What is Amnesty International?

What does Amnesty International do? 

Prisoners of conscience 

• What does Amnesty International do for such prisoners?
• What happens when Amnesty International is uncertain about the grounds for a person's imprisonment? 
• Whom does Amnesty International regard as a prisoner? 
• What does Amnesty International do in cases where politically motivated prisoners have used or advocated violence? 
• How does Amnesty International regard conscientious objectors to military service?
• What does Amnesty International do for people who have tried unsuccessfully to leave their own country? 

• How does Amnesty International use the term political prisoner? 
• Does Amnesty International call for special status for political prisoners? 
• What does Amnesty International do in response to political trials and cases of imprisonment without trial? 
• What is the standard for assessing fair trials? 
• If a political prisoner has been convicted after a fair trial, is that the end of Amnesty International's concerns? 

• Does Amnesty International make a distinction between "torture" and "cruel, Inhuman or degrading" treatment?
• What does Amnesty International do about prison conditions?

"Disappearances" and Political Killings by Governments 

• Does Amnesty International act in all cases where deaths occur? 

• To whom does Amnesty International distribute relief? 
• Does Amnesty International help released prisoners? 
• How does Amnesty International send relief? 
• Does Amnesty International act in refugee cases? 
• What is Amnesty International's stand on prisoner exchanges? 

These abuses - taking place in countries of widely differing ideologies - demand an international response. The protection of human rights is an international responsibility, transcending the boundaries of nations and ideologies. This is the fundamental belief upon which the work of Amnesty International, an independent worldwide voluntary movement, is based.  

Amnesty International has an active worldwide membership with more than 1,100,000 individual members, subscribers and supporters in over 160 countries and territories. The movement is open to anyone who supports its goals.  

The work is impartial. Amnesty International is concerned solely with the protection of human rights involved in each case, regardless of either the ideology of the government or the beliefs of the victims.  

Amnesty International attaches great importance to impartial and accurate reporting of facts. Its Research Department collects and analyses information from a wide variety of sources. These include hundreds of newspapers and journals, government bulletins, transcripts of radio broadcasts and reports from lawyers and humanitarian organizations. Information also comes in from prisoners and their families, refugee centres, religious bodies, journalists and other people with first-hand experience. In addition, Amnesty International sends fact-finding missions for on-the-spot investigations and to observe trials, meet prisoners and interview government officials.  

The Amnesty International movement is run democratically. It is funded by donations from its members and supporters around the world. Its supreme governing body is an International Council of elected delegates from its sections in the various countries. The Statute of Amnesty International - which defines the organization's work and structure - can be altered only by a two-thirds majority at the International Council. The first article of this Statute sets out the objects of Amnesty International: the release of all prisoners of conscience, fair and prompt trials for all political prisoners, an end to torture and executions. These goals define the scope of Amnesty International's work and are commonly referred to as the organization's "mandate".  

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Amnesty's scope or mandate. It is hoped that by giving a clear picture of this mandate, more and more people, as well as governments and other institutions, will develop a greater understanding of the role of Amnesty International in the international protection of human rights.  

- It seeks the release of prisoners of conscience. These are people detained anywhere for their beliefs, color, ethnic origin, language or religion, who have not used or advocated violence.  

- It works for fair and prompt trials for all political prisoners and on behalf of such people detained without charge or trial.  

- It opposes the death penalty and torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of all prisoners without reservation.  

Amnesty International's work is based on principles set forth in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The rights proclaimed by the declaration apply to all people. They have been incorporated into many countries' constitutions and laws and have been further elaborated in other human rights standards adopted by the United Nations.  

These universal rights include the right to freedom of expression, conscience and religion; the right to freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention; the right to a fair trial; the right to life, liberty and security of person; the right not to be tortured. Amnesty International works to protect these rights by its efforts to secure the release of prisoners of conscience, fair and prompt trials in political cases and an end to torture and executions.  

By concentrating on a specific program in the human rights field, Amnesty International does not imply that the rights it does not deal with are less important. Amnesty International is convinced of the indivisibility and mutual dependence of all human rights. The movement concentrates on its own defined area in order to be as effective as possible and to put its limited resources to the most efficient use. Amnesty International therefore takes up only those cases that fall within its object, as set out in its Statute. This object is commonly referred to as Amnesty International's "mandate".  

