Amnesty International
BACKGROUND
A. History
founded 1961

large human rights (HR) org
o 2008, 2.2 mil. members from 150 countries = very intl!

1977: Nobel Peace Prize

1978: UN award for HR work
= very well known!

B. Purpose
prisoners of conscience (POC)
o def: anyone detained for non-violent expression of pol or rel beliefs or b/c
colour, ethnicity, race or sex
Want 4 things:
1. release of POC
2. fair trials
3. no torture
4. no death penalty
I. PRINCIPLES
A. Limited Mandate

only POLITICAL prisnrs: trials, torture & death penalty

won‟t expand into othr civil/pol areas
B. Focus on Individual Prisoner

basic structr: “adoption group”

local AI members who act for specific prisoner = very personal
e.g. raise $$, write letters, etc. anything to help this poc
C. Action Grounded in Fact

acts only if info is reliable
lots of research – find facts and truth in countries
D. Based on Member Participation

indvdl members most NB = “bottom heavy” (not top-heavy)

HR not protected if left to the govts.
E. Moral Persuasion w/govts.

not want conflict w/ govts.; seeks dialogue with govt to show better way

does not support isolation of govts or econ. sanctions
F. Impartial

responds anywhere – any country if violation of HR

capitalist or communist – doen‟t matter

refuses to compare or rank countries
G. Independent in Policy & $$

no link with any country, pol or rel. body
Rules to protect this princp:
1. if a mem is hi in govt, cannot be leadr in AI
2. no AI group can work for prisoners in its own country

all $$ from its members; no grants from govt or gift with strings attached
H. All Ppl Responsbl for HR

HR is a birthright of every persn

not doing anything = acceptantc of the HR violatn
II . EXAMPLE: “Urgent Action Network” (UAN)

general lettr-writing campaign begn in 1961 but UAN in „73

immediate action (lettrs, email, faxes)
First campg in Brazil, 1973

mil, govt; lots of torture of prisoners

uni prof, Louis Rossy, arrested – no reason

wife sent note to neighbor – finally reached AI in London

AI worked immediately -- many letters from AI
o mil thought he mist be NB – all the letters was the proof
o freed b/c of all of the lettrs.
CONCL

since founded, +44,000 freed and protected from torture and threats