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WHEREAS, Amnesty International, founded in London in 1961, is a Nobel Prize- wining grassroots activist organization that undertakes research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination , within the context of its work to promote all human rights ; and,
WHEREAS, Amnesty International USA Local Group 39 has been active in the Pittsburgh Region since 1976 and supports the international mission by standing up for humanity and human rights, protecting people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied through letter writing, advocacy, demonstrations , speaking engagements and the Write-a-Thon; and,
WHEREAS, each year, hundreds of thousands of people across the word mark International Human Rights Day by taking part in Amnesty International's Global Write-a-Thon, writing letters to demand that the rights of individuals are respected, protected and fulfilled ; and,
WHEREAS, this year, Amnesty International USA Local Group 39 is sponsoring the 26th Annual Human Rights Write-a-Thon and a Candle Lighting Ceremony at Calvary Episcopal Church on December 12, 2011, which asks for the release of prisoners of conscience; and,
WHEREAS, the Write-a-Thon is a mass letter writing campaign based on human rights themes such as religious freedom, women's rights, LGBT issues and the death penalty and local community leaders and hundreds of people from this area come together to urge government officials to end human rights abuses.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and commend Amnesty International USA Local Group 39 for its remarkable work to promote human rights and supports the Write-a-Thon and Candle Lighting on December 12.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare December 12, 2011 ...
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