Every December, Amnesty holds writing marathons to support those who are facing prison sentences, harassment and death threats because they stood up for human rights in their communities. And every year, the objective is simple: get people to understand that the simple gesture of writing can help to support and free those who are unjustly detained.

This year’s campaign is inspired by their stories. It conveys both their plights and how we can help to free them. We wanted to establish a clear connection between the act of writing and its life-saving power.

This impactful, hope-inspiring campaign generated significant results in Quebec with over 81,000 letters written. And since the beginning of the year, two women who were featured in the writing marathon have won their freedom, proof that multiple small gestures can greatly influence the fates of human rights defenders.