As amended by the 30th International Council, meeting in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands, 

14 to 19 August 2011

VISION AND MISSION

1. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’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 instruments. 

In pursuit of this vision, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’s mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of these rights.

CORE VALUES

2. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL forms a global community of human rights 

defenders with the principles of international solidarity, effective action for the 

individual victim, global coverage, the universality and indivisibility of human 

rights, impartiality and independence, and democracy and mutual respect.

METHODS

3. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL addresses governments, intergovernmental 

organizations, armed political groups, companies and other non-state actors.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL seeks to disclose human rights abuses accurately, quickly and persistently. It systematically and impartially researches the facts of individual cases and patterns of human rights abuses. These findings are publicized, and members, supporters and staff mobilize public pressure on governments and others to stop the abuses.

In addition to its work on specific abuses of human rights, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL urges all governments to observe the rule of law, and to ratify and implement human rights standards; it carries out a wide range of human rights educational activities; and it encourages intergovernmental organizations, individuals, and all organs of society to support and respect human rights.

INTEGRATED STRATEGIC PLAN

4. There will be at all times for AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL an Integrated 

Strategic Plan covering a period of six years.

ORGANIZATION

5. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL is an organization based on worldwide

voluntary membership and it shall consist of sections, structures, international 

networks, affiliated groups and international members.

6. Ultimate authority for the conduct of the affairs of AMNESTY

INTERNATIONAL is vested in the International Council. The primary functions of the International Council are:

(i) to focus on strategy;

(ii) to set AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’s vision, mission and

core values;

(iii) to determine AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’s Integrated

Strategic Plan including its financial strategy;

(iv) to establish systems and bodies of governance and delegation 

for the movement, to elect members to those bodies, and to

hold those bodies and their members accountable;

(v) to evaluate the movement’s performance against its agreed strategies and plans;

(vi) to hold sections, structures and other bodies accountable.

7. There is an International Executive Committee. The primary role of the International Executive Committee is to provide leadership and stewardship for the whole of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL worldwide. The functions of the International Executive Committee are:

(i) to take international decisions on behalf of AMNESTY 

INTERNATIONAL;

(ii) to ensure that there is a sound financial policy for AMNESTY 

INTERNATIONAL and that the financial policy is consistently implemented across the international organization;

(iii) to ensure implementation of the Integrated Strategic Plan;

(iv) to make any necessary adjustments to the Integrated Strategic 

Plan and other decisions of the International Council;

(v) to ensure compliance with the Statute;

(vi) to ensure human resources development;

(vii) to hold sections, structures and other bodies of AMNESTY 

INTERNATIONAL accountable for their functioning by presenting reports to the International Council;

(viii) to perform the other functions conferred on it by the Statute.

8.  There is a Chairs Forum. The primary functions of the Chairs Forum are: 

(i)   to give advice and recommendations to the Amnesty International Movement and the International Executive Committee on matters related to the governance of Amnesty International and controversial issues.

(ii) to contribute to building the capacity of Chairs of sections, structures and other bodies of Amnesty International; 

(iii) to build relations among sections and structures and provide an open space for debate on common issues; 

(iv) to undertake other tasks and make decisions delegated to it by the International Council. 

9.  The Chairs Forum will function in accordance with its Terms of Reference as adopted by the Chairs Forum in collaboration with the International Executive Committee or, in case of disagreement, decided by the International Council. 

10. The day-to-day affairs of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL shall be conducted by the International Secretariat headed by a Secretary General under the direction of the International Executive Committee.

11. The office of the International Secretariat shall be in London or such other place as the International Executive Committee shall decide and which is ratified by at least one half of the sections.

12. Responsibility for AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL work on abuses of human rights in any country or territory, including the collection and evaluation of information, and the sending of delegations, lies with the international governing bodies of the organization, and not with the section, structure, groups or members in the country or territory concerned.

SECTIONS

13. A section of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL may be established in any country, state, territory or region with the consent of the International Executive Committee. In order to be recognized as such, a section shall:

(i) prior to its recognition have demonstrated its ability to organize 

and maintain basic AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL activities;

(ii) submit its Statute to the International Executive Committee for 

approval;

(iii) pay such annual fee as may be determined by the International 

Council;

(iv) be registered as such with the International Secretariat on the 

decision of the International Executive Committee.

