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CAMPAIGNINGMANUAL

amnesty international

Amnesty International Publications

Amnesty International

Amnesty International is a worldwide campaigning movement that works to promote all thehuman rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other internationalstandards. In particular, Amnesty International campaigns to free all prisoners of conscience;ensure fair and prompt trials for political prisoners; abolish the death penalty, torture andother cruel treatment of prisoners; end political killings and "disappearances"; and opposehuman rights abuses by opposition groups.

Amnesty International has around a million members and supporters in 162 countries andterritories. Activities range from public demonstrations to letter-writing, from human rightseducation to fundraising concerts, from individual appeals on a particular case to globalcampaigns on a particular issue.

There are around 8,000 Amnesty International groups, including local groups, youth orstudent groups, and professional groups in 80 countries. Many of these work on long-termassignments concerning more than 7,000 prisoners of conscience and other victims of humanrights violations. Around 80,000 people are linked to Amnesty International's Urgent Actionnetwork, which mobilizes appeals on behalf of individuals whose lives or well being arefeared to be in immediate danger.

Amnesty International is impartial and independent of any government, political persuasion orreligious creed. Amnesty International is financed largely by subscriptions and donations fromits worldwide membership.

CAMPAIGNINGMANUAL

amnesty international

Amnesty International Publications

First published 1997by Amnesty International Publications1 Easton Street, London WC1X 8DJ, United Kingdom

© Copyright Amnesty International Publications 1997

ISBN: 0 86210 271 5AI Index: ACT 10/02/97Original language: English

Printed by: Blackmore Ltd, Dorset, United Kingdom

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted,in any form or by any means,electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording and/orotherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

1

CONTENTS

Preface / 1

Glossary / 3

Introduction / 5

SECTION ONECAMPAIGNING IN A CHANGING WORLD

Chapter 1 Strategic Campaigning / 11What is strategic planning? / 12Making choices / 14Principles of good campaigning / 15Principles in practice / 16Tools for building strategies / 24Possible objectives for campaigns / 26

Chapter 2 Campaigning in the Modern World / 29Relations between Countries / 31 Military, Security and Police Links and Transfers / 39Information Technology / 51

Chapter 3 Organizing for Action / 57International action planning / 58Campaigning on a national level / 59Theme campaigning / 66Campaigning and organizational health / 68

Chapter 4 Responding to Crises / 73Criteria for launching a crisis response / 74A beginning for long-term work / 74Aims of crisis response / 75AI policy and crisis response / 75Section objectives / 76

Mobilizing for action / 76Mobilizing a large-scale reaction / 81Campaigning techniques / 81

Chapter 5 Fundraising and Campaigning / 85What is integrated fundraising and

campaigning? / 86Why integrate? / 87The basics of fundraising / 87Techniques for attracting support / 88Techniques for consolidating support / 92A sustainable strategy / 94How integrated is your fundraising and

campaigning? / 95Help for fundraising / 96

Chapter 6 International Human Rights Standardsand Organizations / 97

International human rights law / 98Global and regional human rights standards / 98Standards on specific subjects / 99The importance of intergovernmental organizations / 105The importance of international human rights

standards / 106Strengthening the international human rights

framework / 107Using the international human rights framework / 107

SECTION TWOHOW WE ACHIEVE OUR GOALS

Chapter 7 Campaigning Techniques / 111Letter-writing and petitions / 113Speaking tours / 121Public events and protests / 129Contacts with embassies / 135Celebrity support / 143

Amnesty International Campaigning Manual

Chapter 8 Preparing Campaign Materials / 147Choosing the materials / 148Content / 148Writing and editing / 149Design / 149Printing / 150Leaflets / 152Outreach/Briefing papers / 152Reports / 153Posters / 154Placards / 154Banners / 155Newsletters / 155Photo exhibitions / 155Postcards / 156Stickers / 156Videos and audio tapes / 157Materials from the IS / 158Internet campaigning / 158

Chapter 9 Media and Publicity Work / 159The role of the media / 160Constructing a media strategy / 160Working with the media / 163Winning coverage / 165Trouble-shooting / 175Media servicing from the IS / 178Coordinating the media work of others / 179Monitoring and evaluation / 180

Chapter 10 Outreach / 181Activating Society / 181

The Business Community / 189

Military and Law Enforcement Officers / 201

The International Legal Network / 207

Trade Unions / 213

Youth Activists / 217

Religious Groups / 223

The Medical Sector / 229

Contents

Working on Women’s Human Rights / 235Working on Children’s Human Rights / 241Cooperation with the Human Rights Movement / 247

Chapter 11 Home Government Lobbying / 253Why approaching home governments is important / 254Developing a strategy / 254Campaigning methods / 258Holding governments to account / 260Practicalities of lobbying / 261Bilateral action on human rights by governments / 265

Chapter 12 Human Rights Education / 267AI and human rights education / 268A closer look at human rights education / 268Integrating human rights education in campaigning / 270

Chapter 13 Evaluation / 271The importance of evaluation / 272Why do you want to evaluate? / 272What do you want to evaluate? / 272Timing / 273Resources / 274What information is required? / 274Assessment / 275Presenting the the results / 276

Appendix 1 Useful Quotations / 277Appendix 2 Useful Addresses / 297Appendix 3 Useful publications / 303Appendix 4 Mobilizing the IS for Action during Crises / 307

Index / 309

Amnesty International Campaigning Manual

1

PREFACE

About this manualFor more than 35 years Amnesty International (AI)members have been campaigning to protect and promotehuman rights. This manual aims to pass on the experienceof these campaigners in an accessible format. We hope it willbecome a well-thumbed reference book for all thosecampaigning for human rights.

Although the manual stresses that all parts of AI's work,such as fundraising, campaigning and organization, shouldbe integrated, the book has been divided up into self-contained sections. This will, we hope, make it easier to useand enable activists to photocopy or refer to particularsections as the need arises.

This manual has been written primarily for AIcampaigners. However, it should prove useful for all thoseinvolved in the movement and perhaps for some people inother campaigning organizations. It is an externaldocument which can be given to people outside AI.

The book has been designed to be relevant for those insmall as well as large AI Sections, and for newcomers tocampaigning as well as veterans. Crucially, it is not ablueprint for action. Rather, it is a guide. Some techniquesmay apply to particular campaigns or Sections, some maynot. However, many of the guiding principles – such as theneed to prepare a strategy in advance and evaluate anyaction -- are universally applicable.

The Amnesty International Campaigning Manual is theproduct of a special project at the International Secretariat(IS) carried out by Patrick Earle. Special thanks go to himfor preparing, organizing and writing the manual. Thanksalso go to the authors of the US Section’s CampaigningManual for Groups, to the Dutch and UK Sections forproviding materials, and to the Australian, Polish, SouthKorean and many other AI structures that offered advice orexamples of their work. The Campaign and Crisis ResponseProgram at the IS had overall responsibility for the project.

For more informationAI's campaigning is constantly developing and evolving. Itsdiversity and flexibility help make it effective. Therefore thismanual can never be definitive. To find out about anycurrent policy or to obtain advice about campaigningmethods or particular actions, consult the appropriate bodyof AI.

If there is an AI Section or coordinating structure in your country,contact the Section office or the appropriate coordinator. If they cannotanswer your question, they will forward it to the IS in London.

If there is no one to contact in your country, contact the IS directlyat:

Amnesty International, Campaigning and Crisis Response Program,International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street,London WC1X 8DJ, United KingdomTel: 171 413 5500Fax: 171 956 1157e-mail: [email protected]

2 Amnesty International Campaigning Manual

1

GLOSSARY

g A question (to answer to help devise strategy or topose to others)

N A point being highlightedM A sub-point being highlightedf A warning, or a particularly important pointj Item on a checklist of things you can doc A tip

AGM Annual General MeetingAI Amnesty InternationalAICS (ES) Amnesty International Canadian Section

(English-speaking)AINZ Amnesty International New ZealandAIUK Amnesty International United KingdomAIUSA Amnesty International of the USAANAT Audio News Access TapeANR Audio News ReleaseAPC Association for Progressive CommunicationsAPEC Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operationARABAI Amnesty International Arabic Publishingco-group An AI Section’s coordination groupCCR Campaigns and Crisis Response programCRC Committee on the Rights of the ChildECOSOC Economic and Social CouncilEDAI Editorial Amnistía InternacionalEFAI Editions francophones d'Amnesty InternationalEJE Extrajudicial executionEU European UnionFGM Female genital mutilationFWG Fundraising Working GroupHRA Human rights awarenessHRE Human rights educationIBA International Bar AssociationICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political

RightsICESCR International Covenant on Economic, Social and

Cultural RightsICJ International Commission of JuristsICM International Council MeetingICRC International Committee of the Red CrossIEC International Executive CommitteeIFRG International Fund-Raising GroupIGO Intergovernmental organizationILC International Labour ConferenceILO International Labour Organisation

IMET International Military Education and TrainingIS International SecretariatIWGC International Working Group for ChildrenLIOP Legal and International Organizations ProgramMEC Military, economic and cultural (relations)MSP Military, security and police (transfers)NAT News Access TapeNATO North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationNGE Non-governmental entityNGO Non-governmental organizationOAS Organization of American StatesOAU Organization of African UnityODA Overseas Development AssistanceOSCE Organization for Security and Co-operation in

EuropeQ&A Questions and answersRAN Regional Action NetworkRMP Research and Mandate ProgramSWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and ThreatsSYSTEC Systematic Evaluation of TechniquesUA Urgent ActionUDHR Universal Declaration of Human RightsUK United KingdomUN United NationsUNDP UN Development ProgrammeUNESCO UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural

OrganizationUNHCR UN High Commissioner for RefugeesUNICEF UN Children's FundUSA United States of AmericaVNR Video News Release


1

INTRODUCTION

Amnesty International (AI) began as a campaign in1961. The newspaper article in the British Observernewspaper that started what has become a

worldwide movement was never intended as simply a pieceof journalism or research. It was meant to move people toaction -- to achieve change. Since then, achieving changethrough campaigning action has been AI's mission.

To build on AI's success, the movement must adapt tothe changing environment in which it operates. Theapparent certainties of the Cold War world have gone. Theframework of international relations continues to change.The processes of protest and social development withinsocieties have also been changing.

Underground protest movements have emerged toengage openly with new forms of government. Journalistsused to testing the boundaries of official tolerance areexperimenting with exploiting the power of public opinionto push for change. Mass protests and industrial actionhave been supplemented by lobbying, legal action andmarketing. Public actions have ceased to be a usefultechnique in some societies, but are becoming central inothers. New technology is opening up new possibilities tothose who can access it and realize its potential. Clearly, AImust understand and develop the new ways we can mobilizeour communities, other organizations and governments.

"What you do may seemterribly insignificant, but it is

terribly important that youdo it anyway."

Mahatma Gandhi

© AI

An integrated approach

Over the years, as AI has grown, it hasbeen possible to lose sight of its missionto campaign to stop and preventspecific violations of human rights, andpromote observance of all humanrights.

Board members can becomeabsorbed by the details and difficultiesof ensuring smooth administration.

Researchers may see results simplyin terms of the quality of informationgathered.

Fundraisers can see the figuresnext to the dollar sign as the sole markof success.

Media officers can measure resultsin column inches, and lobbyists canjudge their effectiveness in the wordingof government statements.

All these activities are important,but they are parts of the greater wholeof AI's campaigning mission.Campaigners have an important role toplay in keeping in focus this simplegoal, of making a difference to humanrights.

Research allows AI to be clearabout what needs to be changed andthe best ways of achieving that change.Reliable research is one of the pillars ofthe credibility underpinning AI'seffectiveness.

Fundraising provides us with theresources to campaign. It offers manypeople the chance to make a positiveand concrete contribution to our work.It allows campaigners to reach abroader audience. Independentfunding also underlines AI'sindependence, another source of itscredibility.

Administration enables us toorganize and develop our campaigningresources most efficiently. Buildingorganizational structures can help toincrease our campaigning capacity andeffectiveness.

Lobbying can persuadegovernments to agree to human rightsstandards and to abide by them.

Media work is one way of shamingthe guilty and alerting and mobilizingthe concerned.

A long-term campaignAI's mission is long term. We havealready been campaigning for morethan 35 years. It is likely that we will stillbe campaigning in 35 years' time.Campaigning is more than a series ofcampaigns or actions. It is also a processof building a movement capable ofresponding to the challenges ahead.

As campaigners we need to look athow we can contribute to building andsustaining the fundraising,campaigning and organizationalstructures in the long term -- while notlosing the sense of urgency aboutstopping the violations in the here andnow. That is why all these areas arecovered to some extent in thiscampaigning manual. AI'scampaigning mission to achieve realchange in people's lives is what gives allthese activities their sense and purpose.One of the challenges for campaignersis to remind others in AI of theseobjectives, and to help build acampaigning culture in every part ofthe movement.


Cardinal Beran, one of the first prisoners ofconscience adopted by AI, expresses hisappreciation for AI’s work by lighting the AIcandle at a ceremony in Rome in 1967

© PRESS ASSOCIATION

Responding to change

AI needs a campaigning culture to helpit respond effectively to changingcircumstances. A changing worlddemands that we be creative.

AI was born in a world dominatedand divided by superpower rivalry, andby many national struggles forindependence. Memories of world warand genocide were fresh. A newlyestablished United Nations (UN)carried the hopes of many for a newworld based on justice, peace andrespect for human rights.

All of the human rights violationsthat AI has been combating for decadescontinue to blight people's lives aroundthe planet. In some societies the prisongates have been opened and theprisoners of conscience freed. At least11 former prisoners of conscience havegone on to become heads of state orgovernment. In other societies,however, new forms of repression haveemerged, including extrajudicialexecutions and "disappearances".

AI must respond to this changingworld by developing new ways ofinspiring people to act in defence ofhuman rights and thinking of new waysto approach governments, ourcommunities and other organizations.

International solidarityThe principle of internationalsolidarity at the heart of AI makes itdifferent from locally-focusedcampaigning organizations. The focuson effecting human rights change inother countries means our startingpoint must be developing anunderstanding of how internationalaction -- from AI's membership and oursociety -- is best able to contribute toending specific human rights violationsin those countries.

Today there are more linksbetween more countries than everbefore. Some of these result directlyfrom the enormous growth andchanges in world trade, others from thebreaking down of Cold War barriers.Some are attributable to the rapiddevelopment of communications

technology and the establishment ofglobal media empires, others to shiftingmilitary alliances and relationships.Seeking to take advantage of thesegrowing connections and inter-relationships is one of the challengesincreasingly at the heart of AI's work.

Responding to human rightscrisesA major new challenge has been thebreakdown in some countries of theestablished power structures to whichAI has traditionally appealed. Thisbreakdown has often beenaccompanied by a sharp rise in killingsand "disappearances". New technologyand global media networks can quicklymake these crises dominate public andpolitical consciousness the world over.But this attention can be selective. Othercrises, with all their human tragedies,can remain forgotten or be ignored.

AI has developed and is stilldeveloping new techniques forresponding quickly and effectively tothese crises and the selectivity of theinternational response.

The international human rightsframeworkPart of this response involves a re-examination of the internationalframeworks and mechanisms fordealing with mass violations of humanrights. Much of AI's campaigningfocuses on holding governmentsaccountable to the standards they havethemselves agreed to through the UNand regional intergovernmentalbodies. This framework ofinternational law and human rightsstandards is of fundamentalimportance to AI's campaigning. AI,along with other organizations andindividuals, has also made importantcontributions to constructing thisframework.

Human rights reportingmechanisms have opened up valuablenew avenues for holding governmentsto account and for mobilizing action. Amajor challenge for AI is to protect andbuild on these gains, to make humanrights protection and promotion more

Introduction 7

central to the programs of the UN,regional bodies and individualgovernments.

A broader movementOne of the significant changes that AIhas contributed to and benefited fromover the past 35 years is the growth inthe human rights movement. There aremore non-governmental organizations(NGOs) working to stop the violationsthat form AI's mandate than everbefore. There are also moreorganizations working on associatedcivil, political, economic, social andcultural rights. Increasingly,campaigning strategies need to look athow AI can best contribute to andengage with domestic human rightsmovements.

As AI faces the challenges of the21st century, it does so as one part of alarge and dynamic movement that hassucceeded in placing and keeping thestruggle for human rights at centrestage. It has done so not in an abstractsense but by campaigning directly andoften successfully on behalf ofcountless thousands of individualssubjected to repression around theworld.

Tools of campaigningMore than any other campaigningtechnique, letter-writing has come to beidentified with AI. Yet it is not, nor has itever been, the only campaigningmethod that AI has organized. AI hasbuilt up a tool-box of techniques tocombat human rights abuses -- and hashappily borrowed "tools" from otherswhen necessary. Learning to use theright tools for the job at hand is part oflearning the trade of campaigning -- asis developing new tools for newproblems.

Campaigning principlesSeveral general principles ofcampaigning have been identified as aresult of the work of AI and others overthe years. One of these is the need tofocus energies and resources formaximum effect. Another is the need toclearly identify what changes we want,

and to be clear on how we can helpmake these changes. This means tryingto understand why and how we can beeffective in changing circumstances.

Part of this demands reflection onwhat has worked and why -- and whathas not worked and why. Such anassessment is partly a process of formalevaluation and partly a process ofongoing reflection, individually andcollectively as campaigners and as anorganization. A 1989 study of AI'scampaigning provided strong evidencethat developing a clear strategyincreased the chances of success.

There are without doubt tensionsinherent to AI's campaigning. Weconsciously seek to mobilize anger andoutrage at terrible violations of humanrights and to transform that anger intoeffective pressure -- also known as“polite and courteous” appeals! Wewant to demonstrate the depth of angerand strength of our commitment toprotest until the violations cease.Sometimes, this demands angry words,public demonstrations and directconfrontation. Sometimes, it meanspursuit of dialogue and quiet wordsbehind closed doors. Often, bothapproaches are needed.

As campaigners in AI ourcommitment must be to all these thingsbut to none of them exclusively.Everything we do must be governed bywhat we believe will most benefit thevictims and potential victims of humanrights abuses, rather than by ablinkered commitment to a particulartechnique. We will get the best sense ofthis from reflecting on the successesand failures of our campaigning andthe campaigning of others.

We hope that this manual will helphuman rights campaigners in theirwork, so that all our efforts to endhuman rights abuses the world over willhave an even greater impact.


CAMPAIGNINGIN A CHANGING

WORLD

section one

N Strategic Campaigning

N Campaigning in the Modern World

N Organizing for Action

N Responding to Crises

N Fundraising and Campaigning

N International HumanRights Standards and Organizations

1

CHAPTER 1STRATEGICCAMPAIGNING

As one of the largest and most ambitious humanrights organizations in the world, AI faces difficultdecisions every day. Making the right choices atthe right time in order to be effective is the skill ofstrategic campaigning. This chapter looks at someof the key principles that guide our decisions.

Contents

What is strategic campaigning? / 12

Evaluation / 14

Making choices / 14

Principles of good campaigning / 15

Principles in practice / 16

Focus / 16

Clarity / 17

Credibility / 19

Relevance / 20

Timing / 21

Commitment / 22

Tools for building strategies / 24

Strategic campaigning cycle / 24

Building a country strategy / 24

The need for specific country strategies / 26

Possible objectives for campaigns / 26

“Narrowing down a broadhumanitarian mandate into a

limited set of issues andpriorities is highly challenging.

Relief and development non-governmental organizations

operate in complex local,national and international

arenas, and juggle with manycompeting priorities. The

strategic planning process canhelp to eliminate unnecessary

conflict and to unifystakeholders around a shared

vision and a common purpose.”

The Oxfam Handbook, 1995

What is strategiccampaigning?Strategic campaigning is choosing aspecific course of action, on the basis ofavailable information and resources,which will be most effective in achievingidentified objectives.

Campaigning is an organizedcourse of action to achieve change.Letter-writing, lobbying, demonstrations,vigils and publicity are just some of themethods of campaigning we frequentlyuse. But it is not possible for anycampaigner, or AI as an organization, todo everything well and at once. We aretherefore constantly faced with choices– about what we will do, how we will do itand when.

Making the right choices at theright time is the heart and art ofstrategic campaigning. None of usmakes the right choices all the time, butthere are some core principles ofeffective campaigning that can help toguide our decisions.

Strategic planning is the process ofagreeing where you are now (A),deciding where you would like to get to(B), and how you can best get there (seediagram below).

Many strategic planning processes,

forms and tools have been developed tofacilitate and encourage strategicthinking and planning. One of the bestknown and most commonly used isSWOT. This is a process for looking atthe existing and potential Strengths,Weaknesses, Opportunities andThreats in an organization or of anissue. It can help to define the existingsituation and the problems that need tobe addressed so that objectives andstrategy can be agreed (see boxopposite).

Strategic plans should be helpfultools rather than set formulas to berigidly followed. Perfectly constructedstrategic plans can be prepared andimplemented – but they can still be thewrong plans!

Thinking strategically is not aspecialized or difficult process. Each ofus can imagine a range of everydaysituations where we have to makechoices about what we will do – fromhow we travel to work to how weapproach competitive sports.

The objective of all AI’s campaigningis to protect people’s human rights.Simply asking yourself or others a fewquestions before taking a particularcourse of action can help ensure yourplans are taking you in the rightdirection.


You are at A. You need to get to B. You haveto choose the best way of getting there.Public opinion, help from the legalcommunity and international action are alloptions. © BEATE KUBITZ

gQUESTIONS

g Can you explain how yourcampaign will contribute tochanging a human rights situation?

g Can you say why you are takingthis course of action rather thananother?

g If it is successful, can you saywhat will be different at the end ofyour campaign from the beginning?

Members and board membersshould be asking these questions, asmight journalists. You need to have theanswers.

Explicit strategies and plans areparticularly important for AI, as it is amembership organization.Accountability is essential. Themembership must also be keptinformed as this enables them tochoose how their skills, creativity andknowledge can best be used to make thestrategy succeed.

Strategic Campaigning 13

SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats)

STRENGTHS are positive factors of the AI Section that might be of particularimportance in different campaigns or actions. They might include financial andmaterial resources, good access to home government, a good public image, anefficient organizational structure, contacts (for example, in the media or otherorganizations), supporters, specialist knowledge or the existence of many groups.

When planning your work, consider how your Section’s strengths might be usefulin the context of a particular campaign. For example, if one of the internationalobjectives of a campaign includes getting action from the Roman Catholic Churchhierarchy and you have a strong religious outreach program with that church, thenthis might be one of the most effective areas of work for the Section.

WEAKNESSES are factors that inhibit the Section’s ability to act generally or onparticular issues. Weaknesses might include a lack of experienced members, limited(or no) funds, lack of facilities, poor organizational capacity or poor public image.

It is very important to identify your weaknesses so that you can either take steps toovercome them or avoid activities that you will be unable to cope with.

OPPORTUNITIES are factors about your society which might affect yourcampaigning. They might include an interested and sympathetic media, close linksbetween your society and the target country, a meeting of an aid consortium, a visitto your country by the head of state of that country, other organizations that might beable to put effective pressure on the targets of your campaigning, such as tradeunions, women’s groups, professional groups or ethnic groups, and important datesin the calendar.

When planning your work on a campaign or action, consider how you mighttake advantage of these opportunities.

THREATS are factors in your society that may have a negative impact on your abilityto contribute to a campaign or action. They will usually be out of your control,although as campaigners we may, in the longer term, hope to change at least someof the factors that represent a threat.

Threats might include a political or economic crisis, a hostile government, anintolerance of campaigning or voluntary organizations, business or other sectorssaying that human rights are against the national interest, a poor image arising fromfactors beyond the group’s control, human rights violations, security issues, localrestrictions on AI’s work, etc.

Threats also need to be analysed carefully when planning involvement in aparticular campaign or action.

Note: Strengths and Weaknesses are mostly internal questions and relate to AI,Opportunities and Threats are external and relate to the campaigning environment.

EvaluationThere is no guaranteed way of ensuringthat every “strategic plan” is indeedstrategic, or is the right plan. However,there are ways to help make sure welearn from our experiences and thoseof others and use these lessons toimprove our future work.

Foremost of these is formalmonitoring and evaluation, which isdealt with separately in Chapter 13.Evaluation can simply involve reflectingon past campaigns. Alternatively, youcan look at the campaigning of othersand discuss with them the causes oftheir successes and failures.

Making choicesHaving chosen to campaign, and tocoordinate campaigning, campaignersare immediately faced with choices.Which members of the targetgovernment should we be appealing toand about what? Should we post 50letters or complete five petitions for thesame effort? Who should we approachin our government? Should we focusour campaign on the death penalty oron torture?

AI is perhaps luckier than manyorganizations in that its overallobjectives (its mandate) are clear andspecific. Nevertheless, campaigncoordinators in every Section arecontinuously faced with strategicchoices about direction and priority.

Choices are always made withincertain parameters, as they are ineveryday life. Some of these are clearfor AI’s campaigners:N AI’s mandate and policies,including working on all the mandateissues and balance;N international campaigningpriorities established by the movementand specific requests from the IS andreflected in the internationalcampaigning calendar.

The other parameters are largelyset by your particular campaigningenvironment and resources, which canbe determined by answering thefollowing questions:

gQUESTIONS

g Do you have a membership tomobilize?

g How much money can youbudget for a campaign?

g How is AI seen in your society?

g Is your government hostile oropen to AI?

g Is your government open totaking up human rights concernswith other governments?

g Does your media influencegovernment policy?


“No one starts a campaign...without first being clear intheir mind WHAT they intendto achieve by the campaignand HOW they intend toconduct it. This governingprinciple will set [thecampaign’s] course,prescribe the scale of meansand effort which is required,and makes its influence feltthroughout down to thesmallest operational detail.”Carl von Clauswitz, a renowned militarystrategist

The child may be able to go up the steeppath, but the grandmother will need to takethe longer way round. Choices must bemade on the basis of your situation.© BEATE KUBITZ

g Who in your society may be ableto influence the human rightssituation in another country?

g Which sections of your societyshould you prioritize for developingsupport for AI?

g What materials are mosteffective for mobilizing AI membersor the public?

Campaigners are never in aposition to control all the factors thatwill decide success or failure in anycampaign. If they could, success couldbe guaranteed every time!

There are always other actors andcircumstances beyond our control.Some of these, such as a change ofgovernment or peace negotiations,may present opportunities. Others,such as business, military or politicalleaders voicing opposition to humanrights, may represent threats that haveto be taken into consideration in anystrategy.

Campaigning is also aboutchanging parameters. Increasing AI’smembership or support in thecommunity, for instance, can open upnew campaigning possibilities.

The campaigning principlesoutlined below can help when makingchoices, deciding strategies and puttingyour plans together.

Principles of goodcampaigning Campaigning and strategy wereoriginally military terms. However,good campaigning and good strategyare as important to those who seek toprevent war as to those who wage it.

Understanding why somecampaigns worked and others did notcan help you make choices about howto campaign in the future. Thefollowing is a list of some of these keyprinciples.

N FocusM objectives must be specificM resources and energy must beconcentratedM research and analysis are neededto decide focus

N ClarityM objectives and strategy need to becommunicated clearly M all action needs to be clearlyrelated to the objectivesM communications must be clear,internally and externally

N CredibilityM in communications, themessenger can be as important as themessageM AI’s motivation and informationmust be trusted and reliable

N RelevanceM AI’s campaigning has to connectwith the people whom it wants toinvolveM AI’s campaigning has to offer asolution relevant to the problem

N TimingM the same action will have differenteffects at different times

N CommitmentM the campaigning will not stop untilthe violations endM different strategies andtechniques will be tried to discover themost effective


AI has been described as anorganization of idealistic

pragmatists, or realisticidealists. Its mandate looksimpossibly idealistic, yet it

works towards achieving itsobjectives through realistic,

practical steps that havecontributed to real change.

Carefully timed events can reinforce theimpact of a campaign. During the UN World

Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995,the UK Section hired a tank and drove to the

Chinese Embassy in London to protestagainst human rights violations in China.The tank was chosen as a well-recognizedsymbol of the student demonstrations in

Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

© AI

These principles of goodcampaigning are interrelated and needto be integrated. Why they areimportant, and some examples of howthey have been applied in practice, aredetailed below.

Principles in practiceFocusSpecific objectives:You should be able to state any objectivein a simple sentence. If you cannot,then you may be trying to achieve anumber of different objectives. Theseneed to be stated separately in order to:N see whether the objectives areconflicting or complementary;N allow decisions to be made aboutpriorities;N measure whether you haveachieved your objective.

Usually there are many problemsthat need to be solved, so you need towork out which is the most urgent, andwhether there is a natural or logicalsequence to solving them.

While the objective of AI’scampaigning is always to protectpeople’s human rights, we need to bespecific about what changes arenecessary for this to happen.

Fulfilling AI’s mandate is a long-term objective. Over the period of aparticular campaign, say six or 12months, or during a strategy period oftwo to five years, it might be unrealisticto expect that AI will stop torture in aparticular country. So the objective ofending torture may not be specificenough to know what action will bemost effective for AI and others to take.

In such a case AI’s researchers andcampaigners need to identify (at leastinternally) the specific steps or changesmost likely to contribute to endingtorture. The same applies to the otherviolations in AI’s mandate. Thechanges, for example, could be:N legislation to prohibit torture;N training of prison and police officials;N immediate suspension andprosecution of officials believedresponsible for torture;N independent and immediateaccess to detainees;N an independent inquiry intoallegations of torture.

The steps to be taken could, forexample, be:N building public awareness;N letter-writing to the governmentor prison officials;N lobbying the home government tomake representations.


A group of AI campaign coordinatorsoutside the International Secretariat© AI

Then check that the relationshipbetween these are clear.

These shorter-term objectivesbecome the focus of campaigning andallow progress to be measured on theroad to abolition of torture or theending of other violations.

Focus energy and resources:Being focused when decidingcampaigning objectives and strategies isimportant because it:N helps to make sure that resourcesof time and money are directed towhere they are most likely to have animpact;N keeps people motivated byincreasing the chances of success andtherefore builds capacity to take onmore work in the longer term.

Why allocate resources of time ormoney to campaigns that haveunrealistic objectives when they couldbe allocated to something that couldhave an impact? Campaigns appearingto have unrealistic or unachievableobjectives find it more difficult toattract support. There is a credibilitygap.

Trying to do too much at one timecan spread and exhaust the resourceswhich need to be focused for maximumeffect.

Research and analysis:The issues AI confronts may be simplebut the context in which they take placeis always a complex mix of economic,social, political and cultural factors.The more knowledge AI has on thesefactors the more likely it will be able tomake its impact on them positive andeffective.

AI campaigning is about changingbehaviour. It is about persuading policeto respect the rights of detainees orencouraging members of the public tosign a petition.

To change behaviour it is useful tofind out why people or organizationsare behaving as they are, or what maymotivate them to act. Sometimes it ispossible only to make an informedguess, but even this can help to showhow our actions can affect behaviour.

Information and analysis are thestarting point of all campaigns. Theyallow us to define the problem we aretrying to solve or the opportunities weare trying to take advantage of. Theanalysis of available information willaffect every part of a campaign, fromdeciding objectives to determining andimplementing strategy. While much ofthis research, particularly on the targetcountry, is primarily the responsibilityof the IS, research and analysis bySections involved in the campaign arejust as important, particularly ininforming national strategies.

There is a standard type ofinformation and analysis that areimportant to AI’s campaigning, whichthe following questions might helpascertain.

gQUESTIONSg Who is responsible for thehuman rights violations?

g Why are the violationshappening and which factors couldAI influence?

g Are there particular momentsor times when we may have moreinfluence?

g How could our membership,society and government influencethose responsible for the violations?

g How can we persuade them toexert this influence?

ClarityObjectives and strategy need to be clear.This is particularly important in amembership organization, whereindividual initiative is necessary andencouraged.

Clarity enables all involved tobring their skills, knowledge andcreativity to bear. Once they know whatis to be achieved and how, they canmake rational decisions about how theyand those they can mobilize cancontribute most effectively. It alsominimizes the possibility that members


“Know the adversary andknow yourself; in a hundred[campaigns] you will never

be in peril. When you areignorant of the adversary butknow yourself, your chances

of winning or losing areequal. If ignorant both of

your adversary and ofyourself you are certain inevery [campaign] to be in

peril.”Sun Tzu, around 500 BC

“There is one key rule in anysort of communication...

start from where youraudience is, not from where

you are.”Sue Ward, Getting the Message Across,

Journeyman Press, 1992


Shock to generate interest

The UK Section of AI has for a number of years run a very successful series offundraising and membership recruitment advertisements in national newspapersand magazines. Their advertisements broke many advertising conventions byrelying heavily on a long text. They use shock to attract the readers’ interest. Theythen tell a compelling story to keep that interest while they explain a terrible humanrights situation. Finally, they offer the reader an opportunity to do something aboutit. Their target audience has been people with a tertiary education, interest in worldaffairs and disposable income. They have gained many donations and newmembers.

fShock advertisementshave worked well inIreland and the UK,but not in othercountries.

fLook for importantdates andanniversaries whichmight be helpful to acampaign. Alsowatch out for datesto avoid as offencecan easily be causedby planning actionfor a time that issensitive in aparticular culture orcountry.

will take action that is counter-productive to the strategy.

All action needs to be clearlyrelated to these objectives.This enablesall suggestions for actions to bemeasured against strategy andobjective, and allows resources to beused most effectively.

Communications must be clear,internally and externally. People haveto know what you are saying and whatyou are asking for. This may meanmessages need to be expressed indifferent ways to different audiences.

Governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)may know what the indivisibility anduniversality of human rights mean.Upwards of 98 per cent of a broaderpublic – radio and television audiences– will not. If you say people shouldnever have to choose between freedomfrom fear of hunger and freedom fromfear of torture, you express the sameconcept in a way more people canrelate to.

Communications must be clearlyrelated to purpose. A detailed reportmay be the best way to influencegovernment, but not the best way ofpersuading members of the public totake action.

Credibility

The messenger can be as important asthe message.The words of CaroleRichardson (see margin) describe howthe campaign to release her gainedmomentum after leading members ofBritish society expressed doubts aboutthe safety of her conviction.

Campaigning organizations needto be listened to if they are to stand anychance of success. They need to belistened to by those from whom they areasking for help and by those they needto convince to take some action to stopa human rights violation. In manysocieties, to be listened to takes morethan being right or just.

AI’s credibility means that itsinformation is generally believed. It iswidely referred to – by journalists,academics, policy advisers, othercampaigning organizations, diplomatsand government departments. Otherindividuals or organizations could bemaking the same claims and calling forthe same action, but they will often findit harder to be believed or to have animpact.

Since organizational credibility isimportant to the success of AI’scampaigning goals, it follows that


Reinforcing AI’s credibility: a queue ofpeople wait to present testimony to an AI

delegation visiting Guatemala.© JEAN-MARIE SIMON

“I think that is what hurtsmost. Until... people like thatsaid they had doubts about

our convictions no one reallywanted to know. Yet nothing

is different now to what itwas 10 or 12 years ago... All that has changed is the

people telling it... Unfair isn’ta strong enough word for

what I feel about it all, but Ican’t think of another one.”

Carole Richardson, writing from prison, waswrongly convicted in the UK after an unfair

trial in 1974. She was freed in 1986.

campaigners should both use thiscredibility and be careful to protect it. Itis much easier for an organization tolose credibility than to gain it!

AI’s motivation and informationmust be trusted and reliable. Itsorganizational credibility rests on thefollowing:N the commitment of itsmembership to campaign;N the issues it campaigns on areenshrined in internationally agreedstandards;N its information is trusted,its recommendations are reasonableand clearly related to the problemsidentified;N the consistency of its campaigningrecord – that it campaigns on countriesand individuals whatever their politicalideologies and allegiances;N perceptions of relevance andeffectiveness;N attention to “forgotten”, hiddenand often unpopular situations;N its focus on the need to stopviolations rather than winningagreement on their causes, which couldeasily become an attack on ideologiesor systems of government;N it can point to evidence that AIworks, such as individuals released ortreated better;N people relate to the issue of unfairtreatment.

RelevanceAI’s campaigning has to connect withthe people it wants to involve. Some ofAI’s campaigning is directly orindirectly related to our own societiessuch as:N campaigning on refugee issues,

arms transfers, the death penalty, owngovernment foreign policy;N campaigning on themes or issues,including women’s rights.

The main focus of AI’scampaigning is international solidarity.People take action about human rightsviolations in a country they may neverhave heard of for many reasons.Sometimes they feel it is theirresponsibility or duty. More often theyrespond because you made theminterested. Interest might not beenough on its own, but it is generally animportant starting point.

Perceiving something as relevant isa major motivating factor in personaland organizational behaviour. AI seeksto take advantage of it routinely inoutreach work (see Chapter 10). Weseek to involve trade unionists in AIcampaigns by demonstrating that someof the individuals we are working for aretrade unionists.

“The price of liberty is eternalvigilance” is an often used quote. Itsuggests that we all share an interest inprotecting our rights – even when oursare not being violated or threatened.The argument that we are alldiminished by allowing acts of injusticeto go on around us is another way ofappealing for people to see therelevance of taking action. Whatever itstruth, it will appeal to some but not toothers.

Many other campaigningorganizations can rely on a clear senseof relevance and sometimes self-interest when asking people to takeaction. This applies to environmentalcampaigners, for example, who aretrying to stop a toxic dump in their


Carnations and Colombia: challenging assumptions

Researching information on Colombia in preparation for the international campaignin 1988, the Australian Section discovered that Colombia was a major exporter ofcarnations. This surprised many, partly because Colombia’s image wasoverwhelmingly of drugs and drug-related violence.

One aim of the campaign was to change these perceptions and highlight thehuman rights violations in Colombia. Carnations proved a positive and attractiveway of challenging these images. For example, a local AI group in Townsville, a smalltown in Queensland, was filmed during a publicity action in which they usedcarnations. They were then interviewed on a major regional television network.

community. AI campaigners often haveto work harder and more creatively tomake issues seem relevant to the peoplefrom whom support is wanted.

People define relevance in manydifferent ways. However, mostcampaigners asking others to takeaction are likely at some time to beasked “Why should I?” The answerneeds to satisfy their needs – whichmight be quite different from thecampaigner’s motivation.

In short, interest, concern, angerand shock can all make people feelemotionally and intellectually involvedin an issue.

Campaigning also has to offer asolution relevant to the problem. Somepeople will take action no matter howhopeless the cause seems. Many others,however, will want to know that: M the solutions AI are suggesting arepractical and realistic;M their support or action will beeffective.

AI communications need to stressboth. If members and supporters donot see AI offering relevant solutions toproblems, they may well take theirsupport to other organizations or simplystop believing they can do anything. Letthe membership know of every successto which they have contributed.

TimingThe same action will have differenteffects at different times. As acrobats,actors and comedians say, timing iseverything!

AI’s campaigning, whatever itsextent, is only one factor in thedynamics of change. The success orfailure of campaigning is shaped by itscontext and the interplay of a widerange of factors. Timing is one of themost important factors.N Urgent Actions (UAs) weredeveloped by AI in response tochanging patterns of human rightsviolations and the increasinglyapparent need for action to be takenvery quickly if it was to be effective.N Issuing a major human rightsreport on a country prior to a meetingof an aid consortium on that country ismore likely to build pressure thanreleasing the report after the meeting.N A media conference or mediarelease issued on a quiet news day ismore likely to get coverage than onethat competes with other major newsstories. N Action in the lead-up to discussionof legislation is more likely to have animpact than after the law has been passed.N It is usually best not to organizemajor membership activity during aholiday season.


Making it easy to say ‘yes’: a non-AI campaign

Tim Anderson was convicted in 1991 of charges arising from the bombing of the1978 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sydney, Australia. Heimmediately lodged an appeal and applied for bail pending the appeal. Thecampaign group protesting his innocence decided to seek support from prominentAustralians for the bail application. The stated objective was to get bail, although thesecondary objective was to gain widespread support and favourable mediacoverage.

A short statement expressing concern over aspects of the conviction and callingfor his release on bail was drafted. It included a pledge to provide $A 1,000 insurety to support bail, which was intended to demonstrate the commitment of thosesigning the statement. Over 30 leading Australians signed. The bail application wasrefused, but the judge remarked on the extent of community concern over the safetyof the conviction and this received substantial media coverage. (The conviction wasquashed in the appeal court six months later.)

Had the statement asked people to state a belief in Tim Anderson’s innocence,rather than concern over the conviction, many fewer people would have signed it.The strategy would have failed. Its success lay in making the statement easy tosupport.

N Many UN discussions of humanrights happen on a fixed timetable.Individual Sections need to lobbygovernments months before suchmeetings occur.N A news release issued immediatelyafter an event has the greatest chance ofwinning and influencing coverage. Anews release a few days or a week later ismore likely to be ignored.

CommitmentAI’s campaign will not stop until theviolations end. This commitment isimportant because:N people suffering and at risk ofhuman rights violations have placedtrust and hope in AI and AI has aresponsibility towards them;N governments must be denied thehope that they can simply ignore thecampaign until AI gives up and goes away.

Try different strategies andtechniques to discover the mosteffective. A commitment to creativity isimportant for several reasons:N it helps to make campaigninginteresting, to yourself and others –and helps to motivate people tobecome involved;N it can get your campaigningnoticed;N it makes it more difficult forgovernments to come up with effectivecounter-strategies and tactics.

Think of who you are trying toinfluence.N Have they become familiar withand adept at handling the lettersgenerated by AI members? N Will a different approach, orperhaps an approach to a different part ofgovernment or society, help to regain theimpact that the first wave of letters had?

cTIPS

c Keep it simpleSimple plans are usually easier toorganize and therefore more likely tohappen. Simple ideas are easier toexplain and more likely to be

understood and acted on by others.Less can go wrong with simple ideas.

c Make it easyThe easier it is for someone to dosomething, the more likely they are todo it.

If you send an appeal asking for adonation, how easy is it for someone torespond? Have you made it clear whothe payment should be made to? Haveyou provided an envelope for them toreturn their donation in? Is the postagepre-paid?

If you ask an organization orindividual to send a letter on behalf of aprisoner, have you provided all theinformation they need, such as theaddress, background information,points for letters?

If you are asking a trade union orother association to pass a motion ofsupport, should you provide them witha model resolution that is likely to needminimum modification?

c Do not ask people for what theycannot deliverWhether in lobbying, outreach or othercampaigning, it is important to find outwhat the person you are approaching isable to do. Journalists, for example,may not be able to guarantee that astory will make it to print or to air as thisdecision is taken by an editor.Government officials may not be seniorenough to take the necessary decisions.

Making unrealistic demands ofpeople may lead to frustration on bothsides, and can make AI lookunprofessional and badly informed.

Representatives of governmentsmust be clear about what AI is askingfor: the immediate release of a prisonerof conscience, abolition of the deathpenalty, etc.

c Success breeds successEveryone is motivated by achievingwhat they set out to do. Successes createnew opportunities and lead to newchallenges. They also createmomentum and attract support.

Defining success and failure ispartly in your hands. If your campaign


aims to end torture in six months,people will be disappointed if it fails,even if your campaigning has securedaccess to detention centres by theInternational Committee of the RedCross (ICRC) – a major safeguardagainst torture.

If, however, you had stated accessto detention centres as an aim and thenachieved it, people will be motivated tocontinue campaigning because theycan see that they have helped to achievechange. The first and perhaps mostdifficult step has been won and you willprobably be able to build on thissuccess. The results of the campaignwere the same – but one is seen as afailure, the other as a success.

