The Pittsburgh chapter of Amnesty International will host its 23rd annual "Write-a-thon" Thursday, inviting local residents to gather in Shadyside and pen letters protesting detentions and imprisonments around the world.

The event will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Calvary Episcopal Church at Shady Avenue and Walnut Street. A candle-lit ceremony will be held at 8 p.m.

This year, the organization has chosen to write letters on behalf of 10 individuals and groups, including a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate who is jailed in Myanmar and an Ethiopian opposition leader who has been sentenced to life in prison. The letters will be directed to foreign dignitaries and ambassadors.

Local Amnesty International member Dorothy Miller, of Oakland, said that the group's past efforts have led to the release of several prisoners.

"People feel they can't do anything about human rights," she said. "Countries do respond when they realize that people around the world know what's going on."

Ms. Miller said she has attended the letter-writing event for more than 20 years.

"It's very rewarding," she said. "At least you can do something."

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.