Peter Benenson

Peter Benenson
Born
Peter James Henry Solomon

(1921-07-31)31 July 1921
London, England
Died25 February 2005(2005-02-25) (aged 83)
Oxford, England
Resting placeNuneham Courtenay graveyard
Known forFounding the global human rights organisation Amnesty International
Spouse(s)Margaret Anderson (?–1972; divorced; 2 children)
Susan Booth (1973[1]–2005; his death; 2 children)[2]
Parent(s)Flora Benenson
Harold Solomon

Peter Benenson (born Peter James Henry Solomon; 31 July 1921 – 25 February 2005) was a British barrister, human rights activist and the founder of the human rights group Amnesty International (AI); a global movement of more than 10 million people, currently, and in over 150 countries and territories who campaign to end abuses on human rights and to secure the release of political prisoners.

He refused all honours for most of his life, but in his 80s, largely to please his family, he accepted the Pride of Britain Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2001.[3] In the 1980s, he became the Chairman of Association of Christians Against Torture. Also, in the 1990s Peter Benenson organized aid for Romanian orphans. He also founded a group to aid victims of celiac disease which he had.

  1. ^ "Peter Benenson". benensonsociety.org. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  2. ^ Philip Steele (2011). Activists (20th century lives). The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-44-883292-7.
  3. ^ "Lifetime Achievement, Peter Benenson, Founder of Amnesty International". Pride of Britain Awards. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012.