|
Overview
Each year, hundreds of Amnesty International members from across the country come together to explore human rights issues and develop strategies for becoming more effective human rights activists. This year, we invite you to join us in Nashville as we come face to face with torture.
In 1972, AI launched its first international campaign to eliminate torture, one of the organization's fundamental founding objectives. Nearly 30 years later, torture remains rampant. Its practice has been documented by AI in two thirds of the world's nations.
In October of this year, AI will launch a two-year international campaign to stop torture. The 2001 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will provide a dynamic forum to learn about the campaign's objectives, which include urging governments, including the United States, to take measures to prevent torture and bring those responsible for it to justice.
Opening the conference will be keynote speaker Oscar Arias Sanchez, Former President of Costa Rica and 1987 Nobel Peace Laureate. Championing such issues as human development, democracy and demilitarization, Dr. Arias will inspire us to apply lessons garnered from the Central American Peace Process to effectively negotiate ongoing and future topics of global debate.
Later Friday evening, join fellow activists in nearby Centennial National Park for an exciting welcoming event celebrating 40 years of the Amnesty International movement and human rights victories. The Student Activist Caucus will follow the Welcoming Event back at the AGM hotel.
Saturday and Sunday will begin with informal breakfast round table discussions on a variety of subjects suggested by AIUSA members. These are great opportunities to meet other grassroots members and staff to engage in formative discussions on how we can work together to be even more effective in our movement.
Following the Saturday Round Tables, the Opening Plenary will present Torture Survivors Organizing to Prevent Torture. A compelling panel of torture survivors/activists will develop an understanding of the underpinnings of torture through its socio-historical context as well as its current realities. Panelists will offer testimonials and discuss how survivors and non-survivor allies can effectively organize activists to stop further abuses.
The policy-building, or resolutions, process continues with Working Parties to review resolutions from AIUSA regional conferences. The resolutions process will conclude with a voting plenary on Sunday. A "new-to Amnesty" orientation with opportunities to meet program directors will take place at the same time. This is an opportunity to become more familiar with Amnesty International's work and to learn how you can be more involved as an activist on the local, national, and international level.
Informal brown bag lunch fora will also be offered this year to introduce several AIUSA programs, bring attention to the various networks available to members, and highlight how these programs have developed. There will also be a lunch meeting with Board candidates who will discuss what qualities they will be able to contribute to the organization's leadership.
Saturday afternoon panel sessions further explore how torture and other human rights abuses can be confronted and what steps can be taken to make us more effective activists.
Between the two panel sessions, contribute to the organization's strategic plan for the future, exploring how we can best develop our activism in relation to the organizational mandate, multiculturalism, new media, and membership structure.
On Sunday, our stirring closing keynote speaker will be Bryan Stevenson, founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) of Alabama. Stevenson has worked tirelessly to challenge the death penalty and the biases under which it is imposed. Stevenson's outstanding legal work has garnered him many honors--among them the American Bar Association's Wisdom Award for public service, the Reebok Human Rights Award, the ACLU's National Medal of Liberty, and the prestigious MacArthur Foundation Award.
Come face to face with Amnesty International in Nashville this April. Meet our activists and speakers from around the country and the world, challenge your thinking, ignite your passion, and learn more about what you can do to end human rights abuses.
Come face to face with Amnesty International in Nashville this April. Meet our activists and speakers from around the country and the world, challenge your thinking, ignite your passion, and learn more about what you can do to end human rights abuses.
|
|
Complete AGM 2001 Program Guide
Full schedules; panel, workshop and event descriptions; and speakers biographies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shanté Smalls, New York, NY
|
The Campaign to Stop Torture
AGM participants will come face to face with the many aspects of torture and have an opportunity to meet survivors and activists who are on the front line of the struggle to combat it. Panelists and featured speakers will help us both better understand the practice and prevalence of torture and develop strategies to stop it.
|
Abolish the Death Penalty
AGM 2001 will continue to present programs supporting other current organizational priorities. Even as the number of executions in the United States is escalating, AI has an unprecedented opportunity to impact the growing national debate on the death penalty sparked by Governor George Ryan's recent moratorium on executions in Illinois. Together with leading death penalty abolitionists, AIUSA and its grassroots activists will have a strong presence at the AGM in this ongoing national debate. The AGM will also be an opportunity for members to discuss the review of AI's mandate, preparations for the 2001 International Council Meeting and strategic planning for the US Section.
|
|
