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Part of the work that Amnesty Wexford does is responding to international campaign requests. The campaigning focus of the Wexford branch of Amnesty International is on Human Rights Defenders (HRDs). Sometimes, in situations where it can be dangerous to speak out, HRDs are themselves targeted, as a direct result of their work to defend human rights . From the relative safety of Wexford, we believe that the best contribution we can make to human rights advocacy is to defend those at the coalface of human rights activism. A major part of this campaigning is LETTER WRITING this involves writing to people such as heads of governments and can be the most effective and direct way for Amnesty members and others to make a difference. We have devised a system in Amnesty Wexford to make letter writing as easy as possible. If you sign up to our Urgent Update list, you will be emailed pre-written letters. All you have to is read, sign and post. You can take action now on the following case
Guidelines for writing letters can be found in the Letter Writing Guide.
AI Index: AFR 54/133/2004 UA 285/04 - HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER / FEAR FOR SAFETY
ADIB ABDEL RAHMAN YUSUF (M), AGED 30 Adib Abdel Rahman Yusuf, a human rights defender from Darfur, was arrested in the capital, Khartoum, on 10 September by National Security and Intelligence Agency officers. He is now held incommunicado at the political section of the National Security and Intelligence Agency offices in Khartoum. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for the peaceful pursuit of his lawful occupation. In the experience of Amnesty International, detainees held incommunicado are more likely to be tortured. Adib Abdel Rahman Yusuf heads the office of the Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO) in Zalingei, West Darfur State. SUDO, one of the few human rights organizations working in Darfur, provides assistance to people forced to flee their homes in Darfur, and organizes training workshops for human rights defenders. Scores of people from Darfur, including lawyers and human rights activists, have been arrested since January 2004, in Darfur, Khartoum and other parts of the country in connection with the internal armed conflict in Darfur, where government-backed nomad militias known as the Janjawid are attacking farming communities and destroying their villages. BACKGROUND INFORMATIONThe Sudanese government has given free rein to the Janjawid to attack farming villages, kill, rape and abduct the inhabitants and drive them out of the villages, burning homes and looting property, crops and cattle. More than one million people have fled rural areas and taken refuge in settlements around towns in Darfur. More than 30,000 people have been killed, thousands of women have been raped, and at least 170,000 people are now living as refugees on the Chad border or inside Chad. The people in the camps in Darfur are among the most vulnerable: they receive less assistance and protection from the international community than the refugees in Chad. They still face serious human rights violations by government forces and the Janjawid militia, including armed attacks and rape. Human rights activists and others who have tried to document human rights violations committed by the government of Sudan or the Janjawid have been arrested, frequently tortured, and held incommunicado without charge or trial for weeks or months. RECOMMENDED ACTION:Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Arabic and English or your own language:
APPEALS TO:Please persevere with fax numbers to Sudan. Often fax numbers rotate so try all options and, if none works, please try again at a later time. If 00 249 11 does not work, please try 00 249 183. Mr Ali Osman Mohamed Taha Mr Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin Mr Mustafa Osman Ismail COPIES TO:Dr Yasir Sid Ahmed Ambassador of Sudan  Check with the Irish section office if sending appeals after 3 March 2004. Guidelines for writing letters can be found in the Letter Writing Guide. |