Prisoners of conscience are held by governments in all regions of the world; in countries with diverse political and social systems. Some prisoners of conscience are held for actions undertaken as individuals; others are part of a group or movement. Some have spoken in direct opposition to the government in power or the established system or government; others have taken care to work within their countries' political system but have been imprisoned for their beliefs or peaceful activities nonetheless.  

What does Amnesty International do for such prisoners?  

The detention of any prisoner of conscience violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Amnesty International works for the immediate and unconditional release of ALL prisoners of conscience.  

When the facts show that individuals are prisoners of conscience, the cases are usually allocated to one or more of the movement's groups around the world. The groups - comprising local Amnesty International members - study the background to the cases and then begin writing to the responsible authorities, appealing for the prisoners' immediate and unconditional release.  

Letter after letter goes out to cabinet ministers and prison officials. The members try to get publicity in the local press about the prisoner they are working to free. They go to the foreign embassy or trade delegation in their country. They get prominent people to sign appeals. If they can contact the prisoner's family, they may send relief parcels and correspond with the prisoner.  

For every prisoner of conscience whose case becomes known, there are many more who are unknown; and even those who gain wide publicity tend to be forgotten over time. Amnesty International aims to give attention to all the forgotten prisoners, to ensure that they remain a public concern and that they are cared for individually, while the efforts to free them are underway.  

What happens when Amnesty International is uncertain about the grounds for a person's imprisonment?  

When Amnesty International does not have enough information to be certain about the reasons for imprisonment, but where there are grounds to believe that the individual might be a prisoner of conscience, the case is taken up for investigation. The case is usually assigned to a group which is asked to write to the authorities to obtain further details, such as where the prisoner is held, what charges are faced, and what is the evidence against the prisoner. If such prisoners are being held without charge or trial, Amnesty International may urge that they either be charged and given a fair trial or released. Only if it is clear that a case can be treated as that of a prisoner of conscience, however, does Amnesty International "adopt" the prisoner and call unconditionally for his or her immediate release.  

Whom does Amnesty International regard as a prisoner?  

Many people are persecuted in ways that do not involve imprisonment or similar physical restrictions. They may be fired from their jobs, have their telephones cut off or correspondence intercepted, be summoned for frequent police questioning or be threatened with other reprisals.  

Amnesty International, however, concentrates on people who have been jailed or otherwise forcibly restricted; people in prison, people in official custody and detention centres, people under strict house arrest or confined to a village, or others whose freedom of movement has been so severely restricted as to amount to a form of detention. For this reason, Amnesty International's mandate is often described as "prisoner-oriented".  

What does Amnesty International do in cases where politically motivated prisoners have used or advocated violence?  

Amnesty International takes no position on the question of violence. It does not identify itself with any of the parties to any conflict, violent or non-violent, nor does it presume to judge in any situation whether recourse to violence is justified or not. It deliberately restricts itself to working for the protection of the human rights that fall within its mandate and does not comment or act on issues that fall outside those terms of reference.  

It opposes the torture and execution of all prisoners and advocates fair and prompt trials for all political prisoners, regardless of whether they are accused of using or advocating violence. However, Amnesty International seeks the immediate and unconditional release only of individuals imprisoned for the exercise of their human rights, whose imprisonment cannot be reasonably attributed to the use or advocacy of violence. In these cases, the detention violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  

The human rights violations against which Amnesty International works sometimes take place in a context of violence. This may take various forms: confrontation between government and opposition groups which engage in terrorist acts, civil war, international war.  

Amnesty International's mandate applies in these circumstances as in any other. A context of violence does not justify taking prisoners of conscience or the practice of torture or execution of prisoners. This is an important standard. The existence of a context of violence is often taken as justification for a more permissible attitude towards human rights violations - the arrest of people on account of their beliefs or origins, the torture of prisoners or the use of the death penalty. Indeed, in times of violence prisoners are particularly vulnerable to such violations, and international standards and protection work become especially important at such times.  

Governments often falsely accuse people of having been involved in violence when in fact they are imprisoned solely on account of their non-violent exercise of their human rights. Indeed, the accusation that dissenters have been involved in violence is one of the arguments most frequently used by governments in response to expressions of concern about prisoners of conscience.  

On the basis of its careful research Amnesty International makes its own assessment of the facts in each case. It is not bound to accept the assertion of a government, the interpretation of a court, or the claim of a prisoner, as to whether an individual has used or advocated violence. The fact that a prisoner has been convicted of breaking the law or belongs to an organization whose aims call for the use of violence, does not in itself preclude an individual from being considered a prisoner of conscience. Amnesty International takes up each case on its own merits.  

