Peter Benenson (1921-2005), lawyer and founder of human rights' organisation Amnesty International, has passed away.
In November 1960 Benenson read about two Portuguese students who were imprisoned after raising their wine glasses in a toast to freedom. In his mind the idea took shape to start an international campaign for political prisoners. Together with Eric Baker and Louis Blom-Cooper the campaign 'Appeal for Amnesty 1961' was launched in an article in The Observer from May 28, 1961. Sensitive to symbols, Benenson chose the centenary year of the abolition of slavery and Trinity Sunday as date of birth for Amnesty International.
More on Peter Benenson and the early days of Amnesty in the archives of the International Secretariat of Amnesty International, deposited at the IISH.