Peter Benenson set up Amnesty International in 1961 because he realized that if people joined forces to call for justice, they could achieve results that he could not manage alone. Bringing together individual voices proved so successful that it has underpinned Amnesty International’s campaigning ever since.

WHO DO WE HELP?

Human rights are not just concepts or laws; they are the basic standards to which everyone is entitled. Amnesty International takes action for individuals whose human rights have been violated, where we believe our campaigning will make a real difference. This could be an impact for one individual, like a prisoner in a torture chamber. Or a community of people who have lost their homes or livelihoods. Making a difference for this one individual or community can set a precedent that leads to a real improvement for others.

We do not always succeed, and we cannot work on every single case that comes to our attention. We are campaigning for the release of activists like Su Su Nway in Myanmar, who the authorities don’t want you to know about because her activism addresses the government’s poor human rights record. We are campaigning for Roma families in Romania who were forcibly evicted from their homes in 2004 and have been living in unsuitable accommodation since then. In these cases, we believe our involvement, and your activism, can make the difference.