Sometimes it is useful to state yourobjectives as the things you hope toachieve if everything you can controlgoes to plan and circumstances arefavourable. But it is also useful to staterealistic aims that you think you will beable to achieve if some things do not goto plan or external circumstances arenot favourable.

Measuring the effect of AI’s work isnot always easy or possible. Processes ofchange in any society are complex, andit can be very hard to judge AI’s precise

impact on a situation. Yet it is normallypossible to build into our strategiessome indicators of success (forexample, the number of governmentsor NGOs supporting access to detaineesby the ICRC), even if the impact of thison the pattern of torture is a matter ofinformed guesswork for some time.

To check how specific andmeasurable your strategy is, ask yourselfwhat you hope and what you expect willbe different after the campaign. Writedown the answers.

c Set the agendaCampaigning on the death penaltyprovides a good example of howdifferent sides of the debate try todefine the issue in different ways. Thosein favour of executions want the deathpenalty defined as a law and order issueand seek to play on fears of crime orviolence to mobilize public opinionand put pressure on politicians andgovernments. Abolitionists try toensure the death penalty is defined as ahuman rights issue and seek to keep thedebate focused on the cruelty of thepunishment and the unfairness of thejustice process. Abolitionists will oftenhave to explain that there is noevidence that the death penalty is adeterrent to crime. This meansacknowledging and trying to counterthe fact that the death penalty is seen bymany as a law and order question.

Other examples of this principlecan be seen in the responses ofgovernments to AI’s campaigning.Governments often seek to divert AI’scampaigning by trying to redefine theissue, for example by presenting AI’sreport on torture as an infringement ofnational sovereignty. They may alsoattack AI’s credibility, motivation andinformation, or deflect the discussioninto a debate about which rights aremore important than others.

N QuotationsEstablish a file of useful quotations.Include statements that you see in themedia or obtain through campaigningfrom politicians, human rights activists,business leaders, etc. These quotes can


Maris-Stella Mabitje, a former politicaldetainee in South Africa, meets AI memberswho successfully campaigned on her behalf

© ANDERS KALLERSAND

be useful, for example by showing thedegree of support for AI or the issues AIis campaigning on. A collection ofquotes is included in Appendix I.

Tools for buildingstrategies

Strategic campaigning cycleAI’s global strategies to improve humanrights in particular countries and inrelation to particular themes need to beexplicit to enable national strategies tocontribute to them. Nationalcampaigning strategies also need to beexplicit to enable AI groups and othermembership structures to campaignstrategically.

N Decide what the problem is (issue).This is distilled from an analysis of thehuman rights violations of concern toAI, the domestic political environmentin which they occur, the forces(including individuals) that are directlyor indirectly responsible for theviolations, and those inside or outsidethe country who may influence them.Other factors worth considering areinformation on the effectiveness of pastcampaigning, whether currentperceptions are adversely affectingdomestic or international action on theproblems, and whether thegovernment or security forces havedeveloped strategies to evadeaccountability.

N Agree on the specific change in thepresent situation that AI needs to workfor in the short and long term (aims).This could be the repeal of particularlegislation, the release of specificprisoners, an acknowledgement thatviolations have occurred and anexplicit commitment to end them,ratification of international humanrights instruments, etc.

N Decide the best way to achieve theseaims based on your earlier analysis.This could be:M membership action, such as letter-

writing to the target government bymembers;M outreach, such as letters orstatements by law societies and lawyersto the government and judges in thetarget country;M lobbying/intergovernmentalorganization (IGO) work, such as raisingthe issue at the UN Commission onHuman Rights and asking membergovernments to pass a resolution;M media work, such as publicity aboutmilitary supplies and training that arecontributing to human rights violations.

N Decide the best way to get theaction you need (action forms).This could be a major campaigninvolving most of the membership(country campaign), a very quickworldwide response (rapid response orUA), lobbying of key governments,long-term work by a few groups, apublicity splash, etc.

N Evaluate the analysis of violations,the context and any changes, as well asthe existing strategy and actions, andadjust to them as required.Look at AI’s position in your society andthe links between your society and thetarget country – cultural, economic,institutional, political and/or militarylinks (see Chapter 2). Then look at theopportunities any of these links mayoffer for influencing the human rightssituation in the target country, anddevelop strategies for exploiting theseopportunities.

Building a country strategyAnswering the following questions mayhelp you develop a country strategy:

gQUESTIONS

g What is the human rightssituation in the target country? Aretorture and ill-treatment ofprisoners, or “disappearances”widespread?

g What specific changes do wewant to see? Do we want action toimprove the treatment of prisoners,


to begin investigations into cases of“disappearance”, etc?

g Who in the target country isdirectly responsible for the humanrights situation that we are trying tochange? Are they prison officials,opposition groups, etc?

g Who in these countries isindirectly responsible for humanrights abuses? Are they politicians,prison authorities, etc?

g Who in the target country couldinfluence those responsible? Arethey health professionals, themedia, religious organizations,trade unions, etc?

g Who in your country couldpersuade the influential people inthe target country to act? Are theydoctors, journalists, politicians,religious groups, etc?

g How can you persuade the


people or organizations in yourcountry to put pressure on thosewith influence in the target country?What campaigning techniquescould you most effectively employ:lobbying public events, petitions,media work, writing letters, etc?

The need for specific countrystrategiesEvery country strategy is different. Forexample, AI condemns the deathpenalty in the USA as much as it does inChina. It is equally committed toachieving abolition in both countries.In both countries governmentlegislation allows the state to killcitizens. In both countries achievingabolition poses a major challenge forAI. Will the same strategy work in bothcountries?

A campaign for abolition of thedeath penalty that does not recognizethe differences between Chinese andUS society will be unlikely to succeed ineither country. The boxes on this pageshow just some of the differences.These need to be reflected in differentinternational campaigning strategies.

For example, it may make sense totry and change public opinion in theUSA on the death penalty as localpoliticians would then not win votes bypromising to put more people to deaththan their political rivals.

It may not make sense to targetpublic opinion in China because it isnot clear how public opinion affectsgovernment policy on crime, norwhether public opinion is in favour oropposed to the death penalty.

Possible objectives forcampaigns This section looks at some possiblecampaigning objectives for AI andwhether they are long or short term,specific or general.

N The release of all prisoners ofconscience in a countryThis is a final objective in relation to acountry with an AI mandate concern.At certain times, such as when agovernment has changed, it may be ashort-term and final objective.

N The release of specific prisonersof conscienceAs a short or more specific objective onthe way to achieving the release of allprisoners of conscience, AI may decideto concentrate on particular individualsor groups of individuals. This is a tacticthat worked in relation to Indonesia inthe 1970s, and was used to highlight thecases of people such as Andrei Sakharovin the former Soviet Union and by theanti-apartheid movement in SouthAfrica in relation to Nelson Mandela.


CHINA

N Central government decrees punishments for different crimesN Public opinion is not thought to have a major influence on the death penaltyN Trials are often summary and unfairN Thousands of people are executed annuallyN Many crimes are subject to the death penaltyN No known organizations campaign against the death penaltyN Race is not known to be a factor in verdicts and sentencing

USA

N Elected state government decides punishment optionsN Public opinion is thought to have a major influence on the death penaltyN Trials are long and costlyN Executions are increasing but still less than 100 annuallyN Few crimes are subject to the death penaltyN AI and many other groups campaign against the death penaltyN Race is believed to be a factor in verdicts and sentencing

N The reduction of sentences forcertain prisonersThis is rarely a stated external objective ofAI, but may be an internal (or expectedrather than hoped for) objective.

N Improvement in prison conditionsThis can be a final objective forprisoners, or an objective on the way tothe final objective: the release of aprisoner of conscience.

N Change in legislation that wouldaffect AI’s concernsThis can be a final objective, but is morelikely to have been identified as a stepthat can be taken towards achieving thefinal objective of ending a particularpractice. It could therefore be the focusof a particular campaign.

N Increase awareness of abuses This should never be a final objective. Itmay have been identified as an importantstep towards the final objective of endingabuses. As expressed, it is not specific andis very hard to measure. Its relationship toaction that would provide evidence of

moving towards ending violations istherefore difficult to establish.

N Elicit a response from or dialoguewith government authorities about AI’sconcernsThis is not a final objective, although it maybe the objective of a specific campaign.The sort of response or dialogue wantedand why a response is important wouldneed to be explained in the strategy.

N Increase the debate withingovernment circles about human rightsviolationsThis can be an important campaignobjective, particularly when AI believesthat there is controversy and oppositionto the violations within governmentcircles. It would need to have some formof measurement, such as comments byministers or journalists, or a policychange. It is not a final objective.

N A target government to startinvestigations into human rights violationsThis may be identified as an importantobjective as evidence of a commitment


To welcome or condemn? Case One

Government A announces a moratorium on the death penalty. Should AI welcomethe decision as a positive step towards abolition or condemn it as a lost opportunityfor abolition? AI has taken both positions at different times in the past. What factorsdo you think may have led to these different responses? What might be theadvantages and risks of responding in either way to such an announcement?

N If AI welcomes the moratorium it risks being accused of retreating from itsposition of calling for complete abolition. A moratorium may not be the best decisionthe government could have made in the circumstances and strong criticism maymake it go a bit further and announce abolition.

N If AI condemns the moratorium it may be excluded from further debate withthe government, and be seen as negative and unrealistic in refusing to acknowledgea step forward. The moratorium may have been the best decision in thecircumstances and defining it as a negative step may mean missing the opportunityof using the momentum of the decision.

To welcome or condemn? Case Two

AI hears reports of government soldiers being involved in a massacre and calls onGovernment B to launch an independent inquiry. Government B announces anindependent inquiry but does not provide details of its composition or terms ofreference. Should AI welcome the inquiry or condemn it? AI has taken bothpositions in the past. What factors do you think may have led to these differentresponses? What might the advantages and risks be of responding in either way tosuch an announcement?

N How AI reacts will open up or shut down further campaigning opportunities.

to end impunity – and the violationsthemselves. It is easy to measure andopens up further opportunities forcampaigning.

N Independent access to detainees atrisk of tortureThis can be an important campaignobjective. If respected, access is one ofthe major safeguards against tortureand ill-treatment. It can be animportant step towards ending torture.It is also measurable and specific.

N Abolition of the death penaltyThis is a final objective, although it canalso be a short-term one. Several newgovernments in recent years have madeabolition of the death penalty one oftheir first acts. It is very measurable. Acampaign objective may be to establisha moratorium on executions.

N Reduction in the number ofoffences carrying the death penaltySome AI campaigning strategies havetaken an incremental approach toabolition of the death penalty on thebasis that focusing efforts on totalabolition would be unrealistic andineffective. Abolition remains the long-term objective. Abolition in practicemay be the mid-term objective, withrestriction of the death penalty toaggravated murder the short-termobjective.

N Increase awareness of AI’s goalsThis should only be an objective if itsrelationship to some other action isclear – if a case can be made that it is anecessary step. Awareness isnotoriously difficult to measure and forthis to be a specific objective it wouldbe necessary to measure awarenessbefore and after the campaign, and tospecify among whom awareness was tobe raised.

N Statement from home government on human rights situation in targetcountryThis is a specific objective that may bean important way of bringing pressureto bear.

N Increase AI’s membershipThis can be a valid internal objective ofAI’s campaigning, particularly if a lackof members has been identified as aweakness. Specify how many newmembers are to be gained over whatperiod.

N Enhance AI’s impartial imageAI’s image in the community may havebeen identified as a weakness that isadversely affecting the impact of itscampaigning. In this case, enhancingAI’s image is a necessary step toachieving other objectives.

N Increase participation in AI’sactivities of a particular section of thecommunityThis may be an important objective inrelation to either a specific countrycampaign or to AI’s campaigning moregenerally.


1

CHAPTER 2CAMPAIGNING IN THEMODERN WORLD

The massive growth and changes in world trade,including in the field of military, security andpolice transfers, the integration of the worldeconomy and the communications revolutionhave transformed international relations. Thereare more links between more states than everbefore. These changes have opened upopportunities and challenges for AI’scampaigning. This chapter looks at these new andexciting areas for AI’s work in the following threesections:

Contents

Relations between Countries / 31

Military, Security and Police Links and Transfers / 39

Information Technology / 51

“The greatest evil today isindifference. To know and not to

act is a way of consenting tothese injustices. The planet has

become a very small place.What happens in other

countries affects us.”Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

1

MODERN WORLDRELATIONS BETWEENCOUNTRIES

The world has become a smaller place. States aremore closely linked than ever before, throughtrade, international relations and moderncommunication systems. Finding those links andmaking the best use of them is an important partof AI’s work in the modern world. This sectionlooks at:

N Relations between countries / 32

N Information about relations between countries / 32

N Links with the government in the target country / 33

N Links with society in the target country / 34

N Using the links / 37

Intergovernmental organizations, such asthe United Nations, are good starting points

for gathering information about yourtarget country and researching links

between your own country and the targetcountry

© UN

Unfortunately due to copyright reasons we are unable to showthis image. Please contact yournearest Amnesty Internationaloffice to obtain a hardcopy of

this publication.

Relations between countriesAI must take account of theinternational political environment inwhich we campaign. Usually, we havesome basic understanding about thebroad nature of the relations (or lack ofrelations) between our own countryand the country in which the humanrights violations we wish to address aretaking place.* Even when we do notconsciously discuss such relations, theyinfluence our planned actions.

In trying to develop a morestrategic approach to campaigning,discussion about the relations betweencountries is often helpful. Sometimes itis useful to have the discussion on thebasis of existing knowledge. Sometimesit is worth finding out the details in aspecific area. The important thing is todevelop our capacity to use theinformation to make our campaigningmore effective.

There are a number of areas whereSections can choose to developspecialist approaches:

N Military relationsIn this area we have specific policies andaction strategies on military, securityand police (MSP) transfers (see nextsection). Some AI Sections have alsodeveloped specialist groups of militaryor former military people, police orformer police who are AI members andare willing to use their professionalskills or status in AI work. Thedevelopment of this specialist capacitywas prioritized by the 1995International Council Meeting (ICM),AI’s supreme policy-making body whichis held biennially.

N Economic relationsIn this area some Sections havedeveloped specialist groups, involvingAI members with a background in thebusiness world, to make approaches tocompanies and business people abouthow they can contribute to humanrights (see Chapter 10). The furtherdevelopment of work on company

approaches was prioritized by the 1995ICM. There have also been movement-wide policy discussions about how wecan most effectively work for humanrights in the context of the economicrelations between governments. Manygovernments have policies which linkhuman rights and economic relationswith other countries.

N Cultural relationsIn this area the development of AI’swork has been more sporadic. It hasincluded outreach to religiouscommunities by many Sections. Therehave also been a number ofcampaigning initiatives which havebeen linked to international sportingevents, such as the Olympic Games.

Information about relations between countriesIn order that Sections can best analysewhich links provide the best strategicopportunities, individual countrystrategies provided by the IS should: N state which sectors of thegovernment/society are mostresponsible for human rights violationsand which are most likely to be in aposition to influence the human rightssituation;N state which international linkshave the most potential for influencinga human rights situation in a particularcountry.


Sri Lanka and Turkey have both promotedthemselves as tourist destinations. In bothcases AI Sections have used this popularimage and contrasted it with the grimreality of human rights violations. The UKSection mailed their supporters anenvelope containing “holiday photographsfrom Turkey”, which consisted ofphotographs of victims of human rightsviolations. Other Sections have producedbrochures highlighting human rightsviolations and approached travel agentsasking them to display these along with thetravel brochures. This poster was producedby AIUSA for a campaign against humanrights violations in Sri Lanka and displayedon a roadside billboard. Campaign materialdisplayed in places normally associatedwith commercial advertising and travelinformation can make the necessary linkbetween the image of an attractive holidaydestination and the reality of human rightsviolations.

* AI often refers internally to these relationsas military, economic and cultural relations(MEC).

AI Sections are best placed todevelop the knowledge and expertiseon the links between their society andthe society of the target country, and thehuman rights potential of these links.

Fulfilling this potential is likely toneed a combination of AI’s campaigningtechniques, including outreach,lobbying, company approaches,publicity work and letter-writing.

Links with the government in the target countryThe following questions may help youdetermine the links between yoursociety and the government in thetarget country:

gQUESTIONS

g Which internationalorganizations are your governmentand the government of the targetcountry members of? Do they belongto the UN, the UN Commission onHuman Rights, the UN SecurityCouncil, regional organizations, theNon-Aligned Movement or tradeassociations?

g What is the position of yourforeign affairs ministry in relationto the country? Apologist? Adversary?Mixed?

g Has the target country been thesubject of parliamentary orgovernment hearings in the past fewyears? In what connection and withwhat results? Who testified, and whatlink if any exists between the testimonyand AI’s concerns?

g Does your government belongto an aid consortium relevant to thetarget country? Such consortiums mayprovide an opportunity for raising ordiscussing AI’s concerns.

g Does your government provideOverseas Development Assistance(ODA) to other countries? Which

ones? Have AI’s concerns been raisedduring discussions on ODA programs?Is there an explicit human rightscomponent to discussions?

g Are there formal connectionsbetween your MSP agencies andthose in the target country throughinternational bodies or alliances?

g How do these associationsfunction? Are there MSP transfersbetween your country and the targetcountry?

g How much is known about thetarget government officials mostdirectly responsible for humanrights violations? Did any of theofficials or politicians live, travel, study,train or serve in your country at anytime? When, where and in whosecompany? Are there professors,business executives, foreign serviceofficers past or present, journalists orothers who could offer a first-hand view ofthe officials, what motivates them, whothey think is important?

g Does the government of thetarget country routinely send tradedelegations, delegates toprofessional and culturalconferences and events, and othersemi-official or unofficialemissaries to your country? And viceversa?

g Has the government hiredpublic relations agents in yourcountry? Who are they? Are they opento a meeting to discuss AI concerns?

g Is there an embassy of the targetcountry in your country?

g Is there a “fixer” attached tothe target country’s embassy in yourcountry – someone who arrangesinvitations, receptions, travel formembers of parliament or otherimportant people in your country?How public are the activities of the“fixer”, or how possible is it to monitorthem?

Modern World/Relations between Countries 33

There is a single category oflinks between countries

where AI may take a positionof expressing concerns,

raising questions or callingfor cessation in very specificcircumstances. This is in the

case of military, securityor police transfers.

g Does your government have a“special visitors” program throughwhich leading individuals fromother societies can be invited?

g Who in government and privateinstitutions has a knowledge of, orspecial interest in, the country ofconcern?

Links with society in thetarget countryThe following questions may help youdetermine the links between yoursociety and that of the target country:

gQUESTIONS

g What are the powerfuleconomic, social and culturalinfluences on the government ornon-governmental entity fromwithin the society?

g Is religion a powerful force inthe country? Which religions andwhich government officials are mostinfluential? Is there a connectionbetween the religion/s and thereligious organizations in yourcountry? Are there any relevant events,visits or exchanges happening?

g Are there a number of formalpolitical parties competing forpower? Do they have internationallinks with other parties of a similarpolitical system? Are they members ofthe Inter-Parliamentary Union? Dothey have youth or women’ssections/departments that are linkedwith international federations? Dothese have contact with organizationsin your country?

g Who are the most importantbusiness and industrial leaders inthe country? Which of them has lived,studied or worked in your country?Who are their colleagues or associatesin your country? Are there linksthrough trade or industry associations?Do any of them represent joint venture

holdings with companies based in yourcountry? Have any of them everexpressed public concern for humanrights or been detained by formergovernments?

g What is the volume of tradebetween the societies? In whosefavour is the balance of trade? Is itgrowing or decreasing? What is thenature of the trade – services,manufactured goods, primaryproducts? Are there forthcoming tradepromotions? Is there contact throughtrade associations or regulatoryorganizations? Is either governmentactively involved in encouraging tradethrough incentives, seminars, bilateralcontact?

g Are trade unions powerful inthe country? Are they officiallyrepresented in government? What isthe government’s relationship with theInternational Labour Organisation(ILO)? Are the unions active on widerissues, outspoken, independent? Whatare their internationally affiliatedunions and umbrella groups? Are theymembers of international unions orfederations which have affiliates in yourcountry? Are there regular contactsbetween union members and officialsin the two countries?

g Is the media influential ongovernment policy in the targetcountry? Does the media ever publishreports of human rights violations bythe government? Is it self-censored,government controlled, or free? Does ithave correspondents based in yourcountry? Is there an active foreign presscorps there? Do media organizationsfrom your country havecorrespondents based there? What isthe level of ownership of television andradio? Do they receive internationaltransmissions?

g Is the government sensitive toits image in the international media?And to the media in your country?Why? What is the routine level of mediainterest in your country? When was the


During an official tradepromotion of India inAustralia, AI membershanded out letters to theAustralian guests arriving atfunctions, providinginformation on oneparticular human rights caseand asking them to raise thecase with visiting IndianGovernment officials. An e-mail link with a school inan Indian city was part of thepromotion. AI members usedthis to register Australians’concern and begin adiscussion over the case andother human rights violationsperpetrated against Indianschoolchildren.

most recently increased media andpublic interest in the target country?What caused this?

g Is there an active bar/legalassociation? Does it influencelegislative reform? Does it take a standon human rights violations? Is it amember of regional/worldwideprofessional associations? Did leadingprofessionals train or practice in yoursociety? Are there historical linksbetween the professions? Are therevisiting or exchange programs betweenthe professions in your society?

g Do other professionalassociations have influence? How areacademics and internationally knownwriters, scholars, doctors, specialists andlaureates regarded? Are thereinstitutional or organizational linksbetween your society and the targetcountry in these areas? Are thereexchange programs foracademics/students? Are thereinstitutions about which the governmentseems to take a “hands-off” policy?

g What are the communicationslinks between the societies? Inparticular, is mail delivered, is itmonitored or otherwise interferedwith? Is it necessary for people to paybribes for mail delivery? Is franked mailpreferable to stamped (in somecountries letters are stolen for theresale value of the foreign stamps)? Isregistered mail delivered more reliably

than regular mail? Is the telephonesystem functioning throughout thecountry? Are international callsmonitored? What languages willoperators understand? Is it possible toobtain telephone numbers throughdirectory information? Are faxmachines widely used in governmentand business? Does e-mail offeropportunities for reaching importantaudiences?

g Do human rights assemblies,legal aid institutes and otherdomestic human rights groups existlegally? Are their leaders free to travel?Are there ways to strengthen thedomestic human rights lobby? (Thisneeds to be discussed with the IS, whichis in touch with all such bodies.)

g Is there an expatriate/exilecommunity from the target countryresident in your country? What is itsrelationship with the home country?Does it provide the basis of a solidaritymovement for opposition groups in thehome country? Does it contribute toany human rights movements there? Isit associated with (armed) oppositiongroups? Does it have its own media? Is itinfluential with sections of governmentor the society in the home country?

g What are the sporting linksbetween your societies? Do yoursocieties have the same national sports?Are sports stars in your society famousin that society? Are they seen as “role


During campaigns oncountries in Africa and Latin

America, AI Sections haveused their societies’ interest

in the music from thesecountries to interest people in

the human rights situation.They have produced music

tapes, held concerts andstaged other events.

An Australian theatre group,sponsored by the Australian

Government, travelled toJakarta as part of an

Australian promotion inIndonesia. One member of

the group was so concernedabout human rights

violations in East Timor thathe staged a personal protestduring the performance. His

protest subsequentlyreceived significant media

coverage in Australia.

Aid, development assistance, trade and conditionality: AI’s position

As with sanctions or boycotts AI does not oppose or support the attaching of humanrights conditions to trade, aid or development assistance. The debate continuesthrough the human rights movement on the “issue of conditionality”. On the onehand “conditionality” is clearly one of the most important levers of influence thatgovernments possess and a visible way of demonstrating concern. On the other ittends to be effective because of imbalances of power. It can be used in the interests ofmaintaining that imbalance and may have an adverse impact on the economic,social and cultural rights of many people. For these reasons it can place thosesupporting sanctions and boycotts in opposition to the views of the domestic humanrights movement. AI does not formally engage in this debate.

AI’s position most simply expressed is that it is the responsibility of all aid bodies,development organizations and governments to look at how their policies andpractices are affecting and contributing to all human rights.


Targeting investors in China

“Should businesses and their shareholders be concerned about violations of humanrights in the countries in which they work? Such a question is likely to receive anequivocal or evasive answer, if it receives an answer at all. But it is a question whichin future is likely to be asked with increasing insistence.”

These words, by Chairman of the Business Group of AIUK Sir Geoffrey Chandler,opened an article entitled “Business and Human Rights”, a paper included in theinvestors pack prepared for the campaign on China.

During the China campaign, AI produced an information pack aimed at Sectionswho were approaching businesses and individuals investing in China. It includedopinion pieces, fact sheets, suggested actions and summarized AI’s policy onapproaches to business sectors.

Unfortunately due to copyright reasons we are unable to show this image. Please contactyour nearest Amnesty International office to obtain a hard-

copy of this publication.

© RH

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models” in either society? Are theremajor sporting contacts/eventsscheduled over the next year? Willthese be attracting major mediacoverage in both societies?

g What are the cultural linksbetween your societies? Are musical,literature or theatrical traditions shared?Are popular music stars in your societyfamous/attract publicity in the targetcountry? Are musical or theatrical toursplanned between the societies?

g What are the links between youracademic institutions and those inthe target country? Are they linkedthrough the Internet and e-mail? Arethere exchange programs ?

g Are there city/region links ortwinning arrangements between thetwo societies? Do these includeexchanges of officials, students,teachers and others on official visitsthat may provide opportunities forbuilding dialogue?

g Is there tourism between yoursocieties? Is tourism a major source ofrevenue for the other society? Whatproportion of this tourism does yoursociety represent? Does this raiseopportunities for spreading humanrights information?

g What is the popular perceptionin your society/media of the othersociety? Does this represent anobstacle to generating the necessaryhuman rights action?

g Is there an AI Section in thecountry?

Using the linksWhich of these links will be most useful,and how they can be used creatively, willchange from country to country andover time. Some illustrative examplesare included in this manual to showhow links have been used in the past.

AI has policies on how these linksmay be used in its campaigning forhuman rights, and it is important toknow these and to keep up to date withthe changes (policy is decided at ICMs).

Developing knowledge about thecountry and society you wish toinfluence is vital to knowing which linksoffer the best opportunities and when.

N Some governments seeking closereconomic relationships with yourcountry or to join a particulareconomic or political bloc ororganization can be very sensitive to theraising of concerns about their humanrights record. This might make themsusceptible to pressure.


Sanctions and boycotts: AI’s position

AI does not call for, oppose or support restrictions on links between societies.Arguments rage and will continue to rage about the effectiveness and impact ofsanctions or boycotts in different circumstances. AI avoids these arguments inrelation to the many different countries where it has concerns. It concentrates onasserting the responsibility of all involved to look at how they may most effectivelycontribute to bringing about improvements in human rights.

In international campaigning, sanctions and boycotts had their highest profileand most sustained focus in the international campaign to end apartheid in SouthAfrica. In this case the demands for sanctions and boycotts originated from andwere pursued by South African organizations and political movements that wereseen as representative of South African opinion.

In some circumstances, particularly where there is a public momentum, notsupporting calls for sanctions can be seen as opposing sanctions and care oftenneeds to be taken to avoid giving this impression.

AI does oppose the transfer of military, security and police training and materialsthat can reasonably be assumed to contribute to human rights violations. AI alsoopposes the trade in organs of executed persons.

N A presidential, trade or culturalvisit can present many opportunities forcampaigning. They provide a focus andmany others will also be working togenerate interest and media coverage –albeit with a different angle.

N Some governments activelypromote a particular image of theircountry to build tourism. Again, thiscan make them particularly sensitive tothe different images conjured up byknowledge of their human rightsrecord. It can be easier to use thisexisting awareness of a country as ahook to gain interest and shiftperceptions than to create entirely newperceptions.

N As links between countries grow, sothey extend beyond the specializedarea of foreign affairs ministries. Aclose relationship betweengovernments may involve theeducation, industry and trade, defence,finance and other departments ofgovernments. This can mean that whilethe foreign affairs ministry has positivepolicies, they are not reflected in thebehaviour or policies of otherdepartments, or human rights haveremained compartmentalized. Eachdepartment should be encouraged tohave a human rights strategy.

N Building the profile of particularhuman rights activists by inviting themon a speaking tour, or persuadingothers to invite them, can help to buildconnections between human rightsactivists in both countries and providegreater personal protection to theindividuals in their work.

N Encouraging contact betweendifferent sectors of your society andtheir counterparts in another society

around human rights issues can help tobuild lasting relationships and acommitment to take action. It can alsoincrease knowledge and expertise onwhat would be the best forms of actionto take. The international city andcommunity twinning movement hasgrown rapidly in recent years, leadingto increased contact between schools,mayors, local businesses and culturalorganizations across many societies.

N At least one Section has persuadeda parliamentary committee to institutean annual review of their government’srecord on human rightsinternationally. This review includestaking public and private submissionsfrom concerned individuals andorganizations.


The Fax Revolution

Fax machines in Malawi played such an important role in the political change that ledto the release of many long-serving prisoners of conscience and the end of one-party rule that the change was dubbed “The Fax Revolution”. To beat strict controlson freedom of expression and restrictions on access to information, news was sent intothe country by fax and then copied and distributed within the country.

1

MODERN WORLDMILITARY, SECURITY AND

POLICE LINKS AND

Around the world military, security and police(MSP) personnel are committing human rightsviolations. The MSP training, equipment,technology and personnel they receive fromother countries (transfers) may facilitate theseviolations – and the supplying country might beyours. Finding out about these MSP transfers,including the logistical and financial support suchtransfers require, and explaining how suchtransfers may contribute to the human rightsviolations in AI's mandate, can offer importantcampaigning opportunities for AI and help stopviolations. This section looks at:

N Introduction to MSP transfers / 40

N Investigating MSP transfers / 42

N Using the information / 45

N Approaching companies about MSP transfers / 46

N Transfers of MSP training and expertise / 47

N The international dimension / 49

N Measuring our impact on MSP transfers / 50

Left to right: Derek Evans, DeputySecretary General of AI; Tony Lloyd, UK

Minister of State responsible for armstransfers; and Dr Oscar Arias, Nobel Peace

Laureate and former President of CostaRica, launching the International Code of

Conduct on Arms Transfers in London,9 June 1997

© STEFAN BONESS


this publication.

Introduction to MSPtransfersAI has been developing its work onmilitary, security and police (MSP)transfers since 1983. MSP transfersinclude the trade or free provision bygovernments or companies ofequipment, personnel, training ortechnology.

The purpose of AI’s work on MSPtransfers is to:

N prevent transfers that canreasonably be assumed to contribute tohuman rights abuses;N identify international involvementwhich contributes to human rightsabuses and strengthen pressure forinternational action to prevent suchabuses;N apply pressure directly on thosemilitary, security or police forcesresponsible for committing humanrights abuses.

Our overall aim is to achieveeffective international monitoring,regulation and control of MSPtransfers. This will require thecommitment of all governments andthere is therefore a potential role for allAI Sections.

Investigating the current types andquantities of MSP transfers from yourcountry is often a time-consuming anddifficult task. AI Sections have the leadresponsibility for collecting MSPtransfer data from their own country,provided this is not against the law or asecurity risk. Research teams at the ISusually concentrate on information

from target countries in whichviolations are occurring and may notreceive much data about the countrywhere you are based.

Before starting any action on MSPtransfers, you must be clear on three issues.

N Clarify the MSP personnelcommitting abuses and their links toyour country

M To decide which MSP transfersmight present the best strategicopportunities for campaigning againsthuman rights abuses, AI needs reliableinformation on the human rightsabusers in question and on the types offoreign MSP equipment, technology,training and personnel that are used inthe country. Much of this informationmay already be available at the IS or beeasily obtained by a research team.

M To gauge the quality of theinformation we have about MSPperpetrators, use the questionsoutlined in Chapter 10(Outreach/Military and LawEnforcement Officers). Thesequestions may help establish whichMSP personnel are committing humanrights violations, who within thecountry can influence thoseresponsible, and whether the military,security or police are involved ineconomic activity. Find out whetherthere have been any direct or indirectlinks in the past between suchpersonnel and the government, army,police or companies in your country.

N Clarify current MSP transferswhich may contribute to human rightsviolations

M Investigating MSP transfers is


Combating atrocities

In late 1996 in the east of former Zaire, the discovery of military procurementdocuments provided sickening evidence to confirm AI's 1995 report stating that inthe midst of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, Rwandese armed forces responsiblefor mass killings were supplied weapons and ammunition – through former Zaire –from Albania and Israel, secretly flown in by traders from the UK and Nigeria. Thesetraders contributed to the genocide, but to date none has faced prosecution. As aresult of campaigning by AI and other NGOs, the UN established an InternationalCommission of Inquiry which found that arms had been transferred to theperpetrators of the genocide via former Zaire.

Most governments will notagree to arms control unlessother governments do so aswell. It is important to linkany action to our campaignfor international controls.

difficult because relevant informationis often clouded in official state secrecy,obscured by export or technicalclassifications, denied by companies onthe basis of "commercial confidentiality"or even falsified by people wishing todiscredit someone else. However, withpatience and attention to detail, it is oftenpossible to piece together important dataon MSP transfers. Apart from letter-writing, one effective method is to getmembers of parliament, journalists orothers to ask detailed questions aboutMSP transfers. Another effectivemethod is to keep asking questionsuntil you have some answers.

M If you can establish reliableinformation about MSP transfers sentfrom your country, immediately alertthe relevant IS research team and yourSection's country or RAN coordinator.Check with them and in AI publicationsto see if any of these MSP transfers arelikely to contribute to human rightsviolations within AI's mandate.

N Clarify legislation and regulationson MSP transfers

M Do not start any public actionon MSP transfers without first knowingabout your country's basic laws andregulations on MSP transfers. This can

be a complex subject and you may findanother non-governmentalorganization (NGO) or lawyer who canhelp you.

At a minimum, grasp the essentialsbefore undertaking any public action.Most countries have laws andregulations concerning MSP transfers,especially where these may be deemedto be lethal. Some laws cover thedomestic possession and sale of suchequipment as well as transfers abroad.Others deal with foreign trade. Thereare laws and regulations coveringprivate business as well as governmenttransfers, but these may have importantloopholes which arms dealers canexploit.

Lists of military and securityproducts which are prohibited orconsidered very sensitive or just subjectto normal controls can be checked, butthese sometimes change, so the listsmay be included as an annex to themain law.

Other laws may deal with theconduct and training of MSP personnelin the home country, and these lawsmay affect foreign training by the homecountry's MSP personnel. Try to mapout all the laws and regulations thatgovern the full range of MSP transfers,

Modern World/MSP Links and Transfers 41

Examples of AI action on MSP transfers

N AI publicized that in 1996 Indonesian security forces used military vehiclesagainst demonstrators. The USA banned exports of light weapons and armouredvehicles to Indonesia, but the German and UK governments readily offered newcontracts to supply light tanks, armoured vehicles, water cannon and lethal combattraining.

N AI obtained US Government documents in November 1995 which showed thatUS weapons exported to Colombia to fight drug-trafficking actually went toColombian army units responsible for deliberate and arbitrary killings of civiliansand other grave human rights violations. Campaigning by AI and other NGOs led tosuch aid being suspended.

N In 1997 AI published a report Arming the Torturers: Electro-Shock Torture andthe Spread of Stun Technology, which achieved widespread worldwide mediapublicity. Sections raised AI's concerns about the use of electro-shock stun guns,batons, shields and belts for torture and ill-treatment with their governments and theresponsibility of several supply companies. This helped focus international attentionnot only on the weapons, but also on particular cases of torture and ill-treatment, onthe conduct of law enforcement personnel, and on the efforts of governments toprovide human rights protection through proper export control of securityequipment.

concentrating on the types of transferthat may contribute to human rightsviolations. Make note of whichgovernment ministers or officials canauthorize or review such transfers, andwho reports on them.

M It is vital to find out if any MSPlaws and regulations containmechanisms included for human rightsprotection.

The following questions may helpyou:

gQUESTIONS

g Is there a law requiring thesending government to firstestablish that a proposed MSPtransfer will not contribute tohuman rights violations in thereceiving country?

g Does the legislation requireparliamentary oversight of thisprovision?

g Is there a system of formalreview or independent scrutiny?

g Are monitoring mechanisms inplace to allow officials to checkwhether the end-use of MSPtransfers may result in human rightsviolations?

g Are there legal guarantees inthe end-user certificates so that ifany MSP transfer is misused forhuman rights violations, furthertransfers of the same type ofequipment will be stopped alongwith related spare parts, servicingand training?

g Are there enough officials, forexample in customs and excise andborder control, to implement thelaw properly?

All these questions need to beexplored in written exchanges with thegovernment authorities untilsatisfactory answers are provided.

Investigating MSPtransfersDespite official secrecy and otherbarriers, there are many ways of findingout about MSP transfers. The sources ofinformation include:

N Government informationprovided to the public (ministerialspeeches, annual reports to the UN andother intergovernmentalorganizations, freedom of informationsearches, patents); information givento members of parliament; andinformation "leaked" to journalists andNGOs by officials. The advantage of thisinformation is that it is "official". Even ifit is found to be wrong, the onus is onthe government to correct it. Thedisadvantage is that the informationmay be misleading and couched inobscure categories, with vital datamissing.

N Company product and servicesinformation listed in major directoriesand periodicals. These include JanesDefence Weekly, Janes International DefenceReview, the weekly Defence News, LawEnforcement Product News, Police andSecurity News. Also useful are companyadvertisements, brochures and otherpromotional literature and events,especially exhibitions.

N Company address and ownershipdetails listed in telephone and tradedirectories, company registers (forexample, Kompass Directories ondifferent countries, Thomas Register,Who Owns Whom ), microfiche sources(company registrar offices), CD Rom(Medline, Financial Times annualreports service, Kompass, ThomasRegister), computer on-line databases(Datastar, Dialog-Piers, STNInternational, Echo, Echo, CorporateCritic) and sites on the World WideWeb (Multinational Monitor,Namebase, Guardian Online and agrowing number of other newspaperservices). The danger here is having toomuch irrelevant information.


AI Spain identifiedgovernment secrecy as themain obstacle to effectivemonitoring and control ofMSP transfers.Together withGreenpeace, Médecins sansFrontières and thedevelopment NGOIndermon, they developed ahighly successful campaignunder the slogan “KillingSecrets”. In spite of initialopposition, in March 1997the Spanish Congress ofDeputies unanimouslyapproved a motion ontransparency and control ofthe arms trade.

N Human rights information fromAI and other reputable human rightsand humanitarian organizations.

N Field reports from direct witnesseswilling to speak out, such as religiousfigures, journalists, lawyers, medicalpersonnel, other NGOs, businesspeople, trade unionists, transport andother local officials, or even sometimeslocal MSP officials or visiting MSPpersonnel.

N Specialist arms institutes anddatabases, which publish regularreports and sometimes can answerparticular queries. A few specializing inMSP transfer information are listed inAppendix II. These can be invaluable,but many such organizations tend not torelate their information to human rightsviolations, and tend to collect most oftheir transfer data on large weaponssystems. They may also have difficulty indealing with many outside requests.


Summary of AI's policy on MSP transfers

N No position on arms embargoes or sanctionsAI neither supports nor opposes sanctions against governments which are guilty ofhuman rights violations, and takes no position on punitive measures of any kind,such as sanctions or boycotts.

N Opposition to a MSP transferAI may oppose MSP transfers (of equipment, personnel, training or technology),including proven financial or logistical support for such transfers, to governmentsand NGEs that can reasonably be assumed to contribute to human rights violationswithin AI's mandate.

N Calls for cessationA "call for a cessation" of an MSP transfer requires the mutual agreement of the ISand Section who can make this decision when one of the following three conditionscan be verified:M the sole practical use for the MSP transfer is to commit human rights violationswithin AI's mandate;M the transfer of the type/class of equipment has been shown in practice tocontribute to such violations in the receiving country; orM the transfers support those specific military, paramilitary or security units which aresignificantly responsible for such violations and which AI would press to be disbanded.

N Searching questions When the conditions necessary to call for a cessation cannot be verified, AI may ask"searching questions" of the supplier government and companies in their homecountries about the use to which intended MSP transfers will be put by the receivingcountry. Such questions could draw attention to the danger of the MSP transfer beingused in the receiving country for the violation of human rights within AI's mandate,but should contain no demand, explicit or implicit, that the transfer be stopped.Where appropriate, such actions could be publicized. These questions should beapproved by the board or executive of the Section concerned after prior consultationwith the IS.

N MSP legislation: onus on the senderAll AI Sections should call for legislation and regulations which prohibit MSPtransfers from taking place unless it can be reasonably demonstrated that suchtransfers will not contribute to human rights violations within AI's mandate. Suchlaws usually address issues broader than AI's human rights concerns.

Collating and analysing theinformation

To start with, prioritize certaincountries, types of equipment and typesof companies and decide a limitedperiod which you want to cover.Whether you use old fashioned indexcards, document files and filingcabinets, or computer databasesoftware, there is no escaping the needfor rigorous categorization, dating andcross-referencing, as well as updating asbest you can. Always err on the side ofcaution when drawing conclusionsfrom such data. Double check theconsistency of the evidence and thecredibility of the sources. Always takeextreme care when analysing theinformation.

Each AI Section's MSP group or co-group should try to pool its MSPtransfer data so that collation and cross-checking are easier. Each Sectionshould also share what it considers to bethe most significant data with the MSPcoordinator and the relevant countryresearchers in the IS so that importantleads can be followed up by the IS.

Types of MSP transfersMany human rights violations involve theuse of small arms, paramilitary equipmentand security technologies. Yet theinternational transfer of such equipmentis usually not disclosed by governmentseven though the proliferation of suchweapons can fuel armed conflicts andinternal disturbances resulting in mass

human rights violations. It is thereforevital that AI plays a leading role in trying tosecure international and nationalcontrols on such equipment.

Most people think of guns andammunition when the term "arms" isused. And they think of killings or injuriesas the main tragic consequence. But inAI's experience, there are several othertypes of weapon that are commonlyused in human rights violations and inbreaches of humanitarian law. There arealso many violations apart from killingscarried out with such weapons,including torture and other ill-treatment, and arbitrary arrests. Thefollowing categories might provehelpful:

N Security or "crime control"equipment

M torture and death penaltyequipment (AI calls for a complete banof such equipment)

M electro-shock weapons (guns,batons, shields and belts)

M "non-lethal" weapons and riotcontrol equipment (tear-gas, plasticand rubber bullets, etc.)

N Small arms or light weaponsM automatic handguns and pistolsM machine-guns and sub-

machine-gunsM sniper rifles, automatic rifles

and semi-automatic riflesM hand grenadesM landmines, especially anti-

personnel mines


Searching questions

Searching questions raised with the supplying government or company must alwayswarn of the danger of sending the particular MSP transfers. They should also seekprecautionary action by the authorities such as:

N conducting a human rights impact study before any decision on MSP transfers isreached;

N carrying out on-site monitoring of the use of MSP transfers;

N ensuring that human rights monitors have access to the affected areas;

N providing legal guarantees in all end-use certificates that any MSP transfers (notonly equipment, but also spare parts, maintenance and training contracts and soon) will be immediately cancelled if they are misused for serious human rightsviolations.

