Background

At the heart of all Amnesty International’s campaigning is the individual – as the person at risk of human rights abuses, as the survivor, as the partner in the defence rights, and as the activist speaking out and working with and for other individuals.

The global connection between individuals is a motivating force behind all Amnesty International campaigns. Rights are not just concepts or laws, they affect people’s lives. Abusing them has a direct impact on an individual’s human experience.

Campaigning can achieve real improvements in the lives of individuals.

The individual lies behind much of the activism of human rights groups working at local, grassroots and community level. People are the driving force behind positive change for themselves and for others. They can change lives by acting on their own or with other people making the same demand - an end to injustice in all its forms.

Work with and for individuals at risk has been at the heart of Amnesty International's work since our founding.  

Amnesty International works with people to:

•    support their fight for justice
•    help mobilize campaigns for individuals at risk
•    highlight and share the personal stories behind systemic failures we campaign to address.

How does Amnesty International select the cases it takes up?

Amnesty International has never been able to take up all the cases that come to our attention. We do not have the capacity to take up every case meaningfully and doing so is not necessarily the most effective way of achieving the change that will impact many more. We take up cases which are for example particularly grave, which are emblematic of a problem we are trying to address, where success in one case will have resonance for many others and where we think we can make a difference. Elsewhere we try to offer advice and help others at risk get the support they need. Throughout we try to work with those facing abuse and their representatives.

Amnesty is engaged in ongoing campaigning for hundreds of people right now, demanding an end to the human rights abuses they face.  We need your help.

While you act on appeals we often also make demands directly to the authorities, engage the media or submit the individual's case to the United Nations for their action.

By calling out together, we stand a better chance.

Please - act now.