"Amnesty International is a worldwide voluntary movement of people who campaign for human rights."

With over 1.8 million members in 150 different countries, Amnesty is a unique organization covering a variety of information, kinds of abuses, and ways to act against the most destructive forces of human dignity. Anything from child labor issues to political war games in third world nations, Amnesty stands independent to ensure the rights of people are upheld to the high value of human life in whatever form it takes.

A majority of issues covered by amnesty include the following:

• to free all prisoners of conscience

• to ensure a prompt and fair trial for all political prisoners

• to abolish the death penalty, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

•  to end extrajudicial executions and "disappearances"

How does this organization work?

It is actually not that complex. Local meetings get the gears turning, with each school and each chapter the group has more say, and more people to petition. By writing letters, forming fund raisers, and attending functions that Amnesty has either locally or abroad, the more influence and effort makes more effect. Specialists and professionals in foreign lands talk to victims, read documents, and discover new members or causes to commit. Overall the best thing done is on the ground level, where we write letters of appeal, inform the masses about pressing and controversial issues of abuse. With a self governing, democratic body Amnesty International is neutral to any political, economical, or religious/philosophical work.

As such, it is funded by fundraisers, memberships, and donations made by the public. Members and allied informants include a variety of people from intergovernmental figures, scholars, journalists, other human rights groups, and governmental bodies. Lawyers and average people also support Amnesty, both in information and participation. Widely known or recorded war atrocities are also open game for complaints.
 

Much of the information is approved before being released, however there is always unproven allegations or accusations. Many countries that perform these acts are "closed" to other countries, for an obvious reason, and refugees or media may be the relied source. A massive number of people "disappear" in these lands, and just as many are silenced by threats, deaths, or out of fear.