Amnesty International's Mission

Amnesty International's vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.

In pursuit of this vision, AI's mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all human rights.

AI is independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion. It does not support or oppose any government or political system, nor does it support or oppose the views of the victims whose rights it seeks to protect. It is concerned solely with the impartial protection of human rights.

AI has a varied network of members and supporters around the world. At the latest count, there were more than 1.5 million members, supporters and subscribers in over 150 countries and territories in every region of the world. Although they come from many different backgrounds and have widely different political and religious beliefs, they are united by a determination to work for a world where everyone enjoys human rights.

AI is a democratic, self-governing movement. Major policy decisions are taken by an International Council made up of representatives from all national sections.

AI's national sections and local volunteer groups are primarily responsible for funding the movement. No funds are sought or accepted from governments for AI's work investigating and campaigning against human rights violations.

OUTfront's Mission

Amnesty International believes that LGBT people are entitled to the full range of human rights protections afforded to anyone else, and that governments have an obligation to protect and promote the basic human rights of LGBT people. Amnesty International considers people imprisoned solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity to be prisoners of conscience.

Amnesty International calls on governments to:

Repeal sodomy laws and all other laws criminalizing homosexuality, including discriminatory age of consent legislations.

Enact non-discrimination laws that are inclusive of LGBT people.

Condemn torture and ill-treatment, including forced "medical" treatment of LGBT people, and release immediately and unconditionally all LGBT prisoners of conscience who are imprisoned solely for their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

End impunity and protect LGBT people against violence in the community by acting with due diligence to promote and protect the human rights of LGBT people, including by taking seriously and responding properly to human rights abuses targeting LGBT people.

Work to ensure that the protection and promotion of the human rights of LGBT people are effectively advanced within the United Nations (UN) and other international governmental bodies.