The Truth Will Set You Free: The Making of Amnesty International
Author(s)
Buchanan, Tom
Abstract
Peter Benenson, a lawyer and a convert to Catholicism, launched Amnesty International on May 28, 1961, with the announcement of a campaign on behalf of the world’s “prisoners of conscience.” Benenson’s religious beliefs motivated him, as did the growing international recognition of political imprisonment and abuse of human rights. The response to his announcement was immediate and far-reaching. It quickly became the basis for a permanent organization. Amnesty International grew rapidly in Britain, where Benenson’s peers in the legal profession were joined by social and legal activists. They combined with a cadre of volunteers to establish an important and influential organization.
