Amnesty International
Speed read
Amnesty International was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its work to uncover violations of human rights and support prisoners of conscience.
Full name: Amnesty International
Native name: Amnesty International
Founded: 1961, London, United Kingdom
Date awarded: 10 October 1977
A light in the darkness
Amnesty International is a worldwide, member-run human rights organisation founded in 1961 by the British lawyer Peter Benenson (1922-2005). The organisation is politically and financially independent as well as neutral in terms of religious affiliation. Amnesty International compiles information about abuse and human rights violations. Matters of interest range from treatment of individuals to national behaviour, or may focus on a specific topic such as the death penalty. The results are published in special reports. Amnesty’s members organise campaigns and other activities to put a stop to unjust actions.
"It’s a worn cliche, but if Amnesty did not exist, it would have to be invented. It is simply unique."
- Jean-Pierre Hocke, former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (Cited from the Amnesty International website)
| Human rights Rights that apply to all persons regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation or nationality. The most important are the rights enshrined in the UN Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948. |
"Open your newspaper any day of the week and you will find a report from somewhere in the world of someone being imprisoned, tortured or executed because his opinions or religion are unacceptable to his government."
- Amnesty’s founder Peter Benenson in The Observer, 28 May 1961
The forgotten prisoners
In 1961, British lawyer Peter Benenson wrote an article in The Observer called “The Forgotten Prisoners.” His aim was to start a movement to seek the release of persons jailed because of their beliefs (prisoners of conscience). And he succeeded. The “Appeal for Amnesty 1961” saw the light of day that same year. Benenson had come up with the idea the year before when he had read about two young Portuguese who had drunk a toast to freedom in a Lisbon restaurant. By doing so they had challenged Salazar’s dictatorial regime and were sentenced to seven years in prison. Benenson wanted to put an end to such blatant injustice.
| Prisoner of conscience A person who is imprisoned for refusing to follow the directives of state authorities for reasons of personal belief, individual conscience. |
1977 – the year of prisoners of conscience
Amnesty International was the obvious candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 – the year the organisation itself proclaimed Prisoners of Conscience Year. In its decision, the Norwegian Nobel Committee emphasised that the organisation had fought to uphold human dignity, and had given practical, humanitarian and unpartisan support to people who had been imprisoned because of their race, religion or political convictions. The organisation had also taken actively part in the campaign to ban torture and the death penalty. It sought to promote justice and thus a more peaceful world.
"Better to light a candle than curse the darkness."
- Chinese proverb, inspiration for Amnesty International’s logo, designed by Diana Redhouse (1923-2007).
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