M unusual or explodingammunition

M mortars, bazookas, andshoulder-fired/hand-held rockets andmissiles

N Larger arms and logistical militaryequipment

M armoured vehicles, especiallyarmoured patrol cars and armouredpersonnel carriers

M military helicopters and othermilitary transport and ground attackaircraft

M artillery systems, tanks, rocketlaunch vehicles

M military communicationsequipment, and surveillanceequipment

These weapons also depend uponthe transfer of expertise, knowledgeand skill in the use of such equipment.Such MSP training can therefore alsohelp facilitate human rights violations,as can the financial flows and theprovision of transport for suchtransfers. AI has found that medical orother "research" can aid thecommission of torture or carrying outthe death penalty.

It is therefore important to try tofocus on these types of MSP transfersand the logistical support used forthem, and not to gather informationabout every type of MSP transfer.

Using the informationIf you have credible evidence of a clearlink between MSP transfers from yourcountry and such transfers being usedfor human rights abuses, you shouldrefer this to your Section's MSPcoordinator and to the relevant boardmember in your Section. They will askthe IS whether to call for a cessation ofsuch MSP transfers. The IS will checkthe evidence and see how this fits intoAI's existing strategy on that countrybefore reaching a decision on whetherand how best such a call for cessationcan be made. It is likely that a call forcessation will also be relevant to otherAI Sections in potential supplyingcountries, so internationalcoordination will be required.

If the IS has sufficient evidence tocall for a cessation of MSP transfers to aparticular country, a request for such acall may then be referred by the IS to a


Main principles to include in legislation on MSP

All legislation and regulations should prohibit MSP transfers from taking placeunless it can be reasonably demonstrated that such transfers will not contribute tohuman rights violations within AI's mandate. Such laws usually address issuesbroader than AI's human rights concerns, but AI can support or oppose provisionsin principle according to the following criteria:

N human rights in the intended receiving country must be taken into considerationprior to any decision to approve an MSP transfer;N effective channels for receiving human rights information from NGOs areestablished;N reports are issued on the human rights record of governments and, whereapplicable, armed opposition groups in all receiving countries;N the sender should take responsibility for the use of MSP transfers in practice(including regular monitoring of end-user certificates);N prohibit the transfer of any MSP equipment, personnel, training or technology,as well as logistical and financial support, unless it can be reasonably demonstratedthat such transfers will not contribute to human rights violations;N legal provisions are precise and concrete, avoiding ambiguities;N the legislature is notified of all information necessary to enable it to exerciseproper control over the implementation of the law;N regular and comprehensive reports, including of small arms transfers, are madefor inclusion in the UN Register of Conventional Arms.

Section for consideration by its MSPcoordinator and the Section's board. IfAI has no Section in that country, the ISwill take the decision. Once calls forcessation have been included in acampaigning strategy on a particularcountry, these can be carried out usingany or all of AI's campaigningtechniques as appropriate.

If a Section or the IS has evidencewhich is not conclusive but is strongenough to suspect that particular MSPtransfers might contribute to humanrights violations in AI's mandate, thenwarning signals should be issued tothe sending government and thesending company, and possibly to thegeneral public. These warningsshould also take the form of searchingquestions.

Such questions should focus onhow the intended MSP transfers will beused and aim to make those responsiblefor sending the transfers answerable fortheir possible misuse. Sometimes thesequestions will not be public (forinstance, in letters to the governmentand the company). But if the generalpublic and parliament of the sendingcountry need to be alerted to a very realdanger that MSP transfers will be usedto facilitate violations, then thequestions need to be publicized. Thiswill increase international pressure onthe receiving government.

Searching questions can be raisedthrough media releases, public

statements or external reports.Sympathetic journalists, members ofparliament and NGOs can also be askedto raise the questions.

Approachingcompanies about MSPtransfersMost representations of AI concernsabout MSP transfers are made togovernment authorities, but there aretimes when AI Sections need to makeapproaches to companies as well. Inthese instances, the AI guidelines oncompany approaches should befollowed and the Section's co-group oncompany approaches should beinformed in advance.

Particular care needs to be takenwhen you identify a company as havingbeen involved in MSP transfers whichcontribute to human rights violations.If you make unsubstantiatedallegations, the company may sufferloss of earnings and take legal actionagainst you. Therefore, do not accusecompanies unless there is a particularneed to do so in order to protect humanrights and you are absolutely sure of yourevidence.

It may be wiser to pose toughsearching questions to the company, orto keep looking for evidence.

If you do make an approach to acompany, then follow these steps:


Questions to Shell

After human rightsviolations in Nigeriaincreased, AI Sections putsearching questions to theShell Group of companies,which has influence in thecountry. The questionsincluded: "If Shell has beennegotiating for the importof weaponry or non-lethalequipment for use by theNigerian police, whatprecautions has Shell takento ensure that suchequipment is not used toviolate human rights? WillShell make public the rulesof engagement itdeveloped for policeengaged in oilfieldoperations? Will Shellconsider trying to helppromote a range ofpractical measures such asimproving trainingprograms for Nigerianpolice, prison officers andmilitary?"

Shell eventuallyresponded positively andprovided significantinformation on all thesequestions.

Unfortunately due to copyright reasons we are unable to show this image.

Please contact your nearest AmnestyInternational office to obtain a hardcopy of

this publication.

A Chadian soldier stands outside a militarycamp in N’Djamena which is frequentlyused as a detention centre. Foreigngovernments, including those of China,France and the USA, have armed andtrained the security forces of Chad.© REUTERS/POPPERFOTO

N Read the AI policy guidelines oncompany approaches and discuss yourapproach with the relevant coordinatorin your Section.

N Put your concerns (preferably asquestions) about MSP transfers inwriting to the manager, stating clearlythat you are an AI member andoutlining AI's policy on impartiality andindependence, as well as AI's policy onMSP transfers and MEC relations.Always ask about the company's code ofpractice regarding human rights.

N Do not assume that because acompany sends MSP transfers to aparticular country where human rightsabuses are common that this isconclusive proof that particulartransfers are actually being used forhuman rights abuses. Rather, use this asan opportunity to warn of the danger ofsending such transfers, and ask forspecific information about thecontracts, safeguards, interlinkedcompanies, training, maintenance, etc.

N Consult your MSP coordinatorand co-group about your informationbefore proceeding with any action.Check with the IS research team aboutthe human rights information you wishto cite. Always link any such action toapproaches to your government. Theadvice of a lawyer may also be wise.

N Do not have "off the record"exchanges or ask for money orsponsorship from the company.

N Keep records of all exchanges withthe company and other relevant dataon the company.

Searching questionsWhere AI has some evidence to suspectthat MSP transfers may contribute tohuman rights violations, the first actionis to ask searching questions to elicitmore information and to warn of thedanger of permitting MSP transfers to aparticular recipient. Always designquestions to:

Melicit further information about

how the MSP transfers will be used;M seek assurances as to whether

the sending government or company ismeeting its obligations to ensure thatsuch transfers cannot reasonably beassumed to be contributing to humanrights violations.

These warning-type questions canbe made public, and this is often thefirst step to mobilizing public pressurearound AI's concerns, as well asprovoking media interest.

Such questioning is normally partof a series of exchanges with theauthorities and the company, and so thepath of questioning needs to bethought about in advance. Examples ofsuch interconnected questions togovernment officials responsible for abilateral MSP aid program are as follows:

gQUESTIONS

g How much and what kind ofmilitary, police and security aid andtraining does your governmentprovide to the government forces ofthe country where human rightsviolations are committed?

g Is the aid and training directedat particular parts of the military orpolice?

g Does the aid and trade include ahuman rights component? Does itinclude security equipment andtraining?

g Are human rights conditionsplaced on this military or police aid?

g How is the human rights impactevaluated?

g What is the level and nature ofbilateral contact and exchangesbetween military and police in bothcountries? Are there joint exercises,or exchanges at military and policestaff colleges?

g Is there joint participation ininternational peace-keepingmissions, seminars or conferences?


Transfers of MSPtraining and expertise Transfers of skills, knowledge andexpertise to foreign MSP personnel are agrowing reality and can be crucial incontributing to further human rightsabuses or in helping prevent such abuses.AI can campaign to ensure that humanrights are an integral part of any trainingprovided to, or conducted with, foreignmilitary, security and police forces.

The increased use of privatecompanies in security and even militaryroles, as well as the increase in multi-national forces in international peace-keeping missions, has brought a newdimension to this issue.

The basis of AI's position on MSPtraining is simple: it should not contributeto serious human rights violations. Wemust always point out that the training ofmilitary and law enforcement personnelshould be the responsibility of thegovernmental authorities, and that humanrights training cannot be meaningful oreffective without the establishment ofproper systems of accountability.

AI takes no part in the drafting ofhuman rights training programs forMSP personnel from countries wherehuman rights within AI's mandate aresystematically and persistently violated.However, AI can try to help clarify howinternational human rights instrumentsshould routinely be part of the trainingof all MSP personnel.

It can be difficult to judge how farparticular MSP training is a necessarycontributing factor in human rights

violations. Governments of foreignmilitary trainers have been fairly unwillingto disclose full details of the training andhow it relates to human rights. Forexample, the US Government tried topromote its "expanded" InternationalMilitary Education and Training (IMET)as "human rights friendly", and AI hasbegun a discussion with the governmentabout this. However, the informationreceived so far is not satisfactory. Thesame is true of the UK's MSP trainingprograms for foreign personnel, whichaffect over a hundred other countries.

One way AI can make "reasonableassumptions" about the effect onhuman rights of any transfers of skills,knowledge and expertise to MSPpersonnel is to seek answers to thefollowing types of questions:

gQUESTIONS

g Is there a serious pattern ofhuman rights violations such that anyMSP training may first require aprogram of legal reform inaccordance with internationalstandards, as well as the disbandmentof certain types of security force unitswhich are significantly responsiblefor committing violations?

g Have any candidates selectedfor the military training beenresponsible for human rightsviolations and, if so, what action hasbeen taken to make themaccountable? (AI's position is thatsystems of MSP training andaccountability have to go hand in hand.)


AI Sections in Europe and theUSA publicly questioned thetransfer of attack helicopters,fighter jets and artillery bythe US Government to Israelfollowing atrocitiescommitted by the Israeliarmed forces in Lebanonusing such equipment duringOperation Grapes of Wrath.Questions took the followingform: "Were US weaponsused in Operation Grapes ofWrath? If so, please identifythem. Were US weaponsused in incidents wherecivilians were killed orinjured? Please identify theseincidents and the weaponsinvolved." Significantly, theUS Government took theunusual step of refusing toreply to AI's questions.

Examples of those questioned

N On Indonesia and East Timor, AI Sections fielded searching questions publicly instatements and open letters about the use of Spanish military transport aircraft, as wellas UK and US jet fighters and military training. The questions sought information aboutaccess to human rights monitors in outlying areas of Indonesia and East Timor.

N On Chad, searching questions were asked publicly in AI reports about the use byChadian armed forces of US, French, Dutch and Chinese arms and military training.

N On the USA, the US Section asked searching questions regarding the human rightsimpact of the annual US government military assistance program. These werepublished as part of an annual report by the Section. This report is sent to many officialsinvolved in Congress and relevant departments of state, as well as to other NGOs.

g What human rights expertise dothe trainers have?What evidence is there that the trainersthemselves are able to teach practicalexercises based upon internationalhuman rights law and standards, andnot just aspects of humanitarian law?

g What is the human rights contentof the MSP course curricula? Does it include rigorous trainingexercises based upon internationalhuman rights standards? Are the sametrainees being subject to other parallelcourses and, if so, what is the humanrights content of these courses?

g Is the institutional environmentwhere the MSP training takes placeconducive to promoting humanrights? What other types of people and trainingcourses take place there, what othermaterials are available to trainees, whatare the extra-curricula activities andwhat is the overall institutional culture?

g What procedures are in place tomonitor the human rights impact ofthe MSP training, especially inrelation to the conduct of thetrainees once they put their trainingin practice?

Each of the above questions couldbe turned into a statement of principleshould this be necessary. Once you haveobtained answers to the questions, youwill have to assess whether AI mayoppose the training altogether, exposecertain aspects of it, or simplyencourage further monitoring of it withother NGOs. A basic consideration willbe whether the training includes lethalweapons training and the use of forcebecause such knowledge can easily bemisused. A high standard of evidencethat such training will not be misusedfor human rights violations will berequired.

The international dimensionGovernments which recognize theneed for more effective control of MSPtransfers state that where such transfersare stopped in order to protect humanrights, it often provides an unfairmarket opportunity for commercialcompetitors. In other words, thegovernments themselves recognize theneed for multilateral controls of MSPtransfers and that bold unilateralactions may not prevent human rightsviolators obtaining MSP goods andservices on the global market. AIactivists involved in work on MSPtransfers are thus increasingly makingefforts to link demands for effectivecontrols on MSP transfers at thenational level to appeals for newinitiatives by governments to establishinternational controls.

Most MSP actions now includereference to governmentsimplementing their existingcommitments to human rightsprotection in the UN, the Organizationfor Security and Co-operation inEurope (OSCE), the European Union(EU) and other intergovernmentalorganization (IGO) agreements, suchas the Wassenaar Arrangement of theNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO) and other states, including theRussian Federation.

In the context of their lobbying


Unfortunately due tocopyright

reasons we areunable to show thisimage. Please con-

tact your nearestAmnesty

International office toobtain a hardcopy of

this publication.

Members of a Colombian army counter-insurgency unit. AI members in the USA

have campaigned to prevent military aidbeing supplied to the Colombian forces

without adequate controls.© ASCODAS

work, AI Sections have also called ongovernments to give fuller and moreprecise descriptions of the armstransfers in the UN Register.

At the level of regional IGOs, someAI Sections in Western Europe began in1995 to lobby home governments andtheir EU members of parliament tosupport the implementation ofprovisions contained in a "Code ofConduct" which was developed byseveral NGOs (including AI).

By 1996 this “EU Code” wasendorsed by over 600 NGOs and manyprominent individuals. AI alsosubmitted a report on arms control andhuman rights to EU governments aspart of the Maastricht Treaty reviewprocess. It included reference to theneed for arms control in terms ofhuman rights in submissions to the AsiaPacific Economic Summit and to theOrganization of African Unity (OAU).

The most developed set ofprinciples for the international controlof conventional arms and paramilitaryequipment and training was launchedin May 1997 by Dr Oscar Arias and otherNobel Peace Laureates, including AI. Itis hoped that other Nobel PeaceLaureates will help build a worldwidecampaign over the next few years tohave the Code considered in the UNand by national governments as a basisfor new laws. The principles embodiedin the Code can easily be used by AISections and include considerableoverlap with AI's mandate and with AI'spolicy on MSP transfers. Discussionshave begun with some diplomats,government officials and other NGOsto support this initiative, as well as withother international bodies. The Code isbeing translated into differentlanguages.

Measuring our impacton MSP transfersIt is not simple to measure theeffectiveness of AI's MSP work. Thereare quantitative and qualitative as wellas short- and longer-termconsiderations. With regard to the

purposes set out at the beginning of thissection, we can ask how any AI actionmay:N stop or remedy individualviolations or abuses in receivingcountries;N promote better conduct andpreventive measures;N develop the capacity of AI and thehuman rights movement.

Our MSP work can obviously befocused at all three levels, but it is at thesecond level that the key results aremeasured. Any evaluation of ourprogress should be assessed primarily interms of specific end-results defined tomeasure:M public opinion and awareness ofthe effects on human rights of MSPtransfers; M new legislation, governmentpolicies or regulations affecting MSPtransfers;M standards of human rightseducation and training for foreign MSPpersonnel.

It is also important to seek tomeasure how well we have used thelever of our work on MSP transfers tomore broadly press for action on ahuman rights situation. It is moredifficult to measure what direct impactMSP work has in the target country.

Achieving concrete results in theseareas clearly requires a long-termprogram of work on MSP transfers.

For AI to be effective, the rightmessage must be delivered by the mostappropriate messengers to the mostpowerful and influential targets. Thisrequires the organization to develop arange of work on MSP transfers wheresuch transfers relate to human rightswithin AI's mandate. The work requiresa degree of specialization andinternational coordination to succeed,and is interlinked to the developmentof AI's home government and IGOlobbying, to its media work, and to itsoutreach to military, police, businessand financial actors.


AI reports by the UK and USA Sections onmilitary, security and police transfers

1

MODERN WORLDINFORMATIONTECHNOLOGY

Information pours around the world instantly.News about human rights violations can reach anenormous audience in seconds. Human rightsactivists around the world can be linked by newtechnology. Understanding and using this fast-developing means of communication is vital toAI’s work. This section looks at:

N Electronic communications / 52

The Internet / 52

N Online research / 53

N Campaigning and action / 54

N Helping the movement work together / 55

© AI

Electronic communicationsElectronic communications (electronicmail, bulletin boards, the Internet, etc)can be extremely useful to AI’s work. Itis an area of work that is changing anddeveloping rapidly – as is the Internetitself. The examples of national andlocal work cited here are intended to beillustrative, not comprehensive.

Electronic communications canbe used in a wide variety of ways:N Detailed research on countries,themes, corporations, IGOinstruments, what other NGOs aredoing, and even specific cases can bedone through the Internet to helpprepare for a campaign.N Putting campaign materials on theInternet can help to publicize thecampaign, encourage activism,distribute materials to people whomight otherwise not have access tothem, and raise general human rightsawareness.N Action appeals can be put on theInternet to generate a worldwideresponse and get people interested injoining AI. N Special fundraising appeals can beissued over the Internet.N Consultation networks anddiscussion groups can be set up insideand outside AI to generate and discussideas, provide feedback, and keepcampaigners and activists in touchthroughout the campaign.

Several countries already havecommitted volunteers, and in somecases entire groups, who can help youwith this work. If you do not know who isavailable to help, contact theInformation Technology Program atthe IS, or scan the Internet for materialposted by members in your country –usually an e-mail address will beincluded.

The InternetThe Internet offers wonderfulopportunities to campaigners. You cansupply information to millions ofpeople around the world in an

attractive and interactive form. It is alsorelatively cheap to set up.

One of its many advantages is thatdistance is largely irrelevant.Connecting to a computer in your townis just as easy and costs the same asconnecting to one on the other side ofthe world.

The main disadvantage of theInternet is that only some people haveaccess to it in the wealthiest nations,and almost no one can use it in thepoorest countries.

As with other campaigningmaterials, it is important to have aspecific purpose and target audience inmind before embarking on an Internetcampaign.

If you do set up a website, there aresome useful tips to refer to.

cTIPS

c Before you begin, look at as manyother sites as possible. Make sure userscan find the site easily.c Ensure that users can get aroundthe site easily. Every page shouldinclude links leading to all the key partsof the site.c Keep making changes to the site. The site should be in the web’s primarylanguage, English, as well as the locallanguage. c Aim to provide everythingelectronically that you would otherwisemake available to the public, such asleaflets, posters and press releases.c Consider who the information isprimarily aimed at.c Do not put non-publicinformation online.c Maintain a mailing list by askingusers to leave an e-mail address if theywant to volunteer, join AI, or be keptinformed of changes to the website. c Make sure there is a way for usersto reply with constructive criticism orpraise.c Perhaps add a questionnaire to getan idea of who is visiting the site.c On-screen buttons and logos canbe borrowed from AI’s sites, but getpermission from the webdeveloper first(see margin).


AI’s webdevelopers

Visit AI’s developer’sresource site :

<http://www.amnesty.org/webdev>

Send an e-mail to:

<[email protected]>

for username andpassword.

To join AI’s webdeveloper’sdiscussion list, send an e-mail to:

<[email protected]>

Put the words “subscribe ai-www” in the body of themessage without the quotemarks.

c Large graphics and excessiveanimation slow down the speed atwhich pages are received and can leavevisitors frustrated.c Advertise your website on otherwebsites and elsewhere.

Online researchThere is a wealth of data on the Internetthat is useful to AI’s research. A few ofthe categories of information availableare listed below.N UN and other IGO information.UN information is available via gopherat:<gopher://nywork1.undp.org/> or the web:<http://undcp.or.at/ unlinks.html>

Material from a range of otherIGOs is also available, such as theOrganization of American States, theInternational Labour Organisation,and so on; the UN web page containslinks to a wide variety of pages by otherinternational organizations.

Information published by HumanRights Watch, the Lawyers Committeefor Human Rights, and Physicians forHuman Rights are all linked throughthe human rights gopher at:<gopher://gopher.humanrights.org:5000/1>

Websites may also be maintainedby legal libraries, university humanrights programs, civil rightsorganizations and disaster relieforganizations. N Public news sources range fromReuters and Agence France Presse newswires to local newspapers from allcorners of the world. For sources ofinternational news, try:<http://yahoo.com/news> N Informal discussion groups(usenet and similar conferences of theAssociation for ProgressiveCommunicating) about human rights.The most popular are probably:<soc.rights.human>and:<misc.activism.progressive>

There are many others, includinga wide range of country-specificdiscussion groups under the generalrubric soc.culture.(countryname).

Quality can be quite variable, but agood country-specific discussion groupcan provide grassroots information notavailable through more traditionalnews media. N Mailing list/discussion groups(listservs) about a country are oftenmore private and of higher quality thanopen discussion groups, but can bemore difficult to find. If you cannot

Modern World/Information Technology 53

Campaigning on the Internet: escaping censorship

The exchange of information on the Internet is not governed by national orinternational laws, and most governments find it almost impossible to police Internetactivities. The size of the Internet makes it virtually impossible to enforce censorship.The extract below from the International Herald Tribune illustrates the possibleimplications of the use of the Internet for human rights education and campaigningin countries where human rights information is restricted.



this publication.

© IN

TERN

ATIO

NAL H

ERAL

D TRIB

UNE 2

0.06

.95

locate one, ask for information in thesoc.culture newsgroup for that country.N Prisoner pages have also beenestablished in a few cases. For example,see:<http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-1/sigaction.htm>

There are several sites which try tomaintain nearly complete lists of theconstantly expanding human rightsmaterial on the Internet. A goodgeneral “clearing house” site is thedirectory of the American Associationfor the Advancement of Science(AAAS) at:<http://shr.aaas.org/dhr.htm>

Campaigning andactionPublishing AI’s information online canaccomplish many purposes: raisinggeneral levels of awareness abouthuman rights, both in general and asthey apply to specific situations;providing detailed and accurateinformation to activists, other NGOs,governments and the media;publicizing AI’s work on behalf ofvictims; and inviting others to take partin that work.

Means by which AI information iscurrently “published” online include: N General information about AI islocated at the international web site(www.amnesty.org) and on many otherAI websites. This information includesthe AI mandate, how AI addressesspecific concerns such as the deathpenalty, and addresses of AI offices.Information about national and groupactivities is included on web pagesestablished by AI Sections or localgroups.N The news service is available onthe main international website and bysubscribing to the Amnesty-L list. Tosubscribe to the list, send an e-mail to:<[email protected]>Put the words “subscribe Amnesty-L” inthe body of the message without thequote marks.

Many news releases are cross-posted to general usenet groups such as:

<soc.rights.human > and:<misc.activism.progressive>

Some AI volunteers also cross-postnews releases to usenet groups thatdiscuss specific countries or humanrights issues.N Most country and campaignreports are available on theinternational web site at:<http://www.amnesty.org/>and on many other national and groupsites.N AI information is sometimesposted in forums where it can bepublicly debated, such as in thePeacenet conference ai.general orwhen information is cross-posted toInternet news groups. This “openforum” publication is useful and moredynamic than posting information inread-only forums; however, the postermust be willing to monitor the newsgroup in order to answer any questions,challenges, or other issues that mayarise from the posting. N Another growing area is theprovision of action material via theInternet, and in some cases using theInternet itself as a tool for appeals orprotests.N Urgent Actions (UAs) can bedistributed to members of the UAnetwork by e-mail by the national UAcoordinator. Some UA coordinatorswho already maintain e-maildistribution services are:M for the USA, Scott Harrison:<[email protected]>M for the UK, Ray Mitchell:<[email protected]>M for Germany, Guido Gabriel:<[email protected]>M for Canada, Marilyn McKim:<[email protected]>M for Belgium (francophone),Xavier Zeebroeck:<[email protected]>

If your national UA coordinatordoes not have access to e-mail, contactthe AIUK UA coordinator who may beable to help. Full UAs are generally notdistributed publicly because ofconcerns among the UA coordinators’network about balancing worldwideresponse. However, the information


Award-winning website

If you want inspiration, visitAI’s award-winningrefugee campaign web siteat:

<www.refuge.amnesty.org>

Campaign organizer at theIS, Beate Kubitiz,explained: “It’s the first timewe’ve had a whole websitededicated to a campaign. Itgoes further than justpublishing existinginformation like pressreleases and leaflets. Thesite provides ways that candirectly help the campaign,for example you candownload posters or addyour name to an electronicpetition.”

portion of a UA is often posted to publicforums with a footer inviting readers tojoin the UA network.

UAs are available through the APCnetworks in English at: <ai.uan> and inGerman at: <ai.uan.de>N Worldwide Appeals, greeting cardappeals and other special appeals areposted on the international website andseveral national, group and volunteersites inviting the general public torespond. In some cases, electronicresponse forms are also provided. N The American Freedom Writerappeals are distributed by e-mail to theFreedom Writer network. N Web pages about a specificprisoner or other cases have beenestablished by some local groups, withrequests to write on behalf of theprisoner, copies of letters received fromthe prisoner or his/her family, andother information. These individualhuman stories can be very effective inillustrating how AI works andencouraging non-members to becomeactive. For example, see the page on anArgentine prisoner maintained by MikeKatz-Lacabe of Group 64 at:<http://www.best.com/~mlacabe/puigjane.html>

The potential for using theInternet to build the human andfinancial resources available for AI’shuman rights work is just beginning todevelop. Areas that need to be workedon further include: how to register as anew member through the Internet;

how to buy AI reports andmerchandise; and how to donate fundsto AI. A useful resource on using theInternet for fundraising is maintainedby Howard Lake of the UK Section at:<http://fundraising.co.uk>

A few Sections have putmembership application forms on theInternet, which is an extremelyconvenient way for new members tojoin, although people should not beasked to send credit card details overthe Internet without adequate security.

Helping the movementwork togetherThere are many ways of usingelectronic communications to keep intouch internally, to foster consultation,information sharing, coordinatedaction and international solidarity.Below are just a few of the things beingtried by various national and localbodies. N Several Sections (in the USA andCanada, for example) have linked theirboard members and other activist-leaders by e-mail in order to facilitatequick consultation and in-depthdiscussion without constant meetings.N Several Sections have openedprivate conference or bulletin boardsfor AI members in their country usingprivate bulletin board software (infrancophone Belgium, Sweden, theNetherlands and Argentina, for

Modern World/Information Technology 55

International outrage,concern and solidarity

following the massacre inBeijing in 1989 was able to

reach into China as neverbefore because of the rapidgrowth in the number of fax

machines, particularly in theChinese business

community.

A CD-ROM produced by AIUSA entitledAmnesty Interactive.

example) or by establishing privateconferences through a public serviceprovider, such as the <ai.ideas>conference on Peacenet, or, for morespecific concerns, <ai.computer> and<ai.policy>

These bulletin boards mayinclude: information on events; cross-postings of AI reports and AI internalinformation; and AI action forms. Theyprovide a convenient and cheap way ofmaking information and consultationavailable to members. Please rememberthat pre-embargo press material andinformation about strategies onforthcoming campaigns are sensitiveand should not be published to theentire membership. N There are a number ofconferences, “listservs” and otherelectronic distribution networks opento AI members with specific interests.Many conferences have a “conf-to-mail”facility so that people who have only e-mail access can participate. A smallsample includes:M “Amnestyd” is an internal e-maildiscussion group for sharing ideas andquestions among members. Forinformation, send an e-mail to:<[email protected]>

If you wish to join, please give yourname and indicate your AI affiliation inthe body of your message. M “ITGen” is a manually maintaineddiscussion group for general issuesabout information technology. Asimilar group, “Ticorreo”, operates inSpanish. To join, send an e-mail to<[email protected]>putting the words “subscribe ai-www” inthe body of the message without thequote marks.M “AI-Fund” is a manuallymaintained discussion group forfundraisers. To join, send an e-mail toHoward Lake at the UK Section:<hlake @ ai-uk.gn.apc.org>A similar group, “redrec”, operates inSpanish. To join, send an e-mail toDavid Coe at the UK Section:<dcoe @ ai-uk.gn.apc.org> M AIUSA maintains a number oftheme networks.

The Legal Support Network:<[email protected]>

The Conscientious ObjectorsSupport Network:<[email protected]>

The Educators Network:<[email protected]>

The Government Action Network:<[email protected]> M Several countries have nationalcomputer volunteer groups that willprovide training on how to use e-mailand public networks. There are activenational computer groups in the USA,UK, Germany, Australia, Italy, Canadaand several other countries. M All staff at the IS are available by e-mail. If you do not have a specificcontact but need information from theIS, you can send an e-mail to the generalmailbox at:<[email protected]>

The first line in the main body ofthe message should be generalinformation, for example***Attention: Africa Research*** or ***Please deliver to the humanrights education team***.

Be sure to include your name ande-mail address in the body of themessage, as well as contact informationfor other ways of reaching you (postaladdress, fax number, etc). Theworkload at the IS is very heavy; pleasedo not send an e-mail there if yourquery can be handled by your nationaloffice. N Other ways in which electroniccommunication could be used are: tolink members in a country linkingproject; to plan internationalcampaigns; or to support members of aparticular membership network (suchas a lawyers’ network or a medicalaction network).


If you maintain an AIwebsite, or are planning toset one up, you will need acopy of AI’s ElectronicPublishing Guidelines, whichwill give advice on what topublish, and what not topublish, on the Internet.

1

CHAPTER 3ORGANIZING FORACTION

Campaigning in AI is always part of a coordinatedglobal effort. The information and strategiesproduced at the international level of AI are thebasis of national campaigning strategies andaction. This chapter deals with the relationshipbetween these two levels. It also looks at theinternal context within AI of campaigning and thestructures and organizational health of AI.

Contents

International action planning / 58

Action forms / 58

Deciding actions / 58

Campaigning on a national level / 59

The campaign coordinator / 59

Information / 59

What level of action? / 61

Integrating or upgrading actions / 61

Section-initiated actions / 62

Adapting IS strategies and materials / 62

Supporting action from the membership / 63

Theme campaigning / 66

Human rights violations / 66

Identity / 66

Events / 66

How theme campaigns work / 68

Campaigning and organizational health / 68

Context of campaigning / 68

Structure and organization /68

Expanding capacity and developing skills / 70

Continuity / 71

Internal objectives / 72

“If you cry ‘Forward!’ youmust without fail make aplan in what direction togo. Don’t you see that if,

without doing so, you callout the word to both a

monk and a revolutionary,they will go in directions

precisely opposite?”Chekhov

International actionplanningTo help maintain AI’s reputation forimpartiality and independence, theorganization has developed an ActionPlanning Process, which aims to achievebalance of action across geographicalregions and themes. This process, whichis guided by AI’s research and analysis,also ensures that there is campaigningnot just on countries or issues that featurein media headlines or excite widespreadinterest in our society, but also on thosewhich are “forgotten” or “difficult”.

Action formsAI has developed a number of standardways of generating different levels ofaction from its membership. These areknown internally as action forms.Action forms are continually adapted ascampaigning needs change and AIevaluates its methods. Standardizedaction forms are important to:N allow clear choices to be made by AIabout the most effective action to bedirected towards cases, countries orissues over time;N allow advance action planning by allparts of AI;N provide clarity about expectationsfor levels of campaigning activity.

Standardized action forms are notintended to stifle creativity or result instandardized campaigning – AI iscommitted to creative and strategiccampaigning at all levels of themembership. International actionforms are standardized to makeexpectations and advance planningreadily understandable andcommunicable between AI structures.

Section campaigners areencouraged to adapt actions to makethem more effective. This involvesanalysing the capacity of your Sectionand society to influence differenthuman rights situations. This maymean prioritizing particularinternational objectives or upgradinglevels of action on some countries. Itmay mean not participating in someactions or participating only in parts of

them. Advice on adapting IS strategies,actions and materials is given later inthis chapter.

Specific details about currentaction forms are outlined in AI’s Menuof Actions (AI Index: ORG 32/01/96).This provides:N a brief explanation of all the actionforms currently used by AI;N expectations about the levels ofactivity that Sections and other AIstructures will generate in relation tothe different action forms;N standards regarding IS production ofinternal circulars and external materials.

Deciding actionsMost country actions initiated by theInternational Secretariat (IS) comefrom the process of reviewing a countrystrategy (in which Sections participate)and the rolling program of strategymeetings which occur on each country.Needs for long-term campaigningaction are assessed and planned.Changes to longer term strategy may benecessary because of an unforeseenchange in a country situation.

There are agreed criteria fordeciding when it is appropriate toimplement full-scale country campaigns.Sections are involved in developing thestrategy of these campaigns.

Sections are expected to take partin major country and theme campaignsat some level. They are also expected totake the information on plannedactions and assess which of them shouldbe a priority for their Section on thebasis of strategic opportunities andprinciples outlined in the guidelines onSection specialization.


Action forms

Action forms cover all AI’s campaigning – from the short blast ofthousands of letters, faxes and telegrams of Urgent Actions to thesteady activity of local AI groups on Action Files or the major concertedworldwide efforts of country campaigns.

All action forms are meant to be part of an integrated strategy on acountry or issue. They should allow AI to focus its resources for aperiod, to sustain a level of action and to vary the amount of pressureor concern according to that strategy.

The movement needs to review consistently the impact of these actionforms. For example, if Action Files do not seem to be working, otherforms of action, such as a special action for lawyers, could be tried.

A report by the Committeefor the Systematic Evaluationof Techniques (SYSTEC) in1989 (AI Index: ACT11/03/89) into long-termprisoner of conscience workshowed clearly that ActionFiles that were part of acountry strategy were moresuccessful than those forwhich there seemed to be nostrategy.

Campaigning on anational levelThe campaign coordinatorThe primary focus of AI’s campaigncoordinators is to develop theeffectiveness and capacity of AI’smembers, of the wider society and ofthe government to protect specifichuman rights around the world.

A campaign coordinator is at thecentre of AI campaigning in his or hercountry. S/he is also central tocommunication with the internationalmovement and plays a key role inplanning, implementing andevaluating a campaign.

Although specific functions willvary, most campaign coordinators willhave the following responsibilities:N developing the strategiccampaigning capacity in AI’smembership by encouraging local andspecialist AI groups and othermembership structures to think abouthow they can best contribute tointernational and Section campaigningobjectives and by providing training incampaigning techniques, etc;N organizing initial consultations todiscuss and plan action calendars and campaigns;N ensuring that all relevant people inthe Section/structure (media, co-group,lobbyist, fundraiser, outreachcoordinator, etc.) are involved from theearliest stages of discussion and keptinformed throughout the planning andimplementation of major campaigns;N producing national campaignstrategies, in cooperation with all relevantmembers of the Section, which outline:

Mhow national campaigns willcontribute to the achievement of theinternational objectives of the campaign;

Mnational objectives for lobbying,outreach, publicity, etc;

Many “internal” objectives ofcampaigns to help improve theSection’s work, such as recruitingmembers, strengthening contacts withnon-governmental organizations(NGOs), fundraising, etc;

Mthe suggested involvement and

activities of different parts of themembership structure in relation tocampaigns, and the materials andsupport that they will need;N informing the Campaigning andCrisis Response Program (CCR) at theIS (or, in the case of non-Sectionstructures, the IS RegionalDevelopment Team) of your Section’splans and progress;N producing campaign materials(depending on resources), givingadvice and generally supporting actionfrom the membership;N coordinating the involvement of theSection and various membershipstructures in campaigns;N coordinating and monitoringthroughout campaigns, being in regularcontact and providing feedback to the ISand to groups/individuals working oncampaigns in your country;N evaluating campaigns to see whetherand how the national objectives wereachieved, and contributing to theinternational evaluation.

InformationAI relies on information. In practice,this means that an enormous amount ofinformation from the IS arrives by post, faxor e-mail. It also means that campaignersmust keep themselves informed ofinternational current affairs and domesticpolitical, social and economicdevelopments as these form the contextfor the Section’s campaigning.

The most important sources of IS-originated information for thecampaign coordinator are (at present):N the Action Planning Bulletin, whichis the basic action planning tool for allSections, issued in April andNovember;N the weekly campaign coordinator’sfax (in English, French and Spanish)and mailing, which provides updates onaction planning, warning ofunscheduled actions, advance copies ofcampaigning circulars, requests forfeedback, etc;N the News Service, which providesadvance warning of media initiativesand AI’s responses to human rightsdevelopments worldwide (these go

Organizing for Action 59

Theme campaigns can beinitiated from InternationalCouncil Meeting decisions,

Sections or the relevantteams in the IS. They require

ratification by theInternational Executive

Committee.

When the IS announces anaction, Sections will

normally be given 18months’ notice for a major

campaign or six months’notice for a smaller action.For crisis situations actionwill have to be mobilized

more rapidly.

directly to Section press officers);N UAs, which provide the latestinformation on particular humanrights violations that should be actedon, as well as the most recentbackground summaries of AI’sconcerns on any country (they are sentalmost daily to UA coordinators and areincluded in the Weekly Mailing);N the Weekly Mailing to Sections,which contains full country reports,policy and organizationaldevelopments, financial statements,etc, and has a contents sheet so that themost relevant can be easily selected.

There are also different campaigningstrategies and circulars. There may beseparate mailings to intergovernmentalorganization (IGO), death penalty andoutreach coordinators, although copiesof these circulars are often in the mailingto the campaign coordinator.

cTIPSTo avoid drowning in a sea of paper andbeing overwhelmed by the manydemands, you may find it helpful todevelop a system for prioritizing mailand managing your time.

c Be realistic about how long things taketo do. Keep a record of how much time youspend on tasks in a typical day or week sothat you can plan your time realistically.

c Make sure that you allow time for tasksthat are important in the long term, butwhich may suffer when urgent tasks arise.For example, filing is important, but israrely urgent. However, if you do notallow time for it, your other work maysuffer when you cannot find the papersyou need.

c Some people have found it useful todivide their work into categories, suchas “Urgent and Important”, “Importantbut not Urgent”, “Urgent but NotImportant”, “Not Urgent and NotImportant”, or alternatively, “Must Do”,“Should Do”, “Would like to do if thereis time”. This enables you to prioritizeyour work. It also means that you can setaside a certain amount of time each dayor week to do the “Important but NotUrgent” or “Should Do” tasks.

c Write daily or weekly task lists in themorning or the night before,remembering to keep to your priorities.

Criteria for country campaigns

Proposals for country campaigns should meet the following criteria:N the gravity of the human rights situation should merit the high investment ofresources which a country campaign entails; N there are specific strategic reasons for undertaking the campaign at this time;N the proposed country campaign should contribute to ensuring a regional andpolitical balance in AI’s campaigning;N the proposed country should be a designated “high priority” or “super-highpriority” country;N there should be the potential for achieving concrete positive results in the country;N there should be a requirement for the involvement of a significant part of themembership (if not, another action form will be more appropriate);N the country strategy should appear to be relatively stable in the medium term (18 to24 months) to enable planning and the preparation of materials (this does not excludecampaigning on volatile countries so long as the underlying political situation, thepower structures and the human rights context are unlikely to change dramatically);N it must be possible to obtain the information needed to prepare the campaign.

The proposal for a country campaign should also identify:N the implications for AI membership development and strengthening of the NGOmovement in the country;N how the campaign might strengthen international and regional human rightsstandards or mechanisms.


cTIPS

WORKING WITHVOLUNTEERS

c Spend time making surevolunteers have what theyneed.c Find out what motivatesthem and ensure you keepgiving the motivation.c Try and match volunteers’skills and interests withappropriate tasks.c Give people a definite listof tasks for which they areresponsible. c Provide some variety androom to develop new skillsand experience.c Do not overworkvolunteers!c Involve volunteers indiscussions and activities.c Create a pleasantworking environment.c Show appreciation andcelebrate success.c Where possible, let peoplework together on tasks.

Alternatively, set a “task for the day” anddo it. This is a useful way of forcingyourself to decide your priorities andwill give you a sense of achievementwhen you do what you set out to do.

c Fix deadlines for tasks. Try to berealistic about how long things will takebut also bear in mind that tasks tend toexpand to fill the time you give them sotry to stick to your deadline once youhave set it.

c Try to set aside periods of time thatare free from interruptions: ask othersto take your telephone calls (and do thesame for them sometimes), havemeeting-free periods, etc.

c Do one thing at a time. If you remainfocused, you will get things done quicker.

c Do not try to be a perfectionist whenit does not really matter. Try to do somethings “well enough”.

c Try to deal with pieces of paper onlyonce. Every time you start to look atsomething, it will take you time to focuson what needs doing. The more timesyou do this, the more time you arewasting on refocusing your attention onthe issue concerned.

c Plan your work, especially largetasks. Time spent preparing what needsto be done and when will save you timein the long run.

c Try not to postpone important mattersthat are unpleasant. They can preoccupyyour mind and block your creativity.

c Learn to say “NO”!

What level of action?Part of the campaign coordinator’s roleis to filter information received fromthe IS and adapt it to localcircumstances. Pressure of time maysimply mean that this involvestranslating or cutting texts into a moredigestible size before distributing themwithin the Section or externally.

Wherever possible, however, theprocess should mean deciding howyour Section’s membership,government and society can make thebest contribution to AI’s internationalcampaigning objectives.

The IS should provide a briefexplanation of why participation fromyour society is of particular importance.This may also suggest which sectors orindividuals may be of particularimportance for the action. This advice isone of the starting points for determiningwhether your Section takes part and yourlevel of participation. Other importantfactors are the capacity of yourstructure and the priorities it has set forgrowth and development (see below).

Integrating or upgrading actionsThe levels of action suggested by the ISare in general for guidance only. It istherefore possible, and sometimesadvisable, to upgrade or downgradeactions, to integrate actions, or toinitiate your own actions.

Sections may upgrade an action ifthey see that there is the potential intheir country to give it a higher profile,or to make a greater impact than wassuggested internationally, or to balanceits campaigning program.

It is often possible to link orintegrate actions to suit a Section’spriorities, resources and working styleor to use fully the opportunities thatexist nationally.

cTIPS

c Find out if any AI groups areworking on Action Files on thecountries or issues in question. Canthese files be used to help illustrate thecampaign and boost the action on thesecases?

c Can UAs on the country or issue beused during a campaign as an ongoingfocus of action by supplying them to themedia or constructing special actionssuch as vigils or embassy visits?

c Can UAs help the work of local orspecialist AI groups working on Action


Files or other actions by providing freshopportunities to highlight relatedissues?

c Can IS news releases be adapted tohighlight issues of particular concernto AI, such as impunity?

c Can particular campaigns be used tostrengthen and expand specialistgroups or Regional Action Networks(RANs)?

c Give the demands for action in IS newsand campaign media releases a nationalfocus. Use a local spokesperson and aquote from them in the release. Directthe campaign demands specificallytowards your government. What wouldyou like them to do? Provide details ofwhat the campaign aims to do and whatit will involve.

c Make leaflets and campaigningmaterials interesting to your public andaudience. International leaflets have bytheir nature to be general and you arebest placed to make them connecteffectively with people in your country.

c Give a national/local focus toactions. Provide the addresses ofrelevant embassies and consulates.Suggest that people write to newspapersor government officials in your countryas appropriate.

c Make use of your national culture inyour campaigning. Emphasize itssimilarities with international humanrights values – its respect for fairness,sticking up for those who arevulnerable, respect for life,compassion, etc.

c Are there cultural or historicalfactors that could help people relate tohuman rights violations in othercountries? Has your society sufferedfrom political repression in the past? Isthere significant interest in the musicand culture of the society of the countryyou are campaigning on?

