50 Years of Amnesty International

On 28 May 2011 Amnesty International marks its 50th anniversary - 50 years of uninhibited fight against injustice and repression. It was way back in 1961 that a British lawyer Peter Benenson, enraged by a newspaper report of two Portuguese students from Coimbra being sentenced to seven years in prison for raising their glasses in a toast to freedom, started this movement for freedom and justice. From that humble beginning Amnesty International has grown into a global movement of more than 3 million supporters as well as members and activists in more than 150 countries and territories.

Though it is true that the human rights situation around the world has undergone a sea change in these 50 years, for which Amnesty International can certainly take some credit, there still exist a lot of human rights issues left to be solved. The 50th anniversary of Amnesty International comes at a time when there are a lot of changes happening in the human rights landscape as is evident from the way in which people of Middle East and North Africa are fighting against oppression and tyranny. It has become imperative that we remain committed to strengthening the global human rights movement.

Amnesty International is committed to protect freedom of expression, abolish the death penalty, defend rights of women and girls, demand international justice, stop corporate abuse and end oppression and injustice. For achieving these goals Amnesty International is in need of the help of each and every one of you. Change is possible and international solidarity on human rights is what we need to accomplish that.

50th Anniversary of Amnesty International is accompanied by a new drive – “Be one more, ask one more, act once more” – that urges everyone, including three million members of Amnesty International, to encourage at least one person to take action for human rights. On this account I implore all my readers to join with Amnesty International in its campaign against human rights violations and make a difference in the lives of millions of people around the world who are reeling under oppression, discrimination and violence.

Source: Official website of Amnesty International