Campaigning is, as has always been, a core process in Amnesty’s work. Infact, Amnesty International began in the summer of 1961 as a year long campaign, 'Appeal for Amnesty, 1961' undertaken by its founder, Peter Benenson. Since its inception, the organisation has successfully undertaken numerous campaigns spanning varied human rights issues. Our campaigning work is governed by a precise mandate, which has been developed and expanded over the years in response to the changing patterns of human rights violations around the world and the demands of Amnesty Internationals members.

The protection of human rights is fundamental for people all over the world, whatever their religion, ethnic origin or cultural traditions. Moreover, protecting these rights directly impinges on other rights that might be designated economic, cultural or social.

The focus of Amnesty International’s campaigning against human rights violations is to:

	Free all prisoners of conscience. According to AI’s statute, these are people detained for their political, religious or other conscientiously held beliefs or because of their ethnic origin, sex, colour, language, national or social origin, economic status, birth or other status – who have not used or advocated violence;
	Ensure fair and prompt trials for all political prisoners.
	Abolish the death penalty, torture and other ill-treatment of prisoners
	End political killings and “disappearances”

Amnesty International has a three tier campaign process,

	Global Campaigns-issues that Amnesty International campaigns for globally.
	International campaigns-These are active in a number of countries throughout the world.
	Country specific campaigns-these are campaigns specific to a country, managed by the country’s respective AI offices

Amnesty International India
C 1/22, First Floor
Safdarjung Development Area
HauzKhas, New Delhi 110016

Tel: 011.41642501, 26854763
Fax: 011.26510202

Email: campaigns@amnesty.org.in