Amnesty International

Amnesty International is the world's largest human rights organization that seeks to promote and fight for human rights around the world. Through weekly discussions, events, and campaigns, the Tufts Amnesty International chapter aims to raise awareness of human rights abuses among the Tufts community and in the greater Boston area.

Founded in 2009, the Tufts chapter has been actively promoting awareness of human rights abuses around the world to the Tufts community. Our weekly meetings include in-depth discussions on both current events as well as the priority campaigns outlined by Amnesty International USA. The topics we discuss range from maternal health rights in Sub-Saharan Africa to prisoners of conscience in Tibet and the U.S. death penalty. Through such discussions, members are not only able to participate in the discussions and help brainstorm ideas for events or campaigns, but they are also able to learn from each other about global human rights issues they may be passionate about.

Tufts Amnesty International also regularly hosts an array of events, including film screenings, letter-writing marathons, academic lectures, and even flash mobs. Some of our most prominent events include Jamnesty, a concert intertwined with presentations about human rights issues, and Get On the Bus!, which allows Tufts students to go to New York City and protest on the streets along with thousands of active Amnesty members. In the past, we have also hosted the United Nations Secretary-General Special Representative to Kosovo and former High Comissioner of the UNHCR, a former interrogator at Guantanamo Bay who advocates against torture, an expert on human trafficking who worked undercover in Thailand, and the wife of a Sri Lankan journalist and prisoner of conscience. We are always looking for new creative ways to raise awareness about human rights abuses.

To join the Tufts Amnesty International chapter, please come to a weekly meeting or an upcoming event. Contact one of our group members or watch for posters around campus for information.

Student Leaders and Members

Benya Kraus (’18)

External Liaison

Benya Kraus is a second year student at Tufts University majoring in International Relations with a concentration in International Security. At Tufts, she serves as an elected member of the Tufts University Senate and the Allocations Board, as well as on the executive board of her school's Amnesty International chapter. Outside of university, she works as the Massachusetts State Legislative Coordinator for AIUSA and is a member of the organization's National Strategic Planning Committee. Over the summer, Benya interned at the Massachusetts State House under Senator Brian Joyce where she familiarized herself with the political process at the Massachusetts state level. Benya is also extremely passionate about women's issues and is excited about working as a Research Assistant with a Tufts professor specializing in gender issues in world politics. Prior to living in MA, Benya studied in Bangkok, Thailand for 4 years where she served as her school group's AI President, and worked closely with AI Thailand on issues such as forced evictions in Cambodia, corporate accountability, sexual and reproductive health rights for women, and the decriminalization of sex work.

Cassidy Olsen (’18)

Internal & Freshman Liaison

Cassidy Olsen is a sophomore from Toms River, NJ studying English and Political Science with a minor in Film & Media Studies. Having joined Amnesty International last year, Cassidy is excited to return as both Internal and Freshman Liaison to the Tufts chapter. Cassidy has a passion for film and values it as a critical tool for human rights advocacy around the world. When she's not showing movies with Film Series or contributing to the Tufts Daily, Cassidy stays busy working at the ExCollege, finding sponsors for the LUX Charity Fashion Show, and yelling about celebrities.

Emma Plankey (’18)

Treasurer

Emma is a sophomore from Oxford, CT. She is currently the Treasurer for Amnesty International at Tufts. This is her second year as a part of Amnesty, and her first year on exec board. This is her first experience with human rights work, but she is looking forward to a long future with it.

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