Dear friend,

“My very warmest thanks to the people of Australia for all that they have done for us.” - Aung San Suu Kyi.

On 13 November Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest. It was an historic day for all of us who campaigned tirelessly for her release over two decades, and I know you were as delighted as I was to see this remarkable human rights defender free at last.

But that’s not all your letters, demonstrations, phone calls and discussions with friends, family, and colleagues helped achieve last year:

See ten achievements from 2010 - each one made possible by your strength, determination and commitment to human rights.

Together we sent 10,000 radios into Burma during the country’s first election in 20 years - enough to get independent news to tens of thousands of people in a country with suffocating restrictions on information.

Together we launched a new campaign to set the facts straight on refugees so that, ultimately, asylum seekers and 'boat people' are treated equally and without discrimination.

Together we campaigned on behalf of hundreds of prisoners of conscience, helping to secure the release of Yusak Pakage in Indonesia, Raul Hernandez in Mexico, Sri Lankan journalist JS Tissainayagam and Ethiopia's opposition leader Birtukan Mideska.

And together we sent two courageous women’s rights activists from Papua New Guinea to the United Nations where they held their government to account for the horrific rates of gender-based violence in the country.

These are just a few of the things we achieved together. Click here to see the full list.

Over the next 12 months, we will continue to stand up to the most brutal dictators, corrupt governments, and horrendous human rights abuses. Your actions will bring justice and hope to thousands of people - both here in Australia and right around the world.

As we reach our 50th anniversary, we’re aiming to mark our first half-century with even more human rights breakthroughs. I can’t help but ask myself - what successes will we be celebrating this time next year?

Thank you for all you have done - Amnesty International has never been stronger, and I look forward to celebrating new human rights victories with you in 2011.

Claire Mallinson
National Director
Amnesty International Australia