Kathmandu, November 28

Amnesty International Nepal today launched ‘Write for Rights-2019’ campaign, an annual event where supporters worldwide write letters for people whose rights are under threat or are being violated.

This year, AI is throwing its might behind children and young people who are fighting some of the world’s biggest crises. According to AI, this campaign will witness its  supporters standing in solidarity with young individuals in Belarus, Canada, China, Egypt, Greece, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines and South Sudan.

AI Nepal is campaigning for Yasaman Aryani, a young Iranian activist, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison for defying the country’s forced veiling laws; Sarah Mardini and Sean Binder, two humanitarian workers, who were charged with ‘people smuggling’ by Greek authorities for participating in a rescue operation of refugees and are now facing up to 25 years in prison, and 17-year-old Magai Matiop Ngong of South Sudan, who was sentenced to death in November 2017, in contravention of both South Sudanese law and international law.

As part of efforts to control and prevent violence against women, AI Nepal supporters will also collect petitions demanding the government to implement the 2017 Supreme Court order on regulating sale of acid.

The petitions will be delivered to Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa.

Incidents of acid attacks, which mainly target young girls, have been on the rise in the country.

It’s time for the government to take this issue seriously and regulate the sale and distribution of acid, which is easily available in the market, said AI Nepal. The Write for Rights campaign will run from November 28 to December 20.