puts its work into neat perspective: a ray of hope for the persecuted.

Founded in Britain 31 years ago by a handful of people, Amnesty International today boasts over a million members, subscribers and regular donors in more than 150 countries. Among them is Bermuda, where approximately 100 members work diligently to further its humanitarian aims.

Totally impartial and independent of any government, political persuasion or religious creed, Amnesty concentrates its efforts on the international protection of human rights as defined by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international instruments.

And in today's troubled world that is a very big task, for daily there are thousands of people imprisoned, tortured and abused for non-criminal activities, many without trial, while others simply disappear without trace or are killed. They are men, women and children of all ages, races and creeds.

For all of them, Amnesty works ceaselessly by: Seeking the release of prisoners of conscience -- people detained for their beliefs, colour, sex, ethnic origin, language or religion, who have not used or advocated violence.

Working for fair and prompt trials for all political prisoners.

Opposing the death penalty and torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of all prisoners, without reservation.

Urging an end to extra-judicial killings and disappearances.

Through its own headquarters, the international secretariat in London, England and a vast network of volunteers worldwide, Amnesty brings those lofty goals down to a very personal level by campaigning on behalf of individuals as well as general issues.

"People can read items in the newspaper and feel horror, but Amnesty brings the situation to a level where an individual can do something about it -- for instance, by writing a letter,'' local AI steering committee member, Ms Clare Hatcher, said.

Every day, information supplied by an army of researchers and informers arrives at the London secretariat, where it is processed and disseminated to AI groups around the world about specific individuals who find themselves deprived of basic human rights. Thus, a prisoner incarcerated in, say, Ethiopia becomes not a faceless statistic but someone with a name and a personal history -- and, hopefully, a future.

For Amnesty members are selfless, dedicated people who work extremely hard for their release -- and often without knowing whether the person in question is alive or not. Nothing daunts them -- as the more than 35,000 prisoners of conscience who have been released to date shows.

"We don't claim that we were responsible for getting every person released, but I can tell you we have a very high success rate,'' Ms Hatcher noted.

Amnesty goes about its work in a variety of ways -- by writing letters, sending faxes and telexes to Government officials, making representations to them, and sending letters and postcards to prisoners. Much of this is done discreetly, in order not to endanger the lives of those held.

"In certain circumstances it would be dangerous to use Amnesty's name, so a prisoner may never know that we were responsible for getting them released. It is only in certain situations that Amnesty can publicly state prisoners have been released,'' Ms Hatcher explained.

The Bermuda section of Amnesty International, which was formed in the early '80s by Ms Cathy Lapsley and a group of concerned Bermuda residents, is typical of the way other sections around the world operate: it makes the same representations by faxes, telexes, letters and postcards. It also gets school children involved, operates a weekly information centre in Hamilton, and hosts a non-denominational Human Rights Day observance in one of the local churches each December.

"As a section we do a tremendous amount for a small Island country. We handle the same amount of information which the United Kingdom and United States handles on a smaller degree,'' Urgent Action Co-ordinator, Ms Lena Ostroff, explained. "We receive about 500 Urgent Action Appeals a year and respond to all of them. We send out 400 faxes a year to Government officials, and our members write thousands of letters.

"We participate in all of the major campaigns that Amnesty International launches each year. Every few months there is a particular focus. For instance, we have had a campaign on women -- particularly the sexual abuse and torture of women in custody. We are now doing a campaign on India.'' Twice a year the local section does "something special.'' "People then have an opportunity to send postcards directly to prisoners,'' Ms. Ostroff said. "Sometimes, but not always, the prisoner finds out that Amnesty is working on their case, and that is like opening a window for them.

It gives them hope.'' Where letters and cards are written, Amnesty gives specific guidelines, including to whom they should be addressed, the correct salutation, and the point to be made. A brief background on the individual in question is also included. Courtesy and brevity are stressed, and attention is paid to local custom, so as not to offend.

Since the same information is disseminated to all Amnesty groups worldwide, the resultant arrival of thousands of responses on some official desk gets attention -- as does their brevity.

"Government officials and heads of state haven't got time to read through long letters, but something short and concise is effective,' Ms Hatcher said.

In addition to the letters and postcards, the daily stream of immediate communication -- faxes and telexes -- also impresses the recipients.

Since it is also important for children to understand the upholding of basic human rights, Ms Ostroff takes the Amnesty International message into Bermuda's classrooms, and enlists the students' support.

"I have gone to about 15 schools, and I address children from age ten upwards,'' she said. "First, I explain to them what human rights are. Then I tell them about the abuses going on in other countries, and specifically that young people and children are also victims of human rights abuses.'' Ms Ostroff said that the value of the schools programme is two-fold. "Not only are we helping to save children's lives, but perhaps more importantly in Bermuda, we are teaching children to be constructive for a change. I think it is healthy for young children to learn how to handle problems in their lives.'' Fridays find Amnesty members manning a campaign table in the Walkway shopping precinct on Reid Street between 12.30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

"People can come by and sign letters, join as members, and learn more about what we do,'' Ms Hatcher explained. "At the campaign table we highlight a particular campaign that is current, as they change every few months.'' Anyone can become a member of Amnesty. The fee is $25 a year, though Ms Hatcher noted that anyone unable to afford the fee would not be turned away.

The level of participation is left up to each individual member.

"It's not like signing away your free time,'' Ms Hatcher remarked. "Each member decides the level at which they wish to make a contribution.'' Letter writing involves a ten-minute commitment per month, and is a proven life-saver.

"I tell people there aren't many things you can do with ten minutes of your life once a month that saves somebody's life, and I think that is the basis of Amnesty's success,'' Ms Hatcher said.

However, for those who don't wish to write the letters themselves, Amnesty will provide one already written which requires only the member's signature and a postage stamp. Alternatively, a member may choose to pay for a telex or fax to be sent, specify their area of interest, and also indicate whether it is to be sent anonymously or with the sender's name.

Members also have the right to designate a specific target in which they wish to become involved -- women's issues, imprisoned lawyers, abused children, for example.

For those who feel they have absolutely no time to help, Amnesty accepts donations.

"We have about 20 people in the community who have donated money to the fax network. It allows us to send faxes to government officials every day, which is every effective,'' Ms Ostroff said. "If I know a person has a particular concern I will use that money in that area.'' For further information on Amnesty International Bermuda, including membership, please telephone 236-1120, write to P.O. Box HM2136, Hamilton JMJX, or visit the Friday campaign table.

WORKING FOR PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE -- Ms Clare Hatcher (left) and Ms Lena Ostroff are part of Amnesty International's worldwide network of volunteers who work for the protection of human rights.