Letter (or postcard) -writing and petitions to political decision-makers, opinion-shapers and the media are common techniques to draw attention to a cause and ask for public action, or to correct misleading public statements made by others. Lobbying letters are addressed directly and only to the relevant decision-makers (primary targets), while open letters, postcards, sign-on letters and petitions are shared with a wide public audience so as to garner public support for a cause. Open letters are normally published in some forum, e.g. a newspaper or an e-mail list. Letters to supporters inform campaign supporters on progress in the campaign, and encourage them to continue supporting it. See the section on campaign newsletters for general advice that can be used to effectively inform and motivate supporters.

The rise of e-campaigning has led to letters and petitions being able to reach large numbers of people in a short time span. The use of “new” communication technology, such as the internet and mobile telephones, in campaigning can be a quick, cheap and effective way of contacting, informing and mobilizing large numbers of people in contexts where electronic tools are easily accessible and widely used.  

Letter-writing

When to start a letter-writing or postcard campaign?

• If it is reasonably certain a sufficient number of people will write and send letters and e-mail messages, or join a sign-on letter campaign. A stakeholder analysis could be helpful in gauging the potential success of letter or postcard-writing activities.
• If there is a legal mechanism that obliges addressees to consider public letters – e.g. in some countries, city councils must receive citizens’ comments on planned infrastructure projects before implementing them – a useful entry point for campaigners for Safe Cities.

Detailed guidance on letter-writing campaigns or solidarity letters is available in the form of a 2009 guide by Women Living under Muslim Laws (WLUML), Solidarity Actions: The Letter-writing Campaign.  

Open Letters

Open letters are letters to decision-makers that are published through the media, so as to emphasize the addressee’s responsibility in the matter and to provoke a public debate. They are similar in structure to Open/Opinion Editorials. One can buy advertisement space to publish an open letter, if none of the newspapers contacted is ready to publish it free of charge (either as a letter to the editor, or an op-ed). Follow the tips on letter-writing above.

Petitions

Petitions, in campaigning, are formal requests (in the form of letters or otherwise) made to a decision-maker, government or other public entity, that are signed by an individual, or a group of people in support of the cause

When to use petitions?

• If it is likely a large number of people will sign on to the group petition, or submit individual petitions to support the cause.
• If the government or institution addressed is bound by laws and policies that require it to respond to petitions. In some countries, public institutions run e-petition websites - see for example government sites from the UK and Germany.

A number of websites, such as The Petition Site explain the precise steps of creating on-line petitions (e-petitions). The Petition Site also presents a number of existing petitions, including on women’s rights. Change.org is a website that offers free petition tools that allow anyone to start, join and win campaigns.