Brief History

Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people campaigning to protect human rights. We have a vision of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. When those human rights are violated, we:

  • Search out the facts
  • Expose what is happening
  • Mobilise people to put pressure on governments and others to stop the abuse

Around the world we play a vital role, protecting people and communities who come under attack, encouraging governments and others to respect human rights and raising awareness of the international standards that protect us all.

Amnesty International was founded in 1961 by Peter Benenson, a London barrister. He was outraged at reports that a group of students in Portugal had been jailed for raising a toast to "freedom" in a café. So he issued an appeal for the "forgotten prisoners" who were languishing in jails around the world for their non-violent beliefs. And he called on people everywhere to join a mass letter-writing campaign to pressure governments to set them free.

Within months, people in Australia formed groups and joined the worldwide movement, helping create Amnesty International.

Today, it is the world's largest human rights organisation: a global movement of 1.8 million people across 150 countries - 65,000 in Australia - working to defend human rights and dignity.

Traditionally, Amnesty International worked to defend civil and political rights, focused on prisoners of conscience, torture and the death penalty. We have responded to changes in the world, and in the human rights environment around the world, and expanded our area of work to encompass work on economic, social and cultural rights.

In 1977 Amnesty International was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its work.

"I count the number of times you have saved my life and made our work possible."

Wangari Maathai, leader of Kenya's Greenbelt Movement and winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. Amnesty International members have taken action to defend her on five separate occasions.

In Australia

Amnesty International Australia is part of this global movement. We work with people across the country and throughout Asia and the Pacific, defending the victims of human rights violations and promoting a culture where all of our human rights are protected.

Across Australia, our members and supporters donate their time, money and expertise to build a stronger voice for human rights. They take part in campaigns, write letters, join groups and networks, have their democratic say in the organisation's direction and raise awareness of human rights in their communities.

At present, the key campaigns for Amnesty International Australia are to:

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