Section-initiated actions

Some Sections initiate their own actionsfrom time to time to take advantage of aparticular situation in their country, suchas heightened media interest in a countryor issue, or to link in with the Section’spriorities, such as fundraising. In suchcases, it is important to discuss the planwith the IS to ensure that the action fitsin with the internationally agreedstrategy on a country or theme and toagree the required level of IS input.

Adapting IS strategies andmaterialsThe information sent by the IS for anycampaigning action is supposed tomeet the average needs of everySection. Most Sections will want toadapt it to make it more appropriate totheir own campaigning environment.

For example, the IS will producean international strategy for acampaign. It is then up to the Section todevise a national strategy and set downmeasurable aims (see Chapter 1). Acampaign will be most successful if it isbased on an analysis of the potential ofdifferent sectors in your society and ofyour government to stop human rightsviolations in the target country.

Similarly, campaigning circularsand leaflets should be adapted to include


There is a widespreadrecognition that to be moreeffective AI must developways of encouraging AI’smembership at all levels tomake strategic choices abouthow they can most effectivelycontribute to AI’s objectives.*There are various materialsavailable to help differentlevels of the membership tomake strategic choices. Youcan also contact relevant ISdevelopment and/orcampaigning staff for furtheradvice. (See StrategicThinking in AmnestyInternational, AI Index: POL50/05/94.)

Making decisions

Decisions about Section participation in campaign should be based on:

NN the international strategy

NN national context/issues

NN available resources

International strategies should identify the countries on which campaigning action isparticularly important. Where this is not explicit, campaigners can contact therelevant researcher or campaign coordinator at the IS to discuss their expectations.

appropriate recommendations specificto your country and to make the issuesinteresting to your audiences. Whereverpossible, campaigning materialsproduced at the national level for themembership should seek to developtheir strategic and campaigning skills.

There are usually a variety of ready-made or easily adaptable materials forcampaigns, including photographdisplays, videos, leaflets, etc. The IS alsooften produces more basic material,such as photographs and quotes, whichSections may choose to use in displays,leaflets or magazine articles.

In some cases it may be possible forSections to link together with otherSections to share resources for designsand materials in a common language.

The following questions may helpyou when deciding how to adapt ISstrategies and materials.

gQUESTIONS

g What do you want to achieve? For instance, what parts of the governmentdo you want to take what action?

g What do you want groups orindividual members to do?For instance, do you want them to visittheir local members of parliament?

g What materials do you need toprovide to enable them to do it?

Supporting action from themembership

N GroupsFor most major campaigns a campaignkit can be the best way to supply AI localor specialist groups with all the adviceand material they need to take action.Giving groups enough notice isimportant: it will encourageparticipation and enable these groupsto plan properly for maximum effect.

If time allows, send out an initialpreparatory campaign kit to introducethe campaign objectives and strategyand to provide questions that may helpto focus group discussions on thedevelopment of their strategy.

One of the advantages of AIgroups for Section campaigning work is


Nothing succeeds likesuccess! Feedback is an

important way ofencouraging and motivating

people at every level of themovement by the good newsand success stories of other

campaigners andcampaigns.

An AI group campaigning kit

N Background to country/issue and summary of AI’s specific concerns.N Summary of international and national strategy and rationale for it, including alist of the specific objectives of the campaign.N Question and Answer (Q&A) sheets to answer anticipated questions that groupmembers or the public may have.N Advice on outreach actions, such as how to approach local religious leadersand what action to ask for. Provide separate sheets specific to the different outreachsectors you are prioritizing. If there are materials specifically designed to appeal tothese outreach sectors, include enough copies of these.N Advice and materials for gaining media coverage (see Chapter 9).N Advice on lobbying, such as how to approach and arrange meetings with localpoliticians, points to raise, what action to ask for (see Chapter 11).N Letter-writing advice, such as points to raise with officials in the target country.Include advice on correct style, salutation, when and how many letters to send to eachaddress, whether to write as AI members or not, the addresses to write to (see Chapter 7).N Suggestions and advice for fundraising during the campaign (see Chapter 5).N Suggestions and advice on conducting public activities to highlight thecampaign (see Chapter 7).N Advice on leaflets/posters/petitions, such as how they can be used anddistributed (see Chapter 8).N A list of significant dates for the campaign – in the target country or the home country.N A copy of the relevant AI report or briefing with an order form.

Some Sections use coloured paper for different topics to make it easier to follow.Make sure coloured paper can be photocopied.

that they can plan a range of activitiesand mobilize action from others intheir community. This means that theadvice and materials supplied givethem the power to do what individualsalone could not.

N Individual membersServicing individual members andgetting action from them can be moreproblematic. Sending them allcampaigning materials can becomevery expensive. Groups tend to holdindividual members accountable foraction – formally and informally. It ismuch more difficult to know that amember will act on the materialreceived. In many Sections even hard-hitting direct mail appeals with a simpleaction request of returning a couponwith money achieve, on average, only a10 per cent response rate. Nevertheless,involving AI’s individual membershipin campaigning actions remains animportant goal. It can enhance AI’scampaigning effectiveness and build awider commitment to AI.

cTIPS

MOBILIZING INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

c Include campaigning actions innewsletters for members andsupporters.Most AI structures produce a newsletterfor supporters. This can include featurecases with points you could raise andpeople to write to. Include sets ofcampaign postcards stapled into thecentre pages and pre-addressed so theyonly need a stamp and signature.

c Organize specialist letter-writingnetworks.Invite members to join the UA network.Some Sections and other organizationshave established networks of letter-writersready to respond quickly to mediacoverage or political developmentsrelated to AI’s work by writing letters toeditors and local and national politicians.Be aware that establishing suchstructures can often mean an ongoingcommitment of resources.

If possible, make these networksself-financing by encouraging theirmembers to pay an extra fee orencouraging others to specifically fundthe scheme.

c Include campaigning actions infundraising appeals.

c Ask individual members to getothers to join AI and take action topersuade organizations of which theyare members to support AI’s campaigns.

N FeedbackFeedback is often the forgotten part ofa campaign coordinator’s role.Feedback from Sections onparticipation in campaigns andcampaigning is essential for planningand monitoring campaigning at theinternational level.

For example, a strategy may not beworking because certain parts of themembership are not taking action,rather than because it is a bad strategy.Without feedback, AI will not know andan effective way of stopping humanrights violations may be abandoned.

Timely feedback also allowsmonitoring of campaigning impact andadjustments in strategy. For example, it isimportant for a campaign to know if someembassies agree to meet AI in one countryas other Sections may be able to use thisinformation in their approaches. Ifsome particular governmentrepresentatives have begun to respondto AI’s representations from aparticular country, this may beimportant for focusing future strategy.

Feedback can help to identifyareas where some form of assistance, intraining, materials, information orresources from the IS or elsewhere, mayhelp overcome problems. It alsoenables resources and ideas to beshared and campaigning to beimproved. Campaigners can facesimilar problems, overcome themdifferently and produce materials thathave a much wider usage than simply intheir own society. Without feedbackthese things can remain a “national”secret.


65

‘Lives behind the Lies’:(clockwise from top right) a street artistin Zurich; AI delegates meet relatives ofthe “disappeared” in Lima, Peru; a table

set for the “disappeared” in NewZealand; 43 cattle in Copenhagen,

Denmark, highlight a case fromColombia where 43 people were made to“disappear” for allegedly stealing cattle;

the Bourequat brothers, former“disappeared” prisoners from Morocco,

at the campaign launch in Stockholm,Sweden; footprints of the “disappeared”

in New Zealand.© AI

© PE

R DAU

GAAR

D

Theme campaigningIn AI’s early days, the term “theme”referred to a type of human rightsviolation within AI’s mandate. Themecampaigns against torture, the deathpenalty, “disappearances” andextrajudicial executions (politicalkillings) were major events in the life ofthe movement.

Today the word “theme” has abroader meaning within AI. It can be:N a category of human rights violationthat AI opposes;N a section of society at risk, such aswomen, refugees or trade unionists;N an event or anniversary, such as theUniversal Declaration of HumanRights’ 50th anniversary or the 1993UN World Conference on HumanRights.

Human rights violationsWhen an individual’s human rights areviolated AI can respond on anindividual basis. If the violationscontinue, especially if they appear to beendemic, AI responds by looking at thepatterns of violations which emerge.These patterns will form the focus ofAI’s country strategy and may result in amajor country campaign.

There are times, however, whenthe persistence of torture or otherviolations in many countries leads AI toconduct a worldwide campaign,focusing on that particular form ofhuman rights violation.

Such campaigns can help togenerate the momentum for globalaction on the particular violation. Oneaim is to establish and strengtheninternational standards andmechanisms. They can also help tobuild awareness and educate AI’smembership on complex areas of AI’smandate. Moreover, they help to showthat AI is universal in its approach –taking up violations in countries acrossthe regional and political spectrum.The campaign against the death penaltyin 1989, for example, highlighted theUSA and China, and built themomentum of governments ratifyingthe Second Optional Protocol to the

International Covenant on Civil andPolitical Rights.

The major categories of humanrights violations that AI hascampaigned against are:

M TortureM Death PenaltyM Political KillingsM “Disappearances”

IdentityWhen one group or section of society isparticularly targeted for human rightsviolations, either because of their identityor as part of a larger pattern of violations,it can be useful to focus on the identityof the group in order to draw attentionto and mobilize a response against theattacks. Sometimes there might bespecific preventive measures that AI willadvocate. Sometimes focusing on aspecific group can in itself have apreventive effect. On an emotionallevel, people often respond better topeople than to issues. AI is frequentlyasked: “Who are the victims?”

An international overview mayreveal that similar groups of people aretargets of similar human rightsviolations around the world. When thishappens, AI can illustrate andcampaign on global problems thatneed global solutions.

The groups or sectors of societythat AI has focused on have included:

M WomenM Indigenous peopleM RefugeesM ChildrenM Trade unionistsM Human rights defendersM Conscientious objectors

EventsTheme events are often anniversaries,although they may be conferences orsporting events that provide opportunitiesfor AI’s work. AI and other organizations,for example, campaigned around thedeath penalty at the time of the 1996Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA.

The 1993 UN World Conferenceon Human Rights presented theopportunity to work for reform of the UNhuman rights system and to challenge


67

Unfortunately due to copyright reasons we are unable to show thisimage. Please contact your nearest

Amnesty International office to obtaina hardcopy of this publication.

AI campaign on China as seen from around theworld. Top two pictures: the UK Section launchesthe campaign in London’s Chinatown. Below: a

mural in Brazil; a demonstration in Pakistan;AI’s Secretary General Pierre Sané delivers a

copy of AI’s China report to the Chinese Embassyin Bangkok: riot police block his path.

© AI

the concerted efforts by somegovernments to use the conference toundermine the basis of AI’s work. AI’scampaigning led to the creation of thepost of UN High Commissioner forHuman Rights. The 1996 UN WorldConference on Women in Beijing wasalso the focus of major campaigning byAI and other organizations.

How theme campaigns work

AI is continually campaigning on thethemes identified above through itswork on individual appeals, Action Filework by individual groups and countryactions and campaigns. It also focuseson these themes at different times of theyear, such as International Women’sDay on 8 March, InternationalChildren’s Day, AI Week in October, anda Trade Unionists’ Action on 1 May.Sections can decide whether or not, andhow, to participate in these actions.

AI also organizes regular majortheme campaigns involving theworldwide membership. These involvethe production of campaigningmaterials that have a much longer shelf-life, for AI and for others campaigningon these issues, and are usefulcampaigning references. They include:M Torture in the EightiesM When the State Kills... The Death Penaltyvs Human RightsM Getting away with Murder – politicalkillings and “disappearances” in the 1990s

Strategies for these major campaignsare worked out in consultation withSections, the IS and other NGOs.Section campaign coordinators areencouraged to adapt and develop theirown strategies to complementinternationally agreed objectives.

Campaigning and organizational healthContext of campaigningCampaigning and campaigns do nothappen in a vacuum. They are affected bythe context within which they take place.The local, national and internationalconditions affecting AI’s campaigningcan broadly be classified as “internal”

(related to AI as an organization) and“external” (related to the world outsideand the human rights issues on which AIcampaigns). This section deals with theinternal framework for campaigning.

The core internal, organizationalfactor affecting AI’s campaigning is themandate. This defines in broad termswhat members, groups, Sections andthe international organization as awhole campaign on. There are alsoorganizational working rules (such asthe work on own country rule);decision-making structures andprocesses (such as groupings andInternational Council Meetings); andinternational priorities (such as thosedecided at ICMs). All these provide acontext at the international level forthe activities carried out by AI Sectionsand groups all over the world and helpto ensure the efficient functioning ofthe international movement.

At the national level, organizationalfactors are an important consideration forSection campaign coordinators. AI cannotend human rights violations in the shortterm. This means we must constantly buildand regenerate our organizationalcapacity to sustain campaigning activitiesin the future. Campaign coordinatorshave a vital role in ensuring that structuresand organizational procedures serverather than hinder campaigning work,and that campaigning contributes to themaintenance, regeneration and effectivefunctioning of the whole organization.

This section focuses on whycampaign coordinators need to concernthemselves with:N organizational structures andprocesses in the SectionN building the capacity of the SectionN ensuring continuity within the SectionN internal organizational objectivesfor the Section.

Structure and organizationFor campaigning to be effective, itneeds to function within a stable,flexible and appropriate organization.For an AI structure to be strong andcredible, it needs a dynamic andeffective campaigning program.Maintaining an appropriate balance


between campaigning activities and theorganizational needs of a massmovement is a constant challenge for AI.

There is no one organizationalstructure that suits all countries orsituations. Different options have beenexplored by AI Sections over the years.

Your Section may need only one ortwo of these structures, or there may beothers that would suit your Section’sneeds better. The golden rule is that astructure must meet an identified needand be appropriate for its intendedpurpose. In AI, this means that structuresmust be responsive to the needs of thecampaigning that they exist to support,and appropriate in terms of the resourcesand overall priorities of the Section. Onlyyour Section can decide the best

organizational structure for your needs.When taking such decisions, thefollowing issues are worth considering.

N IntegrationHow will you ensure that the variousfunctions within your Section – media,fundraising, campaigning, membershipdevelopment – are integrated? Whatmethods of organizing will improveintegration of these functions? How willyou ensure that members, local groups,specialist groups, and so on areappropriately involved in theformulation of national campaigningstrategy? How do you encourage localand specialist groups to developstrategies that would complement thenational strategy?


Problem solving

Before rushing to find solutions, you should check that you have identified theproblem correctly. As Einstein said: “The formulation of a problem is often moreessential than its solution.”

N Identify the problemM Break the problem down into component parts by listing all the “symptoms” ofthe problem, such as low morale, inadequate access to the media.M Gather any background information on the problem by talking to the peopleinvolved.M Brainstorm: What do we know about the problem? What are the causes? (Seemargin, page 71.)

N Find solutionsThis can be easy if you have correctly identified the problem. But do not commityourselves to the most obvious solution before considering alternatives. There areseveral ways you can do this:M Brainstorm.M Ask probing questions of a variety of people. What strategy could resolve theproblem? What approaches have not been thought of?M List ideas under two columns. What could make the problem better? Whatcould make it worse?M Invite someone with little relationship to the problem to provide ideas. Peopleoften find it difficult to be creative about familiar problems.

N Make the decisionYou probably have many ideas now. To decide on the right one:M Start by eliminating unworkable choices.M Look at combining solutions.M Look at the potential costs, risks, benefits and rewards of the remaining options.M Test the chosen solution. Does it solve the root cause of the problem? Does itsatisfy everyone or most people? Is there time to implement it? Do we have theresources to implement it?

N Balancing campaigning andorganizational resources Campaigning activities without adequateorganizational attention and resourcesmay become chaotic, disjointed andineffective. Likewise, formal campaigningstructures absorb resources, so you needto ensure that the structures areeffective in terms of campaigning endresults, and do not become abureaucratic or financial burden.

N CommunicationClear and timely communication isessential to effective campaigning.National campaigning strategy must becommunicated to groups in advance toallow them to plan appropriate actions.Similarly, groups must keep the Sectioninformed of their activities so that theSection can maintain an overview ofwhat is being done. What communicationmechanisms are needed to ensure thatthe different bodies in your Sectionreceive the information they need,when they need it? Again, you mustexercise caution to ensure thatcommunication does not become anend in itself. Overloading people withirrelevant information can be as great aproblem as not giving them enough.

N Decision-makingCommitment from the decision-makers(such as the board) to strategy – and theresources that the strategy entails – isalso important to effective campaigning.Decision-making processes should beclear and responsive to the needs ofrelevant people at the relevant time.Campaigners should provide decision-makers with the appropriateinformation and alert relevant peoplein the Section when unclear decisionshave a negative impact on the Section’scampaigning effectiveness.

Expanding capacity anddeveloping skills

There are always more human rightsviolations than AI can campaign againsteffectively. This is one reason whystrategic campaigning is essential forAI. In addition, all structures need to

build on their existing campaigningcapacity. The campaign coordinator’srole is central to this.

AI expects a lot of its members.They need to know about AI’s mandate,current concerns, working methodsand fundraising, and how to plan acampaign and undertake a myriad ofcampaigning and organizationalactivities. It is obvious that they needsupport to develop the appropriateknowledge and skills. Some of the mainways of offering such support include:

cTIPS

N Full training programsMany Sections have an ongoing,structured program for training theirmembers. This may include aninduction program and more advancedtraining in AI’s mandate, concerns,working methods and techniques foractive members. Many Sections providespecialist training for people withparticular responsibilities – boardmembers, country coordinators, pressofficers, group campaign coordinators,etc. They also recruit professionaltrainers to identify members’ trainingneeds and design and run the program.

Campaign coordinators have animportant role to play in ensuring thatthe training program is responsive tothe campaigning priorities of theSection. This may mean contributing tothe overall design of the program tomake sure that campaigning needs areaddressed, and helping to run trainingsessions on campaigning techniques,strategic planning, campaigncoordination and other issues.

A training program should alwaysbe part of the overall strategic plan ofthe Section. For example, if outreachhas been identified as a priority, thenthe training program shouldcontribute by training the membershipin how to do outreach work.


fTraining is oftenmore difficult thanyou think.Participants may benervous about tryingnew things. It isoften tricky to trainpeople in somethingon which you are anexpert. Knowinghow to do somethingand being able totrain others to do itare completelydifferent skills. Ifpossible, seek theadvice of anexperienced trainer,particularly if it is adifficult issue or ifthe training is usinga lot of Sectionresources. Advice isalso available fromthe InternationalDevelopment Unit atthe IS.

Logo for AI’s 1997 campaign on refugees’human rights

N One-off training sessions Groups, networks, the Section board,staff and others may occasionally needone-off training sessions on particularissues. For example, at an annualgeneral meeting prior to the launch of acountry campaign, people within theSection may need to be briefed on thebackground and main concernsunderlying the campaign, as well as theSection’s objectives and strategy andperhaps the specific techniques relevantto the campaign.

N MaterialsWritten materials are an important wayof training members. Some sections puta Tip of the Month in their regulargroup mailing on techniques such asletter-writing, planning or organizing ademonstration.

Campaign materials can alsoincorporate a training element byincluding, for example, questions toguide the group’s discussion on theirstrategy for the campaign.

c Identifying and analysing needs What is the need? (Is there a majorcampaign approaching, for example?)Is training necessary? (A group mightask for a training workshop when youmay be able to meet the need by a letteror telephone call). Who needstraining? When do they need it? Who isthe best person to do the training andwhat are the priorities?

c Training objectives What exactly do you want the trainingto achieve? If you are not clear aboutthis, it will not achieve the results youwant.

Training objectives should statewhat the participants will be able to doas a result of the training (for example,write a one-page news release).Objectives will vary according to whomthe training is aimed, even if it is on asimilar subject (training for newmembers on the mandate will aim for alower level of understanding thanmandate training for groupcoordinators). The key is to be specificand realistic.

c Designing and running the trainingDraw up a training plan to achieve yourobjectives. This will involve analysingwhat you need to cover and how tocover it. For example, to give thebackground to a campaign, a simplepresentation with handouts and visualaids summarizing the main points maybe appropriate.

To develop skills, such as doingmedia interviews, you may need to givepeople the chance to practice. Makesure you allow time in the session forintroductions, presentation of theagenda and aims of the session,conclusions and questions. Try to do adummy-run beforehand. You mayfind that your plan looks fine onpaper but does not work when you doit for real.

c Evaluate the trainingIt is often difficult to evaluate thebenefits of training as there are so manyfactors affecting how people work in anorganization such as AI.

However, ask participants tocomplete an evaluation form at theend of the training session. You mayalso follow this up later with atelephone call or letter to find outwhether the training has helped (seeChapter 13).

ContinuityCampaign coordinators must learnhow NOT to be indispensable. If thecampaigning capacity of the Sectiondepends on you as an individual then itis too fragile. A strong structure, withother people who share theresponsibilities for carrying out theSection’s work, can cope with absences– whether temporary or permanent,planned or unplanned.

N Do you have others working with youwhere possible?If, for example, you establish a workinggroup to help coordinate a particularcampaign, the people in this group willstart to build campaigningcoordination skills and will be in abetter position to take over when youare no longer around.


cTIPS

BRAINSTORMINGc Start with a question

relevant to the topic beingconsidered.

c The lead person shouldwrite down people’s ideas as

they arise, preferably on alarge sheet of paper so that

everyone can see.c People should not

comment on or challengeothers’ ideas, or try to

interpret their meaningduring the session as this will

stifle creativity.c Try to generate as many

ideas as possible.c After the session, discuss

and analyse the ideas.

N Do you have a clear filing system? A good filing system keeps a simple,accurate record of your work and willhelp the people who take over fromyou.

N Do you have clearly documentedtasks and procedures? It is helpful to have the main areas ofyour work written down in one place sothat other people can take over withouthaving to learn everything from thebeginning. For example, do you haveregular daily, weekly, monthly or yearlytasks? Are there agreed procedures forseeking the approval of the board forparticlar activities?

N Training someone to take overbefore you leave.If you decide to leave your position,allow time for training yourreplacement. This is essential if you areleaving the organization altogether. Ifyou are still going to be involved withAI, it will save you time in the long-runas it will stop the need for questionsweeks or months after you have handedover your responsibilities.

Continuity is enormouslyimportant, especially in a voluntaryorganization such as AI where people inimportant positions may come and gofrequently. Without preparation, thereis a danger that when a person leaves, alltheir knowledge, experience, contactsand expertise will go with them, leavinga void in the organization’s capacity todo its important work.

Internal objectivesEvery Section formulates a strategy andobjectives for campaigning activities . ButSections also need to consider thedevelopment of the Section as a whole toensure that it is able to meet the demandsof its campaigning program. Each Sectiontherefore needs an overall strategic planfor its own development, of whichcampaigning will be a crucial part.

Campaigning often presents thebest opportunity for helping to meetthe organizational and developmentalneeds of the Section. When trying toraise funds, train members or recruit

new members, it is far more likely thatyou will motivate people and succeed inyour aims if you can demonstrate thatthe request for money or training isdirectly linked to campaigning activityand achievements. For this reason,campaigning strategy should integratethe internal objectives of the Section.

Examples of internal objectives fora campaign include:N establishing or developing specialistcampaigning structures – for example,a business group may be established aspart of a country campaign in whichoutreach to businesses is an importantpart of the strategy;N increasing skills and knowledge ofthe membership;N producing campaigning materialswith a longer-term purpose or widerapplication;N establishing contact with specificNGOs;N recruiting a target number ofmembers; N raising funds.

Organizational goals will often belonger term than those for particularcampaigning issues, and should beidentified as part of a process todevelop a long-term strategy fordevelopment of the Section and itscapacity. They should be based on ananalysis of the Section’s Strengths,Weaknesses, Opportunities andThreats (SWOT– see Chapter 1), whichidentify specific organizational ordevelopmental targets. Internalobjectives for specific campaignsshould be agreed within this overallstrategic development plan for theSection.


1

CHAPTER 4RESPONDING TO CRISES

The world is likely to witness an increased numberof human rights and humanitarian crises. AIneeds to react to these quickly and effectively, aswe are expected to do by victims, AI members, thehuman rights community and the general public.This chapter looks at how AI does this and howthe organization is developing this area of work.

Contents

Criteria for launching a crisis response /74

A beginning for long-term work /74

Aims of crisis response /75

AI policy and crisis response /75

Section objectives /76

Mobilizing for action /76

Money /78

Crisis response coordinators /78

Groups and membership /78

Mobilizing a large-scale reaction / 81

Campaigning techniques /81

Media /81

Lobbying /82

Letter-writing /84

Outreach /84

Evaluation /84

“When written inChinese, the word crisis is

composed of twocharacters. One

represents danger andthe other represents

opportunity.”John F. Kennedy, former US

President, in a speech made in 1959

Criteria for launchinga crisis responseAI must respond swiftly to human rightscrises. In order to sustain thecommitment of our activists andbroader public support, we must findways to respond effectively to situationsof massive human rights violations. Asthis is a relatively new area of work, AI’sresponse to crises is still evolving (seeAppendix 4: Mobilizing the IS duringCrisis Response).

AI’s Secretary General isresponsible for judging when it isnecessary to invoke AI’s crisis responsemechanisms. Each decision takesaccount of the following four criteria:N an upsurge of human rightsviolations within AI’s mandate on ascale which is very serious in the contextof that country or region – or the risk ofa serious upsurge of human rightsviolations;*

N previously agreed action plans andresources are insufficient to respondeffectively to the situation;N the need to manage within the ISthe overall institutional response to thesituation;N the need to mobilize rapidly the capacity of the whole movement inorder to respond effectively.

The crisis response mechanismwill normally be operational for only afew months and will end when anongoing country strategy has beendeveloped that takes into accountchanges in the country situation.

The IS will establish a process foridentifying potential human rightscrises as part of the country strategydevelopment and review process inorder to take preventive action wherepossible and to prepare contingencyplans.

The four criteria, which weredeveloped in consultation with themembership, are important becausewithout them AI risks:N taking too much time to decide oneach crisis;N sliding from crisis to crisis; N only reacting to crises which arealready in the limelight;

N reacting to crises which are ofinterest to those Sections in a goodposition to influence the IS;N unleashing competition within theIS to launch many crisis responses.

A beginning for long-term workAs a crisis response can by definition onlybe a short-term exercise, the long-termstrategy to deal with any crisis country isof paramount importance. Attention ofmedia, politicians, public, members andAI’s leadership will soon be drawn to yetanother crisis. Much fear has beenexpressed that after a crisis response isfinished, the country would beforgotten. This should not be the case.Whereas AI’s contribution to stoppingviolations in the midst of a crisis mightoften be limited, it could be in a positionto make a major contribution at a laterstage. Any crisis should motivate AI to:N develop an extensive post-crisisstrategy;N raise money for the immediate crisisresponse as well as for long-term work;N reprioritize staffing and resources,organize the movement better andexpand the program on the country.

Sections need to remember thiswhen working on a crisis. What will thelong-term consequences be of a periodof intense effort on a particular countryor region? How will you maintain linkswith all those outreach contacts youworked with? How will you ensure thatthe public (possibly even new members),motivated to act with AI because of theiroutrage over gross human rightsviolations in a particular country, do notfeel three months later that this countryhas been abandoned by AI?


* Possible indicators would include thedemise of those institutions which shouldprotect human rights, such as the collapse ofstate authority, withdrawal of human rightsmonitors, etc.

Tanzanian Section’s refugee coordinatorJoseph Muganda interviews children inthe Mtanga Refugee Camp who have losttheir parents when families fled from theformer Zaire© AI

Aims of crisis responseMany of the world’s worst crises are muchmore than human rights disasters. Theyare crises of civil war, collapsing states andinternational confusion. Expectations ofAI may be too large. We cannot solve thetotal crisis, so it is essential to make clear:N the specific human rights aspects ofthe crisis that AI can address; N what AI and the people it seeks tomobilize can contribute to the effort toresolve those human rights aspects;N any other purposes, besidesaddressing the specific crisis, that shouldbe pursued.

In the light of this, we shouldconsider the level of our response.

Although AI must be realistic inwhat it can achieve, each individualhelped represents success. Nobody isobliged to succeed, but we do have anobligation to try. Our contributions fitinto the following categories:N help prevent, stop, diminish orrelieve human rights violations in thetarget country;N focus world attention on forgottencrises; N add an authoritative voice abouthuman rights violations in the face ofrumours, exaggeration, propaganda orfragmented reporting; N provide analysis of human rightsaspects in the crisis; N suggest solutions to be pursued byothers;

N help prevent future violations.There are other aims to pursue

which go beyond the immediatesituation. These include:N improvements in the preparednessof the international community forfuture crises, such as the reinforcementof intergovernmental human rightsmechanisms and of early warningsystems;N alerting the world to the need forpreventive actions in the crisis region orelsewhere;N ending practices which maycontribute to human right violationssuch as the export of military, securityand police transfers;N creating human rights awareness,knowledge and willingness to campaign;N AI publicity, membershiprecruitment and fundraising to supportthe movement’s activities in relation tothe crisis and in general.

AI policy and crisisresponseA perfect organizational system forcrisis response is useless if AI has notdeveloped its policies relevant to crises.Issues pertinent to crises, such asmilitary intervention, cooperation withother organizations on research,security risks for the membership andstaff deployed to the field requireattention.

Responding to Crises 75

This is how a planned crisis response mightlook in table form. In practice, eventsdictate how and when responses are

required and they may not coincide exactlywith the schedule.

Clear answers are needed for thesedifficult issues and at timesexpectations of what we can do inrelation to a particular crisis situationwill have to be modified.

Section objectivesSections should consider which aimsoutlined in an international strategythey are particularly well placed topursue. Does their society’srelationship with the crisis countryprovide particular opportunities toinfluence the situation which wouldmerit additional aims? Sections will alsohave to decide which aims they have thecapacity to pursue.

However, Sections must actspeedily on the international aims thatare set, otherwise the response of themovement as a whole will lose impact.This means that there is less scope forextensive discussion and consultation.Decision-making needs to becomefaster, more directed, andcompetencies need to be very clear. Atthe same time, those with mostknowledge about a situation shouldplay a key role in decision-making andquality control.

During crises emotions run high,the organization gets stretched andpeople feel stressed. That is whycommunication about what is expectedof the movement is so important duringcrises. Malfunctioning communicationat such times divides the movement.Good communication will unite it,motivate it and strengthen itseffectiveness.

It is the responsibility of everyonein the movement to communicate andrespond in a timely and appropriateway. Once decisions are made we allneed to stick to them.

As crises often have a high mediaprofile, no unilateral initiatives shouldbe launched. Sections should consultthe IS on their initiatives and pursuethe internationally agreed objectives.Common action initiatives should beshared and supported by all in themovement.

Mobilizing for actionA crisis situation may require muchcreative thinking to find ways in whichthe membership can contribute tooften unclear, complicated and chaoticsituations. In many Sections, big orsmall, mostly centralized action willtake place in the early stages of a crisisbecause speed is vital. CentralizedSection structures for crisis responsetherefore need to be clear.

Sections need to set up structuresfor dealing with crises, operating inparallel with the IS.* Each Section willneed to adapt the suggestions below totheir local circumstances.

jCHECKLISTWHAT SECTIONS CAN DO

jj Alert all relevant people of the crisisresponse, including Section staff,volunteers and some intermediatestructures.

jj Form a crisis committee. This shouldinclude key people in the Section, such asSection director, campaign coordinator,press officer, fundraiser, administrator,relevant co-group and/or RegionalAction Network (RAN) grouprepresentative. Agree who willcoordinate the team and who will havefinal decision-making authority.

jj Agree one central contact personbetween the IS and your Section andinform the IS immediately. If possible,provide a contact number outsideworking hours.

jj Feed into strategy consultationrequests from the IS.

jj Consider how best to usemembership structures to take action. It isimportant to proactively develop actionsand proposals once internationalobjectives are clear. Our experience isthat while some Sections have developedcreative and dynamic activities, othershave been paralysed by the enormity ofthe problem and frustrated by the lack of


* Sections committed themselves to this inDecision 4, 1993 International CouncilMeeting, Boston.

Seeking volunteers

The Irish Section ran anadvertisement in itsnewsletter asking forvolunteers to help duringcrisis response. They werelooking for a team ofvolunteers that could becalled upon at very shortnotice who also lived withineasy reach of the office.They quickly recruited sixpeople.

recommendations about what theyshould do.

jj If relevant, identify at least oneperson at Section level able to work inEnglish pending translation of materials.At times of crisis it will often not bepossible for the IS to issue materials atshort notice in languages other thanEnglish.

jj Agree division of other tasks withinthe crisis committee and review regularly.Use the committee to brainstorm forcreative ideas in responding to the crisis.A set meeting slot each day should beavailable, even if it is not always used.

jj Assess administrative needs for thecrisis. Good administration is vital torunning a crisis response. Fromevaluations of past crises, the IS hasidentified the provision of additionaladministrative support as a priority. Youmay need help with mailings,photocopying, translations, etc. Formany Sections, additional administrativesupport will come from volunteers.

jj Review existing communicationplans. What mailings or newsletters tomembers or others are in production orplanned? Do these offer opportunities forgetting across AI’s message, showing AI isacting and starting action and fundraising.

jj List relevant sources of informationand possible targets for action and makecontact with them:M relevant government departments;M local UN offices which may haveuseful background documents;M media contacts, particularlyjournalists going to or returning from thecrisis area;M local non-governmentalorganizations (NGOs) with operations inthe crisis area or surrounding region.

Consider how they can support AI’sefforts and vice versa. For example, someSections have found an informal NGOworking group useful for crisis situations.Others have directed journalists to otherNGOs/UN offices for information on thecrisis in the absence of, or to supplement,AI reports.

jj React to initial requests for action,information gathering and NGO liaisonfrom the IS. Some Sections may also needto consider requests for deployment oftheir staff or Section contacts to work atthe IS or join missions.

jj Consider fundraising initiativeswhich enable AI greater flexibility in itscrisis response. Some Sections haveplaced special advertisements, puttingAI’s position and seeking funds. Othershave found that an emergency slip ofpaper mentioning the crisis included inscheduled direct mail appeals has beeneffective in raising funds.

jj Consider the best way of keepingthe membership informed and involved.A weekly bulletin can be useful to keepeveryone in the Section up to date, butthis may be costly and/or timeconsuming. Consider including atelephone number in the regularnewsletter advertised as a “crisis hotline”.This could be a recorded message, givingthe latest news and ideas for action.

A daily or weekly meeting to updatepeople of developments can be a goodway of establishing a shared sense ofpurpose, relevance and momentum. Itcan also provide a good opportunity forpeople to provide ideas and suggestionsfor action.



reasons we areunable to show thisimage. Please con-

tact your nearestAmnesty

International office toobtain a hardcopy of

this publication.

In February 1996 the Belgian Sectionplaced 840 pairs of shoes in front of the

European Union building to symbolize thosewho had “disappeared” or been killed in

Burundi during the Great Lakes crisis© FRANK HUYSMANS

Getting crisis response informationto groups and members is important –and vital if you need them to act. Usualcommunication channels to themembership may be too slow. Decideearly on who in the membership reallyneeds action information fast, make this apriority and look at the options for fastermethods of communication.

Money

If at all possible, set aside money in yourbudget to be used only for crisisresponse work: new actions, travel,translation or additional staff.

Decide criteria for the use of thisbudget and who authorises suchexpenditure before you need to use it.If no extra money is available then beclear about who has the authority to cutresources in other areas.

Crisis response coordinatorsCrisis mechanisms in Sections will needclear decision-making structures andprocesses to adjust priorities. These willnot be uniform, as they need to suit thestructure of each Section. However, wherethe capacity exists, appointing a crisisresponse coordinator could help toorganize these functions. She or he shouldenable your Section to operate better inconjunction with the internationalsystem.

A Section may feel it is justifiable torecruit someone specifically to such apost. Alternatively, it may be the campaigncoordinator, the head of the campaigningdepartment, or, in smaller Sections, thedirector who are used to coordinatingthe work of many people in the Section.

The crisis response coordinatorshould have the authority to make thingshappen or have easy access to those whomay need to take immediate decisions.The list below gives some ideas on therole of this person. A crisis responsecoordinator: N triggers the crisis responsemechanism in the Section andcoordinates the work of those involved;N is the central contact forcommunication with the IS; s/he will beexpected to react to requests for

information or consultation quickly;N informs the IS of actions taken andof new Section initiatives;N mobilizes extra staff andvolunteers within the Section;N initiates activities to support theinternational effort and facilitates thesearch for Section staff and volunteersto be deployed by the IS;N controls a crisis budget;N develops the crisis response capacityof the Section in an ongoing way;N participates in the development ofAI’s international crisis responsecapacity and policy by participating ininternational workshops, evaluation andtraining exercises where appropriate.

Groups and membershipMobilizing local groups and the widermembership during crises may oftenprove more difficult than activating at thecentral Section level. For a start, it takestime. When a crisis develops quickly andthe situation changes continuously it is achallenge to keep your membership upto date with new action suggestions andbackground information.

So, should the Section resign itselfmainly to centralized action? ManySections think not. Among theirreasons are:N displays of public dismay, outrageand action in response to human rightscrises can have an enormous effect ondecision-makers in your own countryand, either directly or indirectly, onthose committing human rights abuses;N large-scale or symbolic actions canprovide enormous moral support forvictims and human rights defenders:there are times when grassrootspressure can greatly enhance andsupport efforts made at the Sectionlevel in lobbying, media work,outreach, etc;N not involving the widermembership risks missing importantopportunities – including using theskills, knowledge and influence of AI’smembers: if members feel the crisis isbeing handled by “experts” at thecentre they may not realize that theircontribution is needed;N many of the crises will be in the


Effectiveness demands thatyou are selective about whoreceives action materialquickly. Rapidcommunications are usuallymore expensive. So, try andtarget your actions so thatyou can mobilize quickly.

public eye: groups and members willwant to do something and if an effectiverole for them is not found they willbecome increasingly frustrated anddemoralized.

However, it is important to getsome strategic action almostimmediately. Showing AI membersthat the crisis is being acted upon mightmean changing the front cover of thenewsletter or the content of an appealletter, or including a special letter withthe newsletter.

A “red alert” system may benecessary. This means mobilizingcertain elements of your membershipto work on the crisis with an assumptionthat their other work is suspended for aset period. Make sure this system isclearly explained to your membership.

With this in mind, do you set upnew structures to deal with crises orwork with those you already have?Below are some ideas. You can use acombination of some or all of them.

Urgent Action networkYour UA network has often receivedaction requests on the crisis countrybefore crisis mode is officially declared.Over the crisis period the network islikely to be mobilized again. The verynature of the network is to respondquickly, so you probably have manyrapid forms of communication withmembers – e-mail, telephone trees, etc.

Some members of the networkmight be willing to sign up for crisisresponse activities using techniqueswhich are similar to those they employon UAs (letter-writing, faxing, localpress work). Training needs aretherefore minimal as members arealready familiar with such work.

Such an option would requireconsultation with the network and yourUA coordinator(s). It is likely that if theUA network was used in this way, strictguidelines would need to be agreed toavoid overburdening the network orundermining their main work.

Crisis response network Sections could consider setting up aseparate pool of their groups or

individual members who are preparedto be mobilized at short notice. (Youmight consider using such a pool forrapid response actions too if thefrequency and level of action was felt toundermine enthusiasm for such aproject.)

Experiences from setting up yourUA network, particularly the practicalaspects, will be valuable on such aproject. You will also need to thinkabout:

N How to encouragegroups/members to get involvedWorking on a crisis situation is verydifferent from working on behalf ofindividuals. The scale of crises cancreate feelings of paralysis in terms ofwhat AI or you as an individual canachieve.

N Setting realistic expectations andboundaries for the networkYou may find that in some cases the verymention of a crisis is attractive to yourmembers. You will also need toconsider how to keep the networkmotivated when there is no crisisresponse and how large the networkshould be. You will need to maintain abalance between crisis work and theongoing program.

N Communications Look at how your UA network currentlyfunctions: the potential for rapidcommunication varies enormouslybetween Sections. Tailor theexpectations of the network to thespeed at which it can work and theservicing that is realistic to provide.

N The network’s relationship withthe Section and intermediatestructuresMake sure that reporting lines anddivision of tasks between the Section,intermediate structures (such as therelevant co-group) and the network areclear.

N Training and preparing thenetworkTry not to wait until a crisis happens


before thinking about solutions toproblems or providing relevanttraining. Being prepared will make thenetwork’s response more effective.What will you want people to do in acrisis? Is there specialized training thatcould help, for example incommunications technology?

N Evaluating, improving andmaintaining the networkMake sure that any system you put inplace includes a set time for evaluation.Try to do this after the system hasoperated over two crises. If you wantnetwork members to give you feedbackmake sure you give them some. Tellthem about AI’s successes regardingthe crisis and how the movementintends to continue work on theparticular country in the long term. Donot let the network feel that a countryhas just been dropped. Tell the IS crisisresponse team about your experiencesso that lessons learned and positiveexperiences can be shared with others.

Country/RAN coordinators and theirgroupsYou have country/regional interest andexpertise on tap here so use it for crisiswork. If a country coordination groupexists on the crisis country, heavydemands can be made of them. At timesRAN coordinators can also be in thisposition, particularly when there is no co-group. Below are some tips to consider ifyou want this part of your membership totake action during crises:

cTIPS

c If at all possible the Section shouldmake efforts to reinforce countrycoordination groups covering possiblecrisis countries. One Section hasconsidered a “floating resource”coordinator whose speciality would becrisis response and who could assistcountry coordinators with response toan action. Another has looked at a crisiscoordination group with the samefunction, formed and run in the sameway as a country coordination groupand essentially part of that

intermediate structure, attending thesame meetings, etc.

c Ensure that systems for rapidcommunications between the Sectionand the group are put in place. SomeSections have thought about providingfax machines for the co-group wherethey do not have one or have helpedconnect them to e-mail.

c If a particular country is classified“at risk” through the Review of CountryStrategy, look at strengthening the co-groups for those countries (or try to setup a group if one does not already exist)in advance of a potential crisis.

c Look at the issues that may beparticularly important in a crisis, or theactions that are likely to be a priority. Forexample, if it is media work then identifyparticular journalists with an expertiseand begin to establish a relationship withthem. Provide them with information andbriefings, etc. If it is lobbying then seek todevelop a positive working relationshipwith departmental officials responsiblefor this country and try to establishwhich individuals may be in a positionto influence government policy.

c Consider strengthening andsupporting relevant RAN coordinatorsand groups active in that RAN.

c Combine training for the RAN andco-group coordinators in crisis responsework, looking at plans for both practicaland strategic issues should a crisis break.

c Make sure responsibilities betweenthe RAN and co-group are clear and thatthe tasks are divided so the work is shared.Ensure lines of communication andresponsibilities between Section and co-group and/or RAN coordinator areagreed. If a crisis coordination committeeis formed at Section level, consider howbest to involve the co-group and/or RANcoordinator in this.

c Familiarize RAN groups, throughyour RAN coordinator and RAN grouptraining, with the demands of crisis



response work. A fast RAN may be issuedas part of the actions for the crisis.

c Build in evaluation of the systemsyou use and the impact these are having,not just on the target country but also onother ongoing program work.

