As Amnesty International (AI) is a movement of people who adhere to the principles of justice, equality, accountability and promote respect for the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights covenants, the annual meeting is an important occasion where you as member, can come and make your voice heard as part of the highest decision making body of AIHK.
Amnesty International has in the past years endeavored to keep up with the human rights challenges posed by the sweeping global economic, political and social changes. In the recently concluded International Council Meeting (ICM) that was held in last August, the movement’s sections and structures have voted on a new Integrated Strategic Plan (ISP). The new ISP will guide the work of Amnesty International globally, internationally and locally in the next six years starting April of 2010 to March 2016.
Within the ISP, global priorities have been identified by the movement as a whole, as we move towards the implementation of the concept of “One Amnesty”, by which principle we seek to make the greatest human rights impact as we act together in a concerted and coordinated manner. As a movement we decide on our global priorities, taking into account relevant external developments as well as the interests, capacity and resources of the movement, and which will bridge the current Integrated strategic Plan (2004 to 2010) into the next (2010 to 2016). These priorities will cover activities that we must do and do together.
Setting priorities means making hard choices on what can be achieved within a clearly defined time period, given the opportunities, capacity, resources and competencies in the organization. AIHK, for its part, likewise needs to consider and select those issues and projects on which it can work together with the movement, in order for AI to achieve its targets. It also has to consider the timing and probable impact that we seek to make.
There are newer and even greater human rights challenges to be faced in this ever changing world, with the determination to bring about changes in people’s lives. This will only be made possible when people act together as global citizens in a spirit of international solidarity.
In the first part of the meeting, we will conduct official business, which includes receiving the reports from the Chair, financial reports and budget, and electing 2010 Executive Committee (EXCO) members.
In the second part of the meeting, we will have a guest speaker who will speak on international standards on economic, social and cultural rights, an international and local perspective on ESCR work and how it will improve human rights. This, we hope, will introduce members to the Demand Dignity Campaign, which is the core campaign in the new Integrated Strategic Plan (ISP).