How does Amnesty International regard conscientious objectors to military service?  

A conscientious objector is understood to be a person liable to conscription for military service who, for reasons of conscience or profound conviction arising from religious, ethical, moral, humanitarian, philosophical, political or similar motives refuses to perform armed service or participate directly or indirectly in wars or armed conflicts.  

Amnesty International considers such a person a prisoner of conscience if his or her imprisonment arises from any of the following:  

- the legal code of a country does not contain provisions for the recognition of conscientious objection and for a person to register his or her objection at a specific time.  

- a person is refused the right to register his or her objection;  

- the authorities' recognition of conscientious objection is so restricted that only some and not all of the above grounds of conscience are acceptable;  

- a person does not have the right to claim conscientious objection after being conscripted into the armed forces;  

- he or she is imprisoned for leaving the armed forces without authorization for reasons of conscience developed after being conscripted if he or she has tried to secure his or her release by lawful means or if he or she did not use those means because he or she had been deprived of reasonable access to the knowledge of them;  

- there is no right to service outside the "war machine";  

- the length of the alternative service can be seen as a punishment for conscientious objection.  

A person who is not willing to state the reason for his or her refusal to perform military service is not adopted as a prisoner of conscience, unless it can be inferred from all the circumstances of the case that the refusal is based on conscientious objection. Nor is someone considered a prisoner of conscience if he or she is offered and refuses comparable alternative service outside the "war machine".  

What does Amnesty International do for people who try unsuccessfully to leave their own country?  

The right to leave one's own country is recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Amnesty International adopts as prisoners of conscience people who have been imprisoned for trying to exercise this right when their motives for wanting to leave their country are linked to their political views, religious beliefs or their origins, or can be assumed to be. In cases where detailed information is not available at the time of arrest, Amnesty International draws its own conclusions from all the circumstances and takes into account the established behavior of the authorities and would-be emigrants in the country concerned, particularly where such people are commonly imprisoned for seeking their right to emigrate.  

Amnesty International opposes the detention of any political prisoner without a trial within a reasonable time. It has called on various governments to end administrative internment and other procedures that allow for prolonged political detention without trial.  

Amnesty International also opposes trial procedures in political cases that do not conform to internationally agreed standards. For example, secret trials take place. Sometimes they are nominally public, but only those selected by the authorities are allowed to attend. Prisoners are denied a defense lawyer of their choice- or the defense is not allowed to call witnesses or present evidence. Cases are heard by special tribunals and military courts whose composition is incompatible with an impartial hearing or whose procedures fall short of those in ordinary courts.  

How does Amnesty International use the term "political prisoner"?  

Amnesty International uses a broad interpretation of the term "political prisoner" so as to cover all cases with a significant political element. The offense itself may be of a clearly political nature, such as belonging to a banned political party. In other cases, however, a person may be charged with an ordinary crime, but the context in which it is said to have been committed is political, such as a political demonstration. Or it is possible that the accused person may have committed a criminal offense, but for political motives. In other cases, the authorities may be holding a prisoner for political reasons, even though the individual is said to be suspected of a criminal offense. False criminal charges may be brought against political activists (the charges could be currency offenses. for example), when the real reason is to punish them for their political activities- or to deter others from opposing the government. In all cases there would be a political element to be considered.  

It is important to bear in mind that Amnesty International applies this broad interpretation in assessing political trials and the cases of political prisoners. Apparent contradictions between Amnesty International and governments do arise because each uses such terms in its own way. Some governments say they hold no political prisoners, only criminals or criminal suspects, because all its prisoners are charged or convicted under the normal criminal law. Amnesty International, however, may still speak of "political imprisonment" or "political trials" in such a country if the cases have a political element of any of the sorts described above.  

It is important to note that Amnesty International does not oppose political imprisonment as such or ask for the release of all political prisoners. Amnesty International needs to establish whether there is a political element in a particular case solely for the purpose of determining whether it falls within the scope of the organization's concern about fair and prompt trials for political prisoners.  

The specific category "prisoner of conscience" is distinguished form the general one "political prisoner" in the following important respects. Prisoners of conscience are precisely defined by Amnesty International's Statute as those held "by reason of their political, religious or other conscientiously held beliefs or by reason of their ethnic origin, sex, color or language". The category "prisoner of conscience" does not include those whose imprisonment may reasonably be attributed to their having used or advocated violence.  

