|
|
|
Mandate Review Discussion
|
|
Note to Members:
More background on the current mandate discussion is available in the Members section of this Web site.
|
|
Amnesty International is currently in the important process of reviewing its mandate. AI's mandate describes the overarching principles guiding its work against human rights violations. The AGM will provide an opportunity for AIUSA members to engage in this international organizational discussion.
The Mandate - An Overview
Amnesty International is a worldwide voluntary activist movement that works to prevent some of the gravest violations by governments of people's fundamental human rights.
- AI promotes awareness of and adherence to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and other internationally recognized human rights instruments.
- AI opposes grave violations of human rights by:
- working for the release of all Prisoners of Conscience (POC). These are people detained anywhere for their political, religious or other conscientiously held beliefs or because of their ethnic origin, sex, color, language, national or social origin, economic status, birth or other status - who have not used or advocated violence;
- ensuring fair and prompt trials for political prisoners;
- working for the abolition of torture, other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the death penalty;
- opposing extra-judicial executions and "disappearances".
Some Recent Mandate Changes...
1985
Opposition to return of refugees who could become POC's or torture victims.
1987
opposition to "disappearances" added to Mandate.
1991
Wider work against abuses by armed opposition groups.
People imprisoned on basis of their sexual orientation regarded as POC's
1992
Wider work against formal exile.
Opposition to detention of POC's by armed opposition groups
1995
Oposition to arbitrary killings in armed conflicts.
Women's rights are given higher profile in campaigning and promotional work.
Criteria for Mandate Development
Focus on defending basic rights against governments and armed opposition groups.
Credibility by reference to international standards.
Relevance to the changing nature of human rights abuses.
Coherence and consistency of the Mandate.
Clarity and ease of understanding of the Mandate.
Resources: the Mandate should be consistent with available resources within AI.
Activism: the Mandate should be oriented toward membership activism.
|
|