Sections shall take no action on matters that do not fall within the stated vision 

and mission of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. The International Secretariat

shall maintain a register of sections. Sections shall act in accordance with the 

core values and methods of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, as well as any Integrated Strategic Plans, working rules and guidelines that are adopted from time to time by the International Council.

STRUCTURES

14. An AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL structure is an AMNESTY 

INTERNATIONAL national or regional body established by the International 

Executive Committee, to promote and implement the movement’s vision and 

mission. The purpose of a structure is to coordinate a sustained programme of human rights activities and consolidate its national or regional organization. A structure must consist of at least a board and active volunteers, unless otherwise determined by the International Executive Committee, and must meet any other criteria determined by the International Executive Committee. 

INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS

15. An AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL “International Network” exists to promote and implement the movement’s vision and mission, primarily on the basis of a specific theme or identity. 

An International Network must meet the following requirements:

(i) have AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL members from at least 

five different sections and/or structures;

(ii) have AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL members from at least 

two International Secretariat programme regions;

(iii) be theme or identity based;

(iv) have terms of reference that meet the Statute and core values of 

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL;

(v) have terms of reference approved by the International 

Executive Committee;

(vi) be formally recognized by, and registered with, the

International Executive Committee.

AFFILIATED GROUPS

16. Groups of not less than five members may, on payment of an annual fee determined by the International Council, become affiliated to AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL or a section thereof. Any dispute as to whether a group should be or remain affiliated shall be decided by the International Executive Committee. An affiliated adoption group shall accept for adoption such prisoners as may from time to time be allotted to it by the International Secretariat, and shall adopt no others as long as it remains affiliated to AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. No group shall be allotted a prisoner of conscience detained in its own country. Each section shall maintain and make available to the International Secretariat a register of affiliated AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL groups. Groups in a country, state, territory or region without a section shall be registered with the International Secretariat. Groups shall take no action on matters that do not fall within the stated vision and mission of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. Groups shall act in accordance with the core values and methods of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, as well as any Integrated Strategic Plans, working rules and guidelines that are adopted from time to time by the International Council.

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP

17. An individual member of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL is any person who

contributes to the advancement of the mission of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, who acts in accordance with the core values and policies of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, and who has been recognized and registered as a member by an AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL section, structure or affiliated group by virtue of payment of annual dues or having been granted a dues waiver.

Individuals residing in countries, states, territories, or regions where there is no section or structure and who are not members of an affiliated group, may, on payment to the International Secretariat of an annual subscription fee determined by the International Executive Committee, become international members of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. In countries where a section or structure exists, individuals may become international members of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL with the consent of the section or structure and of the International Executive Committee. The International Secretariat shall maintain a register of such international members.

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL

18. The International Council shall consist of the members of the International Executive Committee and of representatives of sections and structures, and of representatives of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’s international membership, as defined in the second paragraph of Article 17, and shall meet at intervals of not more than two years on a date fixed by the International Executive Committee. Only representatives of sections and structures and the international membership shall have the right to vote at the International Council.

18a. The international membership shall have the right to appoint one representative to the International Council. In addition, they may appoint:

more than 250 international members 1 representative

more than 2,500 international members 2 representatives

more than 15,000 international members 3 representatives

more than 40,000 international members 4 representatives

more than 80,000 international members 5 representatives

19. All sections and structures shall have the right to appoint one representative to the International Council. In addition, a section may appoint:

more than 250 members 1 representative

more than 2,500 members 2 representatives

more than 15,000 members 3 representatives

more than 40,000 members 4 representatives

more than 80,000 members 5 representatives

or, if a section so chooses:

10 – 49 groups 1 representative

50 – 99 groups 2 representatives

100 – 199 groups 3 representatives

200 – 399 groups 4 representatives

400 groups and over 5 representatives

Only sections having paid in full their annual fee as assessed by the International Council for the two previous financial years shall vote at the International Council. This requirement may be waived in whole or in part by the International Council.

