"There is a growing tendency all over the world to disguise the real grounds upon which 'non-conformists' are imprisoned."
— Peter Benenson, "The Forgotten Prisoner," 28 May 1961
This past weekend marked the 50th birthday since the founding of Amnesty International by the late British Barrister, Peter Benenson – truly a remarkable milestone for an organization that was established on the simple principles of the Magna Carta, the most basic of human rights being HUMAN rights. This is a concept that has been nibbled at throughout history by individuals, governments, and corporations around the world (beyond tyrants and dictators, the US Supreme Court’s infamous 5-4 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision to give corporations rights heretofore only enjoyed by real flesh and blood human beings is a troubling twist on this same theme).
Amnesty International has been on the forefront of exposing the massive injustices perpetrated by regimes worldwide, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 for its campaign against torture. That was followed in 1978 by the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights.
All this was started by an article that the founder of AI published in the Observer on May 28th 1961, where he cited the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in calling on the world to take common action. Barrister Benenson had been moved after learning that two Portuguese students were arrested and imprisoned by the then Military Dictatorship ruling that lovely country.
His article, as one would say today, went viral, and was reprinted all around the world, causing many people to re-examine their complacency and giving birth to many different chapters of AI worldwide, chapters that became very active in the struggle for human rights. In the process of gaining traction in the human rights jungle, they of course managed to step on quite a few toes. The list of countries that are or have been very critical is headed by Israel, followed by the “Democratic” Republic of the Congo, The People’s Republic of China, North Vietnam, Russia, and surprise, the USA, which has the largest percentage of its population imprisoned of any nation, many of them incarcerated because of the US’ other woefully unsuccessful war, the one against drugs. (Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign was launched nearly thirty years ago – and that really worked like a charm!)
Naturally, in the pursuit of human rights, AI was bound to cause controversy and face accusations of bias by the various factions that were being expose to the light of day for their abuses, both physical and psychological, and many have gone out of their way to hurl all kinds of accusations against the organization, but overall, the organization has brought an awareness of abuse by dictators and despots, as well as democratically elected governments.
Today, AI is very busy, leading campaigns that focus on human rights abuses that keep people poor, human rights and national security, international justice, the death penalty, violence against women, the arms trade, and the specific individuals throughout the world who are at risk of human rights abuses.
To that I say, Thank You Amnesty International. Job well done! Keep it up, and happy 50th birthday!
please visit Amnesty International
Jamie Douglas
San Rafael, Mendoza
Where the Malbec Wine is Always Fine!
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Yes, and unfortunately, there is always much work for them to do. But they know how to take a long view of history and do good things. Even if they are just little steps, they still make a difference.
ReplyDeleteJulie