Core Values
People working together are making a difference
From community to community in every corner of the world, Amnesty International enables “ordinary” concerned people to work together to protect other people in danger.
Change begins each time a single, concerned person speaks out against wrongdoing.
Amnesty International helps bring together these voices of protest - giving each of us a greater power to help people to live in dignity, safety and freedom.
Amnesty members come from many cultures and backgrounds. We work in solidarity with each other, with people who become the targets of human rights abuses, and with people who defend human rights.
Amnesty International members are proud to be part of the broad, global human rights movement that includes many organizations and individuals. We often work with other groups on common concerns, and we help protect human rights defenders around the world.
Each of us - wherever we live, whoever we are - can help protect the basic human rights of everyone else, regardless of who they are, what they believe, or where they live.
Amnesty takes effective action for individuals
Human rights violations are assaults against real people.
Amnesty International focuses on the lives of individual women, men and children. Our research, our campaigns, our efforts to change laws and policies, our appeals and letters - all these are aimed at affecting the lives of real individuals.
When violations take place against whole communities or on a massive scale - as they often do - Amnesty focuses public attention on this shared suffering by protecting individual victims and recounting their experiences.
We measure our effectiveness by the positive impact we have on the lives of actual people.
Amnesty defends the human rights of all people everywhere
Human rights are the same for all people everywhere - regardless of our race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, political or other opinions, or national or social origin.
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Human rights are “indivisible”: all of us are entitled to freedom, security and a decent standard of living.
Human rights are set out in international laws and standards which governments have a responsibility to uphold. The most widely accepted statement of these standards is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Amnesty International’s work is based on these agreed standards and related human rights laws. Amnesty also uses standards set out under international humanitarian law - such as the four Geneva Conventions which aim at regulating conduct during war.
Amnesty is impartial and independent
When Amnesty International speaks, governments feel pressured to listen.
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Why? Because Amnesty International is one of the most trusted and credible voices for human rights in the world today. This credibility is due in large part to Amnesty’s impartiality and independence.
“Impartiality” means that Amnesty International works for the human rights of people in every part of the world, living under all kinds of governments.
Amnesty does not support or oppose any government or political system. Amnesty does not rate countries in terms of their human rights record or their type of government. Nor does Amnesty take sides in political or armed conflicts.
Our reports are accurate, unbiased and fair - free from the influence of those in power. Our demands are based on international human rights standards, not on the interests of any government or group.
Amnesty International is able to be impartial because we are independent of any government, political belief, economic interest or religion.
Amnesty is financially independent - funded by our supporters around the world. Amnesty accepts no money from governments for its operating budgets. And Amnesty is democratic and self-governing - a movement run by Amnesty members.
Amnesty takes effective action in changing times
Amnesty International began in 1961 as an act of protest against people being held in prison because of their beliefs. Thousands of concerned people around the world set out to free these “prisoners of conscience” - and their protests were hugely successful.
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In the 1970s, we decided to oppose the death penalty in all cases - and we then extended this stand to oppose political killings and “disappearances.”
Amnesty International has always kept a close watch over world events - the changing threats to human rights and new opportunities to protect people’s rights. And we have constantly adapted our mission and tactics in response to the se historical changes.
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Sometimes, Amnesty International members and non-members have challenged Amnesty to better understand and take action against violations experienced by particular groups of people, such as women, refugees, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and Indigenous peoples.
Out of these dialogues have come significant changes to the range of injustices on which Amnesty works, as well as the tactics we use.
For Amnesty International the most important question is this: As our world changes, what is the most effective work we can do to protect human rights?
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Today we are focusing our actions on some of the deepest patterns and causes of human rights abuse in our times:
- Challenging patterns of discrimination that lead to violations against women.
- Preventing mass human rights violations in the context of civil and regional conflicts.
- Stopping the global trade in arms that often intensifies these conflicts.
- Ensuring the safety of the increasing number of people seeking refuge from these conflicts.
Amnesty is based on democracy and mutual respect
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Amnesty members all over the world set Amnesty’s mission, decide what major issues Amnesty should be working on, and how Amnesty should work.
Amnesty representatives from around the world gather every two years to set policy at the International Council Meeting (ICM). The Council also elects an International Executive Committee which ensures that the ICM’s decisions are carried out.
Wherever Amnesty International is formally organized in a particular country, such as in Canada, Amnesty members meet regularly to set policy and elect an Executive Committee. In Canada, this executive works in partnership with staff to guide national operations during the year.
Amnesty members in each country take action on human rights cases and major campaigns shared by the international movement. Within this broad framework, members plan their own activities in schools and communities and across electronic networks.
Amnesty International’s work is always being assessed by our members and staff in light of changing world circumstances. When major changes in policy and approach are needed, Amnesty members make the final decision.