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Amnesty International is a global movement of over 2.2 million people in more than 150 countries who contribute their time, money and expertise to the promotion of human rights and international campaigning against some of the most serious violations, including imprisonment for beliefs or identity, torture and killings.

Amnesty International does this by:

• providing accurate, impartial information concerning human rights
• creating and mobilising a global community of human rights defenders to take effective action against human rights violations.

AI's work is based on the following core values:

• the universality and indivisibility of human rights
• global coverage and international solidarity
• effective action for the individual victim
• impartiality and independence
• internal democracy and mutual respect

AI's international network of volunteer members and professional staff generates thousands of appeals on behalf of individuals and communities at risk and protests directly against governments and political groups responsible for perpetrating crimes against humanity. We feed a constant stream of information to the media, governments, the United Nations and others, urging them to take action where human rights abuses are occurring.

The work of AI's members is supported by an International Secretariat based in London (with some decentralized offices) and offices in 81 countries.

What does AI do?

The campaigning program of AI includes lobbying through letterwriting and delegations, publicity and development activities through a range of "action forms":

• Long-term campaigning by Amnesty International groups based on a particular country or theme (Action Files)
• Short to medium-term campaigning by Amnesty International groups based on specific case/issue assignments relating to a range of countries in a particular region (Regional Action Networks)
• Major international campaigns or actions lasting 2-24 months on a particular country or issue by a cross section of the membership
• Global campaigns with a long-term timeframe (at least 2-4 years) (see below)
• Short-term campaigning by individual members in response to newsletter or mailed appeals (such as Urgent Actions and Worldwide Appeals)
• Short-term campaigning by members in response to emerging crises or events.

Global campaigns currently

AI runs long-term global campaigns which address a global problem, a global solution or where global action is needed. They provide a global focus for the movement's work.

The following global campaigns are running:

• Stop Violence Against Women campaign
• Control Arms campaign

Where are Amnesty International members from?

Amnesty International has more than 4,000 Amnesty International local groups, plus several thousand school, university, professional and other groups in more than 90 countries throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. To strengthen the impartial international protection of human rights, groups work on cases and campaigns relating to countries other than their own and reflecting geographical and political diversity. Research into human rights violations and individual victims is conducted by the International Secretariat in London. No section, group or member is expected to provide information on their own country, and no section, group or member has any responsibility for action taken or statements issued by the international organization regarding their own country.

How is AI governed?

Amnesty International's policies and plans are discussed and decided at annual general meetings of the membership in each country and meetings of their elected representatives held every two years as the International Council. Between International Councils the international affairs of Amnesty International are managed by the Secretary General who heads the International Secretariat and reports to an elected International Executive Committee.

Finances

Amnesty International's funds come from subscriptions and donations from its world-wide membership and the general public. To safeguard the independence of the organization no money is sought or accepted from governments, and all contributions are strictly controlled by International Council guidelines.

Formal relationships and official recognition

Amnesty International has formal relations with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC); the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); the Council of Europe; the Organization of American States; the Organization of African Unity; and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

On the 30th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Amnesty International was awarded the United Nations Human Rights Prize for "outstanding achievements in the field of human rights". The movement received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 for its contribution to "securing the ground for freedom, for justice, and thereby also for peace in the world".

Information

The Amnesty International Handbook contains basic information about the movement, including action advice and policy guidelines. The annual Amnesty International Report, published in May, is a global summary of Amnesty International's human rights concerns and its campaigning response for the preceding year.

Amnesty International has a comprehensive website, www.amnesty.org from which Amnesty International information about human rights violations, campaigning and policy can be downloaded. A specialized website for journalists is found at news.amnesty.org

Amnesty International publishes short reports on specific country or thematic concerns, magazine-style briefings and major reports with each international campaign, and daily news releases.

Is Amnesty International "political"?

Amnesty International has no political affiliation, endorses no political party, accepts no funds from governments or any political party. Amnesty International is impartial. It is independent of any government, political persuasion or religious creed. It does not support or oppose any government or political system, nor does it support or oppose the views of the victims whose rights it seeks to protect. It is concerned solely with the protection of the human rights involved in each case, regardless of the ideology of the government, opposition forces or the beliefs of the individual.

Its independence is recognised through the observer status it has with the United Nations and regional intergovernmental organisations.

Amnesty International does not grade countries according to their record on human rights; instead of attempting comparisons it concentrates on trying to end the specific violations of human rights.