PRESENTING 2001 AGM PANELS

PANELS: SESSION I, Saturday April 21, 2:00- 3:30 pm

Confronting Identity-Based Discrimination and Human Rights Violations
What do ethnic cleansing in the Baltic States, persecution of women in Afghanistan, and social cleansing of gay men and transgender people in Colombia have in common?

The AIUSA Outfront, Women’s and Children’s Rights Programs are sponsoring this AGM panel on "Identity-based Discrimination." The panel will highlight the intersections of social factors comprising people's identities which can lead both to vulnerability to and protection from human rights violations. We will explore the links between gender, race, age, nationality, ethnicity, and, sexuality, to demonstrate the fact that people's identities - whether real or perceived - too often lead to violations including torture, including sexual assault, the death penalty and myriad other abuses. These links will be made with specific connection and reference to the AIUSA Torture campaign.

This panel is particularly timely, as the AI movement has begun to see identity-based discrimination as firmly rooted in its current and future agenda: the 1999 ICM saw the inclusion of identity-based work in its Action Plan and general priorities. As a result, this panel provides an excellent opportunity to discuss and educate AI membership about AI's growing body of work on "non-state actors," as they are often the perpetrators of identity-based violations. Although sexuality will play a primary role in this discussion, the panel will focus on common links and experiences connected to identity-based discrimination, and will be designed to build bridges and coalitions among various advocacy constituencies.

Technology, Science, and Innovation in Torture Prevention
Learn how modern science and technology is used to combat torture and other human rights abuses. Speakers will discuss video technology, Internet technology, forensic science, and more. Presentations will be followed by a question and answer period.

Lifetime Activism
Building a dynamic human rights movement depends on our ability to identify, develop and sustain a host of activists throughout their lives. How can students continue their activism after graduation? How can we all maintain our activism throughout the changes in our lives?

Join this interactive discussion to explore many aspects of being a lifelong activist. A multigenerational group of activists will discuss how their commitment to human rights and social justice continues to evolve. Topics will include: ways to fit your activism in with a more traditional career, internships or careers in human rights and other justice work, and dealing with burn out. Audience members will be asked to join the discussion by sharing stories and ideas about staying motivated, overcoming obstacles to involving younger activists and sustaining activists over time.

A resource table will have information available on a wide range of opportunities for activists.

The Human Rights Agenda of Amnesty International: Part I. From 1961 through 2001 and Beyond.

The purpose of this panel is to weigh the concerns that will be discussed at the 2001 ICM. Topics will include: history of mandate development, whether and how we will deal with economic, social and cultural rights, the oppositional/promotional distinction, addressing non-state actors, and what other grave measures means. We will discuss what we can currently do, as well as the options for change being presented at the ICM. The most critical part of the panel will be the audience sharing their thoughts, concerns and opinions.

Torture in China - Time for Action
Torture in the People's Republic of China is widespread and systemic and is committed by a wide range of officials, both within and outside the judicial system, from judges to family planning officials. Amnesty International has documented the use of torture in a full range of state institutions, from police stations, detention centers, and prisons to "re-education through labor" camps.

This panel will approach the issue of torture in China by looking both at historical, cultural and political background and the personal experiences of torture victims. From this, we hope, will come ideas for reducing the incidence, and eventually putting a stop to torture in China. These may range from influencing US foreign policy, to organizing torture victims.

The panel will include first hand accounts of the experiences of torture survivors, and specialists will discuss a number of techniques available to those who wish to organize around the issue of torture in China and help bring it to an end.