Do you know that Amnesty International is a campaign-based organization? When you click on the “WHO WE ARE” menu of Amnesty International’s website, and scroll down, you will come across a sentence about Amnesty International: We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all.
This shows that Amnesty International (AI) defines itself as a campaigning organization that works to bring about human rights change in the world with a clear vision that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. The organization campaigns for change, based on research exposing human rights violations. Campaigning is the core work of Amnesty International. In this blog, first I will briefly discuss what a campaign is, then introduce different types of campaigns that Amnesty International undertakes, and finally I will share various ways to be a part of the campaigns.
What is a campaign?
Generally, a campaign is a highly focused, time-bound, and winnable project, strategically planned, coordinated, and communicated to achieve explicitly defined external goals and objectives. To be specific, a campaign uses a range of tactics (at a minimum research, communications, advocacy, mobilization), with a high concentration of human and operational resources.
Campaigns are developed and delivered at the global, regional, or national levels depending on the target and pressure for influencing that target. It requires various levels of well-coordinated movement-engagement depending on its strategy and its level of priority.
When it comes to the Global Campaign, the entire AI movement gets engaged, though Sections decide where they are strategically important in relation to their region or to other regions (e.g. trade partners, donors, etc.) in the context of the campaign strategy. For regional campaigns, International Secretariat-led country-focused campaigns or section-led campaigns, specific issues are picked up and actions are taken accordingly in a particular region or country.
Ideally, a campaign should be established when there is a clearly identifiable opportunity to ‘win,’ and should be run within a limited timeframe typically for a period of between six months to two years. An integrated approach using multiple tactics should be adopted throughout the lifespan of the campaign.
For the campaigns, we basically adopt two methods: Oppositional and Promotional. The oppositional method includes the actions against any form of human rights violation or atrocities committed by any state, non-state or any other party in any place. Actions such as sit-in protests, demonstrations and press release could be the examples of oppositional campaigns. On the other hand, actions that promotor create awareness on human rights, and lobbies for strengthening legal mechanism are instances of promotional campaigns. Human rights education program, capacity building trainings, dissemination of information, education and communication materials are the actions under promotional campaigns.
Amnesty International’s Campaigns
Some of the key types of various campaigns that are run by Amnesty International are follows:
- Urgent Action:
Short, reactive actions that quickly mobilize thousands of AI supporters worldwide for individuals at risk over a 4-6 week. Usually Amnesty members/supporters write letters/emails to the concerned authorities - Tactical Campaign:
Ad-hoc, Short-term campaigns that take advantage of opportunities for mass mobilization, eg. World Cup, Head of State meetings/visits. - Crisis Campaign:
In the face of urgent human rights crises – this could be the result of conflict, coups or other events that result in sudden, widespread, and serious human rights violations. - Rapid Response Action:
Immediate campaign on a subject. Such action is required to act immediately on any unforeseen violations or unforeseen event.
Be a part of AI Campaign
Amnesty International calls everyone to be a part of its campaigns. Anyone can contribute to the ongoing campaigns in various ways.
- Signing the petition or writing letters
- Sharing the call to action on social media
- Taking part in the demonstration or other similar activities
- Becoming a member or attending the campaign events
- Spreading the message about the campaign in different platforms
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