Profile of a Nonprofit: Amnesty International

Overview: Amnesty International isn’t your average non-profit organization. This human rights group works to fight against political and cultural injustices worldwide. Amnesty International, unlike many standard nonprofits, is a controversial organization. Many governments, particularly those whose practices Amnesty targets, are opposed to the organization brining international attention what these government leaders view as internal problems. Advocates of the group argue, however, that strong international pressure has resulted in positive changes for thousands of political prisoners.

Brief History: Peter Benenson, a London attorney, is the founder of Amnesty International. Benenson started the group in 1961 because he was appalled at stories of people imprisoned for believing something different from their government or for their religious or cultural beliefs.

The early incarnation of Amnesty dealt only with speaking up for people who were in prison for non-violent opposition to government. Today Amnesty’s focus includes all human rights abuses, and the organization has a presence throughout the world. 

How They Use Volunteers: The core of Amnesty’s volunteer effort is letter writing. The organization has made itself known for corralling thousands of volunteers to write monthly to selected campaigns. These campaigns range from allowing for religious freedom to freeing political prisoners. Members get a list of the month’s letter requests. By writing the letters, the members of Amnesty International let the target know that the international community is watching. As far as working with parenting, the Amnesty letter-writing campaigns are a wonderful way to stay involved while busy as the letters take only a few minutes and can be done any time.

How to Get Involved: Visit the main Amnesty International USA website for current campaigns. You can click on specific topics that interest you, such as environmental campaigns or women’s issues, and find out what the organization has going on. The “Take Action” link includes ways to help out online, at home, or in your community.

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