WHAT IS AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL?

It is a worldwide voluntary movement that works to prevent some of the gravest violations of people's fundamental human rights. The main focus of our campaigning is:

Free all prisoners of conscience - those imprisoned solely for their beliefs, colour, sex, ethnic origin, language or religion, who have not used or advocated violence.

Ensure fair and prompt trials for all political prisoners

Abolish the death penalty, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of all prisoners

End extra-judicial executions and "disappearances" 

June 4th 1989; a lone man defies the tanks of the Chinese army as they roll into Tiananmen Square. His image filled our TV screens and newspapers for a moment. Now the public outcry has died down, the eyes of the world have turned elsewhere. But in China the jails are full of political prisoners. Thousands are tortured and executed.

Amnesty International groups can work on some cases for years, applying a steady flow of pressure to the authorities involved - long after issues have ceased to be newsworthy.

Amnesty International UK staff and supporters gather outside the Yugoslavian embassy in London, September 1998 - A message for president Milosovic... Both the front door and the minds of the embassy staff were locked shut.

Amnesty International was founded in May 1961. Within months the first local group had been set up. There are now over 300 across the UK - and nearly 6000 in 70 countries across the world - international human rights crusaders.

There are over 30 groups in London alone - often working together on events in the city. 

Amnesty International uses many techniques to get their message across, from instant responses in a crisis to the slow drip of pressure applied over many years.

Each group plans and undertakes different tasks for the organisation. Why not come along and find out what OUR local group is up to?