Amnesty International Headquarters

Amnesty International

Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement that works to prevent and end all grave abuses to human rights through research and action. The Amnesty International group at Lake Forest College acts locally to promote human rights in the United States and abroad.

Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights.

AI’s vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.

In pursuit of this vision, AI’s mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all human rights.

AI is independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion. It does not support or oppose any government or political system, nor does it support or oppose the views of the victims whose rights it seeks to protect. It is concerned solely with the impartial protection of human rights.

AI has a varied network of members and supporters around the world. At the latest count, there were more than 1.8 million members, supporters and subscribers in over 150 countries and territories in every region of the world. Although they come from many different backgrounds and have widely different political and religious beliefs, they are united by a determination to work for a world where everyone enjoys human rights.

AI is a democratic, self-governing movement. Major policy decisions are taken by an International Council made up of representatives from all national sections.

AI’s national sections and local volunteer groups are primarily responsible for funding the movement. No funds are sought or accepted from governments for AI’s work investigating and campaigning against human rights violations.

Current Campaigns

Stop violence against women
Violence against women is the greatest human rights scandal of our times. From birth to death, in times of peace as well as war, women face discrimination and violence at the hands of the state, the community and the family.

Control Arms
The Arms Trade is out of control. Worldwide arms are fuelling conflict, poverty, and human rights abuses. It doesn’t have to be like this. Amnesty International, Oxfam and IANSA are calling for a global Arms Trade Treaty and for local action to protect civilians from armed violence.

Stop Torture
The ban on torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment – the most universally accepted of human rights – is being undermined. In the "war on terror", governments are not only using torture and ill-treatment, they are making the case that this is justifiable and necessary.
Find out more about Guantánamo Bay.

The Death Penalty
The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. It violates the right to life. It is irrevocable and can be inflicted on the innocent and has never been shown to deter crime more effectively than other punishments.

Poverty and human rights
Everyone, everywhere has the right to live with dignity. That means that no-one should be denied their rights to adequate housing, food, water and sanitation, and to education and health care.

A Colombian human rights defender protests.

Human rights defenders
Human rights defenders are united by their commitment to protecting and upholding the dignity and rights of their fellow citizens.

Refugee boy with bread - in front of the old shoe factory in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Refugees and Migrants
Everyday people make decisions to leave their homes, communities and countries. Some leave because they are afraid. They are afraid for their lives, and for the lives of their children and loved ones. Others leave because their social or economic situation has compelled them to do so.

The Internet and Human Rights
The internet is the new frontline in the fight for human rights. Governments are increasingly monitoring web, email and blog use, censoring and prosecuting their citizens for expressing their opinions online.

Economic globalization and human rights
Amnesty International believes economic actors - be they companies or international financial institutions - are accountable for the human rights impact of their activities.

International Justice
The twentieth century was perhaps the bloodiest in history. Millions of people were victims of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture, extrajudicial executions and "disappearances." These crimes were committed throughout the world during international and civil wars and in conditions of "peace.".

Demobilized child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Child soldiers
Worldwide, more than half a million children have been recruited into government armed forces, paramilitaries, civil militia and a wide variety of non-state armed groups in more than 85 countries.

United Nations
The UN General Assembly's current effort to create a new Human Rights Council is a historic opportunity to improve the UN’s capacity to protect and promote all human rights.

Contacts:

Melanie Quall, President
quallmj@lakeforest.edu

Lou Lombardi, Advisor

Lombardi@lakeforest.edu

Meeting Time and Location:
TBD

Student Life

Current Campaigns