1. The release of political prisoners under a
general pardon, or a person or group of 
people from criminal liability for a
particular action; for example, the
occasional amnesties in Britain for those who
surrender firearms that they hold illegally.

2. International Human-rights organization 
established in the UK 1961 to campaign for 
the release of political prisoners worldwide. 
It has 700,000 members, and section offices 
in 43 countries. Amnesty International is 
politically unaligned. The organization was 
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 1977.