
The candle is a prominent symbol for Amnesty International, a non-governmental organisation focusing on human rights. Inspired by the Chinese proverb, Better to light a candle than curse the darkness, the candle in Amnesty International's logo represents the organisation's efforts to bring light to the plight of political prisoners worldwide. The candle symbolises hope, with the organisation aiming to bring optimism and positive change to prisoners facing human rights abuses. This message of hope is further emphasised in Amnesty International's Freedom Candles, a series of limited-edition candles designed by artists to represent various human rights injustices. As the candles burn, the initial wax sculptures depicting these injustices melt away, revealing a positive outcome in bronze, symbolising the power of collective action to bring about change.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Inspired by a Chinese proverb | Better to light a candle than curse the darkness |
| Symbolises | Action taken by Amnesty International to protect the rights of prisoners and other people whose rights are abused |
| Represents | Optimism over repression |
| Hope for prisoners | |
| Our collective ability to change the world | |
| Wire of oppression vs light of hope | |
| Hope for a better future |
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What You'll Learn
- The candle represents Amnesty International's efforts to bring light to the fact that political prisoners are held worldwide
- The candle conveys Amnesty International's commitment to bringing hope to prisoners for fair treatment and release
- The candle symbolises the action taken by Amnesty International to protect the rights of prisoners
- The candle embodies optimism over repression
- The candle symbolises the light of hope against the wire of oppression

The candle represents Amnesty International's efforts to bring light to the fact that political prisoners are held worldwide
The candle is a prominent symbol for Amnesty International, a non-governmental organisation focusing on human rights. The logo, designed by Diana Redhouse, combines two recognisable images inspired by the Chinese proverb, "Better to light a candle than curse the darkness". The candle symbolises Amnesty International's efforts to bring light to the fact that political prisoners are held worldwide, and its commitment to offering hope and fair treatment to those prisoners.
The candle is a universal symbol of hope and optimism, and its use in the Amnesty International logo conveys a powerful message of positive change. The organisation's acting secretary, Kate Gilmore, stated that the logo represents "optimism over repression" and the "collective ability to change the world". This sentiment is echoed in the yellow hue of the logo, associated with optimism and youthfulness.
The candle also serves as a reminder of Amnesty International's core mission to protect the rights of prisoners and other vulnerable individuals. The barbed wire surrounding the candle in the logo symbolises the injustice and violation of human rights that prisoners often suffer. It represents the "wire of oppression" that stands in contrast to the "light of hope" that the candle brings.
The candle has been further utilised by Amnesty International through the creation of limited-edition "Freedom Candles". These candles, designed by artists, feature wax figurines that represent specific human rights injustices. As the candles burn, the injustices melt away, revealing a lasting image of positive outcomes. The Freedom Candles serve as a powerful symbol of Amnesty International's work and a reminder of the organisation's commitment to defending and promoting human rights worldwide.
Through the use of the candle in its logo and initiatives, Amnesty International shines a light on the plight of political prisoners and those suffering from human rights abuses. The candle becomes a beacon of hope and a call to action, inspiring people to join the organisation's efforts to bring about positive change and uphold the rights of individuals worldwide.
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The candle conveys Amnesty International's commitment to bringing hope to prisoners for fair treatment and release
The candle is a powerful symbol of Amnesty International's mission and values. The logo of Amnesty International combines two recognisable images inspired by the Chinese proverb, "Better to light a candle than curse the darkness". The candle in the logo represents the organisation's commitment to bringing hope to prisoners for fair treatment and release.
The candle symbolises Amnesty International's work in shining a light on the plight of political prisoners worldwide. It conveys a message of optimism and hope, standing in contrast to the barbed wire, which represents the hopelessness of those unjustly imprisoned. The candle serves as a reminder of the organisation's belief in the power of collective action to bring about positive change and uphold human rights.
The Freedom Candles, a set of limited-edition candles designed by Mark Landwehr and Sven Waschk of Coarse, further exemplify the symbolism of the candle within Amnesty International. Each candle in this collection represents a specific human rights injustice that the organisation aims to eradicate. As the candles burn, the initial wax figurines depicting various forms of oppression slowly disappear, revealing a lasting image of positive outcomes. The melting wax symbolises the disintegration of injustice and the emergence of hope, echoing the sentiment of the ancient proverb that inspired the logo.
The colour of the candle in the logo, a vivid and clear yellow, also conveys a message of optimism and youthfulness, reflecting the organisation's belief in a brighter future. The candle has become an enduring symbol of Amnesty International's commitment to protecting the rights of prisoners, advocating for fair treatment, and ultimately seeking their release from unjust imprisonment.
Through its use in the logo and initiatives like the Freedom Candles, the candle has become synonymous with Amnesty International's unwavering dedication to bringing light to the darkest places, offering hope to those whose human rights are violated, and striving for a world where fairness and justice prevail.
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The candle symbolises the action taken by Amnesty International to protect the rights of prisoners
The candle is a prominent symbol for Amnesty International, a non-governmental organisation focusing on human rights. The logo of Amnesty International combines two recognisable images inspired by the Chinese proverb, "Better to light a candle than curse the darkness". The candle in the logo symbolises the organisation's efforts to bring light to the plight of political prisoners worldwide. It also represents the action taken by Amnesty International to protect the rights of prisoners.
