Polish letter-writing marathon breaks record
PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk
15.12.2015 17:31
Poles wrote a record 270,235 letters in the 16th Annual Amnesty International “Write for Rights” marathon 4-13 December, the Polish branch of the human rights organization reported.
Amnesty letter-writers set record. Photo: Facebook.com/Amnesty International Polska
A tradition of writing mass appeals was started in 2001 by Warsaw activists and now takes place in over 150 countries around the world on International Human Rights Day, 10 December.
“The letter writing marathon is a way to celebrate the International Day of Human Rights and to actively defend people and their rights,” the director of Amnesty International in Poland, Draginja Nadaždin, said.
The Pen of Hope Journalist Award, a Polish honor dating back to 2002 and given to people who bring human rights violations to public attention, was handed to Wojciech Tochman, an author and reporter for the Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper.
Amnesty International is often informed of results of its letter writing efforts, for example, when the person involved has received medical help, a fair trial or was released from prison. (ua/pk)
Source: PAP