If a section has not provided its standardized financial report (or its annual report under the Common Accounting Framework) and its audited accounts to the International Secretariat within one month of the final date for submission on each of the last two occasions such a report was required, the section is not entitled to vote at the International Council. This requirement may be waived in whole or in part by the International Council.

20. The International Executive Committee may invite to the International Council delegates from international networks and other individuals as non-voting participants. 

21. A section or structure unable to participate at an International Council may appoint a proxy or proxies to vote on its behalf and a section represented by a lesser number of persons than its entitlement under Article 19 hereof may authorize its representative or representatives to cast votes up to its maximum entitlement under Article 19 hereof.

22. Notice of the number of representatives proposing to attend an International Council, and of the appointment of proxies, shall be given to the International Secretariat not later than one month before the meeting of the International Council. This requirement may be waived by the International Executive Committee.

23. A quorum shall consist of the representatives or proxies of not less than one quarter of the sections and structures entitled to be represented.

24. The Chairperson of the International Council and an alternate shall be elected by the preceding International Council. The Chairperson or, in his or her absence, the alternate, shall preside at the International Council. In the absence of the Chairperson and the alternate, the Chairperson of the International Executive Committee or such other person as the International Executive Committee may appoint shall open the proceedings of the International Council which shall elect a Chairperson. Thereafter the elected Chairperson, or such other person as the Chairperson may appoint, shall preside at the International Council.

25. Except as otherwise provided in the Statute, the International Council shall make its decisions by a simple majority of the votes cast. In case of an equality of votes the Chairperson of the International Council shall have a casting vote.

26. The International Council shall be convened by the International Secretariat by notice to all sections and structures not later than 90 days before the date thereof.

27. The Chairperson of the International Executive Committee shall at the request of the Committee or of not less than one third of the sections and structures call an extraordinary meeting of the International Council by giving not less than 21 days’ notice in writing to all sections and structures.

28. The International Council shall elect a Treasurer, who shall be a member of the International Executive Committee.

29. The agenda for the meetings of the International Council shall be prepared by the International Secretariat under the direction of the Chairperson of the International Executive Committee.

INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

30. The International Executive Committee shall consist of the Treasurer and eight regular members, who shall be individual or international members of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. The regular members and Treasurer shall be elected by the International Council. Not more than one member in any section, structure or affiliated group, or international member of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL voluntarily resident in a country, state or territory in which there is no section or structure, may be elected as a regular member of the Committee.

31. The International Executive Committee shall meet not less than twice a year at a place to be decided by itself.

32. Members of the International Executive Committee, including the International Treasurer, shall hold office for a period of four years and shall be eligible for re-election once. Their terms of office shall begin and end at the close of the International Council meeting.1

33. The Committee may co-opt not more than two additional members who shall hold office until the close of the next meeting of the International Council; they shall be eligible to be reco-opted once. Co-opted members shall not have the right to vote.

34. In the event of vacancies occurring on the Committee, it may co-opt further members to fill the vacancies until the next meeting of the International Council, which shall elect such members as are necessary to replace members (or their co-opted alternates) who are at the end of their terms and to fill the vacancies for the positions with two remaining years of office.

35. The Committee shall appoint one of its members to act as Chairperson.

36. The Chairperson may, and at the request of the majority of the Committee shall, summon meetings of the Committee.

37. A quorum shall consist of not fewer than five members of the Committee.

38. The agenda for meetings of the Committee shall be prepared by the International Secretariat under the direction of the Chairperson.

39. The Committee may make regulations for the conduct of the affairs of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL and for the procedure to be followed at the International Council, and may take such steps as it sees fit to establish and maintain a system of effective committees, including standing committees, intermediate structures, or other forums, in support of its functions.

CHAIRS FORUM

40. The Chairs Forum shall: 

(i) be composed of the Chairs of Amnesty International sections and structures, as well as representatives of the international membership who have been elected in accordance with Article 18;

(ii) have a Steering Committee composed of members elected at the Chairs Assembly, a representative of the International Executive Committee, and the Chairperson of the International Council; 

(iii) meet once a year at the Chairs Assembly with an agenda prepared by the Steering Committee. 

41. The Chairs Assembly shall be chaired by the Chairperson of the International Council elected by the preceding International Council in accordance with Article 24.

