Founder of Amnesty International dies, aged 83
{{date|February 26, 2005}}
The founder of [[Amnesty International]], [[w:Peter Benenson|Peter Benenson]], passed away last night after suffering for some time from a serious illness. At age 83, it is forty four years since he founded Amnesty as a result of reading an article about the imprisonment of two students in [[Portugal]] who had drunk a toast to liberty. 

Amnesty International said they will be holding a public memorial service and there will be private ceremony for family members however there will be no funeral service. Amnesty International's current Secretary-General, Irene Khan, said after his death: ''"Peter Benenson's life was a courageous testament to his visionary commitment to fight injustice around the world."''

The organisation was initially formed in 1960 for ''"a one-year campaign for the release of six prisoners of conscience."'' Today Amnesty has over 1.8m members and campaigns for human rights on a global basis. Mr. Benenson was originally trained as a lawyer before he dedicated his life to the promotion of human rights.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4300997.stm | title= Founder of Amnesty dies aged 83 | author= |pub=BBC News |date=February 26, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/02/26/amnesty.founder/ | title=Amnesty International founder dead | author= |pub=CNN |date=February 26, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7747715 | title=Amnesty International Founder Benenson Dies | author= |pub=Reuters |date=February 26, 2005}}

 

  

{{archive}}

[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:World]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Published]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Amnesty International]]
[[Category:Human rights]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]

[[de:Gründer von amnesty international gestorben]]
[[sv:Amnestys grundare har avlidit 83 år gammal]]
The founder of Amnesty International, Peter Benenson, passed away last night after suffering for some time from a serious illness. At age 83, it is forty four years since he founded Amnesty as a result of reading an article about the imprisonment of two students in Portugal who had drunk a toast to liberty. 

Amnesty International said they will be holding a public memorial service and there will be private ceremony for family members however there will be no funeral service. Amnesty International's current Secretary-General, Irene Khan, said after his death: "Peter Benenson's life was a courageous testament to his visionary commitment to fight injustice around the world."

The organisation was initially formed in 1960 for "a one-year campaign for the release of six prisoners of conscience." Today Amnesty has over 1.8m members and campaigns for human rights on a global basis. Mr. Benenson was originally trained as a lawyer before he dedicated his life to the promotion of human rights.
Crime and law World United Kingdom Published Europe Amnesty International Human rights Politics and conflicts