Amnesty international

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Amnesty International was founded in 1961 by Peter Benenson, a lawyer from the United Kingdom, who originally planned to start an appeal in Britain aimed at freeing all prisoners of conscience from around the world. By 1963, it comprised more than 1000 voluntary groups in 28 countries, and it continued to grow until, in 2008, it has expanded to include 52 sections. These national A.I. sections remain essentially their own organizations with large followings and boards of directors, including Amnesty International USA. Today Amnesty International touches almost every part of the world and works for the protection of human rights and justice for those who have been victimized and those who have abused these rights. The organization is non-governmental and keeps itself separate from all other organizations, political parties, and religious entities. One aspect of the over-all activities of A.I. is the publication of human rights reports on countries throughout the world on specific abuse topics such as the torture, sexual abuse, and child abuse of prisoners.

From the description of Amnesty International Publications and Reports, (1977-1999). (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 437267374

Amnesty International was founded in 1961 by Peter Benenson, a lawyer from the United Kingdom. Benenson originally planned to start an appeal in Britain aimed at freeing all prisoners of conscience from around the world. As the committee, aimed towards this goal, started their work, they realized that detailed documentation of prisoners of conscience from around the world would be required in order to launch such an appeal. As more and more cases of prisoners of conscience kept coming up they realized that they would need to have to carry out their work on a more permanent basis. They needed sites from which their members could work from around the world to address the enormous number of prisoners of conscience who were imprisoned in all parts of the world.

Although Amnesty International started as a British Organization, it developed an international secretariat to administer the many and growing numbers of national sections. In 1963, two years after being founded by Peter Benenson, it comprised more than 1000 voluntary groups in 28 countries, and it continued to grow until, in 2008, it has expanded to include 52 “sections.” These national AI sections remain essentially their own organizations with large followings and boards of directors, including Amnesty International USA, and “structures” which are generally smaller but are constituent parts of the organized Amnesty International entity. There are also “international members” from countries with no affiliated section or structure, “international networks” which have specific identities, and “affiliated groups” which do the same work as sections but work apart from A.I. (1) These groups are all recognized at the International Council, led by the International Executive Committee, which meets biannually.

Today Amnesty International touches almost every part of the world and works for the protection of human rights and justice for those who have been victimized and those who have abused these rights. The organization is non-governmental and keeps itself separate from all other organizations, political parties, and religious entities. “The movement works for the release of women and men who have been arrested for their convictions, the color of their skin, their ethnic origin or their faith - provided that they have not themselves used force or exhorted others to resort to violence;” (2) these are the prisoners of conscience that Amnesty International seeks to represent. Amnesty International proclaimed 1977 to be “Prisoners of Conscience Year” and collected signatures in order as part of their appeal to the General Assembly of the United Nations.

One aspect of the over-all activities of AI is the publication of human rights reports on countries throughout the world. These “country” reports are disseminated through their national sections in several languages. AI also provides reports on specific abuse topics, such as the torture, sexual abuse, and child abuse of prisoners.

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(1) Nobel Lectures, Peace 1971-1980, Editor-in-Charge Tore Frängsmyr, Editor Irwin Abrams, World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, 1997.

(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesty_International. 4 March 2009

