Activists on the front lines

We are a grassroots membership organization – with volunteers who shape, lead, and carry out our work to protect human rights. With more than 10 million members and supporters worldwide, more than a million of whom are in the United States. 

Amnesty International is the world’s largest grassroots human rights organization. Volunteer leaders fill a wide range of critical roles: they start and run local groups, they manage legislative advocacy in the states, they drive campaigns in individual cases and on major reforms, and they engage more people in fighting for human rights. In other words, they change the world. Here are a few of their stories.

Amnesty’s activists constantly show up and challenge those who abuse power with impunity, and Amnesty’s member leaders ensure our research and our voices are feared by these abusers.
 
Amnesty was started as a unique experiment more than sixty years ago to promote and protect human rights and empower people to be a force for human rights, transparency, and accountability. AIUSA’s activists and member leaders prove that experiment worked!
 
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, a time when we pause to reflect on your hard work and express gratitude for our partnership. Please know that I, our staff, and the AIUSA Board of Directors hold you in deep respect and appreciation throughout the year.
Thank you for keeping Amnesty’s candle burning bright and doing all you can to advance human rights for our world.

Paul O’Brien

Executive Director
Amnesty International USA
Full Statement

 

Todd Schwarz

Area Coordinator (AC)

ACs are volunteers that organize groups in their state to collaborate on initiatives, develop partnerships with other human rights activists, and mobilize to protect human rights.

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Zoya Waliany

Saudi Arabia Country Specialist

Country and Thematic Specialists are volunteers with expertise in specific areas who work to develop and implement AIUSA strategies to advance human rights.

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Anita Teekah

Legislative Coordinator (LC)

LCs are volunteers that work in states to advance our legislative priorities to protect human rights.

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Scott Langley

State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator (SDPAC)

SDPACs are volunteers that oranize and advocate at the state level to abolish the death penalty.

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Shaheera Abassi

Student Activist Coordinator (SAC)

SACs are volunteers that organize groups in their state to collaborate on initiatives, develop partnerships with other human rights activists, and mobilize to protect human rights.

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