Amnesty, << AM nuh stee, >> International is an independent, worldwide human-rights organization. It works to free people imprisoned “for their beliefs, color, ethnic origin, sex, religion, or language, provided they have neither used nor advocated violence.” The organization also works for fair and speedy trials for political prisoners and for an end to torture and executions. It received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.
Amnesty International has hundreds of thousands of members in over 150 nations and includes thousands of volunteer groups. Each local group “adopts” prisoners in foreign countries. It works for their release by pressuring government officials and arousing public opinion. The organization also sends observers to political trials and on missions to investigate human rights abuses. It also publishes reports of its concerns. Amnesty International was founded in 1961. Its headquarters are in London.
See also Political prisoner .
