Amnesty International

At the beginning of the 21st century Amnesty International had investigated more than 44,000 cases involving prisoners of conscience. During the 1990s, the organization developed numerous task forces to concentrate on specific human rights violations. For example, Amnesty International’s Medical Network consists of doctors and volunteers who investigate medical-related misdeeds in more than 30 countries. The group found that doctors and nurses were sometimes forced by government officials to give false medical evaluations of prisoners in order to conceal government acts of torture. Other reports concluded that some health officials voluntarily assisted government leaders in covering up human rights abuses. In 1996 the group published its first annual report, Prescription for Change. Among the nations facing the most serious allegations of medical abuse were Brazil, Israel, Kenya, and Turkey. The organization also has campaigned to protect human rights for women, refugees, children, and gays and lesbians.