters. Posters are very expensive to produce and other AIUSA entities often produce excellent posters connected to campaigns which we make available to UA letter-writers. We try to husband UA resources for those things which are absolutely necessary to the running of the program. We’ll take your suggestion about creating posters of victims who have been helped by being featured on UAs, and their quotes of thanks to letter-writers, and work collaboratively with some of the AIUSA programs: women, indigenous peoples, academics, religious leaders, etc. to create a celebratory UA poster in the near future. -- Ellen
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Question Submitted by Lindsay:
Is there anything I can do besides write letters? I trust that they work but I would love to be able to do more.
UAN Staff answers:
Yes, Lindsay, there are lots of things you can do with Urgent Actions besides writing letters. Much will depend on how deeply you research the human rights situation in a country beyond what is included in the Background Information section of the UA case sheet. I suggest you write and then call your members of Congress' home office and begin a dialogue about human rights in general, and your senator and/or representatives’ posture and commitment to human rights. Once the aide in charge of human rights at that office knows you by name as a constituent, you can call to discuss a particular case or country; you might ask for a letter from your MOC, or even choose to visit the office, in the company of AI folks from your state, to discuss AIUSA's overall human rights agenda.
You may also want to give talks at local service clubs or at schools and churches in your town, about basic human rights. You can contact your regional office to find out when trainings in human rights issues are scheduled, and sign on to receive very empowering training. -- Ellen
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Question Submitted by Graham:
Hi Ellen and Scott - Through your work, I guess you must have spent over 30 years dealing with some of the worst examples of what humans can do to each other - what has kept you going?
UAN Staff answers:
Yes, Graham, It has been a lot of years working with the Urgent Action Program but besides horror stories there have been wonderful, heartening success stories, and collegial letter-writing volunteers to buoy our spirits.
We moved the UA Program from an urban setting, San Francisco, to a lovely mountain town, Nederland, Colorado, in 1983, and the quiet and physical beauty just steps away from disturbing emailed casesheets has created a diet that is energizing and sustaining. -- Ellen
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Question Submitted by Marco Franco:
Hi! I live in the border town of Nuevo Laredo, México. In the last year there were over 100 drug related "disappearances" by paramilitary forces and law enforcement agents involved in criminal activities. Families of the disappeared get death threats when they speak up. I think this is a borderline issue. Is there a possibility to bring up these violations and take urgent action? Thanx for your attention Marco Franco
UAN Staff answers:
Hi Marco – thanks for the question. Amnesty International has documented numerous "disappearances” in Nuevo Laredo, many of which took place during the 1970s and 80s, but sadly such “disappearances” continue to this day. Although the Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos (CNDH) has investigated a number of these cases, most relatives still suffer the injustice and uncertainty of not knowing the fate of their loved ones due to the failure of the government to assume full responsibility by investigating the crimes and bringing those responsible to justice. The hundreds of “disappearances” of women in Ciudad Juarez also hints at your concern that such human rights abuses are tied to borderline issues and impunity (see http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/mexico/document.do?id=3EC284DD25E3F2B080256D78005D4BB1).
But not all is bad news. In April 2003, a judge in Nuevo León refused an arrest warrant for officials accused of kidnapping Jesús Piedra Ibarra in 1976 on the grounds that the crime had passed the statute of limitations. But in November 2003, the Supreme Court reversed the decision, ruling that such crimes are continuous until the abducted person reappears, in line with international standards against "disappearances” (see http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/mexico/document.do?id=55B5C029B67E568580256E9E005A960B for more information). On June 28, 2004, we also issued an Urgent Action that appeals to authorities in the State of Guerrero to support a bill that would criminalize "forced disappearance" (when someone is clandestinely deprived of their liberty by the authorities or their agents, with the authorization, support or acquiescence of the state), which would bring that state’s legislation in line with international human rights standards.
“Is there a possibility to bring up these violations and take urgent action?” Yes. First, I would encourage you to sign up to receive all our UAs on Mexico (sign up at http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/register.html or email us at uan@aiusa.org, and specify Mexico UAs). Not all of our UAs on Mexico are on Nuevo Leon, but many of them deal specifically with your issues of concern: “disappearances” and death threats. The culture of impunity that exists throughout Mexico needs to be fought, both through action that seeks meaningful legislation that will tackle “disappearances” and through speaking out for individuals who have “disappeared.” Second, since we appreciate it when information goes both ways, never hesitate to contact us when you have learned of another “disappearance” in Nuevo Laredo. We always forward information on individuals facing human rights violations to our researchers, who are based in London. They use such information in developing Urgent Actions, longer-term AI actions, and reports. It’s usually best to email us the information (uan@aiusa.org), but you are welcome to call (+ 1 303 258 1170) or fax (+ 1 303 258 7881) us as well.
- Natasha
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Question Submitted by Liz:
Amnesty International serves a critical role in support of human rights all over the world. How does Amnesty International identify issues of importance for Amnesty actions? Thanks!
UAN Staff answers:
Hello, Liz. Researchers at AI’s International Secretariat (IS) in London gather information about human rights violations from a large network of contacts in-country as well as from victims’ family members and colleagues around the world. When they are satisfied that the information is correct and credible, they work with the Head of Region and the IS UATeam to compose an Urgent Action. Each of the 90 UA offices worldwide receives and re-distributes the UAs. We are a large section with a large UA Network, so we receive all of the Urgent Actions that the IS creates and issues. – Ellen
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Question Submitted by Tony:
The USA government seems particularly resistant to letters about human rights. They don't seem to work at all. What's your feeling about this?
