EuropaWorld 2/3/2001 Amnesty International

Amnesty International is a worldwide human rights movement working to prevent some of the gravest violations of human rights by governments and armed opposition groups.

It was launched in 1961 by British lawyer Peter Benenson, after he had read about two Portuguese students sentenced to seven years in prison for raising their glasses in a toast to freedom. His newspaper appeal, "The Forgotten Prisoners", was published worldwide on 28 May that year. It brought in more than 1,000 offers of support for the idea of an international campaign to protect human rights. A new organisation was created, which, within 12 months, had sent delegates to four countries to make representations for prisoners, had taken up 210 cases, and had organised national branches in seven countries. This was the starting point for today's Amnesty International (AI), which has since grown to include more than a million members in over 150 countries.

The object of Amnesty International is to contribute to the global observance of human rights as set out in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The specific mandate for action is to work for the release of prisoners of conscience, fair trials for political prisoners, an end to torture, extrajudicial executions, "disappearances" and the death penalty. AI also opposes abuses hostage-taking, torture and killings of prisoners and other deliberate and arbitrary killings.

One of the organisation's key campaigning tools is letter writing. Every day AI produces 'Urgent Action' appeals on behalf of prisoners of conscience or those at imminent risk of execution or torture. The organisation encourages its members to write to the appropriate authorities about the case, calling for either the prisoner's release or for clemency. Approximately one-third of all 'Urgent Action' appeals are successful, meaning that over the years, thousands of prisoners of conscience have been released, saved from the horror, or threat, of torture, or otherwise helped.

In 1977 Amnesty International was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its contribution to freedom, justice, and thereby also peace, in the world. In 1978 it also received the UN Human Rights prize for its outstanding contributions in this field. More recently the current UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, has praised AI calling it an "invaluable organisation."

AI is impartial in terms of belief, and is independent of any government, political persuasion or religious creed. It does not support or oppose any government or political system, nor does it support or oppose the views of the victims whose rights it seeks to protect. It is solely concerned with the protection of the human rights involved in each case.

Its work is financed solely by subscriptions and donations from members and the public. No funds are sought or accepted from governments. The funds are principally spent on research, and on supporting the movement's international publishing, campaigning and development activities.

The organisation's research headquarters is the International Secretariat, which is based in London, and houses over 300 staff and over 100 volunteers from around the world. A nine member International Executive Committee governs the organisation. It is elected by and answerable to the organisation's worldwide membership. In addition to the secretariat, AI also has some 8,000 local groups in 70 countries and offices in more than 50.

One of Amnesty International's current endeavours is the "Stamp out Torture" campaign, aimed at eradicating the appalling practice of torture, which although banned by international agreement, is still carried out in two-thirds of the world's countries. It is a campaign in which anyone can become involved and make a difference. More information can be found at http://www.amnesty.org.uk