Amnesty International USA is the U.S. section of the global Amnesty International movement, a membership-based human rights organization that researches and documents abuses, mobilizes supporters, and advocates for legal and policy reforms to protect civil and political rights, end torture and the death penalty, defend refugees and migrants, and hold governments and corporations accountable.
Typically pursues legislative and policy work on human-rights issues including abolition of the death penalty, ending torture and extrajudicial killings, criminal justice and police accountability reform, refugee and asylum protections and humane immigration policy, freedom of expression and civil liberties, LGBT+ and women's rights, corporate accountability for human-rights abuses, and conditioning U.S. foreign policy and arms transfers on human-rights standards.
Primarily funded by individual members and small-dollar donors (membership dues and donations), supplemented by foundation grants, bequests, and fundraising events; maintains policies to protect research independence and avoid funding that could compromise impartiality.
Affiliated with the global Amnesty International movement (International Secretariat and other national sections) and frequently partners with other human-rights NGOs, regional Amnesty sections, faith-based and community organizations, and high-profile advocates who support human-rights campaigns.
Non-profit (membership-based human rights organization; operates charitable and advocacy entities under U.S. nonprofit law)