A crucial difference to bear in mind is that whereas in the case of all political prisoners Amnesty International seeks fair and prompt trials, it is only in the cases of prisoners of conscience that Amnesty International says that the individuals should not be in prison at all and asks for their release.  

Does Amnesty International call for special status for political prisoners? Amnesty International does not call for special status for particular groups of prisoners or call on governments to give political prisoners special conditions. Governments are obliged to treat all prisoners humanely. Where there are allegations of torture or ill-treatment or where the death sentence has been imposed, the case comes within those concerns of Amnesty International that apply to all prisoners: opposition to torture and executions. Where the existence of prisoners of conscience has been confirmed, Amnesty International works for their unqualified, immediate release.  

What does Amnesty International do in response to political trials and cases of imprisonment without trial?  

Amnesty International investigates such cases to determine whether the individuals are prisoners of conscience. It may send observers to trials and examine laws and procedures that permit unfair trials in political cases or imprisonment without trial. If prisoners are not eligible for adoption as prisoners of conscience, their cases may be assigned to groups which are asked to urge that the prisoner's right to a fair trial within a reasonable time be respected.  

Where Amnesty International has enough information to conclude that detainees are prisoners of conscience it demands their release. In other cases of political imprisonment Amnesty International may urge the prisoners be given a fair trial or else released, or may call for a review of the cases, either by established judicial procedures or by an independent review body. It recommends legislative improvements or urges that existing laws that do offer protection be respected.  

However, if the person has been imprisoned solely for criminal acts (such as traffic offenses, theft or murder) and if there are no grounds to believe that either the crime or the imprisonment were politically motivated, the case does not fall within Amnesty International's mandate. For this reason Amnesty International does not take action even if there are allegations that there may have been miscarriages of justice in such cases. Nor does it seek the release of people convicted of such crimes. Of course, if the prisoner has been tortured or sentenced to death, the case does come within those concerns of Amnesty International that apply to all prisoners: opposition to torture and executions.  

What are the standards for assessing trials?  

Among the many factors to be taken into account in analyzing the fairness of a trial are the following, based on internationally agreed upon human rights standards and Amnesty International's own experience. Even if these standards have been violated to an extent that justifies the assessment that a trial was unfair, that does not demonstrate the innocence any more than a conviction demonstrates guilt.  

- All proceedings should conform to established national or international requirements for the protection of human rights, such as those stipulated, for example, in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  

- Those entrusted with applying and interpreting the law, making judgments and passing sentence must be manifestly independent of other governmental authorities, particularly those bringing charges. They must be protected from improper pressures in the fulfillment of their functions. The competence, incorruptibility and impartiality of judges must be ensured. Judges should have legal training. The bringing of civilians before military courts may constitute grounds for particular concern.  

Any deprivation of liberty must be on specified grounds, made known to the person at the time of arrest. He or she must be promptly informed of any charges against him or her and brought before a judge or other officer authorized by law to exercise judicial power.  

- The accused should have speedy and sufficient access to independent legal advice and representation, normally in the form of counsel of choice- free, or appropriately subsidized, according to each defendant's means.  

- The general rule should be that people awaiting trial are not detained in custody. Defendants, or their representatives, should be able to challenge the legality of any pre-trial detention before a judge or other appropriate, independent and impartial authority.  

- People in custody should have access to family, legal counsel and independent medical attention. Correspondence and communication should not be restricted beyond what is necessary for the administration of justice and the security of the custodial institution.  

- No one must be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.  

- Charges should not relate to acts or omissions that were lawful when they took place. Where procedures such as the creation of special tribunals or new rules of evidence are introduced retroactively, there can be a risk of injustice. Nor should penalties be more severe than those provided for at the time the offense was committed.  

- Trials must take place within a reasonable time of the defendant's first being brought before a judge and should normally be in public.  

- A defendant must be presumed innocent until proved guilty. There must be no compulsion to declare guilt or to testify against oneself. No statement so compelled should be admissible in court.  

- A defendant must have the right to a proper defense, to summon and examine witnesses, and to conduct proceedings for the defense under the same conditions as apply to the procesution.  

