About Amnesty International 

• Amnesty International (AI) is a non-governmental organization that works for the upliftment of human rights and has a supporter list of close to 7 million around the world.
• AI throws light on human rights violations by governments, armed political groups, companies, etc.
• It aims to publicize violations by governments and other entities of rights recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), especially freedom of speech and of conscience and the right against torture.

• In 1977, AI was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.
• The major areas that are covered by the Amnesty International include –

1. Women’s, children’s, minorities’ and indigenous rights
2. Ending torture
3. Abolition of the death penalty
4. Rights of refugees
5. Rights of prisoners of conscience
6. Protection of human dignity.

Why in News?

Amnesty International India has decided to shut its operations in the country. The decision came after the recent move by the government to freeze the organisation’s accounts for circumventing the  Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) regulations.

References:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/amnesty-international-halts-india-operations/article32721447.ece
2. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1660095