Welcome to Group 11
Since it was founded in 1972, Group 11 of Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) has been in the forefront of the struggle to protect human rights. Group 11 draws most of its members from Manhattan in New York City. It meets monthly on the upper westside of Manhattan. Regular e-mail contact is maintained with members regarding Group activities, events sponsored by other AIUSA groups in the region as well as other local activities concerned with human rights. Group 11 also mails a newsletter to all members every other month. To contact us, click here: info@aiusagroup11.org
Group 11 engages in three major kinds of activities: actions to free prisoners of conscience, country campaigns, and special projects.
Freeing Prisoners of Conscience
Group 11’s most essential work is to free people who have been persecuted or imprisoned for peacefully exercising their civil and political rights. Over the years, we have helped to free prisoners in China, South Africa, Poland, Indonesia, Rhodesia, Chile, the USSR and many other countries. In a number of cases we have stayed in touch with prisoners after they have been freed. We are currently working on prisoner of conscience cases in Iran and Myanmar (Burma). Group 11 is also noted for pioneering case work tactics. The website summarizes several cases, both past and current.
Country Campaigns and Actions
Group 11 participates in campaigns and other actions aimed at specific countries and violations of human rights. One of these, The Campaign to End Disappearances and Political Killings, used letters, petitions and other means to highlight the disappearance of human rights activists in Central and South America. Other campaigns have focused on immigrants, refugees, women, and other vulnerable groups. We are now involved in campaigns in China and the Darfur region of the Sudan.
Special Projects
Group 11 has sponsored or participated in numerous special projects. Chief among them are holding a major conference on women and human rights, supporting an international bill of rights for women, and teaching a course on human rights in New York City’s public schools. Current projects include opposing the death penalty and publishing an exchange of letters between a member of Group 11 and a former prisoner of conscience in the Ukraine. Since 1975 Group 11 has sponsored an annual concert to raise funds for AIUSA.
