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RESCUE A HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST FROM TORTURE

by Katherine Noyes
human rights activist

Human rights activists are often the target of abuse and torture by officials of countries throughout the world. Amnesty International and other human rights organizations are spearheading campaigns to end the use of torture worldwide, but the success of their efforts depends on the involvement of grassroots activists like you. By speaking up for the rights of human rights prisoners and detainees, you can help put an end to human rights abuses.

According to Amnesty International:

  • State officials in more than 150 countries mistreat or torture political prisoners and human rights activists.
  • In more than 80 countries, political prisoners and human rights activists have died as a result of torture by state officials.

Examples of physical forms of torture include: beating, whipping, burning, rape, submersion into water almost to the point of suffocation, and electric torture with shocks of high voltage on various parts of the body, very often on the genitals.

Examples of psychological forms of torture include: threats, deceit, humiliation, sleep deprivation, isolation, mock executions, witnessing torture of others (including one's own family), being forced to torture or kill others, and withholding of medication.

Torture is used to destroy the will of victims and to suppress democratic opposition in the broader community.

Torturers thrive when it seems that no one is watching. Over the years, Amnesty International and other organizations have mobilized volunteers to make individual appeals to expose and stop torture. Thousands of torture victims have been rescued because volunteers sent letters of protest to torturers and their leaders. Once exposed, further torture is nearly impossible to carry out.

  • Join Amnesty International's Online Action Center so that you can be alerted whenever there is an imminent threat of torture or human rights abuse. You can respond to the alerts from any Internet connection by quickly e-mailing a pre-drafted letter of protest to the torturers and their leaders.
  • Act Now for Human Rights provides a good alternative, if you prefer to help by sending a single hardcopy letter or fax, without receiving alerts.
  • The World Organization Against Torture's Urgent Campaigns network provides updates and urgent action alerts about human rights abuses worldwide, along with addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses for key officials to contact.
  • Become a part of the Physicians for Human Rights online network and send e-mails to government officials involved in human rights abuses.
  • Join Rabbis for Human Rights' Stop Torture Now Campaign and work to spread the word in your community in as little as 5 minutes.
  • Sign-up for Human Rights First's Rights Wire or other alerts, or for Human Rights Watch's e-mail updates on a weekly or monthly basis to stay apprised of human rights events throughout the world.

Also, check out the Human Rights Education Associates' assortment of educational materials and links about the use of torture around the globe.