I have been actively attending the amnesty
international English speaking local issues group in Zurich. With this group I
have been lucky enough to attend seminars on a wide variety of international
human rights abuses. One that particularly struck a chord with me was on the
last dictatorship in Europe, Belarus.
I had never realised the full extent of
horrifying human rights violations that happen there on a daily basis. The
presenter of the seminar was an expert on Belarus who has been to the country 3
times at the risk of jail. Since leaving the troubled nation the human right
activist has been banned from ever re-entering.
On top of these seminars I also had the
opportunity to participate in a flash mob that took place in Paradeplatz to raise awareness for the war atrocities
happening in Syria at the moment. Initially I felt quite embarrassed at having to dance out in the open but I was convince I should do it because of the cause I was supporting. Day after day hundreds are being killed in Syria, the news rarely reports these killings and people are forgetting. This event was done to put the conflict back in people's minds.
Before each meeting I write a letter to send to a political prisoner being held against his/ her
will without fair and just trial. Then
at the meeting we exchange letters and sign them before sending them off. This
is part of Amnesty internationals Write for Rights campaign.
Below is an example of one letter:
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