Mobilizing a large-scale reactionLarge-scale actions involving wide supportfrom your members and the public can bean extremely important element of yourcrisis response. A way of mobilizing a largepart of your membership to offer an outletfor outrage is often as vital as targetedaction from specific elements of yourmembership.

The following are some tips onhow to try and make sure AI membersand others know quickly that the crisisis being acted upon.

cTIPS

c Run a simple announcement onradio or in newspapers (especially ifyou can get free or reduced-pricespace) saying what AI is doing andcalling on people to contact AI if thereis action for them join.

c If you have a mass action you wantpeople to take part in, or just want toprovide more information about thecrisis, give out a telephone “hotline”number at the Section, which peoplecan call for more details. (This could bea recorded message.)

c Consider forming a telephonetree to communicate that crisis modehas been declared and that memberscan call the Section office with ideasand receive information. For example,each member of the crisis responsenetwork could be asked to call fiveother local group contacts.

c Groups and individual memberscould be encouraged to prepare a list oforganizations and inviduals they couldmobilize at short notice and the waysthey will do this.

c If your Section has an AI site onthe Internet, or is planning one, thinkof ways to use it to publicize the crisisand provide action ideas.

c Make a special appeal forvolunteers at the Section office if youhave tasks that need doing. For somepeople, being involved practically inthe office is as important as takingmore direct action on the crisis countryitself.

c Start a debate immediately in yournewsletter to groups and members orin meetings about how the broadermembership could be involved inhuman rights crisis situations. Ideasfrom them are likely to provide youwith realistic and effective answers.

CampaigningtechniquesCampaigning techniques to react tocrises are in principle the same as thosewe apply to other situations. However,the severity of crisis situations forces usto make more creative use of thosetechniques and to implement these atspeed. Much will depend on theparticular situation and the analysis ofwhat will have an impact. Some of thekey areas are outlined below.

MediaAt times of crisis the IS will try to get outat least a public holding statement toSections within the first days of thecrisis. Such a statement may notcontain much news but will aim to helpSections to respond to media inquiries.The IS endeavours to have a presencein the crisis area as soon as possible.Often this will lead to possibilities formedia work, initiated either directlyfrom the region or from the IS.

If the crisis is being covered in themedia, journalists may be interested ina “local angle”, which you can providethrough campaigning actions such asvigils, demonstrations or symbolicactions.

The media can become the most

During the Rwanda crisis in1994, it was not until there

was sustained media interestin the situation that many

governments began to act.Understanding the

relationship between yourgovernment and the media

regarding the crisis willdetermine your most

effective focus or angle.

dramatic public expression of AI’sposition. AI’s message, if well packagedand visualized in creative,demonstrative actions, can be conveyedto both those responsible for violationsand those who have an influence onthem through the media.

The media may also be a vitalsource of information about the crisis.Journalists are likely to have access tothe latest information through newsagency and correspondents’ reports.Although AI Sections cannot baseactions solely on these reports, they canhelp to make sure that AI’s commentsare relevant and up to date by providingthe latest background knowledge.

Make contact with journalistseither travelling to or returning fromthe crisis area. Persuade them toinclude human rights issues in theirreporting of the crisis.

If human rights concerns are notbeing covered, or if reporting lacksanalysis, offer to hold a briefing forjournalists.

Ask members to write letters to theeditors calling for coverage.

Offer journalists a service. Directjournalists to reliable sources ofinformation such as UN reports orthose from NGOs, in addition to AImaterial, particularly if AI has not beenable to issue detailed informationimmediately.

Assess whether media reporting ispressing your government into action.

Make contacts with “academics” or

“experts” on the crisis country who maybe interviewed by the media. Keepthem informed of AI’s concerns and tryto get human rights issues covered intheir briefings to the media.

LobbyingDuring any crisis AI will have strongopinions about what action foreigngovernments, individually or combinedin the UN and/or regionalintergovernmental organizations (IGOs),should take. Some governments will bevery willing to take action. They mayhave established their own crisis team intheir foreign affairs department, whichcould be an invaluable source ofinformation and pressure on the targetcountry.

The first steps before decidingyour strategy are:N find out the relevant official tocontact;N find out what they have doneabout the crisis so far;N find out what they are currentlydoing and what they are planning to do;N ask whether they already havedetails of AI’s position andinformation;N ask if they have been discussing thesituation with other governments andfind out the outcomes of thesediscussions;N find out what action the embassy istaking on the ground in the crisiscountry, and what action is being takenat the IGO level;

An AI mission to Tanzania during the GreatLakes crisis response attracted an impressiveamount of media attention in Tanzania.Media coverage was also reported inDenmark, the USA, Austria and Canada.From left: David Bull, Director of AIUK;Everest Mbuye, Chair of AI Tanzania; MrBrahim, Head of the Refugee Division of theTanzanian Ministry of Home Affairs;government official (unintroduced); FirozeManji, former director of IS Africa program.© AI


83

AI launched the Great Lakes crisisresponse on 31 October 1996 after

escalating conflict in the eastern region ofthe Democratic Republic of Congo

(former Zaire)© UNHCR

N find out what they believe will bethe most effective action;N find out how they propose toconsult/liaise with NGOs, including AI,over future actions.

Sometimes it will be important toinvolve the membership in thislobbying. Local groups may be able toput pressure on the government to act,as may other organizations.

Where letter-writing is seen asineffective – either to the target countrybecause of internal chaos or to yourown government because of the needfor speed – petitions, public events, orface to face lobbying of localrepresentatives can provide goodvehicles for AI’s message.

Sections in the same region as thecrisis country will be particularlyimportant in putting pressure on theirown government and regionalorganizations. Where limited capacityexists, this may require the energy ofmost of your groups and members, aswell as the Section.

Letter-writingWhere central authority is clearlydefined, our traditional membershipapproach of letters, faxes andtelephone calls will often be animportant part of our response.

Where state authority has brokendown, or communication lines aredisrupted, letter-writing and similartechniques may still be an importantchannel of pressure, but directedtowards the diplomatic representativesof the crisis country, including those atIGOs. Another target might be yourown media or home government.

OutreachDuring a crisis, some organizations will bemore involved with issues directly relatedto AI’s mandate than others. It may bethat these organizations are not the usualones your Section reaches out to.

These are likely to be humanrights, development, and medical orother emergency relief organizations,which are often present in the field andwitness what is happening. Humanrights issues become an integral part of

their work. Quickly identify which ofthese organizations will be particularlyrelevant by:N exchanging information about thehuman rights situation;N sharing insights for strategies tofight abuses;N exploring how their actions (forexample, towards your owngovernment) complement AI’s workand looking at where common actioncould be effective.

Some Sections manage to set up orparticipate in ad hoc groupings withother NGOs to facilitate this.

Information gathered fromnational NGOs with a presence in thefield should be shared with the IS.Contacts with such organizations will beextremely helpful both for AI’s workand their own.

In addition, key Sections might beasked to take on consultation withparticular regional or internationalNGOs.

EvaluationIt is essential that our crisis responsework is evaluated. Evaluations mightlook at impact (in terms of the aims foreach response), process andorganization.

While the crisis response team atthe IS is normally responsible forinitiating evaluations for the movementas a whole, the role of Sections incooperating with such evaluations andensuring that the process of evaluationis mirrored at Section level cannot bestressed enough.


1

CHAPTER 5FUNDRAISING ANDCAMPAIGNING

Every campaigner knows the importance ofhaving funds when taking action. However, seeingfundraising only as a means to an end is likely tolead to lost opportunities – for both campaigningand fundraising. In order to harness properly itspotential support, AI members at every levelneed to recognize that both campaigners andfundraisers want action in support of human rights,and that action can be in the form of time or money.

Contents

What is integrated fundraising and campaigning? / 86

Why integrate? / 87

The basics of fundraising / 87

Techniques for attracting support / 88

Direct mail / 89

Advertising and promotion / 90

Telemarketing / 90

Merchandising / 90

Special events / 91

Techniques for consolidating support / 92

Direct mail / 92

Regular giving schemes / 93

Top supporters’ clubs / 93

Telemarketing / 93

Legacies and bequests / 93

Other means / 94

A sustainable strategy / 94

How integrated are your fundraising and campaigning? / 95

Help for fundraising / 96

“The cost of liberty is less thanthe price of repression.”

William Edward Burghardt Du Bois

What is integratedfundraising andcampaigning?“If only we had the money we could...”As a campaigner you have probablythought this at least once, or if not, youprobably will in the future.

Fundraising is an integral part ofthe work of a campaigningorganization. In some AI Sections,campaign coordinators are alsoresponsible for fundraising. In others,the roles are separate. In both cases, thecampaign coordinator has animportant role to play in creating aculture that places equal value oncampaigning and fundraising and inbreaking down the artificial barriersthat can exist between them.

AI’s most valuable resource forcampaigning and fundraising is itssupporters (members and financialdonors). To make the most of theircommitment, it is important for AI’sdifferent programs to plan together.Servicing and maintaining AI’s supportbase is the responsibility of bothfundraisers and campaigners.

For these reasons it is useful forcampaigners to acquire at least a basicknowledge of fundraising techniquesand practice. Likewise, marketingprinciples and techniques essential tofundraising can help campaigning work.

Integrated fundraising andcampaigning means making sure that:N campaigning includes the messagethat AI needs support (both money andtime) and provides the opportunity forpeople to give that support – forexample, by including on leafletscoupons that ask people to join ordonate funds;

N fundraising activities promote asmuch as possible the currentcampaigning objectives of AI;N campaigns offer a wide range ofactions to cater for all AI participantsand structures;N integration of fundraising andcampaigning should take placesystematically at the overall strategicplanning stage, and in the actionplanning process.

Planning schedules and periodsfor fundraising and campaigning maynot coincide exactly, yet it is importantthat action planning (which is oftenshorter term) takes place within anintegrated plan.

The experience of many AISections shows that members andsupporters change their method ofsupport – from time to money and viceversa. Younger supporters may, forinstance, be in a position to give time.As they become older and take on otherresponsibilities they may wish to showtheir support mainly through financialcontributions. It is important that AIhas the systems in place to enable andencourage people to make these choices.

The key fundraising task forSections is to develop a base of membersand donors outside of any groupstructure. Building such a support basemay cost money at first but it is a provenpath to financial self-sufficiency andraising income in any country.

Finally, fundraising iscampaigning, as both activities:N aim to influence behaviour;N rely on targeting messages todifferent audiences;N need clear communication andcalls for action;N need to make it easier to say “yes”than “no”;


“In some organizationsfundraisers are the outsiders,the latecomers and interlopers;their integration into theorganization will reflect thisattitude and can seriously affecttheir ability to do the job...Fundraising works best whenclosely integrated andreporting in at a high level. Thefundraiser cannot be hived offas if they did not exist and mustbe valued and trusted as muchas any other functional part ofthe organization.” Sam Clarke, head of Oxfam fundraising, inThe Complete Fundraising Handbook

Professional guidance

Professional marketing tools can be used successfully in campaigning. Direct marketingprofessionals gather evidence on such things as which colours evoke certain reactions, andwhether the day the mail is delivered affects people’s willingness to respond. When makingappeals, marketing professionals provide a pre-paid return envelope and a form orcoupon to fill in. They add a note of urgency by writing, for example, “please reply by ...because ...” They provide an incentive to respond by writing, for instance, “all those takingpart in the action at ... will receive a T-shirt at the special price of ... to help publicity...”

N rely on building long-termrelationships with supporters;N provide opportunities for peopleto support AI’s human rights work;N build awareness and knowledge.

Why integrate?There are several reasons why AI needsto integrate fundraising andcampaigning. N AI’s fundraising reinforces itsreputation for independence fromgovernment or major funders, therebycontributing to AI’s campaigningcredibility and effectiveness.N Integration prevents supportersand potential supporters from seeingAI as two separate organizations – oneasking for money, another asking fortime.N AI’s messages to both itssupporters and the public need to beconsistent and reinforcing. If AI iscampaigning on the importance ofbuilding awareness on a particularhuman rights situation, this messagewill be strengthened or undermined bywhether or not it is also carried infundraising communications.N Integration ensures that there is aclear image of what AI stands for anddoes. If AI excessively uses the images ofchildren to raise funds there is a riskthat AI could be wrongly perceived as achildren’s organization.N Integration allows for multiple useof the same materials, thus savingmoney and providing extra resourcesfor campaigning. For instance,campaign T-shirts can be sold, couponscan be included on campaigning

literature, greeting cards featuring theimages of the campaign can be sent tomembers, and AI reports can be sold.

A key fundraising principle is that“people give to help people notorganizations”. This means thatfundraisers need to know thecampaigning information to feed intoappeals – and be able to transformthem into gripping personal stories sothat potential supporters can feel andsee the need to donate to and join AI.People take action because of acombination of emotional andintellectual reasons – appeals to thehead and heart!

The basics of fundraisingWhen AI needs action the first people itturns to are its members or knownsupporters, whether for time or money.It follows that a successful long-termfundraising (and campaigning)strategy depends on attracting andretaining support.

The basic conceptual tool is thefundraising pyramid (see diagramoverleaf). The Pareto principle statesthat 80 per cent of income comes from20 per cent of supporters (the top of thepyramid). A lot of fundraising energyand resources therefore go into tryingto get people into the base of thepyramid – that first gesture of supportthrough time or money. Theinvestment of energy and resourcesspent on attracting supporters is thenconsolidated by seeking to move peopleup the support pyramid throughdeveloping their knowledge of andcommitment to AI.

Fundraising and Campaigning 87

fAvoid referring to

those who givemoney as active andthose who only writeletters as passive (or

the other wayaround!)

In some countries, it is thefundraisers of AI Sections

who most frequently contactthe membership and support

base. In other countries,appeals for funds are

effectively the public face of AI.

Raising funds from workers

In 1995, following renewed outreach work in the trade union movement, the largestGerman trade union, IG Metall, made a donation to AI of $65,000.

During AI’s 1993 campaign on the UN World Conference on Human Rights anAustralian trade union donated $A 2,000 to enable a trade unionist from Asia toattend the conference to challenge the position on human rights being put forwardby some Asian governments.

The Dutch Section’s approaches to companies have established schemes in whichemployees have agreed that a deduction from each pay packet will be paidautomatically to AI.

Techniques forattracting supportAttracting support, whether throughadvertising, inserts or letters, can beexpensive. AI has found that in at leastsome countries people often join afterthinking about it seriously three or fourtimes first. So it is essential to givepeople as many opportunities aspossible to think about joining, takingpart or donating money.

It is also essential to have in placesystems for recording the details ofpeople who join – or who are interestedin joining – so that you can continue tocommunicate with them. This can be asimple card index system or a computerdatabase. The main techniques ofattracting support are:N direct mailN advertising and promotionN telemarketingN merchandiseN special events


The Fundraising Pyramid

N Pareto principle – 80% of income comes from 20% of the donorsN The warmer the relationship, the higher up the pyramid, the greater the gift.

N Outside pyramid:Events, trusts/foundations, sponsorship, licensing, door-to-door collections, company giving, etc.

N Inside pyramid: Raffles, trading, etc.

LEGACIES

BIG GIFTS/CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS

MONTHLY GIVING/REPEAT PAYMENT PROGRAMS

APPEALS

MEMBERSHIP OR FIRST DONATION

Key questions:N How much does a new member/donor cost to acquire?N How many are you budgeting for in the next year – a 25% increase?N How long do they stay? How much do they give over their lifetime with you?N How much do you spend on servicing them?N Does your magazine go out four or six times a year – not more surely?

Supporters and the publicshould not detect anydifference in value ordifferent response when theycontribute time or money.

Direct mailDirect mail is one of AI’s mostsuccessful techniques for attractingnew support in countries withinexpensive and efficient postalsystems. As printing and postage costscan be quite high, direct mail is mostlikely to be cost-effective when it iscarefully targeted at people believed tobe most likely to support AI – such asmembers of organizations who mightbe sympathetic to AI’s concerns.

Sometimes it is possible toexchange a mailing with theseorganizations. The other organizationmails your letter to its supporters andyou mail their letter to AI supporters. Inother situations, it is possible to rent orbuy mailing lists. In some countriesthere are “list-brokers” who domailings.

Direct mail can also attract supportthrough member-get-memberschemes. Either your members asktheir friends to join or they send youlikely names and addresses for you tomail directly. (The UK Section has ahelpful list of guidelines on the conductof mailing exchanges with otherorganizations.)

Send direct mail appeals to yourmembers and donors at least four timesa year. The main NGOs and AI Sectionsdo this about six times a year. Yourmembers will feel involved andappreciate your prompt thank youletters. Response rates to existingsupporters range between 6 and 12 percent.

Break-even costs vary substantiallybut may be at about 2 per cent responsefrom cold lists. From exchange


Direct mail: the essentials

Direct mail is the simple art of sending letters or “appeals” to your supporters askingfor additional donations, or to potential supporters asking them to join or to donatemoney. It was the perfecting of this fundraising technique, above all others, that wasresponsible for AI’s rapid growth in the 1980s. A direct mail pack usually consists offive elements:

N An outer envelope. This often carries an intriguing message and picture toensure it is opened. It will have a window for the address, a return address and thediscount mark. In many societies national postal services offer substantial discountsfor bulk mailings.

N The letter itself. This should read like a letter from a friend. It should be quiteclear about asking the reader to give money or join. Let them know which problemtheir money will alleviate, preferably using real examples. The letter should have apositive tone: it is persuading people they can do something.The first paragraph isread more than anything else. There should be a note of urgency at the end whichleads the reader to fill out the reply coupon. Opinions differ greatly on how long aletter should be: like everything else, test.

N A reply coupon. This can be separate or a tear-off strip on the letter. It shouldhave the person’s name and address on it, which will show through the outerenvelope. It should re-state the request: “Yes, I would like to join/donate to AmnestyInternational...” Let the reader know how much you want and allow them to add anextra donation. A line of tick boxes with different amounts greatly increases income(people usually pick the middle box). Allow people to pay any way they want. Neverlet people just ask for information: this wastes time and money, and fewer peoplejoin or give. Code the coupon so you can evaluate its success.

N An additional leaflet. This allows you to show pictures (which can be worth athousand words), to provide feedback on past campaigning, or to give a morecomprehensive picture of AI’s work.

N The return envelope. This should be pre-paid with your address and thename of the person who signed the letter – and who will sign the thank you letter sentfor each donation. The envelope should be large enough to take a cheque.

fMake sure allcampaigning

materials, such asleaflets and posters,include a coupon for

joining AI.

mailings you may get up to 5 per cent.The expectation in many organizationsis not that the first mailing will make aprofit but that over the period each newperson can be expected to stay with theorganization they will contribute acertain amount.

Advertising and promotionAdvertising in the national press, radio,television or cinema can be effective,although it is very expensive. It isimportant to make it easy for people torespond to the advertisements byincluding a clear coupon or telephonenumber. The best way of evaluating theeffectiveness of your advertising is tocheck the number of responses.

If possible, test before you invest.You can do this by finding out howsuccessful other organizations havebeen using similar techniques, byresearching industry standards, or byrunning a small test before embarkingon the major project.

Inserting membership/donorleaflets in magazines or newspapers canbe effective, although carefullytargeting the audience and the appealcan make the difference betweensuccess and failure. Look at previousresults.

Magazines and newspapers may beable to provide you with marketresearch results on the audience theyreach, which can help you decide bymatching that audience profile with thecharacteristics of your existingsupporters. You can also placemembership leaflets in stores, cafés orrestaurants.

TelemarketingTelemarketing is an establishedtechnique used in market research andselling in many societies. Manycharitable and campaigningorganizations also use it, as do anumber of AI Sections. It involvestelephoning supporters or potentialsupporters and persuading them tomake a commitment to extra orcontinuing support. It is a very directand personal way of communicatingAI’s need for support, and there is amuch higher positive response ratethan there is to direct mail, althoughthe costs are higher. Some Sectionshave used this technique to successfullyrenew support from lapsed members.

Telephone companies can supplytelephone numbers (probably for afee) or they can be collected onmembership forms and stored ondatabases.

The Norwegian Section hasperhaps the most successfultelemarketing program and hasproduced a guide (available in English)on running a telemarketing operation.

MerchandisingMerchandising – anything from ferryrides in Sierra Leone to greeting cardsin Iceland – provides a valuable part ofAI’s income and another opportunityfor people to show their support for AI.In some Sections, particularly wheredirect mail is inappropriate, it hasbecome a significant source of income.

Much merchandise simplypromotes AI by including the candle orthe name on products such as pens,

90 Amnesty International Campaigning ManualRaffles have always been a popular way toraise money for AI. This raffle bookproduced by the UK Section is attractivelydesigned and highlights the purpose of thefundraising exercise.

T-shirts or wash-bags. Some simplyinclude a message that the profits willgo to support AI’s work. In other casesT-shirts promote specific campaignmessages.

Merchandising can be a good wayof reaching new audiences andrecruiting supporters. Again, thereneeds to be some evidence that amarket exists for a product. AI’smembership may be a large enoughmarket, but it can be best to lookbeyond these limits – and not to assumethat AI’s members share the sametastes.

Distribution of merchandise canbe through AI’s local groups for sale onstalls, through advertisements placed inAI’s and other organizations’newsletters, or through a catalogue.

A marketing and distributionprogram for AI documents can also be auseful way of raising funds andspreading AI’s message. Publiclibraries, school and universitylibraries, government departments andspecialist bookshops may be interestedin taking all or some of AI’spublications.

Special eventsActivities often associated withfundraising are special events such asmusic concerts, theatre performances,art awards, auctions and street appeals.

There is a saying for special eventfundraising: “The first time is formaking mistakes, the second to makemoney.” For large events it is thereforestrongly advised that professionalassistance is sought before anydecisions are made about investingsignificant resources or going aheadwith the event.

A number of AI Sections haveexperience of special eventfundraising. Their advice should besought, and it is likely to be cheap!

Regular special events can be avaluable part of a fundraising strategyand a fairly reliable source of funds.They can also be a publicity vehicle forhigh profile figures to show theirsupport.

It is usually best to stick with

proven money-makers rather thantrying things that are totally new. Evenwhen successful in raising money, largespecial events do not have a goodrecord for AI or other organizations inattracting long-term support. Specialevents are high-risk and involveconsiderable investment with noguarantee on the level of return orincome. The more ambitious the plan,the higher the risks.

Many organizations have lostmoney even in events with very popularperformers. High profile events take ona momentum of their own that becomesunstoppable. Because they are highinvestment and high risk, with few if anylong-term benefits, they should notform the core of any fundraisingprogram.

Risks can be kept to a minimum bythe following steps:N be clear about the audience youare seeking to attract – an impressive listof performers can fail to attract becausetheir appeal is to too many diverseaudiences;N sell as many tickets as possible inadvance;N use venues with establishedaudiences and get the owners toundertake the promotion of the eventand underwrite costs;N set a budget and profit goal beforecommitting to the event: over-estimateexpenses, under-estimate income andlook at the time involved for staff andvolunteers;


Good and bad targeting

Good: In 1989 the Australian Sectionmailed letters to 20,000 supporters ofan overseas aid agency and receivedan excellent response rate of over 10per cent. A good response would havebeen 2 per cent. The appeal featuredcountries and issues believed to be ofinterest to these supporters.

Bad: In the same year the AustralianSection mailed letters to a thousandmail-order purchasers of woollenunder-blankets. One personresponded. It was difficult to know howto interest this audience in AI’s concerns.

cTIP

Prepare some standardcoupons you can use easily

in different publications.

N calculate break-even point – howmany tickets need to be sold to cover costs?N check the legalities – licensingregulations, health and safety standards,public liability insurance, etc;N keep careful records of income,expenditure and organization to makea repeat performance easier;N publicize the event (cost publicityinto your budget);N investigate other possibilities formaking income from the same event,such as having collectors asking fordonations, selling T-shirts, etc.

Special event fundraising can,however, have many benefits. They canbring the community into contact withAI, provide AI with a vehicle for publicand media promotion, and be fun forall involved. These are side-benefitsthough. The primary aim must still beto raise funds!

By and large, in special eventfundraising small is beautiful. Eventssuch as dinners, film or video evenings,and musical performances can be animportant source of funds for AI groups.They can also increase AI’s profile and theprofile of a campaign in the community.

Campaign coordinators canencourage groups to organize smallevents with a specific campaign theme:N During a country campaignfundraising dinners can be organizedthat feature the food of the country.N Events can be billed as for thecountry campaign and the campaignslogan and logo can appear on allliterature and publicity associated withthe event.N A special concert eveningfeaturing the target country’s musiccan be organized.

N A raffle can be run at events withprizes originating from the targetedcountry.

Do be careful, however, not to givethe impression that all the money fromthat event will go to that campaignexclusively (unless it really will).Remind groups to evaluate the event –what worked and what they would dodifferently next time.

The AI Canadian Section (English-speaking branch) have produced anexcellent and comprehensive guide toorganizing special events which theyare happy to supply to others onrequest.

Techniques forconsolidating supportThe principal way of buildingcommitment to AI and for movingsupporters up through the supportpyramid is regular communication,including personal contact. This meansreporting back to supporters on theresults of campaigning, including goodnews stories of people being released.Let people know they are helping tomake a difference!

The following techniques are usedin developing regular communicationwith a support base of thousands ofsupporters:

N Direct mailN Regular giving schemesN Top supporters clubsN Telemarketing N Legacies and bequests

Direct mailDirect mail is an important techniquefor renewing and building support.Once people have joined or made adonation they are then encouraged togive again to appeals. This is generallymost effective when mailings areintegrated with campaigning – whenthey are based on specific and currentcampaigns.

It is worth testing to see whetherthese appeals will be enhanced byadding an action element such as a


fEven whenadvertising agenciesoffer to donate alllabour and servicesfree of charge, thecost of materials andequipment formaking television,cinema and radioadvertising canquickly absorb largeamounts ofresources. Moreover,not paying forservices can limit thecontrol you haveover what theagency produces.

fEven with months ofpreparation, outlayand organization, itis not until around80 per cent of ticketshave been sold that aconcert moves intoprofit — and thenbecomes afundraiser.

Raising funds while recruiting

The New Zealand Section conducted amembership recruitment campaign bytelephone in 1995. Some 46,000 peoplewere called and asked to donate $NZ 25. Of these, 1,768 new supporterswere recruited, making an averagedonation of $NZ 27.11. They believethat asking for a specific amount ofmoney contributed to the success of thecampaign.

postcard to be sent to a government.This testing is usually done by puttingthe card in half the mailing and codingthe return coupons so that you can seewhich half responds with moredonations.

Again, the campaign needspersonalizing through the use ofmoving case histories.

Some AI Sections successfully mailtheir supporters for donations six timesa year. Reasonable response rates rangefrom 6 to 14 per cent for any one mailing.

These appeals also provide anopportunity to receive feedback onwhat the organization has achieved andto develop supporters’ knowledge ofand commitment to AI.

Each donation should beacknowledged – if possible by a thankyou letter. Some organizationssuccessfully use the thank you letter toseek a further donation. Some make athank you telephone call in response tolarge donations.

Regular giving schemesDirect mail can also be used toencourage supporters to give on aregular basis – preferably automatically.It represents a significant increase incost-effectiveness, saving onadministration, etc. This level ofcommitment represents another stepup the donor pyramid. AI’s experienceis that people who gave perhaps a $40annual donation may be willing to give$10 a month – tripling their donation.When this is done by automaticfinancial transfer, or deduction fromcredit cards, it is usually allowed to runon from year to year, providing a stablesource of income at low cost.

Top supporters’ clubsTo encourage supporters to take thestep up to the next level of the donorpyramid, some AI Sections and otherorganizations create special schemes toencourage people to upgrade theirsupport. These are sometimes known asdonor clubs like “Partners ofConscience”, where people may paymuch more each month or year. It issensible to give these people

recognition, which they appreciate.This could be a smart lapel badge or ameeting with the director. It may simplybe a telephone call to say thank youpersonally – or the gift of an AI calendarat the end of the year.

When the time comes for a majoritem to be purchased (such ascomputer equipment) it is to thesepeople that the Section can turn.

TelemarketingSections have used telemarketing torecruit people into special regular andhigher giving programs, as well as torenew support. Organizations havefound that integrated with direct mail,it is a very effective technique, i.e. mail,telephone call, mail.

Legacies and bequestsAt the top of supporters’ pyramid arelegacies, sometimes called bequestdonations. This is a huge source ofrevenue and many Sections have beensaved from financial disaster by thereceipt of a timely bequest. There is acomplex correlation between activelyseeking funds in this way and receivingthem, but supporters do need to knowthis is an option open to them.

Most importantly, as supportershave climbed the pyramid they havebeen developing a closer and closerrelationship with AI. People will notmove up the pyramid unless they feelthat AI is meeting their needs. Oursupporters have options and can easilygive to other organizations if we are notdealing with the problems theyperceive as important or not keepingthem informed about our concerns in away they appreciate. So, it is crucial to


There is increasingcooperation between the

merchandising programs ofSections. Designs for some

products, such as cards andT-shirts, are shared. In

preparing for any majorcampaign consult other

Sections, such as the French,Dutch, Australian or UK,

which have largemerchandising programs, to

see whether they have asuitable design you may be

able to use.

A night for AI

The Irish Section held a very successfulconcert when the performer Phil Collinsoffered to play an extra night on his tourjust for AI. All his other concerts weresold out, providing a good indication ofdemand. All the major organizationhad already been done, and theremainder was undertaken by thepromoter rather than AI.

develop our supporters’ understandingof human rights issues and how AI’swork is meeting human rightsobjectives.

Other meansThe US Section raises considerablefunds through trusts and annuities.Many tax systems offer incentives todonate to organizations such as AI. It isworth investigating.

A sustainable strategyAI needs to plan all its activities in oneplan, which can then be implementedby different (specialized) staff andvolunteers. Integrated planning at thisstage can ensure there is coordinatedtiming of all activities for maximumeffect.

One of the key pitfalls infundraising is to build an organizationon a very narrow base of one or twoincome sources. One day these willstop. This can happen quite suddenly,especially in today’s volatileenvironment.

A good fundraising strategy shouldseek to build up a diversified range offundraising activities and make surethat they are sustainable, not justone-off. Plan the development of yourstructure carefully so that over thenext few years you know whichtechniques you will maintain, whichyou will drop and which innovationsyou will develop.

A key part of this strategy isknowing what resources you will needover the coming years in terms of fundsfor fundraising and people to do thework. Unstructured growth usuallyturns into unstructured collapse.

When growth stops, small reserves

are quickly stripped away by continuinghigh fixed costs such as staff. When thisis about to happen, funds become tightand Sections that should be investingextra money in fundraising to regaintheir lost momentum find it hard totake this money “away from” theirprogram activity. Understanding themutual dependence of fundraising andcampaigning can make it easier toregain their position.

Developing a fundraising strategyis much like developing a campaigningstrategy. Review your current situationby answering some basic questions.

gQUESTIONS

g What is your current mix offundraising activities? What is thecost effectiveness of each?

g What proportion of incomecomes from the membership? Whatare the costs of different fundraisingactivities? How long do people staymembers? Are you replacing those wholeave?

g Can these be reduced withoutnegatively affecting income? What isthe scope for developing existingprograms?

g Are new programs needed?

g Is there a natural AIconstituency to which it would bebest to direct appeals?

g What are the barriers to growth,such as lack of communicationinfrastructure, lack of a bankingsystem, negative public image of AI,government restrictions?


Five steps to success

N Promotion of AI andrecruitment of supporters

N Welcoming newsupporters and providingoptions for involvementwith or support of AI

N Renewing support

N Maintainingcommitment

N Efficient administrativeprocedures

Database fundraising

An effective way of communicating with the membership is through a computerdatabase that allows the recording of basic information such as name and address,how and when people first made a contribution, and how much they have donated.A database makes many forms of fundraising possible.

There are a number of commercial computer database packages available,although some AI Sections have developed their own. It is possible to seek advice onthis from the IS.

g What resources (time andmoney) are available for developingfundraising programs?

A SWOT analysis as outlined inChapter 1 can help this exercise, as canseveral other steps.N Agree specific changes needed.Develop a database, include appealletters in members’ newsletters, build AI’simage in the community, supplyfundraising advice to groups, involvefundraisers in the action planningprocess.N Plan to implement the change.Who is to do what by when? N Monitor and evaluate. Areprograms working as effectively as theycan? Why did one activity fail – or perhapsfail in one place and succeed in another?N Build on what you have and useone program or activity to strengthenanother.

It is important to constantly reviewthe cost to income ratio of fundraisingprograms. Some forms of fundraisingsuch as a regular donation scheme may

have a ratio of 1:10, special eventfundraising is more likely to have a ratioof 1:2. An initial mailing to potentialsupporters or an advertisement mayhave a ratio of 1:0.75 (but would moveinto a ratio of 1:4 over a period of ayear as these new supporters giveadditional donations).

AI has a duty to those it works for,and its own supporters, to keep costs toa minimum. Increasingly there is alsocritical scrutiny of these costs from theoutside. If costs cannot be justified thenthis can have a damaging impact on AI’simage and effectiveness

How integrated areyour fundraising andcampaigning?

.

jCHECKLIST

j Are fundraisers and campaignersinvolved in the Section’s strategicplanning process?


If your campaigning is in thenews, a letter to supporters

featuring the samecampaign will build on their

existing awareness and ismore likely to give them the

feeling of being part of asuccessful organization, and

therefore more likely tomaintain their support.

The AI Visa card was launched inconjunction with The Co-operative Bank in

the UK. AI received £0.20 in every £100spent with the card and a £5 donation with

every new account.

j Are people responsible forfundraising involved in action planningdiscussions, brainstorming, etc?

j Is there a call to join or donate on everypossible piece of campaigning material?j Do your campaign posters have youraddress and telephone number on them?

j Does your fundraising materialfeature current campaign concerns?

j Does your fundraising andcampaigning material portray aconsistent image?

j Have you included practicalfundraising suggestions and advice inyour campaign kits for local groups?

j Are you raising your campaigningprofile at the important times of the yearfor fundraising appeals?

j Are you making fundraisingappeals to take advantage of a highcampaigning profile or after humanrights violations have received widepublicity?

Help for fundraisingHelp is provided by the IS by theDirector of International Fundraising.Also at hand is the FundraisingWorking Group (FWG), a specialistsub-committee of AI’s InternationalExecutive Committee. The FWG has arepresentative who covers each regionand a resource group of fundraiserswho provide a variety of expertise. Allthese people can be called upon forfundraising advice and assistance viatelephone, fax or e-mail and there aresome funds for visits to Sections.

The FWG publish DirectCommunication, a fundraisingnewsletter. Let the FWG chairpersonknow if you want to be on thecirculation list.

The FWG encourages fundraisersto attend AI fundraising workshops andcan tell you where and when the nearestworkshop to you will be held.

The simplest way to acquire good

fundraising knowledge is to join sixlocal NGOs, charities or fundraisingorganizations, receive their mailingsand appeals for funds and test out theirideas for AI.


A small item such as a bookmark cancarry a campaign message toreaders and provide a coupon torecruit new members.

1

CHAPTER 6INTERNATIONAL HUMANRIGHTS STANDARDS ANDORGANIZATIONS

International human rights standards andagreements make governments accountable,both individually to each other and throughregional and global intergovernmentalorganizations (IGOs). AI and other organizationshave an important responsibility to make surethey do. IGOs and international human rightsstandards are of fundamental importance to AI'scampaigning on themes and as part of specificcountry strategies. AI constantly refers tointernational standards and seeks to strengthenand improve them. It also lobbies internationalorganizations to promote and protect humanrights and seeks to build the capacity andeffectiveness of their human rights work.

International human rights law / 98

Global and regional human rights standards / 98

Standards on specific subjects / 99

UN institutions dealing with human rights / 99

Regional intergovernmental organizations / 104

The importance of intergovernmental organizations / 105

The importance of international human rights standards / 106

Strengthening the international human rights framework / 107

Using the international human rights framework / 107

"Non-governmentalorganizations have a

responsibility to maintain theirvigilance over the system theyhave helped to establish in the

legitimate expectation that itcan and should be made to

serve the cause of human rightsand fulfil the aspirations set by

the UN Charter."Helena Cook, former director of the Legal and

International Organizations Program (LIOP)at the International Secretariat

International humanrights law The 1993 UN World Conference onHuman Rights in Vienna reaffirmedthat states must respect all rights in theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights(UDHR). The UDHR and otherinternational instruments at the UN andregional IGO level specify governments'responsibilities for the protection andpromotion of human rights,domestically and internationally. TheVienna Conference also reaffirmed thathuman rights are not simply thedomestic concern of individual nationstates. Treaties such as the Conventionagainst Torture and Other Cruel,Inhuman or Degrading Treatment orPunishment include obligations ongovernments to prevent and end humanrights violations and create mechanismsfor international monitoring, reportingand accountability.

The specific rights enshrined inthe UDHR have been given a moredetailed and often legal character inseveral international and regionalstandards. These standards take theform of declarations, treaties,protocols, and other instruments. Theyprovide a legal framework forprotecting human rights worldwide.

Some of these standards aredesigned to protect people from abusessuch as discrimination, genocide,torture or slavery. Others are meant tosafeguard members of specific groupswhose rights are often violated, such asrefugees, women and children. Othersaddress concerns such as freedom ofinformation, hunger and the peacefuluse of technology. Many of thesestandards are legally binding andmechanisms have been established fortheir enforcement.

Only some of these standards, orspecific articles in them, relate to AI'smandate. These are useful to includewhen making appeals. However, AImembers are not expected to be expertin these standards, although it is essentialto have a general understanding of thestandards that relate to our work.

Global and regionalhuman rights standardsN Universal Declaration of HumanRights: adopted by the UN GeneralAssembly in 1948. It is not a treaty butmost of its guarantees have become soauthoritative that they are consideredbinding on all states as customaryinternational law.

N International Covenant onEconomic, Social and Cultural Rights(ICESCR): in force from 1976 andprotects, for example, the right to forma trade union and the rights to food,health and education.

N International Covenant on Civiland Political Rights (ICCPR): in forcefrom 1976 and protects, for example,the right not to be arbitrarily deprived oflife or to be tortured; the rights to a fairtrial, freedom of expression, freedom ofassociation and assembly; and the rightnot to suffer discrimination. The (first)Optional Protocol recognizes the rightof an individual claiming to be a victim ofthe violation of the ICCPR to make acomplaint to the UN Human RightsCommittee. The Second OptionalProtocol abolishes the death penalty.

N American Convention on HumanRights: came into force in 1978 andprotects mainly civil and political rights.

N African Charter on Human andPeoples' Rights: came into force in1986 and protects civil and politicalrights, as well as some economic, socialand cultural rights plus some grouprights (such as the right to self-determination). Nearly all members ofthe Organization of African Unity(OAU) are parties to this treaty.

N European Convention for theProtection of Human Rights andFundamental Freedoms: came intoforce in 1953 and protects civil andpolitical rights. When a state becomes amember of the Council of Europe itmust become a state party to this treaty.


Useful terms in international law

N Declaration: A generalstatement of principles that,while not necessarily legallybinding, may haveconsiderable authority.

N Convention/Covenant:A formal, legally bindingtreaty or agreementbetween sovereign states.

N Protocol: A formal,legally binding agreementbetween sovereign statesthat is normally asupplement to anothertreaty or agreement.

N Ratification oraccession: A decision by asovereign state to adhere toa treaty or agreement andto be bound by itsprovisions.

N State Party: A countrywhose government hasratified or acceded to atreaty or agreement and islegally bound to follow itsprovisions.

N Signature: Expressionby a sovereign state of itsintention to refrain from actsthat would defeat thepurpose of a treaty oragreement, and at somefuture date to ratify oraccede to the treaty.

Standards on specificsubjectsThere are a variety of treaties and otherstandards which protect particularvulnerable groups or particular abuses.Some examples of such specificstandards are:

N Selected UN treaties

M Convention against Tortureand Other Cruel, Inhuman orDegrading Treatment or Punishment(came into force in 1987);

M Convention on the Eliminationof All Forms of Discrimination againstWomen (1981);

M Convention on the Rights of theChild (1990);

M 1951 Convention relating to theStatus of Refugees (1954).

N Selected UN Declarations andother non-treaty standards

M Safeguards guaranteeingprotection of the rights of those facingthe death penalty (adopted in 1984);

M Declaration on the Right toDevelopment (1986);

M Body of Principles for theProtection of All Persons under AnyForm of Detention or Imprisonment(1988);

M Basic Principles on the Use ofForce and Firearms by LawEnforcement Officials (1990);

M Declaration on the Protectionof All Persons from EnforcedDisappearance (1992);

M Declaration on the Eliminationof Violence against Women (1993).

UN institutions dealing withhuman rightsN Commission on Human Rights

The Commission on Human Rights isthe main UN human rights body. It candeal with any aspect of human rights. Itis an intergovernmental – or political –body, which means that the diplomatsat Commission meetings representtheir governments. The Commissionconsists of 53 states that are elected forfour years. It meets in Geneva for sixweeks every year in March-April. NGOssuch as AI that have consultative statuswith the UN may be present during theCommission and make written and oralstatements. This access allows NGOs tolobby governments at the Commission.The type of action the Commission cantake includes:

M Passing a resolution ofcondemnation or concern. TheCommission can call for concreteaction by the government concerned.This might include requesting the stateto invite a thematic mechanism, such asthe Special Rapporteur on torture, tocarry out an investigation. A resolutioncan represent strong criticism.

M Appointment of a specialrapporteur (on a country). Therapporteur is mandated to investigatehuman rights violations in a countryand report back to the next session ofthe Commission and recommendaction. This is agreed by a resolutionand is the strongest action that can betaken. The Commission is composed ofgovernment representatives and canfind it difficult to muster the politicalwill to act. It also lacks powers ofenforcement. Governments go to great

International Human Rights Standards and Organizations 99

cTIPS

IMPORTANT TIMES OF THE YEAR

March/April

Lobbying around thecurrent session of the UN

Commission on HumanRights. AI strengthens its

presence in Geneva duringthe Commission.

Experience has shown thatclose contact with Sectionscan enable important last-

minute lobbying andcampaigning to be done

with governments.

August/September

Lobbying for theforthcoming session of the

UN General Assembly.

September/October

Lobbying for the followingyear's UN Commission onHuman Rights session. The

UN Commission on HumanRights meets for six weeks

from mid-March. Manygovernments begin

discussing their positionson countries and issues onthe Commission Agenda

from the precedingSeptember/October.

Example of the process of a strategy on an AI theme

N Analysis finds gaps in existing human rights standards or a lack of a mechanismto enforce the standards.N Consult experts, other NGOs, survivors and agree on reforms needed.N Campaign to persuade governments to agree to reform and strengthenstandards and mechanisms.N Campaign to hold government accountable to stronger standard through new,effective mechanism.N Evaluate and analyse effectiveness, suggest improvements, etc.This is an ongoing process which from beginning to end can take many years.

lengths to avoid public sanction,indicating that this public commentcan be an effective source of pressure.