UAN Staff answers:
I don’t think the government of the US is impervious to human rights letter-writing. I think it is understandable that US officials act as if AI letter-writers are just an annoyance. I believe the letter-writers create a climate in which politicians see a need to project their respect for human rights, and soon one is out doing the other posturing as the real friend of human rights! Of course, we want more than posturing, but it is a first and perhaps necessary first step.
I think AIUSA’s serious engagement in DC with legislators and with the executive, is a great partnership with our nationwide activism, wherein letter-writers in every state keep in contact with the home offices of their members of congress, persistently pressing Amnesty International’s human rights agenda.
- Ellen
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Question Submitted by Olayinka:
How many people all together are in Amnesty worldwide?
UAN Staff answers:
My best guess is well over a million. The reason most people in AI hesitate to answer such a pointed question is that our activism far outweighs our numbers. Thousands of people sign AI human rights petitions worldwide at concerts and community events when approached by local activists. Local group members mail and email UA case information to dozens of loosely-affiliated folks in their community who are not counted on any roles. Campus chapters run huge write-a-thons at colleges and universities and generate tens of thousands of letters by non-members. And the web site of AI and AIUSA offer cases work to thousands of people of good-will who take action but are not AI members per se. The 1,200,000 figure represents donor activists and is a very rough estimate. -- Ellen
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Question Submitted by Olayinka:
Is it posible for somebody like me living in Germany to be an active member of Amnesty International? If yes how? Is there any it`s office in Berlin.
UAN Staff answers:
Olayinka, you are in luck. Amnesty International Germany is very active and will welcome your desire to work with AI members in Germany. The main office has moved to Bonn. You can contact the section office by emailing info@amnesty.de and you can visit the web site of the German AI section http://www.amnesty.de I do not know whether there is an office in Berlin, but certainly there will be many AI activists in Berlin. – Ellen
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Question Submitted by Sarah:
Hi my name is Sarah, I'm president of the Amnesty group at the Claremont Colleges in California. I was just wondering how AI picks what prisoners to do an urgent action on. I also volunteer with another NGO regarding the persecution of Falun Gong adherents in China. I was surprised to see that there weren't very many urgent actions from AI for people that practice Falun Gong considering the scale and severity of the abuse that they suffer and also the non-violent nature of their actions. Thank you for having this forum and for taking the time to answer my question, Sarah
UAN Staff answers:
Hello Sarah,
As I answered above, researchers work in teams, sifting through information about human rights abuses and cross checking information. When researchers believe that a blitz of letters on behalf of a detainee, prisoner of conscience, or human rights defender might save a life or prevent torture or death, she/he creates a UA. Certainly, only a portion of HRVs (human rights violations) come to the attention of any particular researcher, but issuing a UA sends a strong message to offending governments not only about the specific case, but about world expectations that all people in a country must have their basic human rights respected.
Over the years of persecution of the Falun Gong, AI has issued many UAs, but yes, you are correct, UAs have not been issued proportional to the number of Falun Gong practitioners harassed, assaulted, persecuted, and detained. I would have to speak one-on-one with a China researcher to learn why this is so but my guess, educated by reviewing almost thirty years of Urgent Actions, is that UAs are not issued strictly proportionately to the populations of countries or proportionate to the number of HRVs occurring in each country. Rather, UAs appear to be issued as information is developed, on countries across the map, even on countries where very few HRVs occur, and strategically where and when AI believes letter-writing will have a salvific effect. Fortunately, Falun Gong practitioners worldwide are well organized and take public action often and strongly to focus world attention on the sometimes outrageous behavior of the Chinese government vis a vis Falun Gong practitioners in China. -- Ellen
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Question Submitted by De'Yolanda:
I have 2 friends that are on death row in Livingston, TX. By Gods' grace they have not been scheduled to die yet, but they are no doubt innocent and did not commit the crime they are accused of. They also have a friend that is serving a 30 year to life sentence that is innocent of the same crime. He is incarcerated for "allegedly" Guilt by association. Do you all help out people that is in their situation wrongfully convicted?
UAN Staff answers:
Hello De'Yolanda, Please contact our abolition staff at AIUSA with the particulars about the case of your three friends, because the staff may be able to refer you to an attorney or group working particularly on issues of innocence in capital cases. Email abolish@aiusa.org asking what sort of information that staff will need to make a referral. Meanwhile, so that you can also pursue other avenues for action, you can put together a succinct "deposition" of each convict's case with lots of detail (names, dates, contact information, etc.) so that as people become interested in the case(s) you have a short accurate document to send, email, or fax to those making inquiries. Keep a log of all the actions you take to achieve redress of what you believe to be unfair convictions, be they phone calls, email inquiries, letters to attorneys or newspapers, conversations with the convicted, etc. -- Ellen
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Question Submitted by Kathleen:
Though I do believe that letter writing is important, of late I have been very discouraged by recent human rights violations; in particular, the torture of Iraqis by US soldiers and our government’s response or lack thereof. The lack of accountability on the part of the US government, military etc is despicable. I do not know how we as US citizens can lay claim to democracy, human decency when it’s so obvious to the world that we are tyrants.
