Amnesty International (AI) is the world’s leading non-governmental human rights organization. It was founded in London in July 1961 by two English lawyers Peter Benenson and Philip James.
Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) is one of many country sections that make up Amnesty International worldwide.. Amnesty International is an organization of more than 7 million supporters, activists and volunteers in over 150 countries, with complete independence from government, corporate or national interests. Amnesty International was founded in 1961 by the British lawyer Peter Benenson. He got the idea for the organization's logo - the lit candle surrounded by barbed wire - from a Chinese proverb,"It is better to light a light than to curse the darkness". Amnesty International was founded in London in 1961, following the publication of the article "The Forgotten Prisoners" in The Observer on 28 May 1961, by the lawyer-Peter Benenson. Amnesty draws attention to human rights abuses and campaigns for compliance with international laws and standards. Amnesty International is the world’s largest human rights organization with a global income of c.€279m, employing c.2500 staff in 70 Countries. We believe it is important to strive for transparency and accountability throughout all of our work, including our approach to pay.
Amnesty International expanded its mission in the 1990s and early 2000s to include supporting reproductive freedom, holding corporations responsible for human rights violations, and preserving human rights in national security policies in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
See Amnesty International's FAQ which states that > "The overwhelming majority of our income comes from individuals the world over. These personal and unaffiliated donations allow AI to maintain full independence from any and all governments, pol
• Organized the inauguration of Amnesty International's new office in Geneva in November 2014. More than 250 guests attended, including diplomats, business and NGO leaders, the mayor of Geneva, a member of Geneva's Council of State, Amnesty International's Secretary General Salil Shetty, Switzerland's former President Ruth Dreifuss, or UNESCO
Amnesty International was founded in London on this day by Peter Benenson as a human rights organization devoted to freeing “prisoners of conscience” around the world. Prisoners of conscience are defined as individuals who have been imprisoned because of their political views or activities. They elect an International Executive Committee of volunteers which carries out their decisions and appoints the movement's Secretary General, who is also head of the International Secretariat, the main Amnesty International Headquarters in London (ibid.). Historic Roots Peter Benenson, a British lawyer, founded Amnesty International in 1961. Amnesty International is a global movement of people fighting injustice and promoting human rights. They work to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. Currently the world’s largest grassroots human rights organization, they investigate and expose abuses, educate and mobilize the public, and help transform See Amnesty International's FAQ which states that > "The overwhelming majority of our income comes from individuals the world over. These personal and unaffiliated donations allow AI to maintain full independence from any and all governments, pol Amnesty International is a non-governmental organisation focused on human rights. Founded in London, in 1961, after London barrister, Peter Benenson read a new article about a group of students in Portugal were jailed for 7 years, after raising a toast to freedom. l The leading figures of Amnesty International in the 1970’s were Sean Macbride and Martin Ennals. l Amnesty International began to include “fair trial” and opposition to long detention without trial, and torture of prisoners. l Amnesty International’s membership increased from 15,000 in 1969 to 200,000 by 1979.