The Urgent Action Network
The FIRST APPEAL Pledge Program
"In matters of torture and 'disappearance,' speed is vital."
- Father David Fernandez, Mexican human rights defender
About the FIRST APPEAL Pledge Program (FAPP)
FAPP allows YOU to be a human rights activist even though you are busy at work, away on vacation, caring for the kids, or just unable to get out your pen. You want to do something, you really do... but what? (Read on!) |
AIUSA’s speediest human rights response program is called the FIRST APPEAL Pledge Program (FAPP). FAPP permits the Urgent Action (UA) staff to write and send individualized messages on human rights concerns by fax, telex, telegram, or email in the names of members who have pledged to pay for these prompt communications. Messages are sent to targeted government officials within hours of reception of the Urgent Action or WARN action at the UA Office.
FAPP, in addition to ensuring a prompt kick-off response to our daily Urgent Action cases, allows the UA staff to participate in the Worldwide Accelerated Response Network (WARN), which is made up of 110 contacts in 17 countries that commit to taking immediate action 24/7 on case information from AI researchers on weekends, evenings, and holidays. WARNs are issued when there isn’t time to prepare and distribute a full UA casesheet, but immediate faxes, telegrams, emails or telexes are urgently required.
In The Solidarity of Strangers, an article from Amnesty Now (the quarterly magazine for AIUSA members), journalist Doug Cosper traced the story of Honduran woman Bertha Oliva de Nativí who faced death threats because of her human rights work. The story follows how Amnesty International responded to her situation by launching an action through WARN and appealing to the Honduran authorities through FAPP. Read this compelling story, which illustrates FAPP as an “investment in compassion.”
Sample FIRST APPEAL Pledge Message and Billing Notice
| PHILADELPHIA PA 06/FEBRUARY/2004 Fax: 011 7 873 222 1724 I am very concerned by the recent detention and ill-treatment DON JAMES AIUSA’s FIRST APPEAL Pledge Program The above communication was sent in your name on the date indicated. The cost of this message was $20.00. You have pledged your support at the rate $20.00 per month through prepaid credit card payment. $20.00 has been debited from your FAPP account and your pledge balance is now $ 60.00. Thank you. |
Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement that promotes and defends human rights.
Urgent Action Network
Amnesty International USA
600 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, 5th FL.
Washington, DC 20003
Email: lvilim@aiusa.org
http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/
Phone: 202 544 0200 x407
Fax: 202 675 8566
