How long has amnesty international

With millions of members and supporters around the world, the organization has helped spare thousands of prisoners from death and detention. Little did Peter Benenson know at the time that an article he wrote in would come to shape Amnesty International's code, encapsulated in the words above. Perusing the morning papers, he had come across an article about two Portuguese students who were jailed after raising their glasses in a toast to freedom in a restaurant.

At the time, Portugal was ruled by the dictator Antonio de Oliveira Salazar. Outraged by their detention, Benenson in his piece called for their release and urged readers to write letters to the Portuguese government. But Benenson didn't stop there. His article also listed other human rights violations around the world. He used the term "prisoners of conscience" to highlight the plight of "any person who is physically restrained by imprisonment or otherwise from expressing … any opinion which he honestly holds and does not advocate or condone personal violence.

His campaign, Appeal for Amnesty , was effectively the precursor to what would become Amnesty International. The organization's initial focus of work — forgotten prisoners — gradually expanded as part of its development "from mandate — to mission. A campaign by Peter Benenson to highlight the plight of forgotten prisoners led to the creation of Amnesty International. New issues emerged in the s, including extrajudicial killings, political killings and forced disappearances.

Toward the end of the decade, it turned its attention to the growing number of refugees around the world. In the s, Amnesty International honed in on armed conflicts, uncovering atrocities in East Timor, Rwanda, and the former Yugoslavia.

As of the s, there was a shift in its focus towards naming and shaming economic and social injustices that stemmed from the growing effects of globalization. The impact of its work in its first 30 years was very different to that it has and could have today, says Dr. And therefore, during these first 30, 40, maybe even 50 years of its work, it didn't matter so much whether Amnesty International, with its actions, would actually cause a direct response from governments.

Of course, the world has changed dramatically since those times, not least due to globalization and the era of information technology. We have other means of finding out what is happening on the ground. We don't need an NGO anymore to tell us what is happening in Myanmar or what is happening in China or elsewhere," says Mihr. Amnesty International's approach on highlighting human rights abuses will need to adapt to meet future challenges.

It hasn't all been smooth sailing for Amnesty over the last 60 years. Results are published in special reports. Amnesty's members organize targeted action and campaigns to bring an end to violations. Amnesty International was founded in by the British lawyer Peter Benenson. He got the idea for the organization's logo - the lit candle surrounded by barbed wire - from a Chinese proverb,"It is better to light a light than to curse the darkness". Ten years after its foundation the organization comprised more than voluntary groups in 28 countries and the figures are steadily rising.

In February this year there were groups in 33 countries. In the statutes adopted by the organization in these three tasks are named as the most important ones for Amnesty International. Power, Jonathan. Amnesty International. The Human Rights Story.

New York: McGraw Hill, India was then ruled by a Congress-led government, which sits in opposition now. Over the years rules surrounding receiving foreign funds have been tightened, and thousands of non-profit groups have been banned from receiving money from overseas.

Amnesty's announcement comes amid growing concern over the state of free speech in India. The development, activists say, could dent India's long-standing reputation of being a thriving democracy. We are doing this with a very heavy heart, and a deep sense of anguish and grief. The group, which operates in more than 70 countries, says it will continue to fight its legal cases in India.

Delhi police 'guilty of rights abuses' in riots. Image source, Getty Images. The watchdog says it has had to suspend its campaign and research work in India file photo.