From the guide to the Amnesty International Publications and Reports, (1977-1999), (University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Archives Dept.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Montemuro, Frank J., Jr. Frank J. Montemuro, Jr. Order Sons of Italy in America Collection, 1965-1987. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Klein, Harold E. Harold E. Klein papers, 1980-1993. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Records of, Sojourner, (inclusive), (bulk), 1920-2004, 1975-2002 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Amnesty International. Amnesty International Publications and Reports, (1977-1999). University of Colorado, Boulder
referencedIn Feith, Herbert, 1930-2001. Papers [manuscript]. Libraries Australia
referencedIn [Amnesty International pamphlet collection] [microform]. Stanford University, Hoover Institution Library
referencedIn Pitchersky, Carol. Carol Pitchersky papers, 1970s-1990s. Princeton University Library
referencedIn The Papers of Eric Baker, 1956-1976 University of Bradford
referencedIn Paul A. Freund papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Duquette, Michael. Mail art. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Amnesty International. Amnesty International- Argentina : file of clippings and miscellaneous material. Michigan State University Libraries, Main Library
referencedIn H. K. Banda Archive, 1924-2005, bulk 1950-1997 IU Libraries African Studies Collection
creatorOf Krasivsky, Zinovy. Office files of The American Poetry Review, 1981. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Jeanette Carter Reports, 1973-2011 Liberian Collectionshttp://www.onliberia.org
referencedIn Edward G. Ramberg Papers, 1916-1994 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Shaw Festival Collection (University of Guelph). The Festival for Freedom (Benefit Concert by Members of the Shaw Festival Company on Behalf of Amnesty International), Sept. 17, 1990 - program. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
referencedIn Families of Vietnamese Political Prisoners Association. Records, 1905-2002 1977-1999. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Ivan Morris Papers, 1931-1976 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Wole Soyinka papers, 1966-1996. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Levi, Peter. Peter Levi Papers, 1949-1989, (bulk 1960-1989). Boston College. John J. Burns Library
referencedIn Christian Aid, c.1946-1985 School of Oriental and African Studies
referencedIn Andreĭ Sakharov papers, 1852-2002 (inclusive), 1960-1990 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Sagan, Ginetta. Ginetta Sagan papers, 1944-2006. Stanford University, Hoover Institution Library
referencedIn Weinberg, Tom. Watch It! [videorecording] : episode 102-2, ca. 1992. Media Burn Independent Video Archive
referencedIn Kate Millett papers, 1912-2002 and undated, bulk 1951-2001 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Ginetta Sagan papers, 1944-2006 Hoover Institution Archives
referencedIn HALPERN, Jack (1927-1973), 1958-1970 Institute of Commonwealth Studies
referencedIn AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL FICHE, 1962-1984 British library of political and economic science
referencedIn Bates Worldwide, Inc. Records, 1934-2003 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Straight, Michael Whitney. Michael Whitney Straight papers, 1931-2002. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Shaw Festival Collection (University of Guelph). The Festival for Freedom (A Benefit Concert by Members of the Shaw Festival Company on Behalf of Amnestry International), October 2, 1989 - house program. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
creatorOf Amnesty International. Amnesty International : file of clippings and miscellaneous material. Michigan State University Libraries, Main Library
referencedIn HALL-CARPENTER Archives, 1940-2000 British library of political and economic science
referencedIn Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) records, 1969-1999 Special Collections and Archives, Penrose Library, University of Denver, 2150 E. Evans Ave., Denver, CO 80208
creatorOf Amnesty International. Brief notes on Aceh. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Bedau, Hugo Adam. Hugo A. Bedau papers, 1957-2003. University at Albany, University Libraries
referencedIn Sergei Kovalev Collection, 1974-1990 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Oliver Tambo papers University of Connecticut. Libraries
referencedIn Richard W. Franke Files on Indonesia and East Timor, circa 1965-circa 1990 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Connecticut State Labor Council, AFL-CIO Records, undated, 1909-1991. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Daniel Yankelovich Papers., 1937-1994 Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Dunbar, Leslie. Leslie Dunbar papers, [ca. 1946-2005]. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Champaign-Urbana Amnesty International Records, 1978-94 University of Illinois Archives
