AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights to be respected and protected for everyone.
We believe human rights abuses anywhere are the concern of people everywhere.
So, outraged by human rights abuses but inspired by hope for a better world, we work to improve people’s lives through campaigning and international solidarity.
Our mission is to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated.
Our members and supporters exert influence on governments, political bodies, companies and intergovernmental groups.
Activists take up human rights issues by mobilizing public pressure through mass demonstrations, vigils and direct lobbying as well as online and offline campaigning.
VISION AND MISSION
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’s vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments.
In pursuit of this vision, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’s mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of these rights. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL forms a global community of human rights defenders with the principles of international solidarity, effective action for the individual victim, global coverage, the universality and indivisibility of human rights, impartiality and independence, and democracy and mutual respect
CORE VALUES
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL forms a global community of human rights defenders with the principles of international solidarity, effective action for the individual victim, global coverage, the universality and indivisibility of human rights, impartiality and independence, and democracy and mutual respect
THE HISTORY OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Ever since we started campaigning in 1961, we’ve worked around the globe to stop the abuse of human rights.
We now have more than 2.2 million members, supporters and subscribers in over 150 countries and territories, in every region of the world.
The following short history highlights many of the campaigns and actions we’ve undertaken and key human rights developments since we began all those years ago.
The 1960s
1961
British lawyer Peter Benenson launched a worldwide campaign, ‘Appeal for Amnesty 1961’ with the publication of a prominent article, ‘The Forgotten Prisoners’, in The Observer newspaper. The imprisonment of two Portuguese students, who had raised their wine glasses in a toast to freedom, moved Benenson to write this article. His appeal was reprinted in other papers across the world and turned out to be the genesis of Amnesty International.
The first international meeting was held in July, with delegates from Belgium, the UK, France, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland and the US. They decided to establish "a permanent international movement in defence of freedom of opinion and religion".
A small office and library, staffed by volunteers, opened in Peter Benenson’s chambers, in Mitre Court, London. The ’Threes Network‘ was established through which each Amnesty International group adopted three prisoners from contrasting geographical and political areas, emphasizing the impartiality of the group's work.
On Human Rights Day, 10 December, the first Amnesty candle was lit in the church of St-Martin-in-the-Fields, London.
1962
In January the first research trip was undertaken. This trip to Ghana, was followed by Czechoslovakia in February (on behalf of a prisoner of conscience, Archbishop Josef Beran), and then to Portugal and East Germany.
The Prisoner of Conscience Fund was established to provide relief to prisoners and their families.
AI’s first annual report was published; it contained details of 210 prisoners who had been adopted by 70 groups in seven countries; in addition, 1,200 cases were documented in the Prisoners of Conscience Library.
At a conference in Belgium, a decision was made to set up a permanent organization that will be known as Amnesty International.
An observer attended the trial of Nelson Mandela.
1963
Amnesty International now comprised 350 groups – there was a two-year total of 770 prisoners adopted and 140 released.
The International Secretariat (Amnesty International’s headquarters) was established in London.
1964
Peter Benenson was named president. There were now 360 groups in 14 countries. In August the United Nations gave Amnesty International consultative status.
1965
Amnesty International issued its first reports – on prison conditions in Portugal, South Africa and Romania – and sponsored a resolution at the United Nations to suspend and finally abolish the death penalty for peacetime political offences.
The monthly Postcards for Prisoners campaign started.
1966
Eric Baker took over the running of the organization.
1967
There were 550 groups in 18 countries, and Amnesty International was working for nearly 2,000 prisoners in 63 countries – 293 prisoners had been released.
1968
The first Prisoner of Conscience Week was observed in November.
Martin Ennals was appointed AI Secretary General.
1969
In January, UNESCO granted Amnesty International consultative status as the organization reached another milestone – 2,000 prisoners of conscience released.
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was adopted.
The 1970s
1970
There were now 850 groups in 27 countries; 520 prisoners had been released during the year.
1971
Amnesty International’s 10th anniversary received widespread publicity in international press, radio and television, in a year when 700 prisoners were released.
1972
Amnesty International launched its first worldwide campaign for the abolition of torture.
1973
The first full Urgent Action was issued, on behalf of Professor Luiz Basilio Rossi, a Brazilian who was arrested for political reasons. Luiz himself believed that Amnesty International's appeals were crucial: "I knew that my case had become public, I knew they could no longer kill me. Then the pressure on me decreased and conditions improved."
The new regime in Chile agreed to admit a three-person Amnesty International mission for an on-the-spot probe into allegations of massive violations of human rights.
The United Nations unanimously approved the Amnesty International-inspired resolution formally denouncing torture.
1974
Amnesty International’s Sean McBride, Chair of the International Executive Committee, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his lifelong work for human rights.
On the first anniversary of Chile's military coup, AI published a report exposing political oppression, executions and torture under the regime of President Augusto Pinochet.
Mumtaz Soysal of Turkey became first ever former prisoner of conscience elected to the International Executive Committee, Amnesty International’s most senior governance body.
1975
The United Nations unanimously adopted a Declaration Against Torture.
There were now 1,592 groups in 33 countries and more than 70,000 members in 65 countries.
1976
The first Secret Policeman's Ball fundraising event in London featured John Cleese and Monty Python, Peter Cook and other Beyond the Fringe comedians, Not the Nine o’Clock News, Fawlty Towers and The Goodies. The series continued in later years starring comedians and musicians such as Peter Gabriel, Duran Duran, Mark Knopfler, Bob Geldolf, Eric Clapton and Phil Collins paved the way for benefits such as Live Aid.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights entered into force. Together they are known as the International Bill of Rights.
