Amnesty International. International Secretariat Archives

Period  (1947-) 1961-2007
Total size   123.60 m., 1985 microfilms
Consultation Restricted
Temporarily not available (until October 2012): inv.nos. 995-1036, 1163-1165 and 1189-1190; closed numbers: Staff (nos. 962-965); missions (nos.966-967); IEC papers (inv.no. 198-411); papers of Eric Baker: only microfilms 266-273) can be consulted; ANNEX: closed 1317-1319 (including the microfilms mentioned in this part); a part of the microfilm collection is closed. List of all closed and open microfilms in file at study room. More information
See consultation information
User restriction   A part of the archives (inv.nos 995-1036, 1163-1165 and 1189-1190) is temporarily not available for consultation until October 2012; Oral History Project (nos. 976-1036): not restricted, with the only provision to respect the interviewees wishes about the use of their interviews during their lifetime.

History

Founded in 1961 in London; with an appeal to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed by the United Nations in 1948, AI aims at a world wide observance of everyone's right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, to receive information and to express his or her convictions; as an independent organization, which is not associated with any government, political party or religious creed, AI seeks to ensure that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention because of his belief, ethnic origin, language or sex and that no one shall be subjected to torture or other inhuman treatment or punishment; hence AI adopts individual prisoners of conscience and works for their release; AI's International Secretariat has its seat in London, while in a great many countries national sections are active; policy decisions for the movement as a whole are decided by the International Council, which meets annually and which elects the International Executive Committee (IEC); appointed by the IEC the Secretary General is responsible for the International Secretariat, which carries out research on prisoners, provides information for groups, organizes publicity and arranges missions; AI has a consultative status with the United Nations, the UNESCO and the Council of Europe.

Content

Records of the International Secretariat of Amnesty International in London consisting of agenda papers and other documents concerning the International Council Meetings (ICM) 1961-1983, agenda papers and other documents concerning the International Executive Committee (IEC) 1963-2002; circulars sent to sections (AI Indexed Documents, including publications and newsletters) in English 1961-2007, in French (1975-) 1978-2006, in Spanish 1975-2006 in Arabic 1980-1999 and Urgent Actions 1974-1979, 1981-1991; transcripts of interviews 1983-1986, 1990, correspondence and other documents concerning the Oral History Project 1961-1969 (-1978).

Microfilms of correspondence and other documents of the International Executive Committee (IEC) 1963-2002; documents concerning the ICM 1961-1985; circulars sent to sections (AI Indexed Documents, including publications and newsletters) in English 1961-2002, in French 1978-1999, in Spanish 1975-2000 in Arabic 1983-1997; correspondence with governments 1980-1992 ; Secretary-General Office files 1961-1991; correspondence and other documents of the Campaign and Membership department, Research department, Legal and International Organizations department and other departments of the IS 1962-1998; closed cases in various countries 1961-1995; country research files on various countries in Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East and Northern Africa 1961-1997; papers of Eric Baker 1961-1976; other documents 1960-2002.

Papers of Eric Baker 1961-1976.

Papers of Cornelis van der Vlies 1966-1967, 1972-1975.

Processing information

Inventory made by Marja Musson in 2004

Alternative form available

Microfilms no. 1-1985 (mostly AI Indexed documents)

Related material

Archives of the Dutch Section of Amnesty International can be found also at the IISH.

Archives of the USA Section of Amnesty International are deposited at the Center for Human Rights Documentation and Research, Columbia University (New York).