referencedIn Mitsuye Yamada papers, 1940-2005 University of California, Irvine. Library. Department of Special Collections
referencedIn Minneapolis (Minn.). Office of the Mayor. Fraser (Donald M.) subject files, 1979-1994. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Keys mss., 1972-1982 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Ramberg, E. G. (Edward Granville), 1907-1995. Papers, 1921-1994, (bulk, 1940-1994) American Institute of Physics
referencedIn Morris, Ivan I. Papers, 1931-1976. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Papers of Amnesty International, 1974-[ongoing] Modern Records Centre
referencedIn Fraser (Donald M.) subject files., 1979-1994. Minnesota Historical Society
referencedIn Frank J. Montemuro, Jr., Order Sons of Italy in America Collection, 1965-1987 University of Minnesota Libraries. Immigration History Research Center [ihrc]
referencedIn [Amnesty International pamphlet collection]. Stanford University, Hoover Institution Library
referencedIn Gore Vidal papers, 1850-2020 (inclusive), 1936-2008 (bulk) Houghton Library
referencedIn Kay Boyle letters to Helga Einsele, 1951-1992 University of Delaware Library - Special Collections
creatorOf Amnesty International Publications and Reports, (1977-1999) University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Archives Dept.
referencedIn Papers of Kristi Parker, 1977-2010 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kanas Collection
referencedIn Collection Number: 1849., 1905-2002, bulk 1977-1999 The Vietnam Center and Archive, Texas Tech University
creatorOf Lutheran World Ministries (Agency). Office on World Community. People and Organizations Files, 1973-1987. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library, ELCA Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith AFL-CIO Connecticut State Labor Council. corporateBody
associatedWith Baker, Eric., 1920-1976 person
associatedWith Bates Worldwide, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Bedau, Hugo Adam. person
associatedWith Boyle, Kay, 1902-1992 person
associatedWith Brody, Donald A. person
associatedWith Brody, Paula Rae person
associatedWith Carter, Jeanette person
associatedWith Dunbar, Leslie. person
associatedWith Duquette, Michael. person
associatedWith Families of Vietnamese Political Prisoners Association. corporateBody
associatedWith Families of Vietnamese Political Prisoners Association (FVPPA) person
associatedWith Feith, Herbert, 1930-2001. person
associatedWith Franke, Richard W. person
associatedWith Hall-Carpenter Archives corporateBody
associatedWith Halpern, Jack, 1927-1973 person
associatedWith Higher Education Resource Services (U.S.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Keys, Donald person
associatedWith Klein, Harold E. person
associatedWith Kovalev, Sergei Adamovich, 1932- person
associatedWith Krasivsky, Zinovy. person
associatedWith Levi, Peter. person
associatedWith Lutheran World Ministries (Agency). Office on World Community. corporateBody
associatedWith Michigan State University. Library. American Radicalism Collection. corporateBody
associatedWith Millett, Kate person
associatedWith Minneapolis (Minn.). Office of the Mayor. corporateBody
associatedWith Minneapolis (Minn.). Office of the Mayor. corporateBody
associatedWith Montemuro, Frank J., Jr. person
associatedWith Montemuro, Frank J., Jr. person
associatedWith Morris, Ivan I. person
associatedWith Morris, Ivan I. person
associatedWith Parker, Kristi person
associatedWith Paul A. Freund person
associatedWith Pitchersky, Carol. person
associatedWith Ramberg, E. G., (Edward Granville), 1907- person
associatedWith Ramberg, E. G. (Edward Granville), 1907-1995. person
associatedWith Sagan, Ginetta. person
correspondedWith Sakharov, Andreĭ, 1921-1989 person
associatedWith Shaw Festival Collection (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith Shaw Festival Collection (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith Sojourner (Cambridge, Mass.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Soyinka, Wole. person
associatedWith Straight, Michael Whitney. person
associatedWith Tambo, Oliver, 1917- person
associatedWith University of Colorado Libraries. Archives Dept. corporateBody
correspondedWith Vidal, Gore, 1925- person
associatedWith Yamada, Mitsuye person
associatedWith Yankelovich, Daniel. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Argentina
Subject
Civil rights
Civil rights
Death penalty
Freedom of speech
Human rights
Human rights
Human rights advocacy
Peace movements
Political prisoners
Political prisoners
Political prisoners
Torture
Occupation
Activity
Collectors

Corporate Body

Active 1973

Active 1987

International

Multiple languages

Information

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