THE HISTORY OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
The organisation was launched in 1961 by Peter Benenson, a British lawyer, after reading about two Portuguese students who had been sentenced to seven years in prison for raising their glasses in a toast to freedom.His newspaper appeal, "The Forgotten Prisoners", was published worldwide on 28th May 1961 and brought in more than 1,000 offers of support for the idea of an international campaign to protect human rights. Within 12 months the new organisation had sent delegations to four countries to make representations on behalf of prisoners, had taken up 210 cases, and had organised national branches in seven countries.From the beginning, the principles of strict impartiality and independence were established. Amnesty members were to act on cases worldwide, but not become involved in cases in their own countries and the emphasis was on the international protection of human rights.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL STRUCTURE
From a small group of volunteers in a tiny office in London, we have now become the world's largest international voluntary organisation dealing with human rights.We have more than one million members and supporters in more than one hundred and forty countries and territories. We have nationally-organised sections in 55 countries. We also have more than 7,500 local Amnesty International groups.We have democratic decision-making structures. Under the Secretary General (currently Irene Khan) our organisation is governed by an International Executive Committee. This consists of eight volunteer members (elected by an International Council of representatives from around the world) and an elected member of the International Secretariat.Situated in London, the International Secretariat is our research headquarters with more than 320 paid staff and over 100 volunteers from over 50 countries. How effective we are depends on our reputation, so it is essential that our research is detailed and accurate. Before we take any action, we carefully check any information we have been given. We also examine the reliability of our sources. Our research is carried out by expert staff who are supported by specialists who work in a range of fields such as law, medicine, media and technology. Our research is recognised as very reliable, and we are often consulted by scholars, journalists, governments, and organisations who are looking for information on human rights violations.

FACTS AND FIGURES: THE WORK OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
This facts and figures document gives an overview of the work of Amnesty International generally and in 2001

Amnesty International's mission is to undertake research and action focussed on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all human rights.
The organization opposes abuses by opposition groups, including hostage-taking, torture and killings of prisoners and other deliberate and arbitrary killings; assists asylum-seekers who are at risk of being returned to a country where they will be at risk of violations of basic and fundamental human rights; cooperates with other non-governmental organisation (NGO), with the United Nations (UN) and with regional intergovernmental organizations; ensures control of international military, security and police relations; organises human rights education and awareness-raising programs.

Amnesty International today
Today the organization has more than one million members, subscribers and regular donors in more than 140 countries. Its nerve centre is the International Secretariat in London, with more than 350 staff members and over 100 volunteers from more than 50 countries around the world.

The AI movement consists of more than 7,800 local, youth, specialist and professional groups in more than 100 countries and territories. There are nationally organized sections in 56 countries, and pre-section coordinating structures in another 24 countries and territories worldwide.

Amnesty International is a democratic movement, self-governed by a nine-member International Executive Committee (IEC) whose members are elected every two years by an International Council representing sections.

Campaigning for Human Rights

During 2001, Amnesty International delegates visited dozens of countries and territories to meet victims of human rights violations, observe trials, and interview local human rights activists and officials.
Amnesty International members, supporters and staff around the world mobilize public opinion to put pressure on governments and others with influence to stop human rights abuses. Activities range from public demonstrations to letter-writing, from human rights education to fundraising concerts, from approaches to local authorities to lobbying intergovernmental organisations, from targeted appeals on behalf of a single individual to global campaigns on a specific country or issue.
Each year, Amnesty International members from around the world join forces to campaign on one country or on a particular human rights issue. These major campaigns involve reporting on human rights issues, lobbying governments, and working closely with local human rights activists and other community organizations to achieve change.

"Take a step to stamp out torture"
Intensive work continued on AI's worldwide Campaign Against Torture. Throughout 2001, AI campaigned against the torture and ill-treatment of women, children, ethnic minorities, lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Four countries ratified the UN Convention against Torture during the year, and a number of government leaders and officials made commitments to adopt legislation to prevent torture in their countries.
By the end of the year, over 35,000 people from 188 countries signed up on the torture campaign website, www.stoptorture.org, to take action on urgent cases by sending e-mail appeals.

Working for individuals
During 2001, AI's local groups and networks worked on behalf of 2,813 named victims of human rights violations.