- Convictions and sentences must be open to review by a higher court. (Amnesty International would expect such a review to include full rights of representation and not be a mere consideration of the trial dossier.) In cases involving the death penalty, there must be a right to petition for pardon, commutation or reprieve. Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases, but stresses the importance of all procedures that enable the courts or other authorities to reconsider the sentence.  

If a political prisoner has been convicted after a fair trial, is that the end of Amnesty International's concerns?  

If the prisoner has been sent to prison under a law that Amnesty International considers to be in violation of international human rights standards, it may consider the person for adoption as a prisoner of conscience. In such cases Amnesty International must be able to determine that the person has been imprisoned by reason of his or her political, religious or other conscientiously-held beliefs or by reason of their ethnic origin, sex, color or language, provided that he or she has not used or advocated violence.  

Amnesty International may still need to take action about allegations of torture. If the prisoner faces execution, Amnesty International will oppose this - in line with its general stand against the death penalty.  

Amnesty International opposes torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of all prisoners without reservation. It calls on governments to implement the provisions of the United Nations Declarations on the Protection of All Persons from Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. This declaration includes a universal ban against torture and stipulates that governments are responsible for investigating torture allegations, instituting criminal proceedings in torture cases and compensating the victims. Work is also underway to promote international mechanisms to prevent torture, such as independent international inspection of detention centres. Amnesty International has launched a 12-Point Program for the Prevention of Torture.  

Torture is a fundamental violation of human rights, condemned by the General Assembly of the United Nations as an offense to human dignity and prohibited under national and international law.  

Yet torture persists, daily and across the globe. In Amnesty International's experience, legislative prohibition is not enough. Immediate steps are needed to confront torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment wherever they occur and to eradicate them totally.  

Whenever there are substantial fears that a prisoner may be tortured immediate appeals can be sent to the authorities. Officials may be urged to guarantee the prisoner's safety, allow access by lawyers and relatives and provide medical care. Doctors may be included in Amnesty International missions in order to help investigate torture allegations by interviewing prisoners or former prisoners. Aftercare and rehabilitation for torture victims is another concern of Amnesty International, once such people are released from custody.  

Does Amnesty International make a distinction between "torture" and "cruel, inhuman or degrading" treatment?  

Amnesty International opposes both "torture" and other "cruel, inhuman or degrading" treatment of prisoners. Both are specifically prohibited, without exception, in international law.  

"Torture" is defined in the United Nations Declaration against torture as follows:  

1. For the purpose of this Declaration, torture means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted by or at the instigation of a public official or a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or her or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating him or other persons. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or accidental to, lawful sanctions to the extent consistent with the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.  

2. Torture constitutes an aggravated and deliberate form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.  

Amnesty International tries to act against torture in all individual cases where it has reliable information and where it is possible to do so in a practical way. It works against cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment only where the practice constitutes a pattern- individual cases are taken up as a means of illustrating general problems and contributing to the setting of improved standards for the treatment of prisoners. In the cases of prisoners of conscience Amnesty International's approach is broader. Since the organization opposes their imprisonment, it criticizes any aspect of their treatment or conditions that imposes additional hardship on them.  

The pain and suffering experienced by prisoners need not only result from deliberate force inflicted on them. For example, Amnesty International has taken up the cases of detainees suffering from acute medical conditions requiring treatment who have been systematically deprived of care in order to punish them or force a confession from them.  

In deciding whether a particular instance or pattern of treatment comes within Amnesty International's field of action, the organization considers the following questions, among others:  

- Is the practice prohibited by international standards such as the United Nations Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners? (For example, keeping prisoners in darkened cells is forbidden.)  

- Is the treatment or punishment applied for prolonged periods or repeatedly in such a way as to cause severe pain or suffering to the individual prisoners? (For example, solitary confinement, deprivation of exercise or use of handcuffs may be permissible for short periods but once prolonged may become cruel treatment, regardless of the authorities' intentions.)  

- Does the treatment cause mental or physical damage to the prisoners?  

- Is a particular procedure or set of prison conditions deliberately used by the authorities to inflict suffering? In seeking to assess this, Amnesty International pays attention to whether or not particular prisoners are intentionally discriminated against, or whether there is other evidence of intent to inflict suffering. It may, however, regard a policy of negligence, even in the absence of evidence of intention to inflict suffering, as amounting to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.  

What does Amnesty International do about prison conditions?  

