Amnesty International comprises more than three million supporters, members and activists in more than 150 countries working to protect human rights. It is the largest organisation of its kind in the world.

In December 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Declaration formalises human rights as the basic freedoms and protections to which all people are entitled. It states that ‘recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.’

Amnesty International works to defend these universal human rights by investigating and reporting on human rights abuses, encouraging governments to respect human rights and raising awareness of the international standards that protect everyone. In 1977 Amnesty International was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its campaign in support of prisoners of conscience—people imprisoned, tortured or otherwise persecuted for the peaceful expression of their political, religious or other conscientiously-held beliefs.

The donor of this badge, John Ellis, writes:

I wore this badge to anti-war demonstrations and also on a regular basis to work and other events. I wore it to show people how much I support peace and how I believe that there is a better way to solve problems rather than taking up arms.

My peace activism began when I was a young man and continues to this day. When wearing the badge, it was a connection with other peace activists.