Amnesty International USA

Resolved: Let it be fundamentally resolved that Amnesty International USA affirms, in accordance with the 2001 International Council Meeting decisions key directions statement, that Amnesty International's core values remain those of: international solidarity, effective action for the individual victim, global coverage, the universality and indivisibility of human rights, impartiality, independence, democracy and mutual respect.

Be it resolved that Amnesty International USA adopt the following:

Amnesty International USA Statement of Core Values:

Agent of Change - Amnesty International USA is effective in creating demonstrable results.

Building Community - Amnesty International USA?s members are drawn together from many cultures, age groups and backgrounds, and work in solidarity with one another and those whose rights are denied.

Effectiveness -- In pursuit of always improving our effectiveness, that we continually study what methods and techniques are working well with the organization and then disseminate that information throughout the organization.

Empowerment - Amnesty International USA believes that each person has the power to change the world in a positive way.

Experimentation and Innovation - Amnesty International USA is committed to encourage new and creative methods and techniques in pursuit of the elimination of human rights abuses around the world.

Grassroots -- Amnesty International USA is a movement committed to improving the world by enabling people to take action individually and collectively.

Honoring Commitments -- Amnesty International USA fulfills its commitments, as individuals and collectively, both inside the organization and externally.

Human Face -- Amnesty International USA makes a difference in the lives of individuals and illustrates patterns of human rights abuses through those individuals' stories.

Impartiality -- Amnesty International USA applies the same standards to everyone and operates without partisan affiliation and independently of inappropriate influences of any governmental and other institutions or sources of funds.

Integrity -- Amnesty International USA can be relied on for the quality, timeliness and accuracy of its work.

International Movement -- Amnesty International USA is a full partner in Amnesty International

Membership Structures -- Amnesty International USA values all membership structures equally as essential components of its mission.

Multiculturalism -- Amnesty International is committed to building and sustaining a multiculturally diverse grassroots movement that values the contributions and draws upon the rich resources of those diverse groups at all levels of the organization, in the pursuit of its human rights goals.

Mutual Respect and Cooperation -- Amnesty International USA honors diverse opinions, contributions and experiences. We work in concert with other people and organizations who share our values.

Shared Responsibility -- Board, staff and volunteers are jointly responsible for helping set organizational directions and guaranteeing the overall welfare of Amnesty International USA.

Transparency -- Amnesty International USA's decision-making processes are open, inclusive and accessible.

Universality and Indivisibility -- Amnesty International USA upholds the application of all human rights standards for everyone. We affirm that these rights are complementary and interrelated.

Managerial staff are expected to oversee and monitor the implementation of the plan they are responsible for. AIUSA expects to hire a part time evaluation officer whose job in part will be to track overall implementation of the strategic plan, with periodic senior management review. The Board has also formed a committee to succeed the Strategic Planning Team to review and monitor implementation of the strategic plan.

Update: AIUSA has integrated this strategic plan into all facets of its programs via our operational workplan and budget process for fiscal year 2003/2004. AIUSA’s Board of Directors assessed, advised and approved the official workplan in September of 2002. As such, each manager began overseeing implementation with the new mission, and our strategic planning goals and objectives at the core of a myriad of projects, programs and important initiatives over the last year.

Managerial and program staff have had the responsibility of overseeing implementation throughout the year. AIUSA Senior management has routinely reviewed departmental workplans to ensure consistency with the strategic directions and goals outlined. The Senior Management Team has scheduled a mid-year review to be held shortly to review and assess in detail the progress being made in implementation. Further, the Board will be establishing a committee to further evaluate the section’s progress.

We had planned to hire an experienced, part-time evaluation officer who would help with ongoing tracking and evaluation of implementation to ensure we are on course. However, due to financial constraints we have had to delay the hiring of this officer although we expect to move on this in the coming months.