Amnesty International USA

WHEREAS Dr. Barbara Bocek, an Anthropologist who earned her PhD from Stanford University, and a member of Amnesty International USA who has resided in AIUSA's Western region, has spent years of her free time volunteering for the cause of human rights in Guatemala on behalf of Amnesty International USA as a Guatemala Country Specialist; and

WHEREAS Dr. Bocek, a human rights defender in the truest sense of the word, has been one of AIUSA's most effective Country Specialists and, like countless other human rights defenders throughout the world, has worked in a climate that is often hostile to her work; and

WHEREAS Dr. Bocek initiated a successful Guatemala trial observers project for Amnesty International and began receiving death threats in May 2001 shortly after a U.S. newspaper published an op-ed piece she had written about the trial of three former military officers for the murder of Guatemala Bishop Juan Jose Gerardi; and

WHEREAS, despite the death threats, Dr. Bocek persevered in her work for human rights in Guatemala and participated in a June 2001 Amnesty International research mission to Guatemala, during which she was a victim of a kidnapping attempt; and

RECOGNIZING that she subsequently continued to receive death threats and was attacked again on March 10, 2002, on a desolate road near her home in rural Washington by men who threatened her in Spanish and warned her to stop her work in Guatemala, and recognizing that she still continued her work on behalf of Amnesty International;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that AIUSA applauds Barbara Bocek for her extraordinary and heroic dedication to human rights and extends to her our deepest gratitude,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Amnesty International should carefully review its response to Dr. Bocek's experiences with the aim of identifying clearly the lessons learned for any future similar situation, and how best to provide the maximum appropriate support for the survivor.

“The Board will initiate a process to discern “lessons learned” from this matter to better inform our future work and that of the international movement. This includes: lines of communication and decision-making between the US Section and the International Secretariat, needed policies and procedures for responding to a reported attack on an official representative of AI (staff or volunteer), conflict of interest policies, strengthening our institutional and individual capacity to deal with issues of trauma, and support of torture survivors. The International Secretariat has agreed to take part in this process. Any member who wishes to contribute to this review process will be welcomed to do so."

On February 12, 2003 the Friends of Barb group submitted a proposal for an internal solution that endorsed the idea of appointing a Lessons Learned Task Force. In section 5 of that memorandum it was stated that the LLTF should be appointed:

a) With goals including but not necessarily limited to (i) understanding the events of AIUSA/AI's handling of the Barb Bocek case from the June 2001 attack in Guatemala until the present; (ii) evaluating the actions taken and (iii) making recommendations for the better handling of such events in future.

b) That to carry out its mission, the Task Force will examine documents (including e-mails), conduct interviews, and otherwise do research among IS and AIUSA staff and AIUSA Board and any others necessary, to the limit of their capabilities.

On February 16, 2003 the AIUSA Board of Directors acted on this recommendation by passing a motion to establish a Lessons Learned Task Force. The motion required that any person appointed to serve on the Task Force must be impartial and have had no involvement in the Bocek case or process. The membership of the LLTF was agreed on by the Country Specialist Steering Committee and the Executive Committee of the AIUSA Board of Directors, with each group proposing three members and each having a veto of two, until a Task Force agreeable to both was chosen. No member of the LLTF was a member of the AIUSA Board on January 17, 2003.

The process of appointing the members of the LLTF commenced in March 2003. Appointment letters conveyed “the expectation that the Lessons Learned Task Force will work in an impartial manner to assist AIUSA and the movement to truly learn lessons from the various aspects of the case of Dr. Barbara Bocek and shape policy and practice for the future. The LLTF has full latitude to adapt their own Terms of Reference and a timeline for completing the work of the Task Force.” (April 2, 2003)

The LLTF was charged to discern lessons that will help to avoid the creation of such deep divisions in the future should similar situations arise. The LLTF also worked to discern lessons that can guide AIUSA and inform the worldwide organization of AI as it seeks to expand the involvement of volunteers in research missions.

Carole Nagangast, Janet MacLean and Mary Fabri were appointed as members of the LLTF, with Susan Waltz appointed LLTF chair. The LLTF was convened in June 2003 by Susan Waltz.

Over several weeks in March-April 2003, parties principally involved in this matter identified a modest set of mutually agreed questions that they view as essential for the LLTF to address, which guided, but did not limit, the scope of the LLTF’s work.

The LLTF reviewed more than 8,000 e-mails, a substantial number of documents that principal parties to the conflict mutually identified as essential for the LLTF review, received unsolicited documents, and requested documents that appeared relevant over the course of the review. Following the review of written materials, the LLTF set up face-to-face interviews. The LLTF met with individuals who requested to meet with the task force, and the LLTF requested its own interview sessions with key individuals. The International Secretariat agreed to take part in the process, and Secretary General Irene Khan and Deputy Secretary General Kate Gilmore undertook to provide the LLTF with all information it requests. The IEC also undertook its own review of the conflict to address issues that have international policy implications. The AIUSA LLTF corresponded and met with the international review team during their review period.

The LLTF provided progress reports to the AIUSA Board of Directors at the July 2003 and September 2003 board meetings, which were made available to members and staff. The LLTF gave its final report orally to the board in public session at the January 2004 board meeting, and completed and gave its final written report, “Report of the Lessoned Learned Task Force to the Board of Directors, AIUSA” to the board the week following the January board meeting.

The AIUSA Board of Directors has scheduled a special meeting of the Board on March 13-14, 2004, for the purpose of reviewing and implementing recommendations from the final LLTF Report.