ResolutionNumber: B2
Year: 2002
Title:   REQUESTING AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL TO ASK FOR THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS ON IRAQ

Resolved: Therefore, be it resolved that Amnesty International supports and works towards the lifting of the U.N. and U.S. economic sanctions against Iraq; and

Be it further resolved that the International Executive Committee (IEC) adopt guidelines for AI's sanction policy (allowing AI to support or oppose sanctions regimes by the Fall 2002 IEC meeting;

Be it further resolved that, upon adoption of sanction policy guidelines, the IEC will initiate a pilot project addressing the violations of economic rights of the Iraqi people resulting from the UN/US-imposed economic sanctions, and calling for the lifting of the economic sanctions against Iraq;

Be it further resolved that the AIUSA Board of Directors will vigorously pursue full implementation of the 1999 and 2000 AIUSA AGM resolutions regarding Iraq.


Implementation: AIUSA’s Government Relations (GR) unit will work with Country Specialists and other AIUSA structures to draft a letter to the IEC urging that sanction policy guidelines be applied to Iraq, and allow AI to address the human rights violations that result from sanctions against Iraq. If action allowed, AIUSA will develop action strategy
Update: In regards to AI’s work on the UN and US economic sanctions against Iraq, AI has included the effect of sanctions as a key element of Amnesty’s ongoing Iraqi crisis work and its message related to the potential use of military force in Iraq. AI has stated that it "strongly supports the position of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights that 'inhabitants of a given country do not forfeit basic economic, social and cultural rights by virtue of any determination that their leaders have violated norms relating to international peace and security' and calls on the UN Security Council to give urgent attention to the impact of economic sanctions on the human rights of Iraqi civilians." AI notes that when applying military force or imposing sanctions, the UN Security Council and individual states are obliged under the UN Charter and international law to adhere to human rights and humanitarian standards, to distinguish between military and civilian targets, and not to inflict disproportionate damage on the civilian population. AI has urged the Security Council to consider the impact of the sanctions regime on the civilian population.