Big wins from the year so far [View in Browser]( [Amnesty International candle logo]() {NAME}, As human rights crises continue to unfold around the world and here in the U.S., it can be easy to feel like the world is crashing all around us. But as we continue to [raise our collective voices]( in an urgent cry for humanity and decency, we must also remember to focus on human rights wins and celebrate the progress we’re collectively making towards a more just world. Your vital contributions to our work, {NAME} — is saving lives, changing laws, and ending injustice. [Victories for human rights in 2023]() [TODAY ONLY: 3X Match for Afghanistan Crisis Response - Don't miss this 3X match]( Five released from Guantánamo After enduring years of arbitrary detention, Majid Khan, Ahmed Rahim Rabbani, Abdul Rahim Rabbani, Ghassan al-Sharbi and Said Bakush were released from the Guantánamo Bay detention center this year. Former detainee Mansoor Adayfi shared with Amnesty, “When you know that there is someone there for you, fighting for you, calling for your release, it helps you to feel like you are human. It gives you hope.” [Now let’s urge President Biden to close Guantánamo for good]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Individuals At Risk protected Thanks to your support, Amnesty’s global campaigns have freed activists who were unjustly imprisoned or sentenced to death. One win we want to highlight: Iranian activist Zahra Sedighi-Hamadani was sentenced to death for supporting LGBTQI+ rights. Amnesty supporters called for her release, and she was finally freed earlier this year. And there are so many others that have been freed thanks to your collective action. [let’s free leonard peltier next]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [LGBTQI+ rights in Taiwan]( LGBTQI+ rights protected Working with local activists, Amnesty pushed to secure broader LGBTQI+ rights in Taiwan. Same-sex couples can now marry even if a partner's home country doesn't allow it, and married same-sex couples can now adopt. Additionally, South Korea has recognized benefits for same-sex dependents. And in the U.S., the Respect for Marriage Act was passed late last year. [Now, let’s uplift and protect trans rights in the U.S.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- War crimes uncovered and documented Amnesty crisis response investigators continue to research and expose war crimes and potential crimes against humanity — including in Syria, Iran, Ukraine, Sudan, Israel, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). We’re shining a spotlight so the international community can act where response is urgently needed, and our research supports the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC). [Read the latest on Israel and OPT]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Three people hugging]( Wins for refugees and migrants After years of intensive advocacy and pressure, two ICE detention centers in the U.S. finally shut down! In Australia, organizing efforts pushed the government to grant residency to 19,000 people who lived in limbo, reuniting them after a decade with their families. And we saw a huge win for Venezuelan migrants in Peru who are now protected from unjust fines. [Explore this critical work for refugees]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Progress in abolishing the death penalty We’ve been campaigning against the death penalty since 1977, when only 16 countries had abolished it. Now it’s been abolished in 122 countries, and Malaysia could become the 123rd. In addition to repealing the mandatory death penalty, Malaysia has introduced sentencing discretion, and the death penalty has been abolished in full for seven offenses. [Now it’s time for the U.S. to act]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [woman holding not one more sign]( Big steps forward in addressing gun violence in the U.S. Thanks to our local and national campaigning work, Illinois is now the ninth state to ban assault weapons, and Michigan has established universal background checks for all firearm purchases. In September, President Biden announced the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, something we’ve been advocating for since 2018! [Now, will you take action in your state?]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [TODAY ONLY: 3X Match for Afghanistan Crisis Response - Don't miss this 3X match]( Victories for women’s rights and for sexual and reproductive rights around the world Voters in Ohio just passed state constitutional protections for the right to abortion in last week’s elections. Switzerland now recognizes that all sex without consent is rape. Women activists in Iran have been freed from arbitrary imprisonment. And activists in Mexico fought for (and won!) the decriminalization of abortion across the entire country. [Now let’s stop abortion bans in the U.S.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- These human rights wins over the past year would not be possible without your dedication to human rights. Together, our movement is millions strong and we are making progress. We’re grateful for you — always. Thank you so much, Jackie Foley
Communications Strategy Specialist
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