Amnesty International is not a penal reform organization, nor does it seek to duplicate the efforts of other bodies more specifically concerned with prison inspection. In the course of its regular work, however, it frequently asks that prisoners be held in proper conditions as set forth in the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. In the case of prisoners of conscience, whom Amnesty International believes should be immediately and unconditionally released, the organization may seek improvements, where necessary, in any aspect of their prison conditions and treatment. Amnesty International does this as a consequence of its stand that these people should not be in prison at all.  

Many prisoners are kept in overcrowded, filthy and grossly inadequate conditions. Prisoners are vulnerable and are often exposed to harsh conditions or poor treatment in many places around the world. When prison conditions amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and affect detainees other than prisoners of conscience, Amnesty International may raise the issue in general terms in order to contribute to the setting of improved standards for the treatment of prisoners. However, this is not normally a matter to which Amnesty International is able to devote its own limited resources; it relies on those bodies specialized in dealing with prison conditions to tackle the problem internationally.  

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases on the grounds that it is a violation of the right to life and the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The imposition and infliction of the death penalty is brutalizing to all who are involved in the process. The death penalty has never been shown to have any special deterrent effect against violent crime. Execution is irrevocable and can be inflicted upon the innocent.  

Amnesty International campaigns for the abolition of all legislation providing for the death penalty. It appeals to individual governments and works with the United Nations and other bodies to abolish the death penalty worldwide. The organization's position was elaborated in the Declaration of Stockholm (see below).  

Amnesty International will appeal for commutation of a death sentence whenever it hears that a prisoner is facing imminent execution.  

The Stockholm Conference on the Abolition of the Death Penalty, composed of more than 200 delegates and participants from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North and South America and the Caribbean region,  

RECALLS THAT: -The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and violates the right to life.  

CONSIDERS THAT: -The death penalty is frequently used as an instrument of repression against opposition, racial, ethnic, religious and underprivileged groups, -Execution is an act of violence and violence tends to provoke violence, -The imposition and infliction of the death penalty is brutalizing to all who are involved in the process, -The death penalty has never been shown to have a special deterrent effect, -The death penalty is increasingly taking the form of unexplained disappearances, extrajudicial executions and political murders, -Execution is irrevocable and can be inflicted on the innocent.  

AFFIRMS THAT: -It is the duty of the state to protect the life of all persons within its jurisdiction, without exception, -Executions for the purposes of political coercion, whether by government agencies or others, are equally unacceptable, -Abolition of the death penalty is imperative for the achievement of declared international standards.  

DECLARES: -Its total and unconditional opposition to the death penalty, -Its condemnation of all executions, in whatever form, committed or condoned by governments, -Its commitment to work for the universal abolition of the death penalty.  

CALLS UPON: -Non-governmental organizations, both national and international, to work collectively and individually to provide public information materials directed towards abolition of the death penalty, -All governments to bring about the immediate and total abolition of the death penalty, -The United Nations unambiguously to declare that the death penalty is contrary to international law.  

In many countries victims remain unaccounted for after being taken into custody by security forces, or abducted by agents acting with the complicity of governments. The authorities refuse to acknowledge responsibility for their detention or to disclose their whereabouts. Amnesty International insists that governments be held publicly accountable for the fate of the victims. When details of a possible "disappearance" are reported an international network of volunteers can be alerted to press the authorities to reveal the whereabouts of the missing person. Long-term case work can be organized on their behalf. Amnesty International also launches special publicity efforts to highlight this violation of human rights and ensure that the individual's fate remains a matter of public attention.  

Political killings by governments  

In the last decade, hundreds of thousands of people have been the victims of deliberate killings carried out on the orders of governments or with their complicity.  

Amnesty International takes action against such killings when it is reasonable to believe that they are the result of a government policy to eliminate specific individuals, or groupings, or categories of individuals, by instant execution rather than arrest and imprisonment.  

Governments are responsible for the lives and security of their citizens. They have a duty not to commit or condone political killings. If they do not take all measures necessary to ensure that those responsible- directly or indirectly- are brought to justice, this may demonstrate government aquiescense in the killings. Their accountability is not diminished by national security considerations or by the fact that opposition groups commit similar acts.  

Amnesty International campaigns against political killings by governments by publicizing incidents and pressing for independent investigations into the deaths. It promotes adherence to the United Nations Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, which lays down standards for police and security force officers.  

Does Amnesty International act in all cases where deaths occur?  

