WHO WE ARE
Amnesty International USA is the global organization’s presence in the United States. We engage people in the U.S. to fight injustice all around the world, while we also work to protect people’s human rights here in the U.S.
Amnesty International USA has more than a million members and activists in all 50 states, who are part of a larger global movement of 7 million people in 150 countries. We are a democratically governed, grassroots membership organization, which means that our members vote on key policy issues and elect our Board of Directors.
Some of our members are experts on specific human rights issues, parts of the world, or advocacy areas, and they serve as volunteer leaders. Others are volunteer leaders of local Amnesty International groups in towns, universities, states, or regions of the country. Amnesty International USA’s elected Board members, staff, and members work together to lead the organization.
OUR VISION FOR CHANGE
All people have fundamental human rights. But those rights are abused or denied every single day. When that happens, Amnesty International finds the facts, exposes what’s happening, and rallies people together to force governments and others to respect everyone’s human rights.
And we get results. Last year alone, Amnesty International helped free 153 people who were wrongfully imprisoned because of who they are or what they believe – and we changed laws in dozens of countries on refugees, reproductive rights, LGBT equality, free speech, the death penalty, and other critical human rights issues.
From start to finish, our work focuses on the individual – people whose human rights are abused, and people who have the power to change the world. We received the Nobel Peace Prize for our life-saving work.
HOW WE WORK
Amnesty International’s uniquely effective approach for protecting human rights uses a three-pronged approach:
RESEARCH
Our crisis response teams and researchers travel to affected areas around the world to uncover individual human rights abuses and document patterns of abuse.
MOBILIZATION
Our campaign teams use this research to educate the public about human rights abuses – and they give members and grassroots activists the information and tools they need to demand that human rights be protected.
ADVOCACY
Our staff and volunteer leaders engage in direct advocacy with policymakers at the state and federal levels in the U.S., while we rally grassroots activists from all 50 states to demand that policymakers protect human rights in the U.S. and around the world.