The candle is a universal symbol of hope and optimism. In the context of Amnesty International, it represents the light of hope shining in the darkness of repression and human rights violations. The organisation's acting secretary, Kate Gilmore, stated that the logo represents "optimism over repression" and alludes to "our collective ability to change the world". The candle serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of places, where human rights violations may go unnoticed, Amnesty International is committed to bringing hope and fair treatment to prisoners.
The use of the candle as a symbol is further emphasised in Amnesty International's Freedom Candles. These limited-edition candles, designed by artists, serve as a fundraiser for the organisation. Each candle in this collection represents a different human rights injustice. For example, one candle begins as a political prisoner being tortured, but as it burns away, it reveals the same man reunited with his son, symbolising the positive outcomes that Amnesty International strives for. The candles send a powerful message that "Together we can light the way for change".
The barbed wire around the candle in the logo represents the injustice and violation of human rights that prisoners often suffer. It symbolises the hopelessness of people unjustly imprisoned. The combination of the candle and the barbed wire in the logo conveys the idea of "the wire of oppression" versus "the light of hope". This visual representation of the ancient proverb captures the essence of Amnesty International's mission to shine a light on the darkness of human rights abuses and bring hope to those suffering from oppression and injustice.
Through its use of the candle symbol, Amnesty International conveys a powerful message of hope and action. The candle serves as a reminder of the organisation's commitment to protecting the rights of prisoners and bringing light to the darkest corners of the world. It symbolises the collective effort to create positive change and ensure fair treatment for all, even in the face of repression and human rights violations. The candle has become an iconic emblem of Amnesty International's work and continues to inspire and guide their mission to defend human rights worldwide.
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The candle embodies optimism over repression
The candle is a powerful symbol in Amnesty International's logo, embodying the organisation's commitment to optimism and hope in the face of repression and injustice. The logo, designed by Diana Redhouse, combines two recognisable images inspired by the ancient Chinese proverb, "Better to light a candle than curse the darkness." This proverb captures the idea of taking positive action to bring light to dark places, reflecting Amnesty International's mission to shine a light on human rights violations and offer hope to those suffering repression.
The candle in the logo represents the organisation's efforts to illuminate the plight of political prisoners worldwide and its commitment to bringing hope and fair treatment to those imprisoned. The act of lighting a candle is a universal symbol of hope and optimism, reflecting Amnesty International's belief in the power of collective action to create positive change. The yellow hue of the candle in the logo further emphasises this sentiment, as yellow is often associated with optimism and youthfulness.
The barbed wire surrounding the candle in the logo symbolises the repression and injustice faced by prisoners. It represents the "wire of oppression," contrasting with the "light of hope" that the candle embodies. This combination of images conveys a powerful message of optimism over repression, reflecting Amnesty International's belief in the ability of collective action to overcome even the most challenging circumstances.
The Freedom Candles created by Amnesty International further emphasise this message. These candles, designed by artists, symbolically represent specific human rights injustices. As the candles burn, the wax melts away, revealing a positive outcome in solid bronze. For example, one candle depicts a man being tortured, which eventually reveals the same man reunited with his son. This transformation symbolises the power of hope and the belief that positive change is possible, even in the face of immense adversity.
Through its use in the logo and the Freedom Candles, the candle becomes a powerful symbol of Amnesty International's unwavering optimism and belief in the power of collective action to overcome repression and bring about positive change. The candle serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of places, the light of hope can shine through, inspiring people to take action and create a better world.
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The candle symbolises the light of hope against the wire of oppression
The logo of Amnesty International, a non-governmental organisation focusing on human rights, combines two recognisable images: a candle and barbed wire. The candle symbolises the light of hope against the wire of oppression.
The logo is inspired by the Chinese proverb, "Better to light a candle than curse the darkness". The barbed wire, an apparent symbol of jail, symbolises the injustice and violation of human rights that prisoners often suffer. The candle, on the other hand, represents the action taken by Amnesty International to protect the rights of prisoners and other victims of human rights abuses. It symbolises hope for prisoners and the organisation's commitment to bringing light to the fact that political prisoners are held worldwide.
The candle also represents optimism and youthfulness, with its vivid and clear yellow hue. This interpretation is supported by the organisation's acting secretary, Kate Gilmore, who stated that the logo represents "optimism over repression" and alludes to "our collective ability to change the world".
The Freedom Candles, a set of limited-edition candles designed by Mark Landwehr and Sven Waschk of Coarse, further emphasise the symbolism of the candle. Each candle in the set represents a different human rights injustice, such as torture, the arms trade, and sexual slavery. As the candles melt, the injustice disintegrates, revealing a positive outcome in the form of a solid bronze cast. The candles serve as a symbol of hope, sending a positive message that "Together we can light the way for change".
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Frequently asked questions
The candle in Amnesty International's logo represents the organisation's efforts to bring light to the fact that political prisoners are held worldwide and its commitment to bring prisoners hope for fair treatment and release. The logo is inspired by the Chinese proverb, "Better to light a candle than curse the darkness".
The Amnesty International Freedom Candles are a set of limited-edition candles, with each candle representing a different human rights injustice that Amnesty International fights against. As the candles melt, the injustice disintegrates, revealing a positive outcome in bronze underneath.
The candle is a symbol of hope and optimism in Amnesty International's work. It represents the organisation's commitment to protecting the rights of prisoners and other vulnerable people, shining a light on human rights abuses and bringing about positive change.











