1977
Amnesty International was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for "having contributed to securing the ground for freedom, for justice, and thereby also for peace in the world".
1978
Amnesty International won the United Nations Human Rights prize for "outstanding contributions in the field of human rights".
1979
List published of 2,665 cases of people known to have "disappeared" in Argentina after the military coup by Jorge Rafael Videla.
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was adopted by the UN General Assembly.
The 1980s
1980
Thomas Hammarberg of Sweden took over from Martin Ennals as Secretary General.
1981
A candle-lighting ceremony was held in London to mark Amnesty International’s 20th anniversary.
1982
On 10 December, Human Rights Day, an appeal was launched for a universal amnesty for all prisoners of conscience. More than one million people sign petitions, which were presented to the United Nations a year later.
1983
Amnesty International launched a special report on political killings by governments.
1984
Amnesty International launched the second Campaign Against Torture, which included a 12-point plan for the abolition of torture.
1985
Amnesty International published its first educational pack: Teaching and Learning about Human Rights.
The International Council Meeting in Helsinki, Finland, made a decision to broaden the statute to include work for refugees.
There were now more than half a million members, supporters and subscribers.
1986
Amnesty International USA launched the Conspiracy of Hope rock concert tour with U2, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Bryan Adams, Lou Reed, the Neville Brothers and others.
Ian Martin became General Secretary.
1987
AI published a report which said that the death penalty in the USA is racially biased and arbitrary and violated treaties such as the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment enters into force.
1988
Human Rights Now! concert tour, featuring Sting and Bruce Springsteen, among others, travelled to 19 cities in 15 countries and was viewed by millions when broadcast on Human Rights Day.
Membership surged in many countries following the tour.
1989
Amnesty International published a major new study on the death penalty, When the State Kills.
The 1990s
1990
Membership increased to 700,000 members in 150 countries, with more than 6,000 volunteer groups in 70 countries.
1991
Amnesty International’s 30th anniversary saw the organization broaden its scope to cover work on abuses by armed opposition groups, hostage taking and people imprisoned due to their sexual orientation.
1992
Membership passed one million.
Pierre Sané was appointed Secretary General of Amnesty International.
The UN Declaration on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance was adopted.
1993
Amnesty International activists demonstrated at the United Nations World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, and displayed Urgent Actions from around the world.
1994
Amnesty International launched major international campaigns on women's rights, disappearances and political killings.
1995
Amnesty International campaigned to Stop the Torture Trade.
1996
Amnesty International launched the campaign for a permanent International Criminal Court.
1997
Human rights of refugees worldwide became a major focus of campaigning.
1998
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court was adopted in July 1998.
Amnesty International launched the Get Up, Sign Up! campaign to mark the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – 13 million pledges of support were collected.
A concert was held in Paris on Human Rights Day featuring Radiohead, Asian Dub Foundation, Bruce Springsteen, Tracey Chapman, Alanis Morissette, Youssou N'Dour and Peter Gabriel, with special appearances by the Dalai Lama and international human rights activists.
1999
The United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders was adopted in March 1999.
Our International Council Meeting agreed to expand Amnesty International’s remit to include: the impact of economic relations on human rights; empowering human rights defenders; campaigning against impunity; enhancing work to protect refugees; and strengthening grassroots activism.
The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women was adopted, meaning the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women can receive and consider complaints from individuals or groups.
2000-present day
2000
Amnesty International launched the third Campaign against Torture.
2001
Irene Khan was appointed Secretary General of Amnesty International.
In its 40th anniversary year, Amnesty International changed its Statute to incorporate, into its mission, work for economic, social and cutlural rights thus committing itself to advance both the universality and indivisibility of all human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration.
Amnesty International’s Stop Torture website won a Revolution Award, which recognised the best in digital marketing.
2002
The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict was adopted (the Convention on the Rights of the Child itself having been adopted in 1959).
The 60th ratification of the Rome Statute took place, paving the way for the International Criminal Court to come into force on 1 July 2002.
Amnesty International launched a campaign in the Russian Federation against the widespread human rights abuses committed in a climate of impunity.
2003
Amnesty International, Oxfam and the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) launched the global Control Arms campaign.
2004
Amnesty International launched the Stop Violence Against Women campaign.
2005
Amnesty International launched the Make Some Noise campaign – music, celebration and action in support of Amnesty International’s work. Yoko Ono made a gift to Amnesty International of the recording rights to Imagine and John Lennon's entire solo songbook.
Amnesty International's report, Cruel. Inhuman. Degrades us all – Stop torture and ill-treatment in the ‘war on terror’, challenged the claim that, in the face of terrorist threats, states need not be bound by previously agreed human rights standards.
2006
Amnesty International’s report, Partners in crime: Europe’s role in US renditions, detailed the involvement of European states in US flights used to secretly seize and imprison terrorist suspects without due process.
The millionth person to post a picture of himself on the Control Arms Million Faces web petition calling for an Arms Trade Treaty presented the petition to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. A further quarter of a million people signed the petition before the year was out.
Amnesty International and its partners in the Control Arms campaign achieved a major victory when the UN voted overwhelmingly to start work on a treaty.
The UN adopted the International Convention For The Protection Of All Persons From Enforced Disappearance.
2007
Amnesty International launched a global petition calling on Sudan’s government to protect civilians in Darfur and launched a CD featuring 30 world-class musicians to mobilize support, called Make Some Noise: The Campaign to Save Darfur.
The United Nations General Assembly (GA) adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Following intense campaigning by Amnesty International and its partners in the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Third Committee's 62nd session adopted resolution L29 calling for a global moratorium on executions.
Amnesty International has more than 2.2 million members, supporters and subscribers in over 150 countries and territories in every region of the world.
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