Amnesty International badges & postcards
Across six decades and around the world, Amnesty International has mobilized supporters through badges and postcards — turning symbols into action for human rights.
The power of the candle wrapped in barbed wire 🕯️
The candle in barbed wire, designed in the early 1960s, shines a light on oppression while acknowledging the barriers that persist. It has appeared on badges, pins, shirts, and postcards for decades — uniting generations of activists under one visual symbol. Whether sewn into a patch, printed on a poster, or pressed into a pin, it remains a global shorthand for resistance.
Common themes ☮️
Amnesty’s badges & postcards convey messages of solidarity and advocacy. Common themes include:
- Prisoners of Conscience: Featuring faces or names of political prisoners with slogans like “Free [Name]” or “I Am [Name].”
- Stop Torture: Red-and-yellow badges with bold typography highlighting Amnesty’s anti-torture campaigns.
- Death Penalty Abolition: Candles paired with broken nooses or shackles to represent abolition efforts.
- LGBTQ+ Rights: Rainbow-themed pins distributed for Pride and equality campaigns.
Major campaigns over the years 📅
1961 – Founding: The Forgotten Prisoners
Early supporters used hand-printed badges and advocacy kits to campaign for unjustly jailed individuals.
1970s – Prisoners of Conscience
Campaigns included badges displaying names and case numbers, worn at vigils and events. Postcards helped supporters write to authorities and raise awareness.
1980s – Stop Torture
Black-and-red badges and postcards displayed broken torture instruments and slogans like “Torture Is a Crime.”
1988 – Human Rights Now! (30th Anniversary)
Global concert tour with Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, and Sting. Exclusive badges and merchandise were distributed to attendees.
1998 – International Campaign to Ban the Death Penalty
Badges and postcards featured broken nooses and candle logos, supporting global abolition efforts.
2001–2009 – Stop Violence Against Women
Safety-pin style badges and T-shirts promoted awareness; postcards circulated in workshops and events.
2005 – Protect the Human
The Protect The Human campaign launched in 2005. It aimed to make human rights a visible and everyday concern.
2010s – Write for Rights
Annual letter-writing campaign: posters, candles, pins, and postcards were distributed to schools, cafes, and bookshops worldwide.
2020 – I Welcome Refugees
Badges and shirts with open-door motifs and postcards stating “Refugees Welcome” were produced in multiple languages.
2022 – Protect the Protest
In response to rising anti-protest laws, black-and-yellow badges, T-shirts, and postcards were used globally.
Collectors' guide 🔍
☮️ Organisation: Amnesty International
🕰️ Age: 1960s onards
💎 Rarity: [2-10/10]
🪙️ Material: Various
📏 Size: Various
🎨 Variations: Various
💰 Price Guide: £3 upwards
📌 Top Tip: Protect The Human comes in three colours, purple, orange and green. Colect them all.
General collecting tips
- Design cues & slogans: Amnesty pins often feature the candle logo, prisoners’ names, or campaign slogans like “Free [Name]” or “Stop Torture.” Postcards frequently echo the same messages.
- Dating & production clues: Metal pin backs and enamel indicate earlier production; printed buttons and plastic backs typically indicate later, mass-produced items.
- Provenance: Packaging with campaign literature, event flyers, or accompanying letters increases collector value.
Badges
Look for enamel or metal pins with bold graphics. Early badges often display campaign dates or prisoner names. Later mass-produced pins may be lighter with printed inserts.
Postcards
Items distributed at events or letter-writing campaigns hold special value. Postcards preserved with handwritten notes, postmarks, or campaign flyers are particularly collectible.
Archive 🔍
Badges 🦡
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