UAN Staff answers:
It’s hard to listen to the news and not be discouraged by the United States' ongoing breaches of human rights and humanitarian law principles in the pursuit of its "war on terror" and in Iraq. Not to mention, the use of torture by the US is nothing new: the US government's Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (formerly known as the "School of Americas") trained hundreds of Latin American officers in the 1980’s using manuals that advocated torture, blackmail, beatings and executions. Many of these officers were later implicated in human rights violations (for more information, see http://www.amnestyusa.org/askamnesty/torture200301_1.html).
I don’t mention this perspective to further discourage you. It’s a humbling perspective to realize that our country, like all other countries in the world, has a history of torture and other grave human rights abuses. But note that many people around the world recognize that the actions of a few “US soldiers and our government’s response or lack thereof” are just that: a few soldiers and our government. We as US citizens, or citizens from any country, have not only the right to lay claim to human decency and international standards, but we have a responsibility to do so. I believe in turning around all the bad news that comes in through the media and AI reports into something incredibly positive: action. We have the ability and responsibility to speak out against injustices that are committed by our government, and to remind the administration and our members of Congress that torture should never be in our names. If you would like to do letter-writing on this issue, you are welcome to join the UA Network (http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/register.html or email uan@aiusa.org), and you can specify that you’re interested in UAs on the US-led “war on terror.” I also encourage you to follow Ellen’s advice in a question above, that recommended a letter writer take her UA activism to the next level by calling and meeting with her members of Congress on the issues raised in the UAs she receives. You can also find many powerful and creative ways to get involved in your community or online at http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/iraq/activism.html and http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/usa/index.do
- Natasha
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Question Submitted by eva:
I was writing with an inmate for 1 year,hes eemed to be very glad about this,I visited him and helped him,what ever he needed, but for reason unknown to me, he stopped writting.I ask myself, why does a prisoner stop writing and put a penfriend in a situation of wondering and so I ask myself,if it is worth to write,if you are being droped.
UAN Staff answers:
Hello Eva,
There are dozens of reasons an inmate might stop writing to someone on the outside and it may be best to simply move on to another inmate who has signed up for a penfriend through one of the many organizations in the U.S. The prisoner you have written to knows how to resume contact and will when s/he again wishes to do so.
It's probably good to keep in mind that no matter how long you communicate with a prisoner, how much detail s/he gives you about her/his situation, incarceration is brutal emotionally. You began writing to offer the prisoner support from outside, don't inadvertantly put undo pressure for communication on someone jail. -- Ellen
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Question Submitted by Patricia:
After a person has been freed because of AI's advocacy,what is AI's follow-up? One would think that the victim would continue to be closely watched by the gov't., and could suffer future repression and harrassment.
UAN Staff answers:
Hi Patricia,
AI’s contact with a person who may have been freed because of AI's advocacy, for example having a UA issued on his/her behalf, varies a lot. Some researchers remain in active communication with human rights defenders, their families, their organizations, and colleagues. At the other end of the spectrum are cases in which we learn nothing further beyond a detention or a release and as section members we don’t learn anything more about the victim. Between these extremes there’s an almost infinite array of relationships victims maintain with AI. Many victims become spokespersons for Amnesty International, some have joined AI and become active in their communities and countries. Some have even become presidents of their countries, i.e. Vadslav Havel and Kin Dae Jong !
Where governments’ continue to hassle human rights defenders, Amnesty International remains involved and issues actions as appropriate sometimes over decades. -- Ellen
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Question Submitted by Steven:
What is being done on local, national and international levels to promote understanding within and between the faiths toward a more humane perspective of global community?
UAN Staff answers:
AIUSA has an excellent program in our Chicago office which promotes inter-faith activism. For more information you can email them at networks@aiusa.org or go to thier web site at http://www.amnestyusa.org/interfaith
-Scott
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Question Submitted by Elizabeth:
What alert techniques seem to be most effective in getting people to resond,i.e. the wording, frequency, subject? What works?
UAN Staff answers:
We encourage people to send politely-worded messages to government officials. Using offensive language may turn them away from your concerns.
Also, keep you message short, no more than a few paragraphs. Officials are more likely to read brief messages.
Repeatedly name the individual/s you are concerned about, making sure that his/her name is spelled correctly.
We in the Urgent Aciton office believe that a message that has as its focus an individual victim or a small number of named individuals are very likely to be effective in that they are apt to be read and responded to by the official.
-Scott
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Question Submitted by Fátima:
How can I help people who needs?I live in Portugal and I feel that I´m very distant from all this things!I would like to help but I don´t know how!I would like to feel more close of this problems because i´m able to help!sorry..my english isn´t very good...I´m Portuguish like I said before!Thanks for all=)
UAN Staff answers:
You can go to the Amnesty International web site in Portugal:
www.amnistia-internacional.pt
Thanks for your interest!
-Scott
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Question Submitted by terry:
Why do we have so many related organizations which do similar work? Why doesn't "human rights watch", "the southern center for human rights" "doctors without borders" "peace action" and other similar groups join together in a "super group" I think we would have more money for change and more political clout if we started consolidating our groups into 1 gigantic world peace justice environmental group.
