Amnesty International USA

[A] WHEREAS 2003 AGM Decision 9 applauded Barbara Bocek for her extraordinary and heroic dedication to human rights, even after she suffered multiple threats and two attacks because of her work on behalf of human rights in Guatemala;

[B] WHEREAS Amnesty International's and Amnesty International USA's response to these threats and attacks distracted Amnesty International from its work, harmed Dr. Bocek, undermined the trust of volunteer leaders, endangered Amnesty International's public reputation, and may have emboldened the enemies of human rights in Guatemala;

[C] WHEREAS Amnesty International's response to the threats and attacks against Dr. Bocek has caused many Amnesty International USA country specialists to doubt that Amnesty International would support them if they received threats because of their work for Amnesty International;

[D] WHEREAS 2003 AGM Decision 9 called for a review of Amnesty International's response to Dr. Bocek's experiences with the aim of identifying the lessons learned for any future similar situation, and that Amnesty International USA established a Lessons Learned Task Force to study those experiences;

[E] WHEREAS the Amnesty International USA Board of Directors has accepted the report of the Lessons Learned Task Force and moved to implement its recommendations and take other actions to (i) establish accountability for the harm caused by Amnesty International's and Amnesty International USA's response to Dr. Bocek's experiences, (ii) promote healing within Amnesty International USA, and (iii) restore

trust between Amnesty International USA's leadership and membership;

[F] BE IT RESOLVED that the 2004 Annual General Meeting thanks the Lessons Learned Task Force for its work, expresses its deep disappointment with how the International Secretariat and Amnesty International USA Board of Directors and senior managers responded to the attacks and threats to Dr. Bocek, and calls upon the Board to issue a statement to membership by August 1, 2004 recounting the Board's and senior management's missteps, and

[G] BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Amnesty International USA shall:

(1) Continue to provide all appropriate material and other support to Dr. Bocek.

(2) Continue to assign a high priority to fighting human rights abuses in Guatemala and, in particular on attacks on activists for Guatemalan human rights in the United States, and submit a resolution to the 2005 International Council Meeting calling for Amnesty International to make work on attacks on activists for Guatemalan human rights in the United States a focus of its Guatemala work.

(3) Assign a high priority to restoring trust between Amnesty International USA's top leadership (its Board of Directors and senior managers) and other staff, country specialists, and other volunteer leaders.

(4) Establish a policy, in coordination with the International Executive Committee, or if necessary through resolution at the 2005 International Council Meeting, for responding to threats or attacks against Amnesty International employees or volunteer leaders.

(5) Seek a commitment from the International Executive Committee, or if necessary through resolution at the 2005 International Council Meeting, that the International Secretariat shall:

(a) Include references to threats and attacks against Dr. Bocek, as appropriate, in relevant Amnesty International documents or provide Amnesty International USA with a full explanation of its unwillingness to offer such a commitment; and

(b) Explain statements from International Secretariat senior managers to Amnesty International USA senior managers that are contrary to the facts as Amnesty International USA senior managers understood them at the time.

[H] BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Directors shall:

(1) Consult with Dr. Bocek and/or her representatives on the implementation of this resolution and the report of the Lessons Learned Task Force.

(2) Report to the membership on implementation of this resolution at least twice: by September 1, 2004, and by February 1, 2005.