YOUR SUPPORT CAN HELP FREE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS JUST LIKE MARYIA 

“This is not a struggle for power. This is a struggle for human dignity.” 

– Maryia Kalesnikava

Maryia Kalesnikava is a talented musician and art director who saw the need for change in her country of Belarus. Embracing non-violent resistance, she mobilised people to join peaceful mass protests against widely disputed presidential elections.  

Now, Maryia is serving an 11-year sentence on trumped-up charges. She is being imprisoned in appalling conditions in prolonged solitary confinement, denied adequate healthcare and cut off from all communication with her family and lawyers since 2023.  

With her creative background, Maryia embraced love to combat government repression and fear. She stood in front of riot police, making a heart-shaped symbol with her hands – a gesture that became an icon of the protests. 

Maryia’s spirit remains unbroken. Even in court, handcuffed and facing years in prison, she danced and made her heart symbol, showing that love truly is stronger than state-sponsored fear. 

Every year, Amnesty International’s Write for Rights campaign transforms the lives of people facing human rights violations at the hands of their own governments. Maryia Kalesnikava is one of the brave human rights defenders featured in this year’s Write for Rights campaign. 

When brave individuals like Maryia stand up to the full force of tyrannical governments, we have the responsibility to stand with them before it’s too late. 

THE INCREDIBLE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE

In the past 12 months, your support has achieved incredible wins in individuals at risk cases we were told were 'hopeless'.

• October 2024: Dr Khaled Al Serr was working at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis when he was taken by Israeli forces, along with other healthcare workers. He was held in conditions that constitute enforced disappearance, a crime under international law. Dr Khaled’s family only received scraps of information from his colleagues and released detainees, including one person who reported that he was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment. Only this month, Khaled was freed from Israeli detention after spending more than six months without charges or trial. 

• June 2024: Rita Karasartova and 26 others were arrested for peacefully protesting in Kyrgyzstan. Rita was charged with attempting to “violently overthrow the government”, facing up to 15 years in prison. Hundreds of thousands of supporters worldwide took action demanding justice and Rita and all other defendants were acquitted. 
  
  
• February 2023: Yasaman Aryiani and Monireh Arabshahi received 16-year sentences for peacefully protesting Iran’s forced veiling laws. Their arrest and harsh sentencing for this peaceful act sparked global outrage. An incredible 100,000 supporters in Australia and 1.1 million people worldwide demanded their freedom, helping lead to their release.  

100% FUNDED BY YOU

We have the power to make governments change because we are 100% independent and unstoppable. For the people, by the people.

Amnesty Australia accepts no government funding for any aspect of our work. Globally, we do not accept government funding for our research and campaigning work to maintain our impartiality. This financial independence means we can fearlessly campaign with objectivity and effectively defend human rights worldwide.

All donations of $2 and over are tax deductible in Australia. Please donate now and help human rights defenders around the world.

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