UAN Staff answers:
This is question needs a group of answers:
On the face of it, it seems plausable for there to be one organization, but in fact human rights organizations have different goals and methods to accomplish their goals.
Amnesty International uses its grassroots membership to accomplish many of its goals.
The Committee to Protect Journalists works to protect the human rights of threatened and imprisoned journalists.
Doctors Without Borders sets up clinics and provides medical care in countries around the world.
In fact, many of these organizations do indeed band together when it might be effective and efficient to do so. For example, currently many human rights groups in North America have formed a coalition to collectively keep their archives in a central and accessible place.
-Scott
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Question Submitted by Jeanne:
Is it effective to place several signatures on one letter, or is it more effective for us to provide samples and ask our students to each write his/her own? A university teacher.
UAN Staff answers:
Who knows what is more effective?
This is what my experience indicates to me: it can be very effective to have a 6-week global Urgent Action campaign which results in appeals arriving in different languages and different formats. So, a letter-petition - a letter signed by many people- can be a strong statement of concern. Many letters, based on sample texts and those that are written individually are also great ways to express concern. The idea is that the mix of kinds of appeals will likely be effective.
Also, practically speaking, there are times when you know it is more likely that you will get 20 students to sign a letter which has already been written than to get those 20 students to sit down with blank sheets of paper and write their own appeals. We would love it if they did, but it doesn't always happen. So you have to go with what produces something that can be sent to an official, even if it is only one letter.
-Scott
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Question Submitted by James:
Are emails as effective as physical letters?
UAN Staff answers:
Well, we know that if you send your message via email it will get there faster than an airmail letter! Of course, with Urgent Actions, our concerns always have life-threatening urgency so that is important.
I suspect that in some countries, letters are deemed more important than emails, but that number, whatever it may be, must be diminishing by the month as more government officials use and respect email as the way to communicate.
We try to design Urgent Action campaigns which result in a mix of large numbers of emails, faxes and airmail messages of concern.
-Scott
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Question Submitted by Aire:
Any tips for formatting letters sent by regular mail--is it better to type them, write them by hand, personal stationery, business-quality stationery???
UAN Staff answers:
As has been mentioned in other comments here, we strongly believe that a diversity of messages is the best way to get an official's attention. Each of the message-types you describe has advantages:
Hand-written letters are clearly individual expressions of concern;
Using personal stationary stresses that the individual is writing and it is not a form letter;
using stationary of different color, with different types of headings makes it clear that each letter is unique and represents the fact that the writer took the time to produce it him or herself;
using professional letter-head implies that the company, school or organization shares the writer's concerns and that might have an added effectiveness.
-Scott
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Question Submitted by Warren:
You have started to include e-mail addresses for the UA recipients. That makes it easier to contact leaders faster, but how do you see the weight of e-mails versus writing a letter or faxing?
UAN Staff answers:
Please see previous comparison of emails versus mailed letters.
-Scott
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Question Submitted by William:
Do you have to pay $25.00 to participate in the Urgent Action Network?
UAN Staff answers:
There is no strict requirement that you pay to be a part of the Urgent Action Network. Your participation in writing appeals would be greatly appreciated by itself.
However, we strongly encourage all who participate in the Urgent Action Network to support the cost of opperating the Urgent Action program by being dues-paying members of Amnesty International USA which means you will get the ''Amnesty Now'' magazine and you will also be able to have a vote in deciding who evers on our Board of Directors. Becoming a member is easy to do. Go to: https://secure3.ctsg.com/amnestyusa/donation/index.asp?item=1&ms=H7
-Scott
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Question Submitted by Jeanne:
If you have activist teachers, would you be interested in a lesson plan that includes writing for urgent actions? It's at http://www.csudh.edu/dearhabermas/humanrts04.htm Anyone is welcome to use it under our Creative Commons license - free.
UAN Staff answers:
Thanks!
-Scott
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Question Submitted by Tammy:
I do want to help but I do not know in what way I can help with your mission. I believe that all people are human beings and do have the right as certain individuals for what ever reason.
UAN Staff answers:
Sounds like you would be a perfect member of Amnesty International USA and we would love to have you as part of the Urgent Action Network.
Please go to: http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent and look over the information you find there. You can join by simply choosing that option and filling out the form.
Thanks! -Scott
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Question Submitted by Alaine:
As an active member of Amnesty International's various groups-UA,Violence Against Women etc. along with the local Floridians Against the Death Penalty etc. How can we as Amnesty members, attempt to vacate a prisoner of conscious wrongful detention when being held in our own country's detention centers? Now that we are able to address several in-country human right's offenses, how much are we able to act on an issue? As the United States people were recently made aware of the many human right's violations occurring at our internationally located legal detention centers, along with the numerous prison violations already on record throughout the United States penal system, can we explore a campaign to continue this "new found awareness"? How far can we go?
UAN Staff answers:
Hello Alaine,
You’ve asked about HRVs in the USA. AI and AIUSA are doing a great deal on human rights violations occurring in the United States, but of course we can always do more and always do better. In almost every program, there are USA cases featured, but staff, board and the volunteer leadership take pains to maintain the international character of our work.. Even if the United States is committing horrendous human rights violations, AI internationally will continue to touch on the HRVs of every country and draw in activist letter-writers from every country.
