Every year on Human Rights Day, the All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group, which I chair, join Amnesty International’s Write for Rights Campaign in Westminster, to send messages of hope to people suffering human rights abuses around the globe.

Tragically, people worldwide continue to be victims of assassinations, disappearances, arbitrary detention, criminalisation, torture, death threats and harassment – often by their own Governments or because of their Government’s indifference.

The Write for Rights campaigns show that we can influence things when we are determined to make a difference. The campaigns demonstrate the power of solidarity: whilst one voice can be silenced, together – with our many voices across the globe – we will be heard.

I am delighted that after last year’s campaign, which resulted in authorities receiving letters and messages in their tens of thousands, the Russian and Cambodian activists featured in the campaign were released.

This year I will be asking colleagues from both Houses to take action on five cases, including:

• that of Saudi Arabian blogger Raif Badawi, serving a ten year prison sentence for ‘insulting Islam’ online;
• that of Liu Ping, a Chinese activist serving six and a half years for organising a peaceful protest; and,
• that of Mohamed al-Roken, a human rights lawyer in the UAE jailed for ten years simply for doing his job.

As these cases exemplify, space for human rights defenders and civil society representatives is shrinking in many countries, often due to legislation which prevents NGOs from receiving foreign funding; criminalises legitimate protestors and lawyers in the name of “state security”; and criminalises those who question religious tradition or norms on the grounds of blasphemy.

This Human Right’s Day also marks the 30th Anniversary of the UN Convention against Torture. 155 countries are now state parties to the UN Convention. However, over the past five years, Amnesty International has reported on torture and other ill-treatment in 141 countries. The report released by the US Senate Intelligence Committee yesterday is a timely – and shocking – reminder of the continued prevalence of torture.

This is why this year we are also focusing on a number of cases that demand justice for those who have been tortured:

• that of Alfreda Disbarro, imprisoned since October 2013 on the basis of a ‘confession’ obtained by police through torture; and,
• that of Moses Akatugba, on death row in Nigeria for allegedly stealing mobile phones and who has been a victim of torture.

In many countries, torture is not only endemic, but impunity for torturers is also endemic. There is obviously a link here.

This impunity undermines criminal justice systems and the rule of law. It denies victims justice. It also encourages the continued use of torture: if torturers, and those who either instruct officials to use torture or turn a blind eye to the use of torture, are never punished, the use of torture becomes accepted, even normalised.

We therefore need to lobby for better independent mechanisms for investigating and prosecuting torturers – backed up by the necessary political will to bring an end to torture, particularly by ensuring that in every instance where torture is used, those involved are punished.

So let us remember today that together we can achieve positive change – by using our freedoms to stand up for the freedom of others.

As Parliamentarians, including through the All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group, we can use the Parliamentary mandate and platform on behalf of human rights defenders and victims of human rights violations.

And we can also all support the Write for Rights campaign – which exemplifies what Amnesty International is all about – individuals showing solidarity with other individuals, in whichever country they might be.