AI's Urgent Action Network received 408 actions on behalf of people in 81 countries and territories who were either at risk or had suffered human rights violations including torture, "disappearance", the death penalty, death in custody, or forcible return to countries where they would be in danger of human rights violations. Of these urgent actions, 117 resulted in good news about the case. The Urgent Action Network is made up of more than 80,000 volunteers in some 85 countries.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SPECIALIST NETWORKS
Highlights:

-The Lawyers' Network continued its work as one of more than 1,000 non-governmental organization members of the Coalition for an International Criminal Court, campaigning for states to sign and ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and enact effective implementing legislation. More than 60 countries have now ratified the Rome Statute, triggering the establishment of the International Criminal Court on 5 February 2002.

-The Military Security and Police (MSP) Network continued to campaign for effective controls on the transfer of arms and security assistance in order to prevent these being used for human rights abuses. The network campaigned for suspension of electro-shock weapons.

- The Company Approaches Network worked with other NGOs to successfully campaign for controls on the international diamond trade. Profits from the diamond trade are used to purchase weapons which contribute to human rights abuses in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone. Governments have made progress in agreeing to an international diamond certification system. The network continues to work with companies to help them develop policies which incorporate human rights standards.

- The Children's Network lobbied states to ratify the Optional Protocol to the UN Children's Convention on the involvement of children in armed conflict. On 12 November, New Zealand became the 10th state to ratify the Protocol, thus allowing it to enter into force on 12 February 2002.

- The Women's Network and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Network campaigned around two major reports: Broken bodies, shattered minds: Torture and ill-treatment of women and Crimes of hate, conspiracy of silence: Torture and ill-treatment based on sexual identity.

- The Medical Network consists of doctors, nurses, psychologists and other health professionals in more than 30 countries around the world. The network acted on over 50 actions, including on behalf of ill prisoners who have been refused access to medical care, or health professionals who have been harassed by the authorities for providing treatment to opponents of the government.

AI's website contains more than 20,000 files and is visited by over 10,000 people daily from all over the world. It features a library of AI reports (since 1996), press releases, information on the latest campaigns and appeals for action, and details of AI offices worldwide.
During 2001, the site featured more than 100 appeals on behalf of individuals, as well as campaigns on torture, the arms trade, gender, human rights related legislation, and action following the attacks in the USA on 11 September (http://www.amnesty.org/actnow/).
In the run-up to Human Rights Day on 10 December, an online petition urging governments around the world to "act now" for human rights was signed by more than 10,000 people. Throughout the year, more than 120,000 e-mails were sent to various governments as part of AI's "stop torture" campaign.

AI also has websites in French (http://www.efai.org), Spanish , and Arabic (http://www.amnesty-arabic.org).

THE CONTINUING CHALLENGE
AI's Annual Report 2002 details human rights violations in 2001. It records:
    -Confirmed or possible extrajudicial executions in 47 countries in 2001.
    -People "disappeared" or remained "disappeared" from previous years in 35 countries.
    -People reportedly tortured or ill-treated by security forces, police or other state authorities in 111 countries.
    -Confirmed or possible prisoners of conscience in 56 countries.
    -People arbitrarily arrested and detained, or in detention without charge or trial in 54 countries.
    -During 2001, people were sentenced to death in 50 countries and executions were carried out in at least 27 countries. These figures include only cases known to Amnesty International; the true figures are certainly higher.
    -Serious human rights abuses by armed opposition groups committed serious human rights abuses, such as deliberate and arbitrary killings of civilians, torture and hostage-taking, in 42 countries.

THE MONEY

No funds are sought or accepted from governments for AI's work investigating and campaigning against human rights violations. The hundreds of thousands of donations come from the pockets of its members, the public, and organizations such as trusts, foundations and ethical companies.

The international budget is spent on professional research into human rights violations worldwide, on delegations that observe trials and make representations to governments, and on the movement's international public information, campaigning and development activities.

During the financial year 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 the international budget adopted by Amnesty International was ,20,940,000 (including contingency) spent in the following areas:

  In addition, relief payments to victims of human rights violations and their families totalled ,110,000 during the same period.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL WORKS
Many people ask 'Does Amnesty International's work really help?' We have a record of real achievement. We know this because the people we have been trying to help say that our pressure has had an effect. However, we do not claim that our letters and publicity are the only reasons for cases being closed. Often, other factors such as political change, economic pressure, or the campaigning of other activists working independently, are the reasons for more humane behaviour on the part of governments. Some of these have been legal changes, leading to people's rights being better protected, like the 1984 UN Convention against Torture, which we campaigned for. Some have been changes in policy, which we also campaigned for, like the abolition of the death penalty in the UK and many other countries. To bring to justice those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, we campaigned for an international criminal court, which 120 nations agreed to set up in 1998. Our contribution to human rights has been recognised internationally and we have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1977) and the United Nations Human Rights Prize (1978).But the most powerful proof of Amnesty International's effectiveness is the words of the people we've helped....


