Amnesty International
Amnesty International is a premier non governmental organization that pioneers for human rights. Amnesty International’s mission is to “conduct research and generate action to prevent and end the grave abuses of human rights and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated.” Amnesty International was founded in London, England in 1961 by English lawyer, Peter Benenson. Amnesty International came into being when he read of two Pourtuguese students who had been sentenced to seven years in prison for a drunken toast to liberty. Peter Benenson wrote a famous newspaper article which became known throughout the world and his quest soon became an international appeal of human rights. Soon his efforts coupled with other acts became to be known as Amnesty International, and their work for human rights has been resonated throughout the world. By the mid 1960s Amnesty International had a global presence and had an International Secretariat as well as an International Executive Committee. Their presence is human rights advocacy was so well known that it was awarded consultative status by the United Nations, Council of Europe, and UNESCO.
Amnesty International now campaigns for human rights for prisoners as well as others around the world. In volatile areas such as Sierra Leone, Darfur, as well as the Middle East, Amnesty International works for better conditions for those who are suffering. There are five main areas that Amnesty International is most involved with, those being: women’s rights, children’s rights, ending torture and execution, rights of refugees and rights of prisoners of conscience. Within human rights, Amnesty International has certain specific goals such as “abolishing the death penalty, end extra judicial executions and “disappearances”, ensure prison conditions meet international human rights standards, ensure prompt and fair trial for all political prisoners, ensure free education to all children worldwide, decriminalize abortion, fight impunity from systems of justice, end the recruitment and use of child soldiers, free all prisoners of conscience, promote economic, social, and cultural rights for all marginalized communities, protect human rights defenders, promote religious tolerance, stop torture and ill treatment, stop unlawful killings in armed conflict, and to uphold the rights of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers.”
In order to fulfill these goals and be successful in their campaign for human rights, Amnesty International has several strategic techniques used to publicize information and influence public opinion. Amnesty International releases annual reports that are valid and unbiased; they count this among their strengths. Their ability to use the power of media to their advantage by ensuring proper media coverage of all their activities, constant up to date information, worldwide campaigns, direct contact with country officials, and a great deal of perseverance Amnesty International has managed become a leading organization in the quest for human rights.
