In 2010, Burma held its first elections in 20 years. These elections would have been meaningless if more than 2,100 political prisoners remained locked up in Burma’s squalid prisons. Human Rights Watch created a campaign calling for the release of these innocent prisoners by utilizing added pressure from the public and the United Nations.

A giant installation (7’x 18’) was built at New York’s Grand Central Terminal. The installation featured a massive mock prison with 200 miniature cells and 2,000 pens in lieu of cell bars. Visitors could remove the pens to symbolically free the prisoners, and then use the pens to sign an on-site petition calling for their release

In less than 12 hours, tens of thousands of signatures were collected from people of 86 countries. The installation attracted media from around the globe. The petition book was then sent to the United Nations’ Secretary General and leaders of countries that maintain close ties with Burma. Due to its success, the installation toured Prague and Brussels. Most importantly, more than 150 political prisoners have since been released, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.