I believe that AI is doing a fine job, but you are able and encouraged after reviewing AIUSA’s and AI’s web sites, to suggest areas which may not be getting sufficient coverage. Some people survey the HR terrain and find other non-governmental organizations that are working on countries or human rights abuses that they particularly care about. Single issue organizations are often able to focus in more detail on HRV than a large multifaceted international NGO like Amnesty International can. Make your concerns known at Cluster meetings, regional conferences, at the Annual General Meeting, and the email discussion amnesty_d. -- Ellen
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Question Submitted by Doug:
I have been a long time member of AI and have been greatly encouraged to learn recently of the effectiveness of Urgent Actions. I wonder though if anyone in AI has ever looked at the time frame for effectiveness in writing. What I mean by that is..does there seem to be a correlation between the amount of time a person as been incarcerated, and the effectiveness of attention drawn to that through writing? Is it true that the longer one has been imprisoned it becomes less likely that they are freed? If this is true, perhaps AI could speed up the process of attention drawn to an unjust incarceration.
UAN Staff answers:
Hi Doug,
What you’re proposing we study would be a terrific Masters thesis and I hope someone reading the questions and answers on this UA chat will be inspired to take on such a study. We do have a lengthy paper (50 pages) on effectiveness of UAs done by a California graduate student which we can mail to you. Email your request to uan@aiusa.org although I do not think this paper necessarily speaks to the specific issues you raise.
I do not believe that we can speed up the reception and distribution of UAs since we in fact have a 24/7 WARN program that works on weekends, evenings and holidays; we post actions to the web same day they are received. We email actions to dedicated UA letter-writers on the same day we receive them from London, and a steady stream of communication to governments happens for up to three months after the initial distribution of the each Urgent Action. -- Ellen
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Question Submitted by Peggy:
re quwestions beeter sent to public forums -like newspapers-or to a government official. Colin Powell just recently coped out again this time on Sudan. He seems still to be a soldier following orders regardless of reality. Government officials seem to only follow party lines.
UAN Staff answers:
We believe appeals should go to offending govenrment officials, those who are at least in part responsible for the human rights abuses
It is also sometimes useful to send copies of appeals to public entities like newsletters.
-Scott
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Question Submitted by emilee:
I'm from Mt.rainier high school in des moines, wa. our school has had an active amnesty chapter for the past few years, and next year i'm going to be the new president. is there anything in my area come fall that our club can do to become more active members of amnesty international.
UAN Staff answers:
You should contact the San Francisco office of Amnesty International:
aiusasf@aiusa.org
Hope that helps!
-Scott
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Question Submitted by David:
Hi, I am an action file coordinator for a poc from Myanmar. I am concerned that the new direction Amnesty is taking will no longer support poc's from Myanmar unless they fit into a global campaign. Will there continue to be urgent actions regarding people from Myanman? How do I get an urgent action from my POC - Thet Win Aung? Thank you, David
UAN Staff answers:
We do not know how many Urgent Actions there will be on those in need in Myanmar in the immediate future. I do suspect that we will continue to be able to address urgent situations in Myanmar.
To have the case of Thet Win Aung considered as a future Urgent Action, you can send us an email describing the urgency of his situation. Send to: uan@aiusa.org
-Scott
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Question Submitted by Dan:
How do you get Senators in the US to read your email about urgent issues? I watch CSPan at home, and the senators seem to argue a lot. I wish we could encourage them to focus on issues of importance, rather than too much argument and debate over formalities of state. thank you.
UAN Staff answers:
You can get this information and a whole lot more on our work with the US Government by going here:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/uspolicy/index.do
-Scott
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Question Submitted by Johnstone:
Why don't you consider african countries or developing countries to be sponsored to attend your conference?What about training of gender and human rights as a subject people are interested?
UAN Staff answers:
We have indeed sponsored Amnesty International activists to attend some of our membership conferences. The Urgent Action program has a long-term interest in working with UA coordinators in Africa -and elsewhere in the world- to share ideas and resources.
AIUSA has done and will continue to do trainings on subjects such as women's rights, gender identity, etc.
We have an excellent web site on Women's Rights:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/women/index.do
-Scott
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Question Submitted by Samantha:
Is a fax more effective than an e-mail when sending an Urgent Action letter? I send both whenever the option is available, assuming that my e-mail might probably get deleted pretty quick or be marked spam without even being read.
UAN Staff answers:
We strongly encourage both faxed and emailed appeals.
We believe both kinds of appeals are noticed and counted.
Try to send a fax when possible and emails if the fax numbers do not work (and vice versa).
-Scott
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Question Submitted by valerie:
are you interested in preventing the soldiers who have returned home from being returned to that hell hole (for them). ?
UAN Staff answers:
Yes.
Here is one such case we are currently working on:
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=10887
-Scott
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Question Submitted by Lily Sugianto:
Dear Madam, I'm sorry because my English is not good. With two friends of mine, we work in Lesbian and Transgender grassroot community in Jakarta to give them a strengthening and powerment (the activities is outreach,discussion, etc). I really thank you if you would give me some infomation, article or books for us to learn more about the human rights of LGBT and the history about Lesbian movement. I had meet with Evelyn Blackwood in 235 June 2004, talking about support for lesbian community in Padang-Sumatera with the same activity and the same goals. Would you give us support for this?
UAN Staff answers:
Sounds like you are doing great work!
