Overview
Amnesty International was founded in 1961 by British lawyer Peter Benenson. He became angry after reading a report about two Portuguese students who had been imprisoned for raising their glasses in a toast to freedom.
In response, Benenson published an article - called “The Forgotten Prisoners” - on the front page of the London Observer newspaper on May 28, 1961.
The article cast the light of public attention on the situation of a number of people - including a U.S. civil rights leader, a dissident Hungarian cardinal and an Angolan poet. Each of these people were in prison simply for peacefully expressing their beliefs.
Benenson argued that the treatment of these “prisoners of conscience” was wrong, and he called on concerned members of the public to demand their release. The public response was quick, widespread and enthusiastic. Thousands of people, from London to Uruguay, from nurses to children, offered their help. Amnesty International was born.
>> Learn more about Amnesty International’s history.
Is Amnesty International active in Canada?
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Today we have more that 67,000 members and thousands more active supporters in communities, schools and networks across the country. These members work in partnership with some 50 staff and many wonderful volunteers based in our national office in Ottawa and our regional offices in Toronto and Vancouver.
Our Youth and Student Program is the largest and most dynamic human rights program for youth activists in Canada today. Our Urgent Action Network is one of the foremost in the movement.
The work of Amnesty International Canada is based on the mission of our global movement. Within this mission, we give priority to specific human rights issues. This allows us to take advantage of strengths and opportunities we have in Canada to build respect for human rights here and around the world.
>> Learn more about Amnesty’s Canada’s priority concerns.
Who runs Amnesty International?
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Amnesty International is an independent and democratically-run organization. The movement’s mission and policies, and its long-term directions, are all set by Amnesty members.
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 set policy and key priorities within the framework of the worldwide movement.
Amnesty International’s work is always being assessed by our members and staff in the light of changing world circumstances. When major changes in policy and approach are needed, Amnesty members make the final decision.
Do Amnesty Canada members work on Canadian issues?
Amnesty International members do work on human rights issues in their own country. When we do this, however, we take into account three key considerations that give direction to this work.- First, the protection of human rights is an international and not only a national responsibility. Looking out towards the world and protecting the rights of all people everywhere through global action is critical to Amnesty’s approach.
- Second, Amnesty’s work gains in authority and effectiveness to the extent that it is seen as independent and impartial, not focused on any single country - whether our own or any other.
- Third, how Amnesty members work on human rights concerns in their own country depends on whether this work might put them, or other supporters of the organization, at risk of harm.
Given these considerations, Amnesty International members - including members in Canada - do carry out a variety of human rights activities in their own country. Here are some examples.
- Amnesty Canada members are currently appealing to the Canadian government to act on the recommendations of the United Nations Committee Against Torture. These include a call for the establishment of an independent investigative body to pursue a range of allegations of torture and ill-treatment against Indigenous people in Canada.
- We carry out human rights education and public awareness programs in schools and communities across Canada.
- We take action to prevent asylum-seekers and refugees being sent from Canada to countries where they are likely to become victims of human rights violations. We also monitor the Canadian refugee determination system and actively lobby the federal government to live up to its international obligation to protect refugees.
- We speak out against the trade of military, police and security equipment from Canada to countries where these might be used to carry out human rights violations.
- We take action, under specific arrangements with the international movement, on specific human rights violations in Canada, as long as these actions are taken alongside a substantial program of work against abuses in other countries.