Amnesty International is a human rights organization based in England. It was founded in 1961 by a British lawyer called Peter Benenson. Benenson was moved by a case of two Portuguese students who had been sentenced to 7 years imprisonment during the Spanish Civil War. The incident motivated him to start a movement that would highlight such human rights violation and campaign against injustice. Amnesty International was thus born.Today, the organization is a global movement which campaigns for human rights. It has campaigned on a wide of human rights issues such as people jailed for their political views, violence against women, torture and arms control.
The organization is present in about 150 countries around the world and has about 1.8 million members. The organization adopts many methods of campaigning to get its message across to the public, politicians and decision makers. Public demonstrations, writing letters to leaders and conducting awareness campaigns are some of the methods used by Amnesty International in its campaigns.
Another method which Amnesty International uses is the mobilization of volunteer activists – people who volunteer to work for Amnesty International. Volunteers help in creating awareness about violations amongst the general public. In addition, the organization works with lawyers, journalists and people who can influence public and government opinion. They also work with the governments of various countries to bring change in government policy and to get political prisoners released.
Amnesty International is campaigning against the death penalty, which it says, is a cruel and degrading form of punishment. It has advocated the cause of refugees who are displaced from their home due to war or natural calamities. Besides, it is currently campaigning against child soldiers – the hundreds of children who are forced to join terrorist organizations and other armed groups.
The organization does not accept money or other help from any government. It raises money from its members and supporters. Amnesty International is governed by an International council consisting of representatives from all the countries where it has a presence.
Amnesty International was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1977, in recognition of its efforts in the cause of human rights.
To know about Amnesty International visit their website at http://www.amnesty.org/
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