M Establishing thematic experts(special rapporteurs and workinggroups). Over the years theCommission has appointed individualexperts (special rapporteurs) or groupsof experts (working groups) to focus onparticular themes. There are thematicexperts (or mechanisms) on subjectssuch as torture, extrajudicialexecutions, "disappearances", arbitrary

detention, violence against women,independence of the judiciary,religious intolerance, the internallydisplaced, and on development. Mostcarry out on-site visits to investigateabuses, if a government allows theminto the country. These reports arepublic and can contain detailedrecommendations for reform of lawand practice. Some of the experts alsosend urgent humanitarian appeals inindividual cases on the basis of reportsthey receive from NGOs such as AI. In


"The international human rightssystem is fundamental toAmnesty's credibility andlegitimacy. The human rightstreaties and other standardsprovide it with a consistent anduniform code by which to assessevery government and adefence against accusations ofbias or the imposition ofpersonal standards or values.This is imperative for anorganization that sets greatstore by its independence andimpartiality."Helena Cook, former director of LIOP at the IS

their annual reports submitted to theCommission, they also make generalrecommendations about how the worldshould tackle the particular violations.AI often argues that the Commission musttake action when its own thematic (orcountry) experts expose violations in acountry. The experts' reports are availablefrom UN information offices around theworld and from the UN Internet websites(see margin). The IS, and not Sections,approach the experts directly.

M Drafting new human rightsstandards or carrying out studies. Manyof the UN human rights treaties orother standards are drafted by workinggroups of the Commission in whichgovernment representatives negotiatethe text. In most cases NGOs are alsoable to speak and participate in theworking groups. Often, the initiative forcreating a new standard has come fromNGOs who find a state to take it up andintroduce it into the UN system.Sometimes, the Commission will ask forstudies to be made on particularsubjects before it makes a decision.

M Sub-Commission on Preventionof Discrimination and Protection ofMinoritiesMembers of the Commission also elect

the 26 experts who make up the Sub-Commission. Unlike the Commission,these experts are meant to beindependent and not represent anygovernment, although in practice howindependent they are varies a greatdeal. The Sub-Commission's main workis to study themes, such as impunity,states of emergency or compensationfor victims. Some of their studies lead tothe Commission adopting newstandards or setting up a new thematicmechanism. NGOs can observe andspeak at the Sub-Commission as at theCommission. The Sub-Commissionmeets in Geneva every August.

N The High Commissioner forHuman Rights

The leading figure in human rights inthe UN is the High Commissioner forHuman Rights, who is appointed by theUN Secretary-General for a four-yearterm. Mary Robinson, the formerPresident of Ireland, became the HighCommissioner in September 1997.

The Office of the HighCommissioner for Human Rights, inGeneva, provides expert andadministrative support for the humanrights program of the UN, includingthe treaty bodies, thematic


AI's work with intergovernmental organizations

AI's work with IGOs aims to:

N stop or prevent violations in individual cases (such as the large number of casesAI sends to thematic and other mechanisms);

N stop or prevent patterns of violations in countries;

N make human rights law a more powerful tool for the human rights movement(standard-setting), and strengthen the capacity of IGO institutions to protect humanrights (institution-building);

N influence the international discourse on human rights (such as on theuniversality of human rights).

In addition, AI's work with IGOs:

N emphasizes that human rights are the proper subject of international scrutinyand that individual governments are accountable for their actions;

N ensures that individuals and NGOs are recognized as part of the internationalcommunity and have a legitimate role in scrutinizing government action on thepromotion and protection of human rights;

N provides further opportunities for dialogue with governments;

N enables AI to offer expertise and advice to other NGOs without the sameresources or access.

Useful websites

For the UN:

http://www.un.org

For an index to all UNorganizations (French and

English):

http://www.unsystem.org

For the European Court ofHuman Rights (French and

English):

www.dhcour.coe.fr

mechanisms, human rights fieldoperations and the Commission onHuman Rights.

The High Commissioner can bevery influential if she speaks outagainst human rights violations inparticular countries or in support ofnew human rights standards. She canvisit countries to persuade thegovernment to cooperate with the UNand end violations. She can takepractical steps like offering thegovernment technical and advisoryservices to help change law and trainofficials or set up human rights fieldoperations, such as those in Burundi,Rwanda and Colombia.

The High Commissioner plays animportant role in making sure thatother parts of the UN that deal withdevelopment, humanitarian assistance,peace-keeping or women's affairs,integrate human rights into their ownwork rather than leaving it all for heroffice.

N Treaty monitoring bodiesSeveral human rights treaties have agroup of experts (called a treaty-monitoring body) that monitorswhether the states parties areimplementing their obligations underthe treaty. Most of them meet two orthree times a year in Geneva or NewYork for about two weeks. The expertsare elected by the states that haveratified the particular treaty and are notmeant to represent any government.

Every four or five years statesparties have to submit a report to theexperts showing how they haveimplemented the particular treaty. Thetreaty body looks at the report,questions government representativesin a meeting and makes conclusions(usually in writing) about what changesthe government should make. NGOssuch as AI often provide detailedinformation and advice to guide theexperts in their questioning. If therecommendations are good, NGOs can


AI's worldwide themecampaign against tortureand the steady campaigningof the membership was amajor factor in the adoptionof the UN Conventionagainst Torture. Thecampaigning involved AIlocal groups working onindividual cases, letter-writing to governments,Section campaigners doinglobbying and media work inrelation to theirgovernments, and IS stafflobbying and providingexpertise at many meetings.

Working for a new human rights mechanism

An example of AI's impact was the campaign to establish the position of the HighCommissioner for Human Rights in the lead-up to and following the UN WorldConference on Human Rights in Vienna in 1993.

1992

AI provided an analysis of the shortcomings of the existing human rights system andmade proposals for reform, including the creation of the post of High Commissioner.

October 1992

The proposal was formally launched at the World Conference preparatory meetingin Africa and AI started to work with other NGOs to build support for it.

January 1993

Sections and the IS lobbied Latin American governments and the proposal wasadopted by the Latin American preparatory conference.

January to June 1993

Sections lobbied home governments using lobbying meetings, public campaigningactivities, outreach to other NGOs and media to gain support for the proposal.

June 1993

AI’s lobbying in capital cities and directly at the UN, and campaigning, togetherwith pressure from other NGOs and key governments secured support for the ideain the final Vienna Declaration.

December 1993

Intensive lobbying and media work resulted in the vote to create the HighCommissioner for Human Rights by the UN General Assembly in New York.

fSome members of theCommission onHuman Rightschange annually. It isimportant to knowwhen yourgovernment is amember as this islikely to give itadded influence inrelation to particularhuman rightssituations.

then campaign for them to beimplemented. NGOs often also exposethat many of the states parties submittheir reports very late or not at all.

Increasingly the treaty bodies aretaking action in between sessions toreact to urgent situations, includingcalling for emergency reports orputting immediate pressure on agovernment. Some of the treaty bodiesalso make general comments abouthow their treaty should be interpreted–these can be influential inunderstanding what the obligationsmean in practice.

Some of the treaty bodies are:M The Human Rights Committee

has 18 experts and supervises theICCPR. It meets three times a year ineither Geneva or New York. Wherestates have ratified the (first) OptionalProtocol to the ICCPR, individuals canmake complaints to the Committeeabout violations by their government oftheir rights under the ICCPR.

M The Committee on Economic,Social and Cultural Rightsalso has 18members and supervises the ICESCR.There is no right of individual petition,although there is growing pressure forthis right to be created.

M The Committee against Torturehas 10 members and supervises theConvention against Torture. It meetstwice a year in Geneva. AI iscampaigning for a new body, whichmight be linked to this Committee,which would inspect places ofdetention throughout the world and

make recommendations togovernments about how to preventtorture.

M The Committee on the Rightsof the Child monitors the Conventionon the Rights of the Child. It has beenone of the most innovative committees,pioneering closer relations with NGOsand making some on-site visits to statesparties.

M The Committee on theElimination of Discrimination againstWomenhas 23 experts and meets inNew York to supervise the Conventionon the Elimination of All Forms ofDiscrimination against Women.

M The Committee on theElimination of Racial Discriminationhas 18 experts who monitor theInternational Convention on theElimination of All Forms of RacialDiscrimination.

N Other political bodies in the UN

Other political bodies of the UN alsodeal with human rights in differentways. The General Assembly, which iscomposed of all 185 member states ofthe UN and meets in New York,discusses all the work of the UN, fromdevelopment and arms control to drugabuse, refugees, law of the sea and outerspace. One of its committees (the ThirdCommittee) deals specifically withhuman rights. The General Assemblycan condemn violations, appointexpert investigators or even set up fieldoperations. It was the General Assemblythat created the High Commissionerfor Human Rights, appointed an expertto look at children in armed conflict


AI's major theme campaignshave often focused on the

international human rightsframework as being mostrelevant to challenging a

worldwide pattern ofviolations and the

inadequacies of theinternational response to

them. Consequently acommon aim of suchcampaigns is to buildmomentum for new or

stronger standards andmechanisms.

Left: Eleanor Roosevelt with a copy of theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights. She

was the chairperson of the committee thatdrafted the declaration. Right: An AI appealfor the release of all prisoners of consciencebeing presented at the UN in 1983: ( left to

right) Javier Pérez to Cuéllar, formerSecretary-General of the UN, Thomas

Hammerberg, former Secretary General ofAI, and Suriya Wickremasinghe, former

chairperson of AI.

and worked on the proposal for apermanent international criminalcourt. NGOs cannot speak orparticipate in the General Assembly.

The role of the Security Council isto maintain international peace andsecurity – i.e. to prevent or end wars. Ithas five permanent, and 10 rotating,members. The Security Council saysthat it does not deal with human rights.But in practice much of its work isrelated to human rights – includingcondemning violations of the laws ofwar, setting up a peace-keepingoperation that has a human rightscomponent or creating the two ad hocinternational criminal tribunals for theformer Yugoslavia and Rwanda.

N UN specialized and otheragencies

The UN has several agencies withdecentralized field operationsthroughout the world that areincreasingly dealing with human rightsissues. The work of the Office of theHigh Commissioner for Refugees hasalways included the protection ofrefugees and asylum-seekers frombeing returned to countries where theymay face persecution. It also providesfood, health care and other practicalassistance to refugees. The UNDevelopment Programme (UNDP) and

the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) areincreasingly recognizing that theirwork should include helping to buildinstitutions in a country that guaranteethe rule of law and using their voice topromote adherence to human rightsstandards that support theirdevelopment work. UNICEF, forexample, expressly says that it works toensure implementation of theConvention on the Rights of the Child.AI's work increasingly includesdeveloping working relations with suchagencies. You can find out more aboutany operations these agencies may havein your country from their offices inyour country.

Regional intergovernmentalorganizationsAI devotes considerable resources toworking on regional IGOs as well as onthe UN. Africa, the Americas andEurope all have regional IGOs withhuman rights bodies. Although theMiddle East and Asia do not have similarregional human rights institutions, theydo have regional organizations whichare worth targeting to take up humanrights issues as part of their political,security and economic work.

The Organization of African Unity(OAU),the Organization for Securityand Co-operation in Europe (OSCE),


Example of an AI IGO strategy on a country – Sri Lanka

N In the 1980s AI researched and documented systematic "disappearances" in Sri Lanka.

N AI and other NGOs submitted up to 12,000 individual cases to the UN WorkingGroup on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, which described this as thelargest number of cases from any country in its reports to the UN Commission onHuman Rights.

N AI and other NGOs campaigned for the Commission to take action because itsown experts on "disappearances" had documented such a serious problem. TheCommission called on the government to accept on-site visits by the Working Group.

N The Working Group (and AI) visited Sri Lanka and made detailedrecommendations for change.

N AI and other NGOs campaigned at the following sessions of the Commission forpolitical pressure on government to implement recommendations – many wereimplemented.

N AI’s research showed that the changes contributed to a dramatic drop in thenumber of "disappearances".

the Council of Europe, and theOrganization of American States(OAS) all have intergovernmental orpolitical bodies that meet at leastannually and lead the work of theorganization. They are often AI'sprincipal targets, as they have the powerto bring human rights more into theIGOs’ work. All but the OSCE have atleast some way for individuals to makecomplaints about violations by theirgovernments, with varying degrees ofeffectiveness. The human rights courtsin the OAS and Council of Europesystems are the most highly developed.

The experts on the AfricanCommission on Human and Peoples'Rights and the Inter-AmericanCommission on Human Rights, both ofwhich report to political bodies in theOAU and OAS respectively, have quitewide-ranging powers to investigatecountry situations by visiting thecountry and making reports. TheCouncil of Europe and the OSCE alsohave parliamentary assemblies that canbe a useful way of generating supportand putting pressure on theintergovernmental structures.

AI at times targets a range of otherIGOs as opportunities arise, includingthe Commonwealth, the Francophonieor meetings of the G7, the Organizationof Islamic Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement.

There are thousands of other IGOsin the world. AI has a developed aprogram of work on only a handful, butwill exploit other openings as thisappears useful for particular country orthematic work.

The importance of intergovernmentalorganizationsIGOs are government clubs. Most stateswish to be part of these clubs and statescan use many types of pressure to holdtheir peers accountable to the rules andspirit of the organizations.

AI has devoted much effort toensuring that discussion and action onhuman rights is high on the agenda ofinternational organizations, and toensuring that AI and other NGOs havea place at the table when they arediscussed.

Collectively governments remainone of the influential actors on theinternational human rights stage. Thefact that these are organizations ofgovernment is both their strength andtheir weakness for AI.

As organizations of governmentsthey can express international will in away and with an authority that few otherbodies can. To some degree manygovernments care about the judgmentof their peers in internationalorganizations. Sometimes this isbecause of their national self-image. Atother times it is because they areconcerned that there will be economicconsequences if they are internationallyacknowledged as human rights violators.The fact, therefore, that AI and othershave succeeded at all in persuadinggovernments to build mechanisms thatactively encourage this judgment ofpeers is a remarkable achievement.

However, the fact that IGOsprimarily comprise governmentsmeans that discussions are highlypoliticized and subject to the interplayof conflicting economic, cultural,security and military interests. Therecan also be pressure for compromiseand consensus on human rights thatresult in inaction or agreements basedon the lowest, but weak, area of sharedground.

Some IGOs have establishedhuman rights bodies that AIconsistently relates to. However, all thefunctions and areas of responsibility of


Ian Martin (right), former SecretaryGeneral of AI, at the UN during a

meeting organized by AI to promoteratification of international human

rights treaties, 1988.

IGOs are relevant to AI's work and theorganization therefore approaches andlobbies any part of an IGO when itbecomes necessary.

For example, although the UNSecurity Council has no explicit humanrights role, it has been central to AI'scampaigning strategies on countriessuch as Angola, Bosnia, Iraq, Liberia,Rwanda and other countries where theissues of security and war are mixedwith human rights violations.

AI is opening up newopportunities to influence governmentthinking on human rights in economicand trade organizations, such as theAsia-Pacific Economic Co-operation(APEC), that have no human rightscharters or bodies dealing with humanrights.

AI's strategy in relation to IGOs ispartly aimed at ensuring that theyacknowledge the human rightsdimensions of all aspects of theirfunctions, whether in peace-keepingoperations, law enforcement standard-setting, development policy, economicpolicy, or refugees. IGOs at the regionallevel also provide AI with a huge rangeof options for action.

One aim of AI's work is to getstatements and resolutions from IGOs.It is often hard to judge the impact ofthese on patterns of human rightsviolations. One indicator of theireffectiveness is the reaction ofgovernments to such criticism. Anotheris the lengths to which somegovernments go to avoid such criticism.

UN and other mechanisms canmake detailed recommendations foraction to end violations based on theirexpertise. These recommendationscarry considerable weight, particularlywhen added to the recommendationsand campaigning of AI and otherorganizations. In some countries it hasbeen possible to see a marked decreasein the incidence of particular violationsonce recommendations have beenadopted.

Other areas of the work of IGOswhich AI seeks to influence include on-site missions, peace-keeping, humanrights monitoring, behind-the-scenes

representations, formal investigations,and contributing to the building of civilsociety.

The importance of international humanrights standardsAI's original appeal in the Observernewspaper was founded on two articles(18 and 19) of the UDHR whichguarantee freedom of conscience andexpression. As the organization hasexpanded its mandate, it has continuedto show how the practises against whichit campaigns violate internationallyagreed human rights standards, or ithas campaigned for new standards tofill gaps. This is important for thefollowing reasons:N It shows that the values that AIseeks to uphold are universal ratherthan the views of one organization orculture. This emphasizes AI'sindependence and impartiality.N International standards are theresult of long negotiations betweengovernments and as such represent therules of behaviour that governmentsthemselves have accepted.N International standards establishinternationally acceptable practice,some of which over time take on theweight of international law. As mostgovernments are reluctant to bedefined as law-breakers, standards canin themselves act as a constraint onbehaviour.N International standards set abroad framework of acceptable law andpractice against which national law andpractice can be measured.N Once agreements on standardshave been reached it is possible to focusinternational discussion and action onmechanisms for upholding andmonitoring compliance with them.N International standardsemphasize that respect for humanrights is not simply the internal concernof any individual government.

For these reasons and others, a keypart of AI's strategy on campaigning hasbeen to develop and strengthen


international standards. It has, forexample, campaigned consistently forthe death penalty to be recognized ininternational law as a violation ofhuman rights. Evidence that it isgradually succeeding can be found inthe growing number of governmentssupporting the Second OptionalProtocol to the ICCPR, aiming atabolition of the death penalty inpeacetime. This helps erode theargument of some governments thatthe death penalty is a law and orderquestion rather than a human rightsone.

However, standards in and ofthemselves are only one step along theway. Clearly, the main aim is to ensurethat governments respect them. AI andother organizations therefore putconsiderable energy and resources intodeveloping effective internationalmechanisms for holding governmentsto account for standards they havepromised to uphold.

Strengthening the international humanrights frameworkAI began working with the UN in 1964.AI has formal consultative status(Category II) with the UN (through theEconomic and Social Council --ECOSOC), which was granted in 1969.This provides AI with formalinternational standing and access andthe right to attend and speak at relevantUN meetings.

AI and other NGOs havecampaigned hard and to good effect toexpand the practical interpretation ofthat access and participation in order tolobby for action on individual countriesand improved standards.

Every part of AI has been involved.Its research of country situations andmonitoring of internationalorganizations identifies the continuingviolations and the weaknesses of, andopportunities for, action byinternational organizations.Consultations within AI and with NGOsand individual experts identify what

changes are needed and whichgovernments need to be persuaded toact. The campaigning by AI members inSections persuades governments tosupport AI's proposals.

Knowledge of the UN machineryand drafting expertise has enabled AIto take advantage of opportunities forstandard-setting. It has also allowed it toremain alert to threats to existing orproposed standards.

AI continues to help sustain thework of established mechanismsthrough lobbying for resources and theprovision of human rights information.At least one rapporteur has publiclystated that three quarters of theinformation he receives comes from AI.*

Using the internationalhuman rights frameworkThe UN and regional IGOs are integralto AI's strategies on many countries andtheir potential role and influence arealways taken into consideration whenpreparing country strategies.

In situations where the state hascollapsed or lost effective control, IGOscan be the most important actorsaffecting human rights. In manyregions, regional IGOs have taken onan increasing role and importance, andAI is working to ensure that its lobbyingand other campaigning on these IGOsis coordinated between the membershipstructures in these countries.

AI primarily relates to the UN andregional IGOs through the IS offices inLondon, New York and Geneva.Strategies for reform of theinternational system are alsocoordinated from the IS. Because of thecoordination role of the IS, Sectionsshould not directly approach IGOsecretariat headquarters, leadingfigures such as the High Commissionerfor Human Rights, or bodies such astreaty bodies and thematic experts.There is a separate European Union(EU) office in Brussels responsible forAI's relations with the EU and reportingto Sections.


*Bacre Waly Ndiaye, UN Special Rapporteuron extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary

executions

A postcard that was used during aninternational appeal to the President of the

UN General Assembly

© AI

Although AI's relationship withIGOs is the responsibility of the IS, AISections play an important role in thisarea of work. In advance of meetingssuch as sessions of the UN GeneralAssembly and the Commission onHuman Rights, Sections raise AI'sconcerns with their own country'srepresentatives to these meetings.Individual AI members are often askedto attend meetings ofintergovernmental bodies asrepresentatives of the AI movement.Sections are often asked to lobby theirgovernment for action by an IGO, aspart of AI’s urgent response to armedconflict or human rights crises.

In general AI is most effectivewhen it can generate public pressure ongovernments, from within their owncountries, to take action on an issue andthen complement this with detailedlobbying on specific proposals at thelevel of national governments and,where relevant, at internationalmeetings and conferences.

cTIPS

c Find out to which internationalbodies your government belongsIt is useful to know which internationalbodies your government belongs to,such as the UN Security Council, UNCommission on Human Rights, etc. Inthe UN General Assembly and otherbodies all governments get one vote.Presidencies of these variousinternational bodies rotate betweencountries and may provide newcampaigning opportunities.c Sessions on the Commission onHuman Rights for new governmentmembers If your government has recentlybecome or is about to become amember of the Commission for the firsttime, then your Section could offer toprovide a training session for officialson how the Commission works. Thiscould include AI's concerns and thestatus of NGOs at the Commission.Contact the IS for assistance.c Media briefings for journalistsIf you think public pressure may

persuade your government to take apositive stand in an IGO, or if you wantto get publicity for the human rightssituation in particular countries beingdiscussed, consider holding a briefingfor journalists. UN and other IGOmeetings are not very "media friendly",so it is important to think carefullyabout the journalists you want to inviteand how you can present the issues in away that will be interesting and relevantto their audience.c Integrate IGO work intocampaigning strategiesWhen drawing up national AIcampaigning strategies on differentcountries check the AIdocuments/campaigning circulars tosee what reference is made tointernational standards, and to actionby IGOs. Breaches of recognizedinternational standards can behighlighted in approaches to homegovernments, as can failure ofgovernments to cooperate withinternational mechanisms, forexample, by denying access to UNspecial rapporteurs. You may want tomake these major features of yourcampaign and publicity work.c Use UN human rights reportsThe country reports of the UN thememechanisms and treaty bodies can be asource of useful backgroundinformation when preparingcampaigns or actions. It can sometimesbe useful to refer journalists and othersto these reports, as they can emphasizethe seriousness of the situation andhelp build greater public awareness ofthe mechanisms. The reports should beavailable from your nearest UNInformation Office.c Provide information on standardsand mechanisms to other interestedNGOsHelp build awareness among the widerNGO community of these standards,and the mechanisms and bodiesestablished to implement and supervisethem, so that they can decide how theycan contribute to their campaigning forhuman rights.


HOW WEACHIEVE OUR

GOALS

section two

N Campaigning

Techniques

N Preparing Campaign

Materials

N Media and Publicity

Work

N Outreach

N Home Government

Lobbying

N Human Rights

Education

N Evaluation

1

CHAPTER 7CAMPAIGNINGTECHNIQUES

This chapter provides some suggestions ondifferent campaigning techniques and actionsthat AI can use to protect and promote humanrights. It is not a comprehensive list.

Campaigning is and should be dynamic, withnew techniques and variations of existingtechniques constantly emerging. The methodsdescribed in this chapter, such as letter-writingand speaking tours, should be integrated with thetechniques dealt with in other chapters, such asmedia work, outreach and lobbying. Which onesare most appropriate will depend on yourstrategy. Pick the right tools for the job.

The following sections outline some of theadvantages and limitations of the differenttechniques as well as practical advice on how touse them.

“Don’t stop writing... If yougive us moral support, we will

do the rest.”Kim Dae Jung, former prisoner of

conscience

Contents

Letter-writing and petitions/ 113

Speaking tours/ 121

Public events and protests/ 129

Contact with embassies/ 135

Celebrity support/ 143

1

CAMPAIGNINGTECHNIQUESLETTER-WRITING ANDPETITIONS

Letter-writing is the campaigning technique mostassociated with AI and it remains an importantmeans of trying to effect change in a wide varietyof situations. As with other techniques, its impactdepends on many factors, including how it isintegrated with other campaigning methods. Forsome campaigns the quantity of letters sent is thekey. For others quality is the vital factor. Thissection looks at:

N Letter-writing: strengths and weaknesses / 114

N Who receives AI letters? / 114

N Organizing a letter-writing action / 115

N ‘Quality’ letters / 116High-impact letters / 116Letters from sectors of the community / 117Personal letters / 117

N Mass appeals / 118The prepared letter / 118Postcards / 118

N Petitions / 119Design / 120

Members of the Japanese Section participatingin an organized letter writing session

© AI

Letter-writing: strengthsand weaknessesA large number of letters can be a goodway of demonstrating the extent ofawareness and concern in your societyabout human rights violations inanother country. This level of concernmay be important in influencing thepolicies of your own government or ofthe authorities in the target country.

Individually written letters candemonstrate a depth of knowledge andpersonal concern, while letters fromeminent people can have a particularlygreat impact.

Letter-writing is such an old andestablished technique for AI that thereare questions as to its continuingeffectiveness, partly because somegovernments have become adept atcountering letter-writing campaigns.Variety is one way to try and maintaineffectiveness.

If letter-writing to one officialseems to be having no effect, perhaps itis time to approach someone else or toget others to write to the official. Ifgovernments begin to send standardresponses to letters, it may be time tomake your letters more varied or toprovide points for follow-up letters. TheAI Handbook and the Guide for Letter-writers provide more detailed advice onthe style and tone of letters.

Who receives AI letters?The standard AI letter is addressed to anamed government official in anothercountry politely raising concerns andasking for specific action. The lettersare usually outlined in materialsincluded in the campaigning circularsprovided by the InternationalSecretariat (IS). However, letter-writingis such a flexible technique that it canbe used in many different ways. Letterscan be directed to: N local officials, militarycommanders and others with directresponsibility for human rightsviolations as a way of directly applyingpressure on them and exposingconcern, and stimulating them to thinkand act on human rights;N the editor of a newspaper in thetarget or home country for publicationas a good way of generating,encouraging and responding to mediacoverage and generating debate. Thisshould be done in consultation with theAI structure in the target country, ifthere is one (see Chapter 9);N newspapers and other media as away of campaigning to encourage themto increase their reporting on aparticular country, foreign affairs orhuman rights generally; N supporters as an effective way ofraising money (see Chapter 5);N embassies as a good way of getting


Why letter-writing may notbe appropriate or effective

N Some targets arelargely immune tointernational concerndelivered through letters.For example, onegovernment leader onhearing how many letters ofconcern had arrived fromGermany reportedly said,"When was the last timepeople in Germany votedfor me?"

N Mass mailings of lettersmay be counter-productiveif there is a poor postalsystem in the target country.

N Letters are of verylimited use in situations ofchaos or crisis wheregovernment systems arebreaking down.

N In some societies, lowliteracy levels or highpostage costs make letter-writing inappropriate.

Advantages of letter-writing campaigns

The main advantages of letter-writing campaigns are that:

N they are simple to organize;

N they provide an easy way for people to take action and to feel involved;

N campaign messages can be targeted at different audiences in the home countryas well as internationally;

N they take advantage of the way government bureaucracies often work;

N they are flexible;

N they are low cost in many societies;

N they are personal;

N they can boost the morale of victims and those working for them;

N they educate those writing the letters;

N they reinforce AI's image as a mass movement.

the message to target governments;N government officials as a way ofproviding them with evidence of AI’sconcern that they can then use to pressfor change internally;N those in a position to influence thehuman rights situation, such asgovernment or military officials, whomay have concerns about a particularpolicy but feel alone and thereforeunwilling to act (the letters providethem with moral support);N home governments as a way ofraising and demonstrating concerns onpolicies or calling for specific actions(see Chapter 11); N human rights non-governmentalorganizations (NGOs) in targetcountries as a way of providing moralsupport and encouragement, whichcan help motivate them to continuetheir work;N prisoners and their relatives as away of boosting morale and offeringthem an opportunity to communicatewith the outside world;N particular sectors of society in atarget country, such as doctors orlawyers, as a way of persuading them totake action in support of human rights(see Chapter 10).

Organizing a letter-writing actionThe following questions may help youplan a letter-writing action:

gQUESTIONSg How many letters would youlike each group to send and overwhat period of time?Be clear about what you want: thisenables the group to plan and decidetheir work priorities.

g Is it more important to send lotsof letters or fewer letters that aremore individual?If, for example, the most importantthing is that letters are individual incharacter, then it is best not to provide adraft text for the letter. Provide anumber of points that could be includedin the letter (noting that letters need notinclude all points), or provide a numberof interchangeable paragraphs that canbe inserted in different parts of theletter. Suggest the type of personalinformation that could be included inthe letter -- such as the writer's professionor trade, whether he or she has visitedthe country, or details about the writer'sown community -- to demonstrate thepersonal nature of the concern.

g Are letters likely to be more orless effective if people mention thatthey are AI members?In societies where AI is seenunfavourably, mentioning AImembership may be counter-productive.Not mentioning AI membership can alsohelp to convey the impression that theissue of concern is not part of a campaignbut spontaneous. On the other hand, AIis an organization that is well respectedand hard for governments to ignore, somentioning AI can ensure that thecontent of the letter is taken seriously.Suggest to groups that if they are writingas members of AI they includeinformation about AI in their ownsociety to show the breadth of support itenjoys.

Campaigning Techniques/Letter-writing and Petitions 115

fYou may want a high-

impact letter to bepublic, as it can be a

good way ofgenerating morepublicity for the

campaign. Beforedeciding to go

public, you shouldjudge whether the

publicity for the‘open’ letter will bemore effective than

sending a letterprivately.

“You continuously tried to help me duringyears of imprisonment.”

Hua Huang, a former prisoner of consciencewho spent 21 years in jail in Taiwan, was

sent letters of support by AI members

g Will letters from particularsectors of the community have moreimpact?If this is the case, you may need toprovide groups with separatesuggestions on what points thesesectors should raise, the importance ofusing official titles or headed paper,and any special recipients that may beappropriate for these sectors. You mayalso need to provide them with adviceand suggestions for outreach to thesesectors (see Chapter 10).

g How much do the letters todifferent officials need to vary?If you want different letters to be sent tothe minister of foreign affairs and theminister of prisons, then it may be best toprovide separate advice or action sheets.

g What materials are needed?Groups need enough information tounderstand what is wanted from themand to carry this out. This will usuallymean providing them with thefollowing:M background material on the issue,country and the particular case and asummary of AI's strategy for addressingthe issues;M points of concern that can beraised, possibly in the form ofinterchangeable paragraphs;M AI's recommendations;M addressees to write to, includingtitles and salutation;M advice on the number of letterswhich should be sent, which addressesare the most important, how long theletters should be, how many points toraise in each letter, etc.

The background, guidance andpoints to be raised for a single letter-writing action should not be more thanone or two pages long. The specificthings you need to include are likely todepend on whether it is part of acampaign pack.

If the group is provided with basicinformation on the target country andthe strategy for addressing the issues,they will be in a good position to decidewhich issues to highlight and the bestway to make their letters have an impact.

‘Quality’ letters

High-impact lettersA letter from a former president, asports star, a famous singer, the head ofa corporation, an academic, a judge or ageneral may have more influence onthe addressee than a letter from an AImember or a member of the public. Ajoint letter from all or some of thesemay sometimes also be very effective.

When deciding who is likely tohave the most influence, you need totake into account the issue that is beingtackled, the society in the targetcountry and any special links betweenthe target country and your own (seeChapter 2).

It can be tempting to approach thesame people for high-impact letters, orto ask people who have already made apublic stand on human rights issues.But a letter can have a high impactpartly because it comes from someonenot usually associated with raisingconcerns about human rights --illustrating in a symbolic way the extentof concern over a particular case orissue.

Organizing a high-impact letter islikely to be different in every case.There are, however, a few general tipsthat it is useful to bear in mind.


fIf you include a draftletter, members arelikely to simply copythis and you will losethe advantages ofgeneratingindividual letters.

Sadth O’Neill, Deputy Lord Major of Dublin,Ireland, signing a giant postcard at AI OpenDay in Dublin in 1994, appealing for therelease of three female prisoners ofconscience in North Korea.

© AI

cTIPS

c Make it as easy as you can for theperson you are approaching to say“yes”.c Think carefully about what youwant and what they will be comfortablein agreeing to. It may be that the mostimportant factor is the signature, inwhich case the content, providing itaddresses the main issues, can be a fairlybland statement of concern. c Be very clear about what you wouldlike the person to write, why you wouldlike them to write the letter and why youthink they might want to. In manycountries you may have to go throughthe celebrities' agents, one of whosejobs is to filter such requests. You maywell have to argue your case a numberof times, so it is best to have thearguments ready.c Before making the approach thinkcarefully about the objections theperson may have, and how you couldpre-empt or overcome them. Forexample, some people may think it istoo political. Would it help to mentionthat other people whom they are likelyto respect have already taken a stand?Would it help to mention the breadth of support AI enjoys in manysocieties? Getting those first few peopleto "take a stand for AI" is likely to be themost difficult part, but their supportcan then be used to gather furthersupport.c If there is any administrative workinvolved, offer to do it. Some high-profile people are quite likely to ask youto draft the letter for them to sign. Inother cases, you should provide the keypoints and any relevant backgroundinformation.This should be kept asshort, clear and simple as possible.c High-impact letters can beorganized centrally at the nationallevel, although other parts of AI canalso be encouraged to participate.Would a local group’s approach to anational celebrity work better than anapproach from the Section? Would aletter from a mayor or a member of thelocal business community or council

have a greater impact than one from agroup member? c Making these or similarapproaches for the first time can bedaunting. The materials provided bythe Section to AI groups can make a bigdifference to whether or not the groupsfeel confident enough to make suchapproaches.c If the person's consent is given andit is considered beneficial, it can beuseful to make public a high-impactletter.

‘OPEN LETTERS’

c If it is an open letter, it can becopied to newspapers for printing onletters’ pages.c Making it public can help buildAI's image in your society as a respectedorganization and thereby increase itsinfluence.c It can help to attract support fromothers.c It can be the focus of otherpublicity, particularly if the signatory iswilling and able to speak to the mediaabout the issues and AI.c It may be possible to organize a"public signing" as the beginning of amore public event to which the mediacan be invited.c It can be copied to the embassy ofthe country in question and your ownministry of foreign affairs.

Letters from sectors of thecommunityLetters from different sectors of yourcommunity may have a greaterpotential to influence situations thangeneral letters from individuals.Lawyers, for example, are respected inmany societies and therefore lettersfrom them may be more influential. Ifconcerns are being directed towardsmilitary figures it may be that they aremore likely to listen to fellow militaryprofessionals (see Chapter 10).

Personal lettersAn individually written letter, ratherthan a standard appeal, is often morelikely to get the attention of


Prepared letters

A photocopied letter shouldbe carefully proofread and

include:

N the added name andaddress of the government

official;

N the added salutation (forexample, "Your

Excellency");

N the complete text of theletter with enough

information for the senderto be confident of the facts;

N a statement such as"Amnesty International, aworldwide human rightsorganization, considers

(NAME) to be a prisoner ofconscience";

N the added closing (forexample, "Yours

respectfully");

N space for a signature;

N no date;

N margins on the top andbottom large enough for the

letter to be photocopiedonto headed paper.

government officials. It also makes itmore difficult for governments toadopt a standard response.

The more informed individualand targeted the letters are, the better.AI members are the most reliablesource for such letters.

Mass appealsThe prepared letterOne of the easiest ways of generating alarge number of letters is to preparethem in advance. A simple standardtext can be drafted, needing only theaddition of a signature, return address,envelope and stamp (see margin, page117). This sample can then be cheaplycopied and distributed to AI members.

New word-processing and printingtechnology makes it possible to preparea variety of letters for differentgovernment officials. These can thenbe copied and distributed in the sameway as the standard text.

It is likely that the first of these pre-prepared letters to land on agovernment official's desk will have themost impact as the official will quicklyrealize that the subsequent letters say thesame thing and are part of a campaign.Thereafter, the impact of the letters liesprimarily in their quantity -- the totalnumber illustrating the level of concern.

Distributing letters for signing andsending can also raise public awarenessof the issues and offer a first step ingetting people involved in defendinghuman rights.

Some AI groups set up public stalls– with prepared letters and envelopesaddressed and stamped -- and ask peopleto sign the letter, add a return address

and make a donation to cover thepostage. This has the advantage ofguaranteeing that the letters will be sent.

Other groups distribute the lettersmore widely and freely hand them outat public meetings and workplaces, etc.This allows for a wider distribution, but itis unclear how many letters will be posted.

PostcardsThe pre-printed campaign postcardcan be another way of delivering AI’sevidence of human rights concerns andof making sure AI's message stands outas it makes its way through postalsystems.

Postcards can be sent togovernment officials. They can also besent to human rights organizations as agesture of solidarity, to encourage themin their work and boost their morale.

On one side postcards can haveanything from a picture to a very directcampaign message. On the other, theycan outline AI's concerns in relevantlanguages and be pre-addressed so thatall they require is a signature and a stamp.

This is also an easy way of givingindividual members something practicalto do in support of a campaign. Sets ofpostcards can be inserted in newslettersor included in other correspondence tomembers. Postcards can be distributedto AI groups for sale or distribution onpublic stalls.


Postcard design

The front of AI campaignpostcards have included:N a quote from the UNSecretary-General linkinghuman rights and peace, inregional languages, and adove;N a photograph of aprisoner of conscience;N a photograph ordrawing of items thatbelonged to the"disappeared";N a photograph of AImembership action;N a poem;N the prisoner's name indifferent typefaces andlanguages.

This campaign postcard, addressed tothe President of South Korea, callsfor the release of prisoners ofconscience Kim Sun-Myung and AhnHak-sop.

© AI

jCHECKLISTPRODUCING CAMPAIGN POSTCARDS

N Check with your post office the relevantregulations and restrictions concerning:

M cost of postage;M front-cover colour or design;M thickness/weight of the card;M size of the card (length and width);

N Check with your newsletter editor:M the size of newsletter pages;M whether inserting cards will

increase the postage costs;M whether there are plans to insert

anything else in that issue of the newsletter;

N Check with your designer and/orprinter:

M the cost difference betweencolour and black and white printing onone and two sides;

M how many cards can be printedon a sheet of card that will fit inside thenewsletter and meet post officerequirements for dimensions;

N Check the colours to make sure thereare no sensitivities about certain coloursin the target country for political,nationalist or religious reasons;

N Check that the postcards include:M details of the case/issue;M what the concern is;M AI's recommendation for action;M the name and address of the

official to whom the card will be sent;M the amount of postage

necessary;M space for a signature.

PetitionsPetitions are frequently used in AI'scampaigning. They have a tradition inpublic protest that goes back manycenturies.

Although in some countriespetitions have been used to such anextent that they may have lost some oftheir former impact, they can still be aneffective campaigning tool. Amongtheir benefits are:

M they can provide a good focusfor group and public activities;

M they are a simple way ofallowing people to express theirsupport;

M they can illustrate the level ofpublic/community concern on anissue;

M they are easy (and cheap) toorganize.

The following questions may helpyou decide how best to prepare yourpetitions:

gQUESTIONSg What do you want the petitionto say?Make it as short and simple as possible.The more you write the more peoplewill find that they disagree with thecontent.

g Does it conform to any laws onhow the language of petitionsshould be formulated in order to belegally valid?

g Will you want to use the petitionin media work?If so, pay extra attention to make itconcise.


Some AI Sections haveattracted new members and

supporters by writing topeople who have signed AI

petitions.

Mother and child sign a street petitionorganized by the Mexican Section

© AI

g To whom is it addressed?Do they have the authority to meet thedemands you are making? Should thefocus be your government or the targetgovernment or particular ministers?

g How will you deliver it?Do you want local groups andindividuals to send their completedpetitions directly to the authorities ordo you want to collect them at a centralpoint so that you can count the total?Will you send off all the completedpetitions? Will you ask for a personalmeeting to hand in the completedforms? Would a handing in/sending offceremony (involving a celebrity) beworthwhile?

g Do you want to publicize it?Do you want to organize "celebritysignings" to begin the campaign? Doyou want to include petition forms insympathetic publications? Do you wantto announce the number of signaturesaimed for or collected? You should becareful about stating a target you maynot reach as this could make the actionlook a failure. Is the number you havecollected impressive by othercomparable standards?

DesignN The layout should be clear. Makesure there is enough space and separatecolumns for names, addresses andsignatures.

N Include the date by whichpetitions need to be sent back.

N Include the address to whichcompleted petitions should be sentback, and a telephone number to askfor more blank copies.

N Make sure you put AI's name andaddress on each sheet.

N Use the campaign slogan as a wayof getting the overall message across.

N Include a column which peoplecan mark if they want to receive furtherinformation on the campaign or on AI.

In some cases, variation of design iseffective. Make petitions out of largepieces of cloth. Put the name of theircommunity on it and display it at stallswith some paint so people can includehand or footprints next to their nameand a message in support of thecampaign's aim. These can providegood photo opportunities forcampaign dossiers and can be handedin at embassies, etc.

Make giant petitions. These toocan be a good way for a local group toget publicity for the campaign. Writethe petition neatly at the top of a largeroll of paper. Either lay this along theground leading up to a campaign stallor suspend it from the top of a wall.


An enormous street petition unravelled inthe streets of Brussels© AI

1

CAMPAIGNINGTECHNIQUESSPEAKING TOURS

A survivor of human rights violations telling theirstory in their own words is one of the mostpowerful ways of getting AI's message across. Sotoo can the testimony of a human rights defenderworking on the frontline, or of a UN human rightsofficial mandated to work without sufficientresources. Speaking tours can offer such people aplatform and in many other way open up goodcampaigning opportunities. This section looks at:

N What a speaking tour can achieve / 122

N Choosing a speaker / 122

N Organizing a speaking tour / 122

The invitation / 122

Confirming the tour / 123

Briefing the speaker / 123

Media training / 123

The program / 123

Staying in contact / 125

N Getting the most from a speaking tour / 125

Media coverage / 125

Lobbying / 126

Motivating members / 127

Fundraising / 127

Outreach / 128

Building AI / 128

IS staff member Hilary Fisher (left) withMunga Gathogo (centre) and Judy Muthoni

Kamau (right), two members of theKenyan Release Political Prisoners Group

who spoke at the IS in October 1997.© AI

What a speaking tourcan achieveThe first step in organizing a speakingtour is to make sure you are clear aboutthe purpose of the tour and whatconcrete objectives you hope to achieve.A speaking tour can contribute tospecific campaigning and organizationalobjectives in areas such as:

M Media coverageM Lobbying M Motivating AI membersM FundraisingM OutreachM Building AI

Choosing a speakerSpeaking tours can involve anyone, butthis section concentrates on speakerswho are international guests andassumes that you will be responsible fordeciding, organizing and coordinatingtheir program.

Being clear about the purpose andpriorities for the proposed tour willhelp you decide who you should invite.You can consult researchers andcampaigners at the IS for theirrecommendations about possiblespeakers and ask country specialists inyour Section and other NGOs for theirsuggestions.

A survivor of human rightsviolations, or a relative of a victim, may bemost effective in attracting mediaattention or getting public support.However, they may have little expertise inthe policy areas important to yourlobbying or experience of in-depth mediainterviews. Being aware of these issues canhelp to make sure that you get the rightperson for the job you wish to do.

Sections have organized speakingtours with:N survivors of human rightsviolations;N relatives of victims of human rightsviolations;N human rights defenders;N other activists in the broaderhuman rights movement;N leading figures in AI;

N experts in a relevant field, e.g.international law.

