AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

AAmnesty International was launched in 1961 by British lawyer Peter Benenson. His newspaper appeal, "The Forgotten Prisoners," was published worldwide and brought in more than 1,000 offers of support for the idea of an international campaign to protect human rights. Within 12 months the new organization had sent delegations to four countries on behalf of prisoners, and had taken up 210 cases. The organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 for its efforts to promote global observance of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Today, Amnesty International has over 1,100,000 members, subscribers, and regular donors in over 150 countries and territories and over 8,000 Amnesty International volunteer groups in over 70 countries. Amnesty International has a precise mandate:

Since 1961 Amnesty International has adopted or investigated more than 43,500 cases. Of these cases, over 40,750 are now closed. At the end of November 1993, 4,337 Amnesty International volunteer groups were working on behalf of nearly 12,000 individuals from 98 countries worldwide.

For prisoners and others who are in immediate danger (e.g., facing torture or execution), rapid action is mobilized by the Urgent Action network of around 50,000 volunteers in over 75 countries. They are organized through electronic mail, telex, fax, express and airmail to send fast appeals on behalf of those at risk.

Amnesty International's effectiveness depends on its impartial application of a single standard of human rights to every country in the world. The organization is independent of all governments, political factions, ideologies, economic interests, and religious creeds. It accepts no financial contribution from any government and is funded entirely by donations from its supporters. To safeguard impartiality, groups do not work for prisoners of conscience held within their own countries.


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