Thirty of the world's most acclaimed authors are to write new works in support of Amnesty International.

Tom Stoppard, Paulo Coelho, JM Coetzee, Jeanette Winterson and Nadine Gordimer are among those taking part in the Blood Like Water project, which marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Six books, each containing five original works, will be published in August.

Each writer will contribute a story "as a literary testament to the ideal that an attack on human rights anywhere is an attack on humanit
y everywhere".

The authors will be provided with first-hand interviews, news reports, photographs and video footage of human rights abuses.

Iain Banks, David Mitchelle, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, DBC Pierre, Colm Toibin, Kate Atkinson and Marina Lewycka are also involved.

Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK, said: "From the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the newspaper article that inspired Amnesty International and the countless letters written on behalf of prisoners of conscience ever since, the written word has played a powerful part in promoting and defending human rights.

"That so many of the world's best-known writers should put their pens to paper on our behalf is thrilling and has enormous potential to spread Amnesty International's vital message still further."