Our stamp on human rights

We're proud to announce that Australia Post has released a special stamp and postage set in celebration of Amnesty International's 50th anniversary - on sale now at the Australia Post online shop.

The announcement aligns well with Amnesty International's rich history of defending human rights. In 1961, London lawyer Peter Benenson sounded a call for a letter writing campaign to help free those who had been imprisoned around the world simply for speaking out for their beliefs.

Fifty years later, Amnesty International has grown into a world-wide organisation with over three million supporters in 150 countries.

Many of our successes have been achieved through the power of the letter - communicating to those imprisoned that they are not forgotten, and to corrupt regimes that the eyes of the world are watching their actions. "Even though we now live in a digital world of instant communication, activists from Australia to South Africa still write letters," said Claire Mallinson, National Director, Amnesty International Australia.

The idea of a 50 year celebratory stamp was originally conceived by the Amnesty International Ivanhoe group. Over the years, the Ivanhoe group has sent over 19,000 letters in support of prisoners of conscience and others experiencing human rights abuse.

Stamps and other commemorative postage products can be bought online for six months starting 5 July 2011. Don't miss your chance to get your hands on these fantastic products and collectables.