Please check this web site on our LGBT program called Outfront:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/outfront/
And good luck in your work!
-Scott
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Question Submitted by Diane Krat:
I don't always have time to personalize the form letter but will send it anyway as is. Does it make a difference to personalize or is it more important to sign the email and get it to the right country/leaders, etc. within the time frame? Thank you...Namaste
UAN Staff answers:
You are right that it is most important to get the appeal out as soon as possible. However, when you have a minute, it would be great for you to personalize the text of your message.
When sending an email, one of the most important things to change is the subject line so that the official does not get emails with all the same subject line.
-Scott
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Question Submitted by azeez ahmed quraishy:
sir, thanks for your like this regard; i am very happy for this. i want to work in AI with your office and india branch. i write lettre there and srnd messege for guidence. but there is no repply for guideence. i want help from you in many stages in INDIA. sir. i am working in the subject in humenrights from three years. in india my friends are every where they want help many stages.but i feel that any where i am afred. your suggestion is true. in this time what i can do. sir. in your order we done a programme 26 th june in satyna. we want support in problems. many persons are in jail they are asking to me. what i support them. i have many friends and association in h rights they are working with me. if you directed to INDIA BRANCH for help .so we will very happy. many problems are happend in distt and rurel places. in these problems depend on supprendet of police and disst collector and disst magistrate. and chief sec and chief minestr. and others. what is the right way for this problems. i want to work with many persons for humen rights. many casec we were success. in madhya predesh we want to work of AI if your permission and order we work in many dissttis also pl your h'q if permited for me; i will work in your guidence. i am awaiting your guidence and good news. with regards yours faithfully azeez ahmed qurieshy.member AI. satna (india)
UAN Staff answers:
Here is the contact information for the India branch of Amnesty International:
Telephone +91 11 2685 4763 Fax number +91 11 2651 0202 Address C-161 4th Floor Guatam Nagar (Behin Indian Oil/Gulmohar Commerical Complex) New Delhi 110 049 INDIA
Good luck - Scott
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Question Submitted by Toby:
Are there certain types of questions to ask officials in the country of the detention that are more likely to solicite a response from them? Any suggestions?
UAN Staff answers:
Each Urgent Action includes a list of specific concerns/questions we ask of the government officials we list at the bottom of that action. They will serve as a good guide for you.
In general, the best way to get a response is to use respectful language in your appeal and keep your text brief and focused.
-Scott
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Question Submitted by Melissa:
I work with a student chapter of AI as faculty advisor. One question that comes up regularly from our current and prospective members and I never know how to respond satisfactorily. If a government is commiting human rights violations or looking the other way as they are committed, there must be some level of corruption. Why, then, wouldn't they just destroy the letters that they receive or claim that they never received them?
UAN Staff answers:
Well, that is a good question. One would think that government officials would just throw everything away they get from us and childishly say, ''What? We don't know what you are talking about.''
But our experience after issueing and monitoring tens of thousands of separate Urgent Action camapigns, is that it just doesn't happen that way.
Usually, when an Urgent Action is issued, there are also press reports, sometimes produced by Amnesty International, sometimes by other organizations both inside and outside the country, so the officials do not get the [UA]letters in a vacuum.
At the Urgent Action office, UA activists have sent us many thousands of government response that they have received in reply to their letters, pointing to the fact that officials not only read but reply to our concerns. And in their replies, while they may deny torturing an individual, they never write something like, '' we have no idea what you are talking about!''
-Scott
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Question Submitted by Carol Leonard:
Thank you for this opportunity; I was released from Carter County Jail June 13,2004 Located in Elizabethton, Tennessee after serving 30 days; While there I was not given my antidepressant (Zoloft) or stomach medicine (Protonix)- even though I brought them with me (in the bottles dispensed by the pharmacy). The DR. at the jail overrode my own DR. even though he had no prior medical knowledge of my condition. Also, very overcrowded- there were 30 of us women all confined to the "chapel" and on the floor; we had no outside yard time; and if there was an emergency- the way to call staff was to "beat" on the door. Grievances were not answered; and I think this needs to be looked into; I have more information- what can I do about this situation?? again thank you- Carol
UAN Staff answers:
Yes, Carol. Amnesty does look into prison conditions in the USA and in many other countries worldwide. The sort of information you have available could be useful in pressuring Tennessee authorities into making improvements in care of prisoners. I suggest that you write a detailed report on what happened to you, no longer than two sides of a sheet, including dates, contact information, locations, perhaps a quote from your doctor and your family members, etc. You can submit this to the AIUSA staff that deals with human rights violations in the United States, via email to usa@aiusa.org Keep a copy of this report and contact local rights groups in Tennessee like the American Civil Liberties Union which may have a state office in Nashville. -- Ellen.
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Question Submitted by Monica:
My friend and I coordinated an Amnesty International Club at our high school the past year and have written appeals for the victims of unjust human rights abuse. However, although we will continue writing and sending these appeals, it might be more motivation for the club members if there were some sort of long term project that we could work on. Thus, my friend and I were wondering if you had any ideas for such projects. Thank you.
