The Sisters of St. Joseph celebrate a decade of participating in Amnesty International's global write-a-thon for human rights, which began after lawyer Peter Benenson launched the organization in 1961. Over the years, Amnesty has campaigned for various human rights issues, including the abolition of the death penalty and the establishment of the International Criminal Court. International Human Rights Day, recognized on December 10, coincides with Amnesty's annual write-a-thon, furthering awareness and advocacy for global human rights.

1. 2021
The Sisters of St. Joseph celebrate ten years of participating
in the global write-a-thon for
human rights

2. What is Amnesty
International?
• After reading about a couple of students in
Portugal who had been imprisoned for seven
years after raising their glasses in a toast to
freedom; British lawyer, Peter Benenson,
launched an Appeal for Amnesty with the
publication of the article, “The Forgotten
Prisoners,” in The Observer newspaper, on May
28, 1961. This was the birth of Amnesty
International.
• In 1977, all the members of Amnesty
International were awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize for ‘securing the ground for freedom, for
justice, and thereby also for peace in the world.’

3. What has Amnesty
International done?
• Amnesty International continues to free prisoners of
conscience, but also in…
• 1980: Amnesty began its campaign to end the death penalty.
In 1961, when Amnesty began, only 9 countries had
abolished the death penalty. Today, 106 countries have
abolished it.
• 1993: Amnesty campaigned for an International Criminal
Court (ICC) to bring to justice those responsible for genocide
and war crimes. The ICC was established in 2002.
• 2006: Nelson Mandela became Amnesty’s Ambassador of
Conscience.
• 2014: Amnesty was successful in bringing an international
Arms Trade Treaty into force, which aims to stop the flow of
weapons around the world.

4. What is International
Human Rights Day?
• Following WW II, there was a need to ensure
human rights were universally respected. Eleanor
Roosevelt along with representatives from the 50
member states of the United Nations developed a
list of 30 rights and freedoms that belong to all of
us.
• These 30 articles became The Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. It was adopted by
United Nations General Assembly on December
10.
• This day is celebrated every year as
International Human Rights Day, and is the day
that Amnesty International holds its global write-
a-thon: Write for Rights!

5. 2020 Write for
Rights Success Story!
• South Sudan teenager Magai Matiop
Ngong had his death sentence quashed
and was removed from death row on July
29.
• People around the world wrote an
incredible 765,000 messages of support.
• Magai’s case generated debate on the use
of the death penalty against children in
South Sudan – a rare and hugely positive
development.

6. How Write for Rights Works

7. 2012 in London, Ontario

8. 2013 in London, Ontario

9. 2014 in London, Ontario

10. 2015 in London,
Ontario

11. 2016 in London,
Ontario

12. 2017 in London, Ontario

13. 2018 in London, Ontario

14. 2019 in London,
Ontario

15. 2020 in London, Ontario
and remotely

16. 2021 in London,
Ontario and remotely

17. 2021 in Peterborough,
Ontario

18. Photo credits
• United Nations
• Amnesty International
• The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in
Canada