If the main purpose of the tour isto obtain media coverage, then youwould probably need to: N pay particular attention to anylanguage issues, for example somemedia organizations can be veryreluctant to use interpreters; N target parts of the news media thatwill be particularly interested in theissue or speaker;N decide what audience you aretrying to reach.

If lobbying is the most importantaspect of the visit then language is lesslikely to be important (providinginterpreters can be arranged).However, you will want to be confidentthat your speaker will contribute toyour lobbying goals by makingpersuasive supporting arguments orstatements, and carries some weightwith those you want to influence, eitherthrough their personal reputation ortheir status in an organization.

Organizing a speakingtourThe invitationYour letter of invitation should includethe following:

M the purpose of the visit;M an outline of the proposed

program – how long you want thespeaker to stay, who they will meet,whether any media interviews areplanned, etc;

M what you are proposing to payfor – for example, travel, dailyexpenses, accommodation.


“I wish to voice the demand for the releaseof political prisoners in both Indonesia andEast Timor.”Former prisoner of conscience Tri ArgusSusanto Siswowihardjo. He visited the ISand AIUK in September 1997 after servingtwo thirds of a two-year sentence. Hisspeech at AIUK indicated his intention tocontinue campaigning against humanrights violations in Indonesia.Becky Hess, AIUK’s UA coordinator, holds acopy of the UA issued on Tri’s behalf.© AI

Confirming the tour

Once a potential speaker has acceptedyour invitation, you should send afollow-up letter thanking them andgiving more information. This shouldinclude:N details of the proposed programincluding, if appropriate, profiles of thepeople they will meet; for how long theywill be expected to speak on differentoccasions; what you hope the tour willachieve; details of any media coverageor interviews that have been arranged;and useful background information onthe country, political system, etc; N practical information -- forexample, what the weather is likely to belike; who will meet the speaker at theairport or station; and contingencytelephone numbers (you should alsoask whether the speaker has any specialneeds or people they want to meet whilein your country);N a request for a brief autobiographyof the speaker, explaining the sort ofinformation you would like (see boxbelow), and a photograph. Thesedetails will be important when seekingappointments, for interesting themedia, preparing publicity materialsand arranging the program.

Briefing the speakerIf the schedule allows, it is a good idea tokeep the first day of the visit free for thespeaker to rest, settle in and becomefamiliar with the issues you want them toaddress. The first day also offers anopportunity for showing the speaker

around if they have not visited yourcountry or city before, answering anyquestions they may have about theprogram, making them feel welcomeand establishing a working relationshipwith them.

You can also use this time to get asense of how to provide the speaker withthe information they need. Is it best toprovide a basic overview and then moredetailed briefings on a daily basis? Willwritten or verbal briefings be moreuseful to them?

The speaker should also beconfident that they can raise anyproblems or concerns about theprogram or the meetings with you.

Briefings during the visit are amatter of judgment. Sometimes a taxi-ride or car journey to the next interviewor meeting can be a good opportunity todiscuss with the speaker about how thelast event went; to suggest a "sound-bite"or concise phrase that might make apoint easier to convey; or to provide a bitmore information on the main personwho will also speak at the next meeting.

It can also be useful to have adebriefing session at the end of each dayto go over any problems that havearisen, talk about how the day went andto provide an opportunity to unwind.

Media trainingAt the beginning of the visit it is oftenuseful to organize some media trainingfor your speaker so that the majorthemes and key points can be conveyedin "media-friendly" terms. Time can alsobe spent discussing and preparing fordifficult questions that may arise.

You should check whether thespeaker has any experience of dealingwith the media so that you can take thisinto account in the training. Ideally thistraining would involve a sympatheticprofessional journalist, but it can also bedone through a simple role-playingexercise (see Chapter 9).

The programIn devising a program for any speakingtour it should be remembered thatpublic speaking can be exhausting.Speaking to a wide range of audiences,

Campaigning Techniques/Speaking Tours 123

fMake sure that

the mediabriefing pack

does not breakthe embargo on

news you maywant to use toattract media

coverage duringthe tour.

“As someone who has had first handexperience as a prisoner, I see that AmnestyInternational has a fundamental position in

the defence of human rights”.Diolinda Alves de Souza, a former prisoner

of conscience. She was jailed in 1996 for her connectionwith land reform activities in Brazil. She

campaigned in Europe in August 1997against the conviction of her husband; her

campaign took the form of a speaking tour.She holds the Urgent Action issued on

behalf of her husband.© AI

being involved in meetings and doingmedia interviews over a short period oftime is particularly tiring. The speakermay also be worn down by their journey,the strange diet, adapting to being withstrangers, or by language difficulties.

Therefore, it is best to avoidcombining late night interviews withearly morning engagements. If the visit

is scheduled to last for four days orlonger, try and ensure that you build inone complete day for rest. Try to creategaps in the program to allow for aperiod of relaxation. If the programincludes a public meeting or address,then make sure the speaker has enoughclear time beforehand to think throughwhat they want to say.


A media briefing pack for a speaking tour

A good media pack helps journalists by providing them with relevant information inan accessible form. Journalists frequently work to tight deadlines and thereforeappreciate it if relevant information is brought to their attention and clearlypresented. It also enables AI to focus the attention of journalists on the issues andmessages it is most anxious to get across.

A media pack should be as short as possible – a series of single pages eachcovering a particular area – to allow easy copying and faxing. Each sheet of papershould provide at least one contact name and telephone number, and the offer offurther information. The core components of a media pack for a speaking tour are:

N Biographical details about the speakerKeep it down to the best bits. It should be no longer than a single page and giveinformation such as:

M when they were born;

M their trade or profession;

M their particular areas of expertise;

M any organizations they are involved with;

M their experience of human rights violations;

M where they have spoken/travelled to before;

M any other meetings they have taken part in;

M any peace or human rights prizes they have been awarded;

M any relevant quotes about them by eminent people or the press.

N The purpose and program of the visitThis is the opportunity to highlight the issues you would like the journalists toconcentrate on. Why is the speaker visiting this country now? Who will they bemeeting? What does the visit hope to achieve?

N Background to AI's campaignsThis is the opportunity to provide journalists with the background details that youhope will inform their coverage and provide the basis for their questions. It shouldinclude the key issues of AI's current campaigns, more background information onthe human rights violations the speaker is addressing, what campaigning activitiesAI is undertaking, and what AI is calling for.

N A photographThis should preferably be a portrait (head and shoulders) of good enough quality forprinting. A good photograph can help to persuade television producers that yourguest will interest their viewers.

It is also important to think aboutwhat the speaker is getting out of thetour. Part of AI’s purpose might be todemonstrate solidarity and/or give theindividual an international profile,which can help to protect them.

Sections should discuss with anyspeaker whether there are activitieswhich might pose them an additionalsecurity risk when they return home. Ifthe speaker is giving their time to AI, it isalso important to establish whether youcan introduce non-AI contacts who maybe important to them, such as fundingagencies.

Staying in contactIt can be easy to forget that during a busyprogram you (or someone from AI) willbe with the visitor much of the time andaway from your desk or telephone at atime when journalists may be wanting tofix or rearrange interviews, governmentministers may be seeking a meeting, andfriends and relatives of the visitor maybe trying to get in touch.

It is important, therefore, that thereis a link person available at your regulartelephone number (or at the contactnumber given in your leaflets andpublicity materials) who has a copy ofyour schedule and who is familiarenough with the program to answer basicqueries. A mobile telephone can also go along way to overcoming communicationproblems. Alternatively, a system ofcalling in to "base" to pick up messagesand provide updates is advisable.

Getting the most from aspeaking tourMedia coverageDraft a brief outline of your mediastrategy to explain to others in AI whatyou hope the visit will achieve in relationto the media. This strategy shouldinclude the main points or messages youwish to get across to the media, whichmedia outlets you will be targeting, andthe materials you may need to carry outyour plan.

gQUESTIONSg If you can only get one centralmessage across, what is it in onesentence?

g What is the second mostimportant message, again in onesentence?

g What is your most importantaudience? Is it politicians, otherdecision-makers, women, peoplewith a particular interest in foreignaffairs, the general public?In many societies the media is closelytargeted to very defined audiences.There can also be considerablecompetition between media outlets, soyou may have to choose some outletsthat automatically rule out others. Sizeis not everything -- programs ornewspapers with small audiences can bethe most influential, or the mostsympathetic.

g Why should the media beinterested in your visitor?The answer to this question is likely tobe different for each visitor, fordifferent parts of the media and foreach country. One way of trying toanswer the question is to try and make alist of up to 10 reasons why you thinkthey should be interested --remembering the key points that youwant to get across during the visit. Thenimagine you are a journalist or producerhearing these reasons and judging themby the factors that they have to weigh up


Hannah Koroma, a member of the SierraLeonean Section, spoke vividly about how

she suffered genital mutilation as a child tothe AI conference on female genital

mutilation held in Ghana in 1996© AI.

in deciding what they will cover. Theseinclude value judgments on newsworthiness, audience interest,competition for space, whether theperson is a good communicator withmedia experience, etc. Finally, cut yourlist down to the five best reasons so thatyou can be confident of your case whenapproaching journalists.

g What materials should youproduce?The answer to this will vary enormously,depending on who your visitor is (forexample, how well known they are),how the media works in your country;and the nature of your relationship withthe media. However, journalistsnormally need some biographicaldetails and background information onthe person in order to preparequestions and perhaps write theintroduction to any piece on them.

A short media briefing pack can helpset the agenda. Sections of a media packthat work well are likely to be reproducedin journalists' articles and questions.

In addition to the media pack youmay also need to prepare a series ofnews releases before and during thevisit:N one to notify the media that avisitor is coming, why they should beinterested and whom they can contactto arrange interviews;N one to notify the media of anyparticular events at which the visitor isspeaking -- media or other conferences,public meetings, etc;N one to highlight newsworthycomments made by the visitor at aparticular event;N one to summarize the results of thevisit, highlighting particular issues, etc.

Lobbying Arranging for a visiting speaker to meetAI's key supporters in the governmentor other political parties can be animportant way of acknowledging andconsolidating support for AI. It isimportant to work out the lobbyingobjectives of any speaking tour well inadvance.


Salima Ghezali, editor of the Algeriannewspaper La Nation, was guest speaker atAIUK’s 1996 annual conference on womenand human rights. Prior to her address atthe conference, the Algerian authoritieshad seized an edition of La Nation whichreported human rights abuses beingperpetrated during the country’s civil war. © AI

gQUESTIONSg Who would it be useful for thevisitor to meet?

g What would you like themeetings to achieve?

g Can the visitor's status opendoors for AI that would otherwise beclosed and how can the doors bekept open after the visitor leaves?

g What roles should the visitorand AI hosts take in the meeting?

g Who is responsible for followingup any action agreed at meetings?

Motivating membersThe possibility of meeting with orhearing the views of people on thefrontline of the struggle for humanrights can work as a powerful motivatorfor AI members and build theircommitment to AI's work. Organizing a

social function or dinner, a members'forum or a lunch for staff andvolunteers are some options.

However, visiting speakers canreact very differently to these occasions.Some enjoy them greatly while othersfind them difficult and exhausting.People who have spent long periods inprison, for example, can find handlingcrowds very trying. It is important to besensitive to the visitor's needs. If you dohold such a function, you should ensurethat the visitor's attention and time arenot dominated by one person, that theyhave time to eat or that they can leaveearly.

It is rarely possible for any visitor tomeet with all the membership so aninterview to be included in themembers' newsletter can help fulfil thesame function.

FundraisingThe costs of speaking tours can quicklymount up, so it is useful to exploit theincome-generating possibilities theyoffer as well (see Chapter 5 for moredetails on fundraising).

N Fundraising dinnersIf your visitor is likely to be of greatinterest to a particular audience youcould issue invitations for a dinner atwhich she or he will be the guestspeaker and charge a price that willleave you with enough profits after coststo make organizing the dinnerworthwhile.

N Public meetingsCharge entry to public meetings whichyour visitor is addressing if you feel thiswill not deter too many people fromattending. Hold a collection from theaudience after an appeal from the chairof the meeting.

N Direct mail appeal lettersThe visitor may be willing to put theirname to an appeal to your supportersexplaining how important it is that AI hasthe resources to continue its work. Or theymay be willing to provide some quotesendorsing the importance of AI's workfrom their own personal experience.


“I believe Amnesty has made afundamental contribution in placing

human rights as a strategic concern ofsocieties. Ideologies may come and go, butAmnesty has put concern for the fate of the

individual at the centre of the politicalagenda.”

Professor Luiz Rossi, the subject of AI’s first Urgent Action in 1960, speaking at the IS

in January 1996.

© AI

N Public appealsThe visitor might have the opportunityto highlight forthcoming AIfundraising events, or to suggest givingmoney in media interviews, etc.

OutreachA visitor may have a particular appealor relevance to specific sectors of thecommunity that offer opportunities forbuilding AI's outreach work. It may beuseful, for example, to invite a militaryofficial active in AI in another countryto come and talk on the relevance ofthe military to human rights as onestage towards establishing orstrengthening an outreach structurefor this sector.

Different outreach sectors arequite often served by their own mediaand publicity channels which may beinterested in covering the visit.

Building AIVisits can absorb a lot of time andmoney, and their impact can be veryshort term. They can even be counter-productive if they leave organizersexhausted and possibly poorer. Itmakes sense to think carefully abouthow internal organizational objectivescan be integrated into the strategy forany visit. Plan for the extra work thatmay be generated.

cTIPSThere are various ways in which you cantry to maintain the momentum the visithas given to your campaign, oroutreach, media or lobbying work.

c Take photographs, make videos,get quotes that can be used insubsequent communications.

c Keep a record of who helped withthe visit -- for example by providing freeaccommodation -- and make sure theyare thanked.

c Keep a record of who attended thedifferent functions and events andinvite them to join AI if they are notalready members.

c Keep a record of useful contacts inthe wider community who could beapproached for support at anothertime -- for example, representatives ofother NGOs and journalists.

c Make sure that commitmentsmade in meetings for follow-up actionare fulfilled.

c Keep in regular contact with thespeaker afterwards.


1

CAMPAIGNINGTECHNIQUESPUBLIC EVENTS ANDPROTESTS

Public activities aimed at informing, motivating andmobilizing the wider public have been vital elementsin AI's campaigning throughout the organization'shistory. They offer an opportunity not only toinform many people but also to demonstrateconcern and build commitment for change. Theprocess of organizing and holding public activitiesalso offers fresh opportunities for outreach,publicity and media work. This section looks at:

N Public meetings / 130

N Organizing a public meeting / 130

Timing / 130

Venue / 130

Publicity / 131

Speakers’ platform / 131

Chairing / 132

Action / 132

N Vigils, demonstrations and protests / 132

N Organizing a public protest / 133

N Alternative summits / 134

N Responding to current events / 134

Members of the Dutch Section bring publicattention to the plight of Daw Aung San Suu

Kyi using striking masks and simpleplacards, July 1994. In 1995 she was

released after having been detained foralmost six years under house arrest.

© AI

Public meetingsA good public meeting is one wherepeople leave feeling uplifted, motivatedand committed to your campaign. Itnormally involves a lot of work and,often, money. A bad public meeting canleave those who attended demoralizedand downhearted, and may well havethe same effect on you and the otherorganizers. So, before committingyourself to holding a public meeting, it isworth answering some key questions.

gQUESTIONSg What do you want the publicmeeting to achieve?Is the main aim to inform people abouta particular campaign? Is it to show theauthorities that there is a lot of publicconcern on a particular issue? Is it torecruit members to AI?

g Who is your target audience?How far will people travel to a publicmeeting? Do you want to attract anaudience in a particular geographicalarea? Is there a lot of community interestin the issue to be addressed at the meeting?

g Do you have speakers who willattract an audience?This is particularly important if themeeting is not about a high-profileissue which will create public interestautomatically.

Organizing a publicmeetingTo hold a successful public meeting it isimportant that you pay particularattention to key organizational issuessuch as:

M timingM venueM publicityM speakersM chairingM follow-up action

TimingAllow enough time to organizeeverything properly -- from booking thehall and speakers, to arranging thepublicity.

Check that the date of the meetingdoes not clash with a competing eventaimed at your target audience, such assporting events, other meetings orholidays.

Pick the best time for youraudience -- make it as easy as possiblefor them to attend.

Choose the best time in yourcampaign. Is there a stage when you willwant a fresh focus for publicity andmedia work? Is it best to hold themeeting shortly before a debate is tooccur or a decision is to be taken on theissues covered by the campaign?

VenueMany questions need to be addressedbefore picking a venue:

gQUESTIONSg Is the venue the right size foryour expected audience?

g Is the venue easily accessible toyour target audience?If the meeting is to be held in theevening, are the approaches well lit sothat people feel safe arriving andleaving? Is there access for disabledpeople? Is it on a major transport route?Is there car parking space?


Size matters

N Thirty people in a small room – thisfeels like a full and enthusiastic audience.A full meeting creates an atmosphere ofexcitement. It makes people feel they arepart of a campaign with momentum.

N Thirty people in a hall that holds500 – this looks tiny and miserable. The30 who attend will feel that they are partof a minority and they may wonderwhether it is worth carrying on. Nomatter how exciting the speech, it is hardto build an impression that an empty hallcan change the world!

The only difference in these two events isthe size of the venue.

Would it be more effective toorganize the meeting with apartner? Cooperation withanother organization mightdilute your purposes, but itmight also be a way ofreaching a broaderaudience (see also Chapter10).

g Does the venue have goodacoustics? Will a microphone and loudspeakers benecessary? Are these available in thehall? Can the lighting be adjusted? Hasall the necessary equipment beenchecked? Does someone know how toget things fixed quickly if they gowrong?

g Does the venue have thefacilities you need? Are there chairs and are they movable?Are refreshment facilities available?Are there facilities for meeting sociallyafter the official meeting? Is there aroom available so that organizers andspeakers can meet beforehand?

Other factors about the venue arealso important:

N Venue's messageVenues can send different messages. Apublic meeting in the parliamentbuilding may send a message about thelevel of support your campaign enjoysin the parliament and be the best way oftargeting this audience too. Similarly, apublic meeting in a community hall canbe a good way of indicating the concernof the community.

N Heating/cooling and ventilationPeople's surroundings can affect theirattention span. Rooms that are toowarm or lacking in fresh air can sendpeople to sleep (or home). Anaudience getting cold will probablybegin to think more about how to getwarm than what the speaker is saying.

N DecorationCheck to see where you can hangbanners. An attractive backdrop on thestage will complement the meeting –the message on banners will reinforcethe message of the meeting. Thinkabout where photographers andtelevision news crews will take picturesfrom. Will your banners be in the shot?Put posters on the surrounding wallsso that people can look at somethingas they wait for the meeting to getstarted.

Publicity

The success of a public meetingdepends above all on the audience, andthe audience you want to attract has toknow about the meeting to attend it.Good advance publicity is essential.Target the publicity at the audience youare hoping to attract, using posters,leaflets, announcements in the localmedia, etc. Persuade sympatheticorganizations to publicize the meeting.

Media reports after the meetingshould not be forgotten. Can you getreports of it in any newspapers --perhaps with a picture of the mainspeaker? Can you arrange radiointerviews? Public meetings in theevening are difficult for the daily newsmedia to cover -- they are generally toolate for television news and newspaperdeadlines, and by the next day they areold news.

Speakers’ platformThe number and range of speakers arealso important to the mood and feel ofpublic meetings. Normally the mainspeaker should be the last to speak.This is so that the audience leaves on anemotional high and has good memoriesof the event. It also ensures that any callfor action you make at the end of themeeting -- such as requests fordonations or invitations to join AI or totake part in campaign activities -- getsthe best response possible.

All audiences have a limitedattention span -- do not overstretch it byhaving too many speakers speaking fortoo long. Make sure each speakerknows what issues they should addressand how long they should speak for.

Be sensitive to the composition ofthe speakers' platform and how it willappear to your target audience. Forexample, it is generally better to have amix of women and men on theplatform.

The diversity of speakers on yourplatform (providing they are speakingin support of your campaign) can be agood way of showing the level ofsupport you enjoy and a good way ofbuilding relationships with different

Campaigning Techniques/Public Events and Protests 131

organizations. The names of thespeakers will appear in the publicityabout your meeting publicity and willbecome associated with the campaign.

Partly for this reason it is importantthat speakers' platforms do not appearpolitically biased and that they do notsuggest that AI supports organizationsthat may compromise its independenceand, therefore, its effectiveness. Forexample, some governments may seekto use the presence on an AI platformof an exile or solidarity organizationfrom their country to attack AI'smotives, undermine its credibility anddeflect attention from AI's humanrights concerns. A politically balancedspeakers' platform can help protect AIfrom such criticism.

ChairingA good chairperson is essential to agood meeting. They ensure that:N speakers stick to their time;N the audience knows the structureand format of the meeting and anypractical details;N the audience can participate in themeeting through questions;N individual members of theaudience are not able to dominate ordisrupt the meeting;N the meeting stays on track andachieves its purpose, for example byending with a strong call for action.

ActionAn action component is an importantpart of most meetings. AI does not justwant to inform people, it wants topersuade people to become involved inchanging the world.

cTIPS

c Put leaflets, petition and any otherpapers on people's chairs before themeeting. Leaflets should includesimple activities that people can do.c Ask for donations to cover the costof the meeting and contribute tocampaign costs on the way in, and passcollection buckets around during themeeting or as people are leaving.

c Have a stall in the meeting roomwith information about the campaignand AI, membership forms, petitions,letters to sign and send off, AImerchandise, etc.c Get the different speakers, and inparticular the last speaker and thechair, to emphasize how important theaudience is to the campaign and toeffect the change AI is seeking. Have alist of things for people to do. Ask themto join AI now.

Vigils, demonstrationsand protestsStreet protests, such as vigils anddemonstrations, are an importantcampaigning technique at bothnational and group level. Sometimesthey are spontaneous reactions to worldevents. More often they are plannedparts of a campaign. When planningany form of public protest it isimportant to be clear about what youare trying to achieve so that you canmake the protest as effective as possible.

gQUESTIONSg What is the main message of thevigil?Do you want to put pressure on yourgovernment or on the authorities in thetarget country? Is it primarily a publicact of solidarity or of remembrance?

g Is the location of the vigilimportant for getting the messageacross?If you want to reach as many people aspossible, then a busy street or towncentre is the best choice. You may wantto chose a location which has a symbolicimportance, such as an embassy ortourist office.

g Is timing a significant factor?A good time for media coverage may bea bad time for getting people to attendas they will be at work. You may want tochoose a prisoner's birthday or acountry's national day to increase theimpact of the protest.


The law

In many societies all orsome public events andprotests are subject to legalrequirements andrestrictions. Some mayrelate to health and safetyissues (for example, fireregulations), others mayconcern the amount ofnotice you need to give tothe authorities, or obtainingpolice permission, etc. It isgenerally worth finding outas much as possible aboutany legal requirementsbefore deciding what youwill do. Places to find thisinformation will vary butcheck with otherorganizations, lawyers,and government and localauthorities.

g Do you want otherorganizations or individuals toattend?This might increase the size and impactof the protest, but could also mean thatAI will become associated in the publicmind with these organizations. It isimportant to weigh up the effect thismay have on AI's effectiveness.

Organizing a publicprotestThe checklist below may help youorganize a successful public protest:

jCHECKLIST

ORGANIZING A PUBLIC PROTEST

j Distribute leaflets, posters, etc. toget as many people there as possible.Remember to include the time, date andlocation of the protest .

j Contact the media and ask them toput an announcement in a relevant partof the newspaper or issue a news releaseand offer to provide a spokesperson toexplain why the protest is being held.

j Delegate responsible AI members tolook out for potential problems. Ifappropriate you can give themarmbands or badges so that their role isclear to both the participants and theauthorities. This is particularly importantif you are worried about otherorganizations that may attend or aboutthe reaction of the authorities, and if youdo not want any publicity to focus on thearrest of people taking part.

cTIPSc Big banners are noticed. Ask a fewpeople to hold them or tie them upwhere they can be seen. Public protestsdo not necessarily need a lot of peopleto make an impact, but the fewer thepeople the more important strongvisual images become.c A number of simple banners orplacards can also be noticed. The more

people holding them, the more strikingthe image. Use a few themes or messagesrepeatedly as they work better thanmany different ones, which can lookconfusing. Keep the images simple andthe text to a minimum.c Symbolic representations of theissue being highlighted -- such as a cageto evoke repression and imprisonment --can be a graphic way of highlighting AI'smessage and provide a good image forthe media. Ask people, possiblysomebody famous, to spend a little whileinside the cage.c Masks can make a striking image.Simple, featureless cardboard maskscan be used to symbolize the fate of the"disappeared". A photocopiedphotograph of a person can be put ontomasks to emphasize the individual casethe vigil is highlighting. c Candles held by protesters at nightcan create an evocative image andemphasize AI's symbol. Push thecandles through small circles ofcardboard to stop the hot wax droppingon people's hands or put them in glassjars to prevent them being blown out. c Silhouettes can provide a strikingway of highlighting the plight of the"disappeared" and their families. Life-size outlines of people can be drawn onstiff cardboard and then cut out andpainted black. Details of a particularcase can be written onto the body. Youcan stand the silhouettes against walls,ask individuals to hold them or lay themdown on the pavement or street in frontof your protest. Think about how theycould make the most effective image forthe camera.c Set up a small photographic orposter exhibition to attract the interestof passers-by. c Music and “noise” attract attention,keep up the spirits of those taking partin the protest and help get the messageacross. You can distribute song orslogan sheets to those taking part; use amegaphone; or get a single drummer, aband, an orchestra or a choir involved.Music can reach the heart and soul inways that words alone cannot.c Rather than have people simplystanding still, get them moving around.

Campaigning Techniques/Public Events and Protests 133

fBe careful if you putan estimate on thenumber of people

you think may takepart in a protest. Thiscan backfire and canmake an otherwise

successful eventappear a failure.

A mask worn during a protestoutside the Chinese Embassy

in Poland during AI’scampaign on China

Have some of the participants dress upas victims and perpetrators to representthe violations being highlighted.

Alternative summitsAlternative summits have been used togreat effect by many organizations. Oneexample was the Bangkok NGO forumwhich took place in the lead-up to theVienna UN World Conference onHuman Rights in 1993. At the forumNGOs were able to speak out for humanrights and express the aspirations ofordinary people, countering thearguments of some governments at theUN Conference who were seeking toportray universal human rights values asalien to Asian cultures. The presence ofthe world media who had come for theUN Conference also meant that NGOswere able to get widespread coverage fortheir views. The human rights work ofthe participating NGOs wasstrengthened through the process ofmeeting and working together at theforum.

Increasingly, NGOs are organizingalternative forums at meetings ofinternational organizations, or atintergovernmental meetings, to lobbythe official meetings and to set out theirhuman rights agenda.

This tactic may also be useful for

making sure that human rights are onthe agenda of other meetings andsummits. If you know in advance that agovernment leader is scheduled to visityour country it may be possible toarrange for a visit by a leading humanrights figure at the same time, or shortlybefore or after the official visit, as a wayof emphasizing the need to prioritizehuman rights considerations.

Responding to currenteventsPublic actions can be most successfulwhen they are seen as a response tocurrent events. One example is to stagean event to coincide with visits of headsof state or government ministers to thecountry.

Decide what you would like toachieve from the visit. Would a face-to-face meeting be possible or advisable?Do you want the media to focusprimarily on a country's human rightsrecord or on your government's failureto take up human rights issues? Or is itmore important to bring pressure tobear on a particular case? You will needto judge whether more will be achievedquietly through lobbying or more visiblythrough public action.

Some visits take place in a fanfareof publicity, while others are morediscreet. Holding a public protestoutside the hotel where an official orgovernment leader is staying can beeffective in gaining media coverage --particularly if they have declined tomeet AI. Prepare a letter outlining AI'sconcerns that you can hand in -- if youare not allowed to hand over the letter, then this is likely to be seen asunjust.

Try and get a copy of the itinerary ofthe visit. Is it possible to make sure thatthere is a public AI presence on eachoccasion? Make AI's message simple: "AIwants to talk", "Free ... Now!", "Will ...condemn the torture of protesters in thecountry?".

At each place try and pass copies ofAI's concerns to others attending -- orprovide them with a letter asking them toraise a particular case or concern.


People’s Forum

Bacre Waly Ndiaye, UN SpecialRapporteur on summary or arbitraryextrajudicial executions, visitedAustralia as a guest of "A People'sForum", organized by the AustralianSection. Representatives of differentethnic communities and the relatives ofvictims gave testimony of theirexperience of human rights violations.Although it had no formal status theevent was well covered by the mediaand provided organizations andindividuals with a much betterknowledge of the UN human rightsmechanisms and how they work inpractice. It also raised public awarenessof the scale of human rights violationsworldwide.

1

CAMPAIGNINGTECHNIQUES CONTACT WITHEMBASSIES

Embassies are both the real and symbolicrepresentatives of other governments in yourcountry. As such, they provide AI with a range ofcampaigning opportunities. Meetings withembassy officials allow AI to convey its concernsdirectly to governments, to obtain information onthe human rights situation in the country, and toestablish a dialogue between AI and governmentrepresentatives. Embassies can provide a focalpoint for symbolic actions and for demonstratingconcern. This section looks at:

Guards stand outside the Chinese Embassyin Warsaw, Poland, where candles and

masks were left by protesters during AI’scampaign against human rights violations

in China. AI members held the protestduring an official Chinese delegation’s visit

to Poland in order to highlight human rightsviolations by Chinese security forces in the

Tibet Autonomous Region. Participantswore masks decorated to resemble

traditional Tibetan masks.© AI

N Embassy visits / 136

Preparing the visit / 136

Arranging the visit / 136

The AI delegation / 137

The meeting / 138

Follow-up / 140

N Day-to-day relations with embassies / 141

N Organizing contacts with embassies / 142

N Embassy protests / 142

Embassy visitsEmbassies act as listening posts for whatis happening in the host country inorder to defend the interests of thehome country. In general theambassador will not be in a position tomake decisions independently and willhave to report back to their ministry offoreign affairs about meetings. Ofcourse, an embassy can haveconsiderable influence through the wayit reports to its ministry of foreignaffairs or the way it requests furtherinstructions.

Most countries do not have anembassy in every country with whichthey have diplomatic relations. Oftenarrangements are made whereby arepresentative will be responsible fordiplomatic relations with neighbouringcountries. If there is an ambassadoraccredited to a country but based inanother country, good communicationbetween AI Sections in the twocountries is important so that visits canbe coordinated and informationshared. Letters can be sent withoutprior consultation between theSections, although if major initiativesare planned it would be advisable toconsult.

Names and addresses ofambassadors may be found intelephone directories or in directoriespublished annually by most foreignaffairs ministries.

Preparing the visit

Preparation is the key to a successfulembassy visit. If the visit is part of acampaign, the campaign materialshould provide the informationneeded for the visit. AI delegates needto be well informed about AI's concernsand clear about what the visit isintended to achieve. It is also useful toconsider in advance suitable responsesto the ambassador's possible reactionsto the issues the delegation will raise.

Embassy visits should becoordinated, both within the Sectionand in relation to possible activities bythe IS. In some Sections there will alsobe a need for coordination betweenadoption groups and professionalgroups or other groups with specialistfunctions. This coordination should bedone by the Section office or a specialcoordinator for embassy visits, perhapsa board member.

If the embassy visit is not part of acampaign or suggested by the IS, it is agood idea to consult the IS beforeasking for a meeting. The IS should beable to give you up-to-date informationon the country and perhaps suggestspecific issues which it would be usefulto raise during the visit.

Arranging the visitThe first step is to request a meetingwith the ambassador. It is essential tofollow diplomatic style incommunications with an embassy.Letters should be courteously worded,well presented and include theappropriate forms of address (forexample, the ambassador should beaddressed as "Your Excellency”).Departures from this style may becounterproductive and the ambassadormay feel offended. You should makeyour request in a letter:N giving a brief presentation of AIand enclosing a copy of the AI Statute;N summarizing the concerns youwish to raise with the ambassador;N suggesting that a meeting bearranged and giving a proposed datefor the meeting;N listing the names of those who will


A Peruvian diplomat reads AI’s 1995 reporton Peru©

AI

be included in the AI delegation andany positions they have in the Section; N explaining that someone from theSection office will call the embassy toconfirm arrangements for the meeting.

As the ambassador is the mostsenior representative of his or hergovernment, the request for themeeting should be signed by the mostsenior representative of the Section, forexample, the chairperson or director.

If no reply is received within twoweeks, the person responsible formaking the appointment should callthe embassy to ask if the letter has beenreceived and if a meeting can bearranged. It is possible that the embassyhas not replied because the ambassadoris not prepared to attend a meeting, butit is important that the embassy is notgiven the impression that the Sectionhas lost interest just because there hasnot been an immediate positiveresponse. It may be necessary to callagain every one or two weeks.

If there is still no response fromthe embassy, a second letter should besent explaining the importance theSection attaches to the meeting. Thisletter could also request an explanationas to why the embassy is not prepared toarrange a meeting.

If the embassy will still not agree toa meeting, the information andconcerns which were to be raised couldbe explained in a letter. The documentsor memoranda prepared by the Sectionshould be enclosed and specificquestions asked relating to thatinformation and AI's concerns. If theembassy visit was part of a campaign,the Section could consider thepossibility of appearing at the embassywithout prior appointment to present apetition or an AI report (see below).

An embassy may offer a meetingwith a lower-level official. SomeSections accept such invitations butsend along a lower-level AI official topress for a meeting between the AISection director/chair and theambassador so that they can discuss thesubstance of AI’s concerns. Care shouldbe taken not to fall into the trap ofdealing only with officials whosefunction is public relations.

The AI delegationThe composition of the AI delegationwhich will visit the embassy should bedecided before you ask for the meeting.The AI delegation should be made upof at least two, but usually no more thanthree, people.

Delegates should know about AI'smandate and policies and specific AIconcerns in the country. They shouldalso know about the general politicalsituation in the country.

Some AI Sections offer training toprospective embassy delegates, buteven a simple role-playing exercise canhelp to build confidence byanticipating possible questions.

In some cases it might beappropriate to include someone in thedelegation who is not a member of AI,such as a member of parliament,scholar or writer known for his or herconcern about human rights or who hasa specific interest in the country. It isusually not a good idea to include ajournalist in the delegation as this canaffect the ambassador's attitudetowards the delegation. The non-AIdelegate should be someone who isseen as objective and impartial. It is also

Campaigning Techniques/Contact with Embassies 137

Members of the Belgian Section(francophone) outside the US Embassyduring AI’s campaign against the death

penalty in 1987© AI

It can be important to try toresearch the background ofthe ambassador and otherembassy officials. Are they

career diplomats orgovernment appointments?

Do they have knowninterests? However, you

should not, in general, raisetheir personal background.


essential that he or she is familiar withAI's mandate.

The AI delegates should meet atleast once before the meeting with theambassador in order to:N make themselves familiar with theissues to be raised;N decide how the information will bepresented and who should present eachconcern;N appoint a "head of delegation"who will be responsible for introducingthe delegation to the ambassador andintroducing AI in general.

If time allows, groups working oncases from the country concerned canbe informed about the visit in advanceand encouraged to present shortsummaries of their cases together withquestions which they would like raisedwith the ambassador. This informationcan then be compiled in amemorandum. If there is no time toconsult groups, this information shouldbe available in the Section office. Ineither case, it is essential to follow theinstructions in the Action Files and onlysubmit external information.

Information on other AI concernscould also be prepared in the form of ashort document or memorandum. Inmost cases this information will befound in the campaign or actionmaterial circulated to Sections by theIS. Only external material should beused. Recommendations in UAs andother campaign materials should notbe used. Material from AmnestyInternational News may be used.

If the meeting is scheduled to takeplace towards the end of a campaign youmay want to assemble a dossier of all themedia coverage of the campaign as a wayof demonstrating the level of concern.

The meetingA member of the delegation shouldtake notes of the meeting. In somecases, an embassy staff member will alsotake notes. Tape recorders should notbe used as this can be seen as impolite.If the ambassador tapes theconversation the delegation can ask fora copy of the tape, although you shouldstill rely on your own notes.

N Introducing yourselves and AIThe head of the delegation should startby thanking the ambassador foroffering the opportunity to present AI'sconcerns and introducing themembers of the AI delegation.

Next, a short presentation of AIshould be made. This should include ageneral explanation of what AI is -- itsmandate and overall policies onimpartiality, violence, acceptance offunds and independence -- and itsworking methods (see the AmnestyInternational Handbook). You might alsowant to include a very brief outline ofthe structure of the movement, forexample, the number of members andgroups in the Section and therelationship between the internationalmovement and the Sections.

AI's consultative status or officialrelations with the UN (Economic andSocial Council – ECOSOC, and the UNEducational, Scientific and CulturalOrganization – UNESCO), the Councilof Europe, the Organization ofAmerican States and the Organizationof African Unity should be mentioned.If applicable it may also be useful tomention your Section's relationshipwith your own minister of foreignaffairs or parliament.

A copy of the latest AmnestyInternational Report, the latest report onthe ambassador's country or the latestissue of Amnesty International Newsshould be presented. Offer to arrangefor Amnesty International News to be senton a complimentary basis. It may beuseful to give examples of internationalpublicity about the report or publicitywithin the Section's country.

N Presenting the issuesAfter these introductory remarks, thedelegation should present the specificissues and concerns it wants to raise andhand over any documents which havebeen prepared. You should explain thefunction of the IS along the followinglines:

"Our information has beenprepared by the InternationalSecretariat in London, which has anexpert staff which collects and verifies

reports on human rights violationsfrom all over the world. If you wish tocomment on this information, we willbe glad to relay your comments to theInternational Secretariat."

You should mention that althoughyou are aware that the ambassador maynot be able to make decisions orcomments without consulting theauthorities in the home country, youexpect the ambassador to relay theconcerns to the home government.

You should also indicate that AI isinterested in a dialogue with theambassador and that it hopes to get aresponse to the questions raised,especially information on individualcases and specific concerns. It isimportant therefore that you try toformulate specific questions andinclude them in the documents given tothe ambassador. In most cases theambassador will not have anyinformation about the individual casesyou are raising and he or she should notbe expected to present instantinformation or verification.

The ambassador will probably saythat the information will be requestedand you should try to get explicitconfirmation of this. It should also beborne in mind that although anambassador has considerable means ofgetting information from the ministryof foreign affairs, how quickly theambassador receives the informationand how much information they getwill depend on whether the ministryconsiders the concerns raised to beimportant and whether it is preparedto forward requests for informationto other authorities in the homecountry. The mere fact that therequest is made via an ambassadormay, however, help in getting aresponse.

N Dealing with difficult questionsAn ambassador may try to avoid dealingwith a matter directly or may be underinstructions to simply criticize AI. Youshould try and anticipate and beprepared for the ambassador's possiblereactions (see the Amnesty InternationalHandbook for more advice).

Below are some examples:M If the ambassador says AI'sinformation is political propaganda,request a written confirmation from theambassador's government saying thatAI's information is without basis andgiving specific instances of where it isinaccurate. Say that if AI's informationis incorrect, it will be publiclycorrected. Explain that one of thereasons for requesting the meeting is toask for information from theambassador's government.

M If the ambassador says he or shecan do nothing, reply that AI is not askingfor action outside the ambassador'snormal diplomatic function. In thatcapacity, however, he or she is asked toreport back to the government andseek answers to questions raised by thedelegation.

M If the ambassador asks what rightAI has to interfere with the internalaffairs of another country, reply that theprotection of human rights is aninternational responsibility, clearly statedin the UN Charter and the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights andother international human rightsinstruments. This was reaffirmed by thefinal declaration of governments at theUN World Conference on HumanRights in Vienna in 1993. Cite anyinternational treaties signed by theambassador's country, particularly theInternational Covenant on Civil andPolitical Rights. (For a list of countries’ratifications see the most recent copy ofAmnesty International Report.) Mentionthat by granting AI consultative statuswith ECOSOC, it was accepted thatorganizations like AI have a legitimaterole to play in the protection of humanrights.

M If the ambassador asks why AI isonly concerned with his or her countryand not with another, explain AI'sposition of impartiality and emphasizethat AI is working to promote andprotect human rights in every country.People in the ambassador's country aresurely no less deserving of concern fortheir human rights than anyone else.

Stress that, although AI finds itnecessary to focus on individual


countries to make the internationalcommunity aware of specific humanrights violations, this does not imply thatAI takes a position against any particularcountry. AI does not oppose anygovernment – it opposes specific humanrights violations wherever they occur.Refer to recent country reports andcampaigns.

M If the ambassador asks why AI isnot concerned with a specific othercountry, refer to AI's concerns in thatcountry and mention any recent reportspublished on the country (delegatesshould have been briefed on thosecountries regularly criticized by theambassador's country). This shouldonly be done in response to a questionfrom the ambassador.

M If the ambassador asks how AIcan know about the situation in thecountry without having been there,mention any recent AI visits to thecountry or ask whether the ambassadoris agreeing to a visit from AI. If theambassador is actually agreeing this,the delegation should make it clear thatthe offer will be conveyed to the IS.

MA subject that is frequentlyraised is AI's position on human rightsabuses by armed opposition groups.You should make yourself familiar withAI's position on this and with any actionAI has taken or statements it has madeon abuses by armed political groups inthe ambassador's country.

MThe delegation should befamiliar with the present politicalsituation in the ambassador's homecountry and its recent history. But becareful not to become involved inpolitical debate about the country. AImakes no judgment as to the politicalcauses of human rights violations.

MThe delegation should also befamiliar with the relevant human rightsinstruments, such as the UDHR, theICCPR and the UN Standard MinimumRules for the Treatment of Prisoners.These should be referred to asnecessary in the course of the meeting.

At the end of the meeting, thehead of the delegation should give abrief summary of the meeting focusingon any requests or agreements made.

The delegation should inform theambassador that it will report back tothe IS. Thank the ambassador for theconcern he or she has shown by givingtime for the meeting, and express thehope that the ambassador will reportback to his or her government onfuture representations by the Section orlocal groups.

Follow-upYou should send a letter to the ambassadorimmediately after the meeting thankinghim or her for meeting the AI delegation,summarizing the main points of themeeting and confirming any requests oragreements made, including any furthermeetings which have been agreed.Enclose any publications which youpromised to send.

If no reply has been received aftera month or so, another letter could besent recalling the meeting and requestsor agreements made and expressingthe hope that the ambassador will soonbe able to present the information. TheSection could send further remindersat regular intervals and if there arefurther developments in the humanrights situation in the country, theycould be summarized in these letters.

You should send a report to the ISresearcher responsible for the countryimmediately after the visit. The reportshould include:N the date and place of the meeting;N the participants from the embassyand Section (names and functions);N the reason for the meeting (part ofcampaign or action, requested by AI orembassy, follow-up to previousmeetings, etc);N any problems in arranging themeeting (reluctance of embassy);N a summary of the meeting,including individual cases raised by thedelegation (copies of papers preparedfor the meeting should be enclosed),and the ambassador's response;N any agreements made with theambassador; N any promises made by theambassador;N the follow-up planned by theSection;


N requests to the IS for ideas forfollow-up.

You should send copies of anyreplies you receive from the ambassadorto the IS researcher on the country.

Local groups working on casesfrom the country should be informedabout the visit. This can be done bysending them a copy of the follow-upletter to the ambassador or a copy of thereport to the IS. If the ambassador haspromised to look into cases drawn to hisor her attention, local groups should beencouraged to send copies of theirletters to the authorities to theambassador.