Although Amnesty International's work is based on its orientation towards prisoners and therefore normally focuses on cases of people targeted or selected for execution rather than detention, its concerns have extended to people killed "en masse" for such reasons, without their being picked out individually for death.  

Many killings of concern to Amnesty International occur during armed conflict. The organization may be able to act in situations where unarmed civilians are killed in cold blood because of their real or imagined political sympathies or where civilian or military captives are executed. Since many of the victims are not in detention at the time of being killed, however, this is one of the few areas of Amnesty International's mandate that often deals with cases of people who are not prisoners.  

The mandate does not extend, however, to killings that are not attributable to government policy, such as killings of demonstrators or rioters resulting from excessive use of force by panicking security forces. Nor does Amnesty International's mandate extend to many of the killings in warfare when, for example, unarmed civilians are caught in crossfire or mistaken for members of the armed forces.  

Prisoners are not the only ones to suffer the effects of imprisonment. A family whose breadwinner has been imprisoned, perhaps for a number of years, faces many hardships. Paying for food, school fees, rent and prison visits may become an insuperable problem. Help, either from an Amnesty International group or from general funds held at the International Secretariat can make a great difference.  

Relief funds may help the prisoner directly, enabling him or her in some instances to buy the few small luxuries prisoners are allowed, or basic necessities such as blankets and winter clothes in cold climates. Relief is not intended, however, to compensate the prisoner or their families for total loss of income during the period of detention. Nor does the provision of relief to the prisoners or their families imply acceptance of the government practices that have given rise to Amnesty International's concerns.  

To whom does Amnesty International distribute relief?  

Assistance may be given to:  

- prisoners of conscience, whether or not adopted by Amnesty International, and prisoners who might reasonably be expected to be prisoners of conscience, but where the organization does not have the information to enable it to say so conclusively;  

- people who have lately been prisoners of conscience, or who might reasonably be expected to have been prisoners of conscience (whether or not adopted by Amnesty International);  

- prisoners awaiting trial who might reasonably be expected to be prisoners of conscience if convicted;  

- people threatened with forcible return from one country to another where they might reasonably be expected to become prisoners of conscience or to be subjected to torture, politically- motivated extrajudicial killing or the death penalty;  

- dependents of all the above categories;  

- dependents both of "disappeared" people and victims of political killings who might reasonably have been expected to be prisoners of conscience if they had been arrested and imprisoned rather than abducted or killed;  

- people suffering ill-health as a result or torture, whose medical need is directly related to their torture;  

- people whose emigration Amnesty International assists to prevent their imminently becoming prisoners of conscience or to prevent their being subjected to torture or politically-motivated extra- judicial killing.  

This list is not exhaustive. Detailed guidelines exist for Amnesty International's relief activities and the program is administered by an international relief committee and relief coordinators in the sections.  

Does Amnesty International help released prisoners?  

In some cases after a prisoner is released there might still be a need for assistance from Amnesty International. Aftercare activities focus on humanitarian aid, for example, sending relief funds and keeping up correspondence with the former prisoner and his or her family.  

Long-term medical care and rehabilitation assistance may be needed for people who have been tortured. Amnesty International itself does not undertake such programs, but doctors and other health workers involved in the movement can be contacted where such treatment is needed. There are independent clinics and medical teams prepared to help in these cases.  

How does Amnesty International send relief?  

Assistance is sometimes sent direct to prisoners or their families or sometimes through organizations, such as charitable bodies, on the spot that can distribute aid for Amnesty International.  

Amnesty International does not fund the work of other organizations. Relief funds are sometimes sent through them to be passed on to the particular beneficiaries specified by Amnesty International.  

Does Amnesty International act in refugee cases  

Amnesty International opposes the forcible return of individuals to a country where they can reasonably expect to become prisoners of conscience or be subjected to torture, the death penalty or extrajudicial execution. Amnesty International appeals against such forcible return and presents information about the risks the refugees face in their countries of origin to specialized refugee agencies and to governments considering applications for political asylum. In rare circumstances it may also assist individuals who wish to leave a country where they are held as prisoners of conscience or are in imminent danger of becoming prisoners of conscience or of being subjected to torture or politically motivated extrajudicial execution.  

What is Amnesty International's stand on prisoner exchanges?  
Every person has the right to move freely within his or her own country and the right not to be forced into exile. Amnesty International holds that it is the duty of governments to release all prisoners of conscience without considerations. It takes no part in arranging prisoner exchanges.