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Hidden all over places such as South America, Africa and Asia are innocent people that have been locked up unjustly, for their religious beliefs, their crusades for human rights, or even for reporting a serious crime.

Consequently, Amnesty International has set up a 'Greetings Card Campaign', which involves sending a greetings card with a message of solidarity to a person who has been unfairly imprisoned or is in danger.

Annual Giving

The Greetings Card Campaign runs annually from 01 November to 31 January, and aims to give hope, encouragement and happiness to the people who they are sent to.

The arrival of international mail also adds pressure on the police and prison guards. Simon Ware, Media Officer for West Midlands Amnesty International, said:

In this way, the greetings cards act to ensure the prisoners' safety, or even increase the likelihood of a fair trial.听

One of the cases being targeted this year is that of Cuban journalist Pablo Pacheco Avila, who was imprisoned in 2003 for up to 20 years purely because of his political opinions which did not match with the present government's.

Greetings cards are also sent to families of victims, such as that of Claudina Vel谩squez, a 19-year-old law student who was murdered in 2005. The investigation was flawed, her killers never exposed, and her family are still hoping for justice.

From Leicester With Love

The Amnesty International society at the University of Leicester has been making greetings cards and is running stalls from the 05 November, hoping to get as many signed as possible.

Anyone is welcome to come along and sign a card to demonstrate support for the victims of abuse, and offer them strength throughout the holiday period.

"It may not seem like much, but just one card can offer someone a great deal of encouragement, and let them know that the world is thinking about them."

It has been established that this campaign is indeed successful and fulfils its purpose: the secretary of the Amnesty International society at the University of Leicester, Olivia Scott-Simons said that, "there has been a lot of feedback from people who were unfairly imprisoned and couldn't even hear from their families over Christmas".

At the conclusion of this year's greetings card campaign, all the cards will be sent to each prisoner, with the aim of providing them with some hope, alleviating their stress, and giving them a small piece of seasonal cheer that all of us are going to have in these upcoming holidays.