Is Amnesty International Active in Canada?

Amnesty International was founded in 1961 by British lawyer Peter Benenson. He became angry after reading a report about two Portuguese students who had been imprisoned for raising their glasses in a toast to freedom.

In response, Benenson published an article - called “The Forgotten Prisoners” - on the front page of the London Observer newspaper on May 28, 1961.

The article cast the light of public attention on the situation of a number of people - including a U.S. civil rights leader, a dissident Hungarian cardinal and an Angolan poet. Each of these people were in prison simply for peacefully expressing their beliefs.

Benenson argued that the treatment of these “prisoners of conscience” was wrong, and he called on concerned members of the public to demand their release. The public response was quick, widespread and enthusiastic. Thousands of people, from London to Uruguay, from nurses to children, offered their help. Amnesty International was born.

> Learn more about Amnesty International’s history.

Is Amnesty International active in Canada?

Canadian Amnesty supporters launched Amnesty International Canada in 1973. Our first president, Dr. John Humphrey, was a leading author of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. > Learn more about the history of Amnesty International Canada.

Today we have more that 67,000 members and thousands more active supporters in communities, schools and networks across the country. These members work in partnership with some 50 staff and many wonderful volunteers based in our national office in Ottawa and our regional offices in Toronto and Vancouver.

Our Youth and Student Program is the largest and most dynamic human rights program for youth activists in Canada today. Our Urgent Action Network is one of the foremost in the movement.

The work of Amnesty International Canada is based on the mission of our global movement. Within this mission, we give priority to specific human rights issues. This allows us to take advantage of strengths and opportunities we have in Canada to build respect for human rights here and around the world.