CASE STUDIES
Armenia
Rafik Tonoian    Armenian conscientious objectors to military service - Rafik Tonoian and Karen Yegoian - were released before they had served their full prison terms. Rafik Tonoian was released at the end of May 2001; Karen Yegoian was released under an amnesty in July 2001, possibly as a result of international pressure. Apparently the Armenian authorities received more than 1000 appeals on behalf of Rafik Tonoian and Karen Yegoian. It seems that these were mainly generated by the appeal which was published in the June 2001 issue of AI's The Wire.

Tajikistan - Russian Federation
Dodojon Atovulloyev    Tajik journalist in exile, Dodojon Atovulloyev, was released by the Russian authorities despite an extradition request by Tajikistan. He told AI that it was like a miracle that he was released. Pressure by the international community, including by AI had made all the difference. He urged AI members to carry on with their work and said we mustn't underestimate the impact it can have on the situation of a prisoner who might otherwise be lost.

Uzbekistan
Marat Rakhmanov    Marat Rakhmanov's death sentence was commuted to 15 years' imprisonment by the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan on 24 April 2001.According to his lawyer, Marat Rakhmanov was severely beaten by police while he was in custody awaiting trial, and confessed only after being tortured. To AI's knowledge, the authorities have done nothing to investigate these allegations.Marat Rakhmanov's sister, Mayra, told AI:"They took him out of prison and didn't tell him anything. He thought he was taken to be shot. Only once he had arrived in the colony in Namangan, the other prisoners told him where he was and he understood that he might have been granted clemency... He said, 'I feel as if I was born a second time'."In June, Mayra sent the following message:"Your help has been priceless and our gratitude to you is immense. You helped to preserve my brother's life. We wish you good health and success in your difficult, but necessary struggle. We thank God that in such difficult and frightening times we received the support of such wonderful people. We are eternally indebted to you because life has no price."


Russian Federation
Two Chechen women 'disappear'

Masked Russian soldiers seized Aset Yakhiaeva and Milana Betirgirieva during a raid on a house in Serzhen Yurt in the early hours of 9 November 2001. The soldiers also threatened to rape and kill five girls who were sleeping in another room of the house. The two women were staying in the village to help with preparations for the wedding of a neighbour's daughter. Neither has been seen since. Following the "disappearance" of the two women, some of the young girls fled to Ingushetia.
According to witnesses, the soldiers cut the electricity to the house. When the terrified girls began to cry, the soldiers threatened to shoot them if they did not keep quiet. The soldiers shone torches into the girls' faces and discussed which were the prettier ones. They then threatened to rape them. One of the girls told AI that an officer entered the room and ordered the soldiers not to touch them. The soldiers then searched the house, demanding money and threatening to kill the girls.
After the soldiers left, the girls went to the room in which Aset Yakhiaeva and Milana Betirgirieva had been sleeping. The room was empty. In the street, the girls found some of the women's clothes, including Milana Betirgirieva's skirt and a blouse. There has been no further information as to the fate and whereabouts of the two women.
The manner in which Aset Yakhiaeva and Milana Betirgirieva were apparently taken away is consistent with other reported incidents where people have been detained by Russian forces.
Following appeals to the Russian authorities, AI was informed in March 2002 that the Chechen military procuracy would look into the case. However, there has been no further information about the fate of the two women.
Please write, urging the authorities to initiate immediately a criminal investigation into the "disappearance" of Aset Yakhiaeva and Milana Betirgirieva, and to bring those responsible to justice in a court of law.

Justice for all in Russia

The so-called `war on terrorism' is now in its second year. Human rights are under threat in many parts of the world. And Amnesty International has embarked on its first campaign to expose human rights abuses in Russia, a major partner in the post-11 September coalition. The Russian Federation is in transition. Dramatic political and economic changes have profoundly affected the country's 144 million people. The human rights landscape has been transformed since the 1970s, but the Russian government allows serious and widespread human rights violations to continue. Women, children and ethnic minorities are particularly vulnerable. And those responsible for human rights abuses are rarely held to account for their crimes. Take ActionThings you can do - both online and offline - to help improve human rights in Russia. Prisoner of Conscience Grigory Pasko has been released - further information is available online.

addit.: Universal Declaration of Human Rights