Amnesty International

Human-rights organization established in 1961. Amnesty International campaigns internationally against the detention of prisoners of conscience, for the fair trial of political prisoners, to abolish the death penalty and torture of prisoners, and to end extrajudicial executions and "disappearances" throughout the world. It was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 for having aided in the release of more than 10,000 political prisoners worldwide. In 1998, the organization had over a million members worldwide.