UAN Staff answers:
Certainly, some of your letters should be sent to local newspapers as Letters to the Editor bringing up human rights situations of which local people may be unaware. The letters can even explain a little about how your chapter operates and encourage other school age kids to likewise become involved in promoting human rights. In summer, you can do the Summer Postcard Action (SPA) with friends and family or even set up a table at local gatherings to distribute the action or even make available materials and stamps for people to make or write cards, right on the spot. You may request the Children’s Edition SPA or find it on the amnestyusa web site and volunteer to do postcard-making and sending with day campers or at Sunday Schools.
Once back at school, you and your club can organize a debate or panel about human rights, perhaps including discussion of the behavior of soldiers at Abu Ghraib. -- Ellen
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Question Submitted by Caroline:
I am for John Kerry but have not heard him talk about the torture at Abu Ghraib and Guantanomo. I think he should be told to speak out on these shocking violations of human rights authorized by the Bush Admnistration.
UAN Staff answers:
I agree with you, Caroline, that there hasn’t been enough discussion about human rights violations (HRVs) happening in connection with the war on terror and the war in Iraq. Amnesty International has many reports, papers, studies, and Urgent Actions that you can use to communicate your concerns about the HRVs. Candidates generally listen to voters, to constituents, to citizens, not to human rights organizations. Make your concerns known via letters and emails to all the candidates, and write letters to the editor and opinion pieces to your local newspapers. -- Ellen
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Question Submitted by maria:
i commend amnesty for being just about the only folks to notice the large scale death going on as we speak in the sudan. the loss of life in humanity,s cradle saddens and discourages me. do you think that this would be ignored if the victims were white?
UAN Staff answers:
Hello Maria, I have heard the allegations that the Sudan catastrophe and the Rwanda genocide before it, are being ignored because the victims, and in both cases the oppressors, are not white. I do not believe we will know whether that is true in our lifetimes, but what we do know is that our leaders in the Executive Branch of government, the president and cabinet members, as well as our Members of Congress in the Legislative Branch of government must hear from us, citizens, that we expect them to be fully engaged in making peace in Sudan and saving lives.
Use the information on Sudan that you will find on the amnesty and amnestyusa web sites when contacting USA government officials. Find local venues like faith communities in your town and local newspapers to raise your continuing concerns about the deaths in Sudan. -- Ellen
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Question Submitted by Albert Roman:
Hello. I'm an AI member from Group 148 in Southern California. I have no doubt that Urgent Actions are effective because I've heard so many encouraging stories about them. I want to know how we can make more urgent actions for people who practice Falun Gong. I've followed news about this persecution since it began five years ago, and I'm shocked by the extent of the torture happening to these people. Thank you.
UAN Staff answers:
Yes, Albert, you are right about the extent of persecution of the Falun Gong and fortunately because there are practitioners around the world, China is learning of their dismay and horror continuously. There are many web sites that deal exclusively with victims of China’s repression of Falun Gong, and Urgent Actions and other AI action opportunities have been issued since the crackdown on Falun Gong practice came to light. For people like you, who may want to focus at least for a while on China’s repression of Falun Gong practitioners, I suggest you become well-read on the subject, take actions which are suggested and distributed by Amnesty International and the Falun Gong organization itself, especially insisting that our government, raise this human rights issue in bi-lateral talks and trade with China Volunteer to give talks about mistreatment of Falun Gong members and the basic human rights palette at local churches, synagogues, mosques, etc. and write letters to the editor and opinion pieces for your local newspapers. -- Ellen
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Question Submitted by Michael:
Based on recent information and activity at the Urgent Action Network, which countries' human rights conditions do you expect to be of particular concern in the year ahead and why?
UAN Staff answers:
Hello, Michael, good question. As you know, if you’ve belonged to Amnesty International (AI) for very long , AI doesn’t rate countries as to how terrible their human rights situations are. Right now we are receiving a continuous stream of Urgent Actions about Nepal because in their efforts to deal with an armed insurgency, Nepal officials are rounding up many people, holding them in unacknowledged detention, under harsh jail conditions, refusing to allow the detainees to see attorneys, and often mistreating detainees during interrogation. The best aspect of the AI Urgent Action Program is that cases are distributed not only about major human rights catastrophes but simultaneously about cases occurring in countries rarely or never mentioned in our newspapers.
Our hope as the UA staff, is that this program will continue to highlight cases of human rights violations against individuals and groups throughout the world which are not known to many but which can benefit from attention in the form of a letter-writing campaign about death threats, incommunicado detention, torture, or poor prison conditions. -- Ellen
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Question Submitted by Masha:
I reside in the US, but I am not a citizen of this country, and therefore not a constituent. What can I do besides writing letters to help Urgent Actions to fight against human rights violations?
UAN Staff answers:
Masha, actually you can do anything other AI members do in your area, except vote. You can write letters to the editor of your newspaper about human rights situations you learn about in Urgent Actions or on our web sites. You can do speaking at service clubs and schools. You can distribute the Summer Postcard Action (SPA) and its counterpart for youngsters the Children’s Edition SPA.
Contact your regional office for information about activists in your area. -- Ellen
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Question Submitted by Scott:
I was wondering if the recipients of AI emails (i.e. governments, etc.) are able to access the personal details of the sender? Or are they withheld by AI?
UAN Staff answers:
Hello Scott,
When you do an action on the Human Rights Action Center at www.takeaction.amnestyusa.org/action/ it goes directly to the government official with your complete signature that includes your email address, name, and full mailing address.