42. Each member of the Chairs Forum will hold one vote in all decisions, except for decisions referred to the Chairs Forum by the International Council where the same voting rights as held at the preceding International Council apply.

43. The size, chairing, terms of reference, and operational arrangements for the Steering Committee shall be agreed by the Chairs Forum in cooperation with the International Executive Committee.

INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT

44. The International Executive Committee may appoint a Secretary General who shall be responsible under its direction for the conduct of the affairs of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL and for the implementation of the decisions of the International Council.

45 The Secretary General may appoint senior executive staff in close cooperation with the International Executive Committee, and may appoint all other staff as are necessary for the proper conduct of the affairs of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL.

46. In the case of the absence or illness of the Secretary General, or of a vacancy in the post of Secretary General, the Chairperson of the International Executive Committee shall, after consultation with the members of that Committee, appoint an Acting Secretary General to act until the next meeting of the Committee.

47. The Secretary General or Acting Secretary General and such members of the International Secretariat as may appear to the Chairperson of the International Executive Committee to be necessary shall attend meetings of the International Council and of the International Executive Committee and may speak thereat but shall not be entitled to vote.

48. There is an International Nominations Committee responsible to the International Council.

49. The International Nominations Committee will function in accordance with its terms of reference and the functions and responsibilities given to it by the Statute, the Standing Orders of the International Council and decisions of the International Council.

TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

50. International administration and suspension of entities

The International Executive Committee may decide:

(i) that there is to be international administration of a section, structure or international network; or

(ii) to suspend temporarily a section, structure, international network, internationally registered group or international member

if the International Executive Committee considers that in all the circumstances such an action is necessary in order to protect the reputation, integrity or operation of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, or is unavoidable because of the local circumstances in which the section, structure, network, group or member is operating, and that such an action is the only one reasonably available.

51. Termination of membership and closure of entities

An international member of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL may terminate their membership at any time by resignation in writing. A section, structure, international network or internationally registered group may voluntarily relinquish its registration at any time by written notice to the Secretary General.

The International Executive Committee may:

(i) terminate the membership of an individual international member;

(ii) close a section, structure, international network, or internationally registered group.

52. Membership Appeals Committee

The Membership Appeals Committee shall consist of five members elected by the International Council in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as provided for in Article 30 for the International Executive Committee.

The function of the Membership Appeals Committee is to determine appeals in respect of which the Statute or a decision of the International Council gives a right to appeal.

Once the International Executive Committee has made a final decision: 

(i) on administration under Article 50 for the first time;

(ii) on temporary suspension under Article 50 if the temporary suspension is for a period greater than three months;

(iii) on termination of membership or closure under Article 51; 

(iv) more than five years after the original decision to extend a period of administration or temporary suspension under Article 50;

the section, structure, international network or internationally registered group, anyone who can demonstrate that they speak on behalf of a significant number of its members, or the international member affected, may appeal to the Membership Appeals Committee.

53. Procedures for international administration, suspension, termination and closure

The International Council may adopt procedures:

(i) in relation to how the International Executive Committee takes decisions under Articles 50 and 51, and in relation to the consequences of such decisions; 

(ii) to be followed by the Membership Appeals Committee.

FINANCE

54. An auditor appointed by the International Council shall annually audit the accounts of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, which shall be prepared by the International Secretariat and presented to the International Executive Committee and the International Council.

55. No part of the income or property of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL shall directly or indirectly be paid or transferred otherwise than for valuable and sufficient consideration to any of its members by way of dividend, gift, division, bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit.

AMENDMENTS OF STATUTE

56. The Statute may be amended by the International Council by a majority of not less than two thirds of the votes cast. Amendments may be submitted by the International Executive Committee or by a section or structure. Proposed amendments shall be submitted to the International Secretariat not less than seven months before the International Council meets, and presentation to the International Council shall be supported in writing by at least five sections or structures. Proposed amendments shall be communicated by the International Secretariat to all sections and structures and to members of the International Executive Committee.

Index: POL 20/001/2011

Amnesty International Publications, International Secretariat, Peter Benenson House, 1 Easton

Street, London WC1X 0DW, United Kingdom