Amnesty International USA

WHEREAS the Board of Directors of Amnesty International USA has a legal responsibility for the organization, but has also a responsibility to the principles of human rights, in particular to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as to the members and workers of the organization;

WHEREAS Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "this right [to freedom of expression] includes freedom to hold opinions without interference";

WHEREAS the Board of Directors has no right to control or prohibit opinions expressed by members in resolutions submitted in due form;

WHEREAS the Chair of the Resolutions Committee has now resigned;

WHEREAS the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors imposed on October 30th a moratorium on certain resolutions and on November 5th lifted the moratorium with conditions;

WHEREAS, the members of Amnesty International USA here present are extremely disappointed with the Executive Committee's handling of the resolutions process in Fall 2003;

RECOGNIZING the centrality of the resolutions process in the governance of a grassroots organization; and

DESIRING that changes in the resolutions process be made in a manner consistent with a comprehensive review of the issues in governance;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Directors give implementation of the strategic plan recommendations regarding governance high priority.