When you receive an emailed Urgent Action case and send an email appeal to a government official using information on the UA, s/he receives only the information you include in your message.
Ellen
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Question Submitted by Emma:
I am a middle schooler and myself and a few others started an Amenesty group at school last year. This past year, we focused on getting our Constitution together, writing letters, and having local fundraisers to raise money for Amnesty. As we go into year two of our group, what other actions,events,etc. can we do that will help, besides writing letters?
UAN Staff answers:
Hello Emma,
I am delighted to learn of human rights activism in middle school. Our office has published and distributed the monthly Children’s Edition Urgent Action since 1987 because we’ve been sure that young people, 10-14 years old, have a keen sense of justice and want to take action to save lives and build a fairer world.
I can offer you a few suggestions that have been communicated to me over the years by middle schoolers. For example, on July 4th of this summer, young letter-writers in Homer, Alaska, marched in the town parade tied together at their waists with big signs saying things like “Human Rights is all about Compassion”, “Support Human Rights”, and “West Homer Elementary Students for Human Rights”. Perhaps your club could march for human rights in the Columbus Day Parade, October 9-11, 2004 weekend. Many students use their letter-writing time to compose letters to the editor about human rights for their local newspapers. Some students ask to speak about human rights in social studies classes or to hold human rights assemblies, panels or debates on important human rights questions being reported about in newspapers and on TV.
You might want to set up a table during the summer at a local shopping center or on a downtown street, to give out the AIUSA Summer Postcard Action 2004 and the Children’s Edition SPA 2004, and even have cards, paints and markers, and stamps so those who stop at the table can make a card or sign a card right there and you can mail if for them! See http://www.amnestyusa.org/action/summer/ and http://www.amnestyusa.org/aikids/summer/cespa2004.pdf
– Ellen
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Question Submitted by ROGER PHOLO:
DEAR FRIEND I AM FROM DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO.WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS :IS UAN REPRESENTED IN MY COUNTRY ?IF YES BY WHOM .IF NO CAN I REPRESENT IT?CAN I GET SOME PARTNERS FOR OUR NGO?TRY AND SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP US .
UAN Staff answers:
Hello Roger,
I've emailed my UA colleagues at the International Secretariat for information and an IS contact because I've visited Amnesty International's INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT web site at www.amnesty.org and found that there is no AI office as such in the DRC. There may be people in the DRC who receive Urgent Actions directly from the IS, and there may be others who visit the web site and take action on cases via the web.
I know that AI would be glad to provide support for human rights work in the DRC and I suggest that you contact the International Secretariat of AI using the information below:
http://web.amnesty.org/contacts/index/eng-000
INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT
Web site www.amnesty.org
Telephone +44-20-74135500
Fax number +44-20-79561157
Address 1 Easton Street
London
WC1X 0DW, UK
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Question Submitted by Takisha:
I joined Amnesty International online because I am interested in all aspects of human rights. I guess my first question is what is Amnesty International doing for the U.S. 2004 Presidential election in lieu of the 2000 scandal? Also, how does the organization work in conjunction with the UN? Furthermore, do you provide any information on your website concerning products made by slaves overseas & sold in America & what about food that is being machine produced by large corporate-owned farms in the U.S.? Peace & thanks
UAN Staff answers:
Whew, Takisha, your human rights interests, like those of many people in AIUSA are broad and deep, and though AI is expanding the kinds of human rights violations it can work on, it will remain one organization among many do-good organizations striving to “operationalize” respect for human rights in every aspect of human life. Sometimes more political groups will do a better job and have a stronger focus on things like election reform. There are actually hundreds of groups involved in some sort of election reform activity locally and on a state by state basis and nationally, with which you can work to avoid another 2000.
Amnesty International works closely with the United Nations and has official UN observer status and staff members at the UN headquarters in NY and Geneva. That said, AI remains independent of the UN and able to make suggestions and offer criticisms of some actions of the agency where human rights are concerned.
Modern slavery is an enormous, and as of yet, intractable human rights violation, and hundreds of small non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as the International Labor Organization (ILO) of the United Nations work on the issue. In Amnesty International’s move to embrace the full spectrum of rights enunciated in the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we will be open to taking action, mounting campaigns, and fully exposing serious human rights violations like slavery in years to come and will work collaboratively with groups that have a long history and robust knowledge of slavery. -- Ellen
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Question Submitted by Brittany:
I was reading an article about a girl in mexico that was kidnapped raped and murded.The article was very disturbing and people shouldn't have to go through what that gurl did.i saw the web site for amnesty. and i was wondering if there was an age limit? if not how can i help?
UAN Staff answers:
Hi Brittanny,
I guess from your email address that you are about 14 years old, and you may certainly write letters to officials in Mexico asking them to open investigations into the many deaths of young women in Ciudad Juarez. See our action: Express Concern for the Victims of Chihuahua, Mexico
You may also want to sign up to receive the monthly Children's Edition Urgent Action which is usually about a child or teen-ager like you.
If you'd like to share human rights materials with your parents or teachers, you can request that we mail you the packet, "Children Can Be Human Rights Activists, Too!" which contains letter-writing instructions, classroom activities and brief explanations of how Amnesty International works and why. Email us at uan@aiusa.org for hardcopies of the materials described above.
-- Ellen
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