This manual from Amnesty International is a reference guide for Amnesty International campaigners and for other campaigning organisations. Amnesty International is a worldwide movement that works to promote human rights, in particular, by campaigns to free prisoners of conscience; ensure fair trials for political prisoners; abolish the death penalty and torture; end political killings and "disappearances"; and oppose human rights abuses by opposition groups. Because it works internationally at a local level with a long-term mission, Amnesty International has published (in 1997) and revised (in 2001) this manual to respond to local organisational needs and to changing historical and technological conditions for holistic local campaigning to reach its human rights promotion goals.


As stated in the introduction, "[h]uman rights reporting mechanisms have opened up valuable new avenues for holding governments to account and for mobilizing action... Learning to use the right tools for the job at hand is part of learning the trade of campaigning - as is developing new tools for new problems... Underground protest movements have emerged to engage openly with new forms of government. Journalists used to testing the boundaries of official tolerance are experimenting with exploiting the power of public opinion to push for change. Mass protests and industrial action have been supplemented by lobbying, legal action and marketing. Public actions have ceased to be a useful technique in some societies, but are becoming central in others. New technology is opening up new possibilities to those who can access it and realize its potential. Clearly, [Amnesty International] must understand and develop the new ways we can mobilize our communities, other organizations and governments." The manual is not written as a blueprint for campaigns, but as a guide to constructing them.


There are two sections: section one is "campaigning in a changing world", with chapters on such subjects as strategic campaigning, organising for action, and responding to crises; and section two is "how we achieve our goals", covering such issues as campaigning techniques, media, outreach, and human rights education.

Table of Contents:

1. Strategic Campaigning
2. Campaigning in the Modern World
3. Organising for Action
4. Responding to Crises
5. Fundraising and Campaigning
6. International Human Rights Standards and Organisations
7. Campaigning Techniques
8. Preparing Campaign Materials
9. Media and Publicity Work
10. Outreach
11. Home Government Lobbying
12. Human Rights Education
13. Evaluation