Amnesty International is a human rights movement that runs on people power.
We are proud to be a grassroots organization that includes student groups, local groups, donor members, member leaders, and activists from across the United States. Our core strength is our members.
Our fight for human rights and human dignity, justice, and freedom is what drives our member activism.
AIUSA BOARD ELECTIONS
Elections open on May 13, 2024, and run until July 2, 2024.
Members will receive a ballot sent to the email address we have on file for you, or you can request a paper ballot. To request a paper ballot or confirm your email address, please call 1-800-Amnesty or email [email protected].
Members shape AIUSA’s work in three foundational ways:
Activism
Our activists defend human rights through tactical campaigns, policy advocacy, supporting individuals at risk (IAR) cases, human rights education, and community organizing.
Governance
Membership is the bedrock of Amnesty International’s democratic movement. At AIUSA, members have the power to shape our goals and policies, vote for candidates for the Board of Directors, and participate in a variety of governance roles.
Funding
Most of our funding comes from individual donors. The annual contributions paid by our members enable us to engage in this important human rights work.
AIUSA members are eligible to engage in governance in a variety of ways:
The AIUSA Board of Directors is a volunteer, member Board with responsibilities that include:
- Overseeing the mission, values, and vision of the organization
- Hiring, supporting, and providing strategic guidance to the Executive Director
- Exercising fiduciary responsibility and risk mitigation for the organization
- Collaborating with the Executive Team to develop high-level strategies and strategic planning
- Participating in international governance of Amnesty International and other governance-related matters
AIUSA dues paid members as of January 30, 2024, are eligible to vote in the next Board elections. Elections open on May 13, 2024, and close on July 2, 2024. If you are not sure about your eligibility to vote in the Board elections, contact Member Services at [email protected]
Any AIUSA member can propose changes to AI policies and procedures through the resolution process. Resolutions are debated at Regional Conferences; if they pass, they are submitted to the Annual General Meeting, where they are debated and voted on again. If passed at the AGM, it is incumbent on the Board and staff to implement, unless overturned by a 2/3 vote of the Board. AIUSA resolutions that propose changes to Amnesty’s international policies or working methods are further debated and voted on during the Global Assembly. AIUSA resolutions can be proposed and submitted up to 21 days before the first regional conference.
Any AIUSA member may vote on resolutions at Regional Conferences. To vote on Resolutions at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), one needs to have been a member for a minimum of 50 days. The cutoff for the 2024 AGM was January 6, 2024. Check back here for the 2025 AGM cutoff date.
Some resolutions that were proposed in the past include:
- AI Policy on Military Occupation
- IT Policy for AIUSA
- Labor-Friendly Meeting Locations
Board committees include the Nominating Committee (NomCom), which runs the slating process for candidates standing for the Board of Directors;, the National Resolutions Committee (NRC), which manages the resolutions proposed and voted on by our members;, and the Special Initiatives Fund (SIF), which allows Amnesty groups to take advantage of event or programming opportunities that would be difficult to finance otherwise. Members can also be appointed as ex officio (non-voting) members of the Audit Committee and a variety of ad hoc working groups.
Be a Chair, Rapporteur, or Runner at the Working Parties and Resolutions Plenary during the Regional Activism Conferences or AGM as part of the membership resolutions process. Information on volunteering can be requested through the National Resolutions Committee ([email protected]).
AIUSA members in good standing can run for the Board. Candidates may run as a petition candidate or as a slated candidate proposed through the Nominating Committee. More details on how to run for the AIUSA Board of Directors should be directed to [email protected].
The Strategic Framework is a document that provides a set of goals for AIUSA to deliver human rights impact, mobilize people power, and improve our internal culture and capabilities. The Framework provides the structure for AIUSA’s annual operational plans and guides all of our programs, campaigns, advocacy, and financial planning. The current Strategic Framework clarifies our organization’s goals from 2022 through 2026.
Learn more about the Strategic Framework.
AIUSA will begin consultation on the next Strategic Framework next year, which will be implemented in 2027–2030.
The AIUSA Member Center is an online community for dues-paying members, activists, and member leaders to communicate, collaborate, learn, and share resources. Inside you will find topic-specific discussion communities, resource libraries, a user directory, and an events calendar. The Member Center brings together volunteers, staff and the Board of Directors to support human rights impact in the United States and around the world.
The Global Assembly is Amnesty International’s highest decision-making body, where delegates from all over the world come together to discuss and vote on important issues for the future of the movement. This includes making decisions on the movement’s policies, finances, and organizational structure.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE (NOMCOM)
Each year, the Nominating Committee (NomCom) recommends the candidate slate for the Board of Directors general membership election to fill vacant board seats. The Nominating Committee is responsible for reviewing applications, interviewing applicants, and their references, and ultimately recommending to the Board of Directors a candidate slate through a rigorous vetting process.
To learn more, please contact: [email protected].
NATIONAL RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE (NRC)
The NRC facilitates the resolutions process of AIUSA, the procedures in which our members can directly influence our policies and the ways we organize our work. NRC members promote the membership resolutions process, assist sponsors in crafting resolutions, prepare background for the regional conference and AGM resolutions packets, and advise the Board.
To learn more, please contact: [email protected]
Board candidates’ forum
Meet Board candidates in May during a virtual town hall. Date TBD!