The Section board or otherrelevant coordinators should also beinformed about the visit by copyingthem in on follow-up letters or thereport to the IS. Copies of all letters andreports of the meeting should be filedat the Section office.

PublicityIt is no secret that AI seeks meetings withembassies to convey its concerns and totry to get information. It is, however,often useful to keep these meetingsconfidential and not to publicize them.This can help to create an atmosphereof mutual trust and confidence whichwill make the dialogue easier andencourage the ambassador to get theinformation AI is seeking.

If an embassy repeatedly refuses ameeting, the Section could considerpublicizing this and expressing regret atthe embassy's position. It is a good ideato consult the IS before doing this.

If the embassy publicizes a meetingwith AI, the Section should also feel freeto publicize the visit in the Sectionnewsletter or in a press release. If theembassy's publicity contains misleadingor inaccurate information, this shouldbe corrected by the Section. Theembassy should be informed, forexample by sending a press release,press cuttings or the Section newsletter.

If ambassadors refuse to meet AI,the following techniques may help topersuade them to agree to a meeting.N ask others, such as members ofparliament, to act as intermediaries or

to raise the issue with the ambassador;N raise the refusal in approaches toyour own government;N find out the ambassador's itineraryand either arrange for the refusal to beraised at meetings or functions bysomeone who will be there, or organizeAI members to be outside the meetingand raise the question of refusal as theambassador is arriving or leaving;N establish who the ambassadormeets on a more regular basis and askthem to take up the issue;N use publicity and the media -- ifasked by a journalist what thegovernment's position is, you canexplain that it is difficult to know as theambassador has so far refused to meetAI and discuss its concerns;N find out what organizations exist topromote relations between yourcountry and the target society and askfor their support.

Day-to-day relationswith embassiesVisits cannot be frequent events -- mostSections do not have the resources for thisand embassies are not likely to encouragefrequent visits. However, Sections shouldtry to make regular contact with theembassy part of its routine work. If youare not able to arrange meetings, tryother ways of conveying AI's concerns tothe ambassador.

Remember to send a copy of all AIreports concerning the country to theembassy to arrive on the day of therelease or on the embargo date. Thegovernment will have received a copybefore then, and it is good practice forthe embassy to be informed. You cansend an accompanying letter explainingthat AI is publishing the report andraising the specific concernshighlighted in the report. It will enablejournalists and others to approach theembassy for comment.

Local groups and coordinationgroups can use embassies as channels forquestions relating to their cases. Groupscan send copies of their letters to theauthorities to the embassy -- this canprompt the ambassador to report back to


his or her government about receiving theletters. Members can also send individualletters to the ambassador, asking specificquestions on specific cases and asking himor her to forward those questions to theauthorities in his or her country.

Sections can send copies ofAmnesty International News or theAmnesty International Report to theembassy; these are published in Arabic,English, French and Spanish.

Sometimes an ambassador orembassy official may write to thenational press about an AI report orstatement. If such letters presentinaccurate information about AI or itsconcerns in the country, the Sectionshould try to respond by sending a letterto the newspaper explaining what AI isand what its concerns in the country are.

Embassies sometimes invite AIrepresentatives to attend officialreceptions or other functions. Sectionsshould consider carefully whether thereare any advantages or disadvantages inattending.

When immediate action isparticularly important, for example onUAs, you may consider asking a friendlyjournalist to make inquiries about thecase in a professional capacity ratherthan on behalf of AI. Ambassadors arelikely to be particularly sensitive to thepublicity their country receives and maymake particular efforts to get an answeror to inform their government that themedia is interested in the case.

Some embassies have diplomaticstaff or offices with a specific humanrights brief. Meetings and regularcontacts with these offices can be useful.Individuals may be willing to providehelpful advice to AI on an informal basisor to facilitate getting information.However, governments and embassiesare becoming increasinglysophisticated in dealing with criticismsof their human rights record and theseoffices are often more concerned withpublic relations than with protectinghuman rights. Avoid being drawn intolong and distracting discussions that donot address AI's main concerns and aredesigned to prevent AI from speakingout publicly.

Organizing contacts withembassiesIt is useful to have one person or groupcoordinating embassy contacts. It canbe confusing for embassies to receiverequests from various levels of the sameSection and can lead to them refusingthem all. It is also important that theSection is always aware of all theapproaches being made to embassiesand any outcome to assist in theplanning of future visits. Groups shouldbe asked to inform the Section office ofall correspondence or contacts withembassies. Notes should be made of allcontacts and these could be filedtogether with reports of previousmeetings and copies of correspondence.

The fact that contacts withembassies are coordinated should notdiscourage local groups or co-groupsfrom conveying AI's concerns or askingfor information. The coordinationshould be used to make the contactsmore effective and efficient. Localgroups and co-groups should be awareof arrangements within the Section forcoordinating embassy contacts,including the names of thoseresponsible and the procedures theSection has decided to follow whenarranging meetings.

Embassy protestsEmbassies can be an important focusfor protests and vigils. It is easy for awider public and the media to see therelevance of protests that take placeoutside the embassy of the countryconcerned.

You can arrange for a delegation todeliver the Amnesty International Reportto the embassy or to a series ofembassies. Ask a celebrity to be in thedelegation to help guarantee publicity(make sure they are well briefed if youwant them to be interviewed).

If human rights violations in aparticular country are in the headlines,organize a protest outside the embassyto make the most of the potentialpublicity.


Chapter title 9

1

CAMPAIGNINGTECHNIQUES CELEBRITY SUPPORT

Getting celebrities to support AI can be usefulboth as part of specific campaigns and of moregeneral campaigning and membershipdevelopment. Celebrities can help influencepublic opinion on specific issues and alsoenhance AI's image as an impartial organizationwhich is supported by people from all walks oflife and with a wide spectrum of political views.This section looks at:

“Activism is often my muse.”Alice Walker, Anything We Love Can Be

Saved, A Writer’s Activism, Womens Press

Alice Walker lent her support to AI’s firsthuman awareness conference on female

genital mutilation in 1996 in northernGhana. Here she meets AI delegates from

Togo, Benin and Nigeria.© AI

N How celebrity support can help AI / 144

N How to make the most of celebrity support / 145

How celebrity supportcan help AIPublic awareness campaigns in manysocieties have used celebritiesidentified as "role models" among theirtarget audience. For example, in anumber of countries, campaignsagainst racism have featured sportsstars and musicians making strongstatements to increase awareness of andsupport for anti-racism among theyoung people who identify with them.

Public support from celebritiescan also help to define the image oforganizations and campaigns. If AI isseen as a politically alignedorganization in your country then thepublic support of celebrities identifiedwith a wide spectrum of politicalopinions can help to counter this image.

Similarly if a campaign is tacklingissues which are particularlycontroversial in a society and there isconcern that the campaign may notattract the wide support it needs to besuccessful, then the endorsement ofcelebrities can help to overcomebarriers and make the issues beingraised more acceptable.

Celebrity support can be usedmore directly to attract public support.

AI Sections have enlisted the help ofcelebrities in a variety of ways:N getting celebrities to sign (andwrite) direct-mail appeal letters toexisting and potential supportersasking for donations;N asking them to appear inpromotional activities andcampaigning appeals for television andradio;N asking them to use their networkof contacts to get support for AI.

The participation of celebrities incampaigning activities and mediaconferences can create media interest inevents which might otherwise attract lesspublicity. AI Sections have used famouswriters, well-known judges and politiciansto launch reports. They have involved popstars, politicians, actors and artists in photoopportunities such as candle-lit vigils.

In many societies fame brings withit financial rewards and gives addedvalue to anything associated with theperson, from their socks to theirsignature! AI Sections have received:N direct gifts of works of art frompainters;N the performances of musiciansdonated for fundraising concerts etc;N items belonging to celebritiesdonated for "celebrity auctions" or sale;N direct gifts of money.


AI’s Secretary General, Pierre Sané, andArchbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa,at the launch in South Africa of AI’scampaign on Nigeria, November 1996© AI

How to make the most ofcelebrity supportBelow are some ideas that might proveuseful:

cTIPSc If you are launching a report becareful that your choice of celebrity willnot trivialize the issue or underminethe message.c If you want to get coverage on aparticular television network, winningthe support of a celebrity from thatnetwork might be helpful.c Ideally the celebrity should havesome connection to the issue so thatthey can have a good answer for the firstquestion a journalist will ask -- "Why areyou involved in this campaign?"c Where possible make directcontact with the celebrity concerned.Many celebrities have agents who filterrequests for support. This can be anextra hurdle that is difficult toovercome.

Celebrities receive many requestsfor support from organizations. Theclearer you are about what you want

from them, the more likely you are toreceive a positive response. Providingthe right level of information andorganizational support from the outsetwill help ensure a positive result andencourage the celebrity to build up arelationship with AI and to work withyou in future.

cTIPSc Be clear about what you wantdone, when and why.c Be clear about what support youare able to provide. c Be clear whether or not a fee orexpenses will be paid -- for many popconcerts the expenses bill can be high.c Supply as much backgroundinformation as necessary. c Make sure that the celebrity'scontribution will be worthwhile and willbe seen by them to be worthwhile.c Make sure someone from AI isavailable to provide detailed knowledgeon AI, campaign issues, policy, etc.c Make sure you acknowledge thecelebrity's contribution appropriately,for example, with a thank-you letterfrom the chairperson or director of theSection.

Campaigning Techniques / Celebrity Support 145

Viv Richards, captain of the West Indiancricket team, with members of the Ghanaian

Section during AI week, March 1990© AI

fSome celebrities may

want to use AI'sname or resources tofurther their career,or they may demand

a level of supportthat will not be

reflected in incomeor support for AI.

Remember that youare responsible for

deciding what sort ofassistance AI would

like – not thecelebrity. How anyevent or action will

further AI's workmust remainparamount.



this publication.

“The scale of human rights violations ismonumental and we should be addressing it.”

Noam Chomsky, linguist at theMassachussets Technological Institute, USA,gave a keynote address at an AI conferenceon the protection of human rightsdefenders in Latin America. The conferencewas held in Colombia, May 1996.© SEMANARIO VOZ


1

CHAPTER 8PREPARING CAMPAIGNMATERIALS

Campaigning materials are the basic tools forinforming people, building awareness and gettingaction during campaigns. This chapter looks at thecontent, design, production and format of someof these materials, focusing on products such asleaflets, briefing papers, posters and postcards.Other publicity materials, such as video newsreleases, direct-mail appeals, advertising andmedia releases, are covered in Chapters 5 and 9.

Contents

Choosing the materials / 148

Content / 148

Writing and editing / 149

Design / 149

Printing / 150

Leaflets / 152

Outreach/Briefing papers / 152

Reports / 153

Posters / 154

Placards / 154

Banners / 155

Newsletters / 155

Photo exhibitions / 155

Postcards / 156

Stickers / 156

Videos and audio tapes / 157

Materials from the IS / 158

Internet campaigning / 158

“It is not enough to aim, youmust hit.”

Italian proverb

Choosing the materialsAs in all other communications, the mostimportant stage is to clarify the purposebefore deciding the means for carrying itout. Communications must be matchedas closely as possible to campaigningand development objectives.

Stating the purpose of acommunication in a simple sentenceshould help you to be precise about thetargeted audience. This will influencethe form of communication you use.

Clarifying the resources availablecan help to focus discussions onpurpose. You will rarely be able toproduce all the materials of the qualityyou would like.

The following questions may helpyou decide which is the best mix ofmaterials for any particular campaign.

gQUESTIONSg What audience are you trying toreach?Is it the largest number of people, orpeople going to a particular venue, or aparticular outreach sector?

g What information do you wantto convey? Do you want to advertise an event ordemonstration, or provide details of acampaign, or tell people how to join AI?

g What action do you want? Do you want people to come to anevent, write a letter of protest or make adonation?

g What methods of distributionare available? What display places are available forposters or exhibitions? Who willdistribute leaflets? Will there be events orother opportunities to distribute leaflets?

g How long does the materialhave to last? Is it a membership leaflet that may haveto last for a year, or a leaflet promoting ademonstration that may need to bedistributed within a week and have nouse afterwards?

g How much money do you have?If you have to choose between leafletsand posters, which is better suited to thecampaign objectives? If you produceone-colour rather than two-colourleaflets, will this allow you to produceposters as well?

ContentThe content of campaigning andpromotional material changes all thetime. It is, however, useful to bear inmind the AIDA formula:

A M attract ATTENTIONIn many societies people are floodedwith information at the same time asthey are getting busier and busier.Unless your message can attractattention in the first place, it will haveno opportunity to do anything.

I M raise INTERESTYour audience has to be able to relate toand be interested in your message orthe issue.

D M encourage a feeling of DESIREHowever grim the substance of AI'sinformation, a communication has topersuade the reader to want to dosomething.

A M prompt ACTIONThe material must convert the desire todo something into action -- sending aletter, making a donation, joining AI.

People have to connect with thecontent. It may be true that most AIsupporters are interested in the worldbeyond their own community, but thesame does not necessarily apply to thewider community to which AI is appealing.

Human rights violations inNorthern Ireland in the UnitedKingdom, for example, can becomemore real to people if they know thatthe killings have taken place in a societythat has the same number ofinhabitants as their city. They can relatesomething they do not know about tosomething they do know about. You cangive them a tool to construct their ownmental images.


If the popular image in your societyof the country on which you arecampaigning is as a centre of civilizationor a popular tourist destination, thenuse this existing knowledge to introducethe human rights reality. Think aboutthe image that your target audiencecurrently has of a country or issue, andthen the image that you would likethem to see. How can your materialsmove it from one to the other?

Your choices will be affected bymany factors, such as how much spaceor time you have to tell your story.

Before drafting, write down thekey points you want to get across, find anatural order for them so that one leadson to the next.

If you want people to act, yourmaterial must establish a need orproblem, make the reader feelinvolved, and give them the belief thatthey have the power to do somethingabout it.

In all materials, be concise. Useshort words and sentences.

Writing and editingIf you are asking someone to write thetext of a leaflet or an article for anewsletter, you need to provide themwith a very clear brief. This should state:N the subject and angle of the piece;N any essential points you wantcovered;N details about the target audience,such as their level of knowledge of thesubject;N the style of the publication orother factors special to your campaign(provide samples);N how long it should be (number ofwords);N when you need it by (add sparetime into your schedule to allow forproblems).

It can help to note these things downeven if writing the material yourself.

Correcting mistakes is much cheaperbefore a piece of work goes to the printerthan afterwards. Editing is also importantbecause AI has a reputation for checkingfacts and being accurate. This can be easilyundermined if care is not taken in editinga text that will go to the public or members.Governments have used mistakes by AIto attack the organization and deflectattention from their human rights record.

Editors therefore need to checkfor accuracy of facts and policy, as wellas for grammar and style. They shouldadd sub-headings and titles, and makesure the text is clear and easy to read.

If work has been commissioned,consult the contributor on changes. Iftheir contribution is not to be used, letthem know and explain why beforepublication.

DesignDesign plays a central role in attractingattention, aiding comprehension anddefining image. It should be determinedprimarily by purpose and audience.That is one reason why reports andleaflets have a different look.

Styles of print design vary fromculture to culture and over time. Thefollowing are some principles whichmight be helpful.

Preparing Campaigning Materials 149

A well-designed two-colour leafletproduced by the Dutch Section

© AI

cTIPSc Choose a typeface for AI’s nameand logo and use it in all publications.This will help to create a strong "brandimage" in the community.c Headlines should be big, bold andshort. Headlines are your best chanceto catch someone's attention andinterest. 2,000 people “disappeared”might be better than AI condemnsIndonesian Government.c Avoid using too many typefaces asthis is disruptive and disturbing to theeye. Use one typeface (or one for theheading and another for the body text)and use bold, italics and CAPITALS togive emphasis or to break up the text.c Avoid full pages of unbroken textwhere possible. Break up blocks of textby using bullet points, sub-headings,plain or shaded boxes, horizontal orvertical lines and columns.c Don’t be afraid of areas of whitespace. Use it to help make the text orphotographs stand out. c Use a drop capital or bold capitalsto begin each paragraph. c Use pictures and illustrations tocatch the eye and where they help to tellthe story. c Keep designs clear and simple, notfussy and crowded.c Colour increases design options,but can add substantially to costs. Full-colour printing is more expensive andmay mean using a higher quality andheavier paper, which can in turn increaseprinting and distribution/postagecosts. In addition, photocopies of full-colour materials are often hard to read.

PrintingThere are four main ways of havingyour materials printed:

N DuplicatingThe duplicating machine is becomingincreasingly obsolescent as technologymarches on. Using real ink, it can be amessy process. However, it remains acheap way to produce a lot of leaflets -- abasic stencil can be cut on a typewriter andthe only other costs are ink and paper.

N PhotocopyingThe easiest and often the cheapest wayof producing simple materials insmallish quantities is to photocopythem. Even where the photocopier issingle-colour, different colour paperscan be used to add impact. Using a poor-quality photocopier because it is cheapcan be a false economy, however, if itundermines your message and image.

The quality of printing from laseror bubble-jet printers is now perfectlyadequate for reproduction byphotocopier. Photographs and otherimages can be scanned in if thetechnology exists, and it is increasinglypossible to have photographs and otherimages transferred on to computer disksthat can then be laid out on the screen.If this is not possible, you can cut-and-paste -- place different bits of text andpictures on a blank page. Correctiontape or fluid can be used to cover up theresulting lines before photocopying.

For large quantities, particularlywhere folding is involved, commercialprinters can be cheaper.


Brief for publication

The following criteria might be helpful to consider when drafting an article or aleaflet. You can use them to plan your own work, but you might also provide them asguidelines to someone else.N Format (e.g. leaflet/article/poster)N Length (number of words)N Purpose/main messageN Points/facts that must be includedN Audience (who you are trying to reach, what you know of them, how and where

the material will be distributed)N Intended audience action (attend meeting/send donations/join AI/send letter)N First draft needed by (date)N Final draft needed by (date)

N Quick printersQuick printers normally use larger andmore versatile photocopying machinesthan are available in offices. They canprint and collate large documents anduse full colour. They can oftencomplete jobs very quickly as they donot have to go through the samepreparation process as traditionalprinters. Laser-printed copy is of a highenough quality for the printer to workwith. Check with them first what youneed to provide.

N Commercial printersIf you are unfamiliar with preparingcopy for printers, consult otherorganizations that do a lot of printing.Meet local printers and find out whatoptions are available, how much timedifferent sorts of jobs take, and howmuch notice you need to give. Clarify inwhat form (film, disk or hard copy, forexample) they would like the jobdelivered.

If you are using professionaldesigners, they will probably know therequirements of printers and may alsobe able to suggest good ones to use.

When dealing with printers be veryclear about the specifications for eachjob and get quotes beforehand.Specifications will include number ofpages, cover details, quantity, paper size,paper weight, colour and finish/type,and deadlines. They will also include

the form in which you will be deliveringyour work (such as camera-readyartwork) and whether the job is to befolded, stapled or collated. This shouldbe agreed and written down as manythings can go wrong and it is importantto be able to hold printers to account ifmistakes are their fault.

There are a lot of variables thataffect cost and quality of the finishedproduct. Many different types of paper,for example, are likely to be available.Know your options and get estimates foreach.

Proofread your copy before it is sentto the printers. They will charge you formistakes you want corrected later.

You must see and approve the finalproofs before printing begins. Printersmay insist on a formal "signing off" byyou (the client) of the proofs so that ifyou subsequently find an error it is clearthat you should pay for a reprint.

In any campaign there can beoccasions when a job will be rushed.Even then it is important that theproofreading be thorough. Inparticular, check times, dates andfigures, and that AI's name is includedand spelled correctly.

If you have quite large printingrequirements, or a steady stream ofwork, it can be worthwhile choosing oneprinter, explaining your requirementsand trying to come to an agreement forthis work.


Worksheet for a printing job

A worksheet listing the following criteria can be a helpful record when working witha commercial printer:

N Job name/title (e.g. Poster for campaign on China)N Trim sizeN Paper weight/ type/ finish/ colourN QuantityN Binding (folded/ stapled/ stitched/ collated/ perfect bound)N Form supplied to the printerN Date to be suppliedN Final proofs ready by (date)N Signed off by (person/date)N Job delivered by (date)N Cost quoted/name of firmN Contact name at printers

LeafletsFormatsIn many parts of the world, leaflets aremost commonly produced in thefollowing formats:

N A5 (148mm x 210mm) -- single ordouble sided. This is the smallest andcheapest style of standard leaflet. Oneside can consist of little more than aheadline or the basic time and place ofan event or demonstration, while theother can contain the basic details of acampaign or issue (and a membershipand/or donation coupon). This can beeye-catching as a handout and is alsogood for displaying on notice boards.All other things being equal, you canget twice as many for your money as A4leaflets. N A4 (210mm x 297mm) -- single ordouble sided. The main advantage ofthis over the A5 format is size, allowingfor more text and therefore morecampaign/issue details. It also actsbetter as a mini-poster. It can still beused as a handout or placed oncounters for picking up.N A4 -- folded to A5 (4 x A5 panels).Using a single fold can give theimpression of a mini-booklet. Itprovides a good way of breaking up text,which can make it easier on the eye andallows more scope for pictures andillustrations. Single folds are slightlymore awkward to hand out than a flatsheet.N A4 -- double vertical fold ( 6 x longpanels). With the space divided into sixpanels, the subject matter can bebroken up even further. There is morescope for design and for taking thereader through different aspects of anissue as each fold is opened up --ending with the action section. Theformat is not very suitable, however,for display on notice boards, but it ispopular with many organizations formembership leaflets. It has theadvantage of fitting easily into astandard-size envelope.

A paper weight of 80 to 100g isnormally adequate for all the aboveleaflets.

Distribution

Leaflets can be distributed in thefollowing ways:N Handing them out in the street orother public places. This is likely to bemost effective if you pick an area orevent where the audience is likely to beinterested in the campaign. Handingout leaflets at events or protests that youhave organized can reinforce themessage, give people something to takeaway and think about, and provide thenecessary information to take action.N Campaigning organizations handout leaflets at other organizations'meetings and demonstrations if theythink the people involved are likely towant to know about related issues. It isgood practice to ask beforehand if theorganizing body has any objections toyou doing this.N Cinemas or theatres showing filmsor productions related to AI's work canalso be good places hand out leaflets. N Pushing leaflets through doorscan be very labour intensive. However,it offers more personal contact and theopportunity to discuss issues in person.This may work best if you want to attracta local audience to an event orfunction.N Leave leaflets in places where youhope they will be picked up by theaudience you are trying to reach. Thiscould be a shop, the front counter of theAI office, doctors' waiting rooms, etc.

Outreach/BriefingpapersOutreach or briefing papers (A3 sheetwith a single fold, printed on both sides)perform the same function as leaflets,but are directed at a different audience.

For people such as trade unionofficials or representatives of religiousor lawyers' organizations, a leafletcannot include all the necessaryinformation and action points. On theother hand, a full AI report provides toomuch detail. Briefing papers can giveadequate details and are intended to begiven to people during or after an AI



reasons we are unableto show this image.Please contact your

nearest obtain a hardcopy of this

publication.


reasons we are unableto show this image.Please contact your

nearest AmnestyInternational office toobtain a hardcopy of

this publication.

An AI fold-out leaflet aimed at youth

meeting so that they can:N refer back to any particular factsyou have mentioned; N refresh their memory on thebackground to the issue and the actionbeing asked for;N have easy access to the points thatneed to be raised and specific detailssuch as addresses to write to.

Briefing papers can be cheap toproduce -- one colour on colouredpaper can be attractively designed --and different audiences can be targetedby changing some of the text. To keepcosts down, it is possible to print oneside with a standard text and the otherwith a text intended to appealparticularly to trade unionists orlawyers, for example.

ReportsAI’s reports are the campaigners mostessential tool. They provide evidence ofhuman rights violations, make the casefor action to be taken to stop theviolations, and often give hope to thevictims that people will not ignore theirsuffering in silence.

Reports, which are researched andwritten by the IS, are the raw materialsfor protests, lobbying, media releasesand leaflets. It is up to campaigners toensure that the reports do not stay onshelves gathering dust. The release of areport offers opportunities for winningpress coverage, especially if the report isstudied beforehand for a possible newsangle.

As AI releases many reports, not allwill win media coverage. You willtherefore have to decide which reports

you will devote time and resources to.Sometimes, coverage can be won simplyby giving the report to a jouranlist whospecializes in the country or issue.

It is good practice to provide theembassy concerned with a copy of thereport at the time of the release. This isa courtesy as well as a way of ensuringthat the embassy knows that AI is activein your society.

The report should also be sent toyour ministry of foreign affairs with aletter highlighting the recommendationsmade in the report and any action youwould like your government to take.

Academics, institutions, libraries,NGOs working on the country, andother organizations may be interestedin the report and be able to take action.

Some Sections produce simpleleaflets advertising new reports, whichare then widely distributed.

Reports may be too long for someaudiences, so you may want tosummarize the information in a shorterformat, such as a leaflet or briefingpaper (see above). If you do this,inform the relevant IS research team asthey may be able to provide freshinformation and advice. It is importantthat all such materials carry theSection’s name and address. The ISproduces shorter campaign documentsfor major campaigns.

It is sometimes possible to chargepeople via a subscription system toreceive AI reports. In some situations,people feel that something has morevalue if they have to pay for it, but it is adifficult balance to reach. SomeSections also market AI reports to thegeneral public as a way of raising funds.


In several countries AIgroups established

information stalls when ArielDorfman's play Death and

the Maiden was beingperformed. Leaflets werehanded out about human

rights violations in Chile, asubject dealt with in the play.

fWhile posters are

always popularamong AI members,many end up on thewalls of members'

homes or stay inboxes rather thanbeing displayed in

public.

Billboards

The largest posters are those seen on advertising billboards used by commercialenterprises. Some companies let AI have the space for free or a very low rate. Eventhen the poster still needs to be specially designed and printed, which can be quiteexpensive. Posters on billboards can provide a good photo opportunity for a presslaunch.

Some campaigning organizations specialize in creatively altering commercialbillboards to get their message across or because they find the official messageoffensive. This is usually illegal. The company whose billboards are targeted mighttake private legal action or those caught altering billboards may face criminalprosecution.

cTIPWhen supplying local AI

groups with leaflets, providea suggestion sheet about

where they may be able todistribute them. Leave a

space when printing so thatthey can include a local

contact address and number.

PostersPosters can get you and your campaignnoticed because of their size and design,providing they are well displayed. Theyare best used for: N promoting a specific event;N reinforcing a key campaignmessage, slogan or image.

The usefulness of posters dependslargely on display opportunities. Inmany countries there are laws orregulations affecting both theinformation that needs to be included(even in very small print, such as thename of the printer or tax number) andwhere posters can be displayed. It isimportant to be aware of theseregulations.

Common display sites for postersinclude:N notice boards in libraries, offices,hospitals, schools, local authoritybuildings, etc;N shop or house windows;N walls, fences and lamp posts; N cafés and community centres;N AI stalls;N offices of other NGOs, tradeunions, etc;N buses, trains and trams;N at protests, held by hand.

How the posters are put up mayaffect their legality or the willingness ofpeople to display them. It may be legalto tape a poster to a lamp post but illegalto use paste. Check with the owner ofthe site or other organizations thatdisplay posters. Do not use tape thatdamages the surface when removed.

If there are few of these sites in yourarea, then posters might not be the bestway of communicating your message.

The design and content of theposter should reflect its audience andyour display opportunities.

A poster advertising a specificevent should contain the followingelements:N who is organizing it and what it isfor; N what it is – a concert, publicmeeting, etc;N when it is being held – the time,the date and the day;

N where it is being held– include amap if it is not well known;N price of admission if appropriate;N a contact number/address.

A poster for a wall along a busyroad will need to be big and bold tostand out. A poster intended for officewalls may be able to carry moreinformation -- and can be smaller andless bold.

The costs of posters depend onproduction methods, size and weight ofpaper, number of colours used, etc.Options for production includehandwriting, silkscreen printing,commercial printing and photocopying.

Posters are normally one-sided.Some organizations, as well as AISections, have produced double-sidedposters. One side has been a strikingimage, while the other has includedcampaign information and actionrequests. Alternatively, one side hasbeen used for the campaign, while theother has contained generalinformation about AI so that theposters can be used after the campaignis over. Posters displayed in windowsmay have both sides visible.

It is useful to provide local AIgroups with posters that feature AI'sname and logo/image but which areotherwise blank so that they can beused to advertise local activities. Also,provide individual members with smallposters. This can be done cheaply bymaking the poster the centre or coverpages of your newsletter if you produceone. Make suggestions on where themembers could display the posters.

PlacardsPlacards are really posters on sticks.They can help to make the message ofany protest or vigil immediatelyapparent to passers by. They can alsocontribute to an attractive image thatmight appear in newspapers or ontelevision.

Attach the posters (A2 -- 420mm x594mm) to slightly larger pieces of cardusing staples, then attach the card withthe posters on to a small piece of wood(1cm x1cm), about 1m in length.


A newsletter sent by fax to awide range of people insideSaudi Arabia has been oneof the key campaigning toolsused by Mohammed alMasari, a Saudi Arabiandissident living in exile. It hasreached people eager forinformation, partly becauseof restrictions on the flow ofinformation and news insideSaudi Arabia.

Following the crack-down onpro-democracy protests inChina in 1989, theAustralian Section produceda glossy and attractivebrochure (A4 sheet with asingle fold) featuring picturesof some of China's mostfamous tourist destinations.The text focused on AI'shuman rights concerns inChina. These brochures weredistributed throughAustralian travel agents asthe strategy had identifiedtourists as an importantaudience to reach.

BannersBanners are useful as a backdrop at astall, protest or media conference as wellas at demonstrations. The more strikingand attractive they are, the more likelythe event will appear in newspapers oron television. Commercial firms andsign writers produce banners. Manymaterials can be used.

Be clear about what the banner willbe mainly used for. If it is as a backdrop formedia conferences it should have fixingpoints (strengthened holes for string orpins) to allow it to be easily fixed to wallsand tables or suspended, or should belight enough to be held in place by tape. Ifit is mainly for use during demonstrations,it should be light enough to carry, havepockets for poles and holes in the materialto allow the wind to blow through thebanner. Paint should be waterproof.

NewslettersNewsletters are one of the mostcommonly used and effectivetechniques for communicating withsupporters and others. They can givefeedback on campaigning successes,keep people updated on relevant issuesand raise awareness on new issues.

Newsletters can be anything from

two sides of A4 or A3 folded to createfour pages, to the glossy 16- and 20-pagepublications produced by many Sections.

It is particularly important that allthose involved in producing thenewsletter are clear about its purposeand main audience. Consider whetheryou want a letters’ page to act as a forumfor discussion and try and make surethere is a mix of longer and shorterarticles. Remember that people aremotivated by good news and success.

Newsletters can also be a lot ofwork and expensive. Check that theyare the most effective way of achievingwhat you want.

When costing newsletters it isimportant to know how mostnewsletters will be distributed. Postagecosts (which might rise substantially withthe number of pages used) can quicklyrise to being as much as or more than theprinting costs. Membership newslettercosts can also quickly absorb the bulk ofmembership fees, which may leave littleother money for campaigning.

If newsletters are external theyhave more campaigning potential forAI. They can be distributed tosympathetic organizations andindividuals to maintain their sense ofinvolvement in a campaign.

Photo exhibitions Photo exhibitions can be a usefulcampaigning tool both for Sections andlocal AI groups. An exhibition can helpto attract media coverage for thecampaign by:


In 1995 the South KoreanSection took a general AIphoto exhibition around

different cities, arranginglocal launches with national

AI figures and localpoliticians. Media channelsand posters put up by local

supporters and memberswere used to publicize the

exhibition. In each city newmembers were recruited and

in some places new AIgroups were established.

Right: A photo exhibition staged by AI groups in Greeceto highlight human rights violations in China. Below: AI

groups in Ecuador organized a photo exhibition tohighlight the human rights situation in Chile.

© AI

N being publicly launched by acelebrity; N providing good visual images fortelevision and print media;N attracting contributors -- the artsor events media.

Photo exhibitions can and havebeen displayed at the following venues(and probably many more):N community halls;N town halls;N department stores;N art galleries;N churches and cathedrals;N libraries, schools and universities;N AI stalls; N cinema and theatre foyers.

There is no AI restriction on wherean exhibition can be placed. It is amatter of which audience you are tryingto reach, what is available and whereyou can have most impact. The venuechosen might mean that somebody hasto be with the display all the time tomake sure it is not damaged – as well asto answer questions.

If local AI groups are beingsupplied with a photo exhibitionduring their campaign, then give theman advice sheet on how to make themost of it. This should include:N suggestions on suitable venues;N suggestions on the sorts ofcelebrities who could be approached tolaunch the exhibition -- localpoliticians, artists, authors or actorsliving in the community;N suggestions for having an officialopening that could provide a goodopportunity for the group to conductoutreach to key parts of the community.Include practical organizational details,such as how far in advance to send outinvitations, what refreshments to supplyand how to structure the evening;N suggestions on getting publicity:supply a draft media release for thelocal media on which they need onlyadd the name of the celebrity, venue,time and local quote; suggest theyapproach the print media andtelevision to request a feature using thephotographs in the exhibition; N ideas for holding an informationand action stall, which would include

petitions or draft letters to sign,membership forms and a donation box.

When using a photo exhibitionsupplied by the IS, consider laminatingat least one copy with plastic or getting itframed so that it can be used more thanonce and will stay in good condition. Youcan also add your own panels to make itmore relevant to your society.

PostcardsAI often uses postcards as a campaigntool -- preprinted messages to be sent tohome or foreign governments. SomeSections have also produced postcardsto publicize AI and particular campaigns.

In some ways postcards are a "soft-sell". On one side they have aninteresting or attractive image -- animage that you think people would liketo send to friends and family. On theother side they are like a normalpostcard -- lines for an address, a squarefor the stamp, a blank space for writinga message and, most importantly, ashort explanation of the image. It is thisexplanation that offers the opportunityto explain AI or the particularcampaign. The hope is that the personreceiving the card will become moreaware of the campaign or AI.

The cards can be provided togroups as one of the materials they cansell or distribute from their public stallsor give to individual members as a giftand action tool. In some countries thereare now networks in cafes, cinemas andelsewhere for the distribution of freepostcards. Otherwise, cards can be left invenues where you think people will usethem.

Stickers Stickers are another well-used publicityor awareness-raising tool. Car stickershave been particularly popular in theUSA, although much less so in Europe --perhaps because car bumpers are smaller!

Small stickers can also be used asseals for envelopes or as new addresslabels to allow the recycling ofenvelopes.

If stickers are for cars or for outside


display, they have to be hardy. Thisnormally means they are made of someform of PVC or plastic. Stickers forenvelopes can be made of paper witheither an adhesive or a gum backing.The latter is most often used forreplacement address labels. These aremainly blank but have an AI messageand logo printed around the edges.Check with your postal authorities forpossible restrictions.

People are most likely to use thestickers if they are attractive. Stickersfor cars normally allow for little morethan two or three words as they must bereadable from a distance. Stickers forenvelopes may simply have an AI logo.Supply them to AI members and localgroups and encourage them to usethem as a way of building communityrecognition of AI's symbol.

Videos and audio tapesVideo and audio tapes are powerfulcommunication tools and can be usedfor campaigning, actions, educational,training, promotional anddocumentary purposes.

The Audiovisual Resources at theIS has an archive of over 2,000 videoand audio tapes on human rightsindexed by region, country and theme.These can be used in various ways(depending on copyright) to supportand enhance your campaign with themembership, media and general public.

To help get AI issues broadcast youcan utilize a variety of audiovisualmaterials produced by the IS which arerelated to campaigns and actions.Materials will usually havescripts/voice-overs in Arabic, English,French and Spanish and should beavailable via your section press officer.Here is an outline of the different typesof products:

N Video News Release (VNR) – adocumentary-style story on a countryor a theme. 3-5 minutes long, voice-over, what we would called a "finished"piece. There is an additional "B" roll atthe end of the VNR which containsextra footage related to the piece which

a broadcaster can use to makeanother/longer product.

N Audio News Releases (ANR) – aradio version of the above.

N News Access Tape (NAT) – oftencalled an "unfinished" piece and whichcan be anything from two to 30 minutesin length. There is no voice over but theimages can tell a story related to atheme or country. The point of theNAT is to provide broadcasters withimages to cover AI issues. Somebroadcasters will not run our "finished"pieces and this is a good compromise.

N Audio News Access Tape (ANAT) –a radio version of the above.

N Feature – a documentary-style"finished" piece, with voice over andwhich can be five to 10 minutes inlength. AI makes these primarily formajor campaigns.

N Audio features – a radio version ofthe above, either with a suggested scriptor actual voice-over.Remember thateach broadcaster is different. Some donot like VNRs produced by NGOs,while others may broadcast what isoffered. Audiovisual materials areusually prepared for the launch of acampaign and therefore a “news hook”is already provided. They can, however,be offered as additional footage/audiofor documentaries and can be used foreducational and campaigningpurposes.

cTIPS

c Watch/listen to the audiovisualmaterial. If you do not know what you haveaccess to, you won't know what to promoteor how it relates to the campaign or issueyou are promoting. As you are watching orlistening to the material, think how youcan best persuade the broadcaster to atleast take a look at what you have.

c Identify which broadcasters youwill approach. You may find that theaudiovisual material is best suited to a


Postcards produced by an AI group inPoland (top), and by the Norwegian Section

© AI

© AI

news or feature program. It may fit on ayouth show. Remember that there aremany types of television and radiostations you can contact. Duplication ofaudiovisual materials can get expensiveso try, where possible, to get the mediato pay for copies.

c Respect the embargo but get thestory. If you are contacting a newsdesk,speak to the forward-planningdepartment a few days before thelaunch of your campaign. Let themknow what audiovisual materials youhave and gauge whether they areinterested or too busy to talk right now.You could follow-up with a fax.Television editors take longer to makenews stories, so if they are interested,provide them with material a day beforethe launch but stress the embargo time.Radio stations can turn a story aroundquite quickly, so getting the material tothem on the day is usually fine.

c Follow-up for next time. Alwayscheck whether your material was used.This way you can see whether you cantrust an editor when they say they willuse it, and remain in friendly contactfor next time.

Materials from the ISThe IS produces a variety of materialsfor AI campaigns and actions anddistributes them to Sections. Typically,these would include some of thefollowing: an A5 report in book format,a magazine-style briefing, a set ofappeal leaflets, a poster display, a set ofpostcards, a focus article of AmnestyInternational News. Sections are serviceddirectly by the IS Marketing and Supplyteam. Groups in countries withoutSections are serviced by the relevantregional development team.

An order form explaining whatmaterials are being produced and atwhat price is sent out by the IS in theweekly mailing to Sections. Limitedquantities of copies of the materials aremade available free of charge to smallerSections. The aim is to receive orders ingood time to allow the IS to print and

distribute the materials so that theyarrive with Sections well ahead of thelaunch date.

The order form is usuallyaccompanied by a manuscript-requestform, so that Sections or groups wishingto translate the texts and produce theirown versions of materials can do so.Translations into core languages(Arabic, French and Spanish) are doneby the decentralized units: AmnestyInternational Arabic Publishing(ARABAI); Editions francophonesd’Amnesty International (EFAI); andEditorial Amnistía Internacional (EDAI).The units may also produce versions ofthe materials.

The English edition of the annualAmnesty International Report isdistributed from the IS on a similarbasis, as are copies of the InternationalNewsletter. Also available arepublications, including a number ofleaflets in various languages, which givegeneral information about AI and itsconcerns.

Internet campaigningThe Internet is a gift for campaigners.You can supply information to millions,making your material look as slick as thewealthiest multinational company's on-line publishing effort. The cost isnegligible; connecting to a computeron the other side of the world is just aseasy and costs the same as connecting toone down the road. The disadvantage isthat only in the wealthier countries willsignificant numbers of people haveaccess to material produced in this way.It is therefore important, as with othercampaigning materials, to have aspecific target audience, and a specificpurpose in mind before embarking onan Internet campaign. For moredetailed information on campaigningusing information technology, seeChapter 2.


1

CHAPTER 9MEDIA AND PUBLICITY

The media has been central to AI’s campaigningfrom the day the organization was launchedthrough a newspaper article in 1961. Television,radio and print journalism has the power toinform, build awareness, set agendas and bringpressure for change. A good understanding of themedia and how it can help AI’s work is importantfor successful campaigning. This chapterconcentrates on the practicalities of getting thebest out of the media.

Contents

The role of the media / 160

Constructing a media strategy / 160

Research and analysis / 161

What do you want to achieve? / 162

Target audience and media / 162

Working with the media / 163

Production considerations / 164

Winning coverage / 165

The media release / 165

The media conference / 168

The media pack / 169

Media briefings / 170

Interviews / 171

Feature articles / 173

Video News Releases / 174

Letters pages / 175

Phone-ins and talkbacks / 175

Pictures / 175

Trouble-shooting / 175

Not getting coverage? / 176

Media servicing from the IS / 178

Other information from the IS / 179

Coordinating the media work of others / 179

Monitoring and evaluation / 180

“When Amnesty Internationaladopted me as a prisoner ofconscience, the newspapers

started talking about me, I gotbetter treatment in prison, and Iwas given a proper hearing in

the courts. There had been acomplete blackout on my name

and case. That was blastedwhen Amnesty International

took up my case.”Mukhtar Rana, a teacher and former prisoner

of conscience from Pakistan

The role of the mediaMost governments care about theirpublic image, at home and abroad.They care because their image mayinfluence whether they are re-elected,whether they can attract foreigninvestment, including tourism, andwhether they attract domestic orinternational criticism. The media, themaker and shaper of images, istherefore important to AI in itscampaigning efforts to change thebehaviour of governments.

The media can:N play a key role in buildingawareness and shaping public opinionon human rights and related issues;N shape the framework and natureof debates over important issuesaffecting human rights, not least thedeath penalty or human rights inforeign policy;N generate action from its audience;N influence government policy, bothdirectly and through its power toinfluence and mobilize opinion;N shape public perceptions of AI as acampaigning organization and raiseAI’s public profile;N put direct pressure on agovernment by placing it in thespotlight;N help build the morale andinfluence of human rights activists andorganizations all over the world;N protect and enhance AI’sreputation;N investigate and expose humanrights issues.

AI’s campaigning media work hasthe chance to influence the image andactions of many governments. Targetgovernments which are violatinghuman rights may care sufficientlyabout their international image to stopthe violations. Domestic governmentsmay be so responsive to media or publicopinion that they stop the military,security and police (MSP) transfers thatAI is concerned about, or initiate ahuman rights strategy for the targetcountry.

The media in most countries isdiverse and targeted to many

specialized audiences. Somegovernment policies on human rightsmay be influenced by the mass media,other policies may be more susceptibleto specialist media. Similarly, differentsections of public opinion are affectedby particular newspapers, magazines,radio and television.

It is argued that governments seekto insulate their policies from the upsand downs of public opinion, or thatpressure groups resort to media andpublicity work when they are losing theargument. Media coverage of an issuecan make sure organizations get intothe policy-making room to put forwardmore detailed arguments. Thesepostions can reflect the tensions thatarise between AI’s quiet and publiccampaigning, and can only be resolvedon a case by case basis.

As the media is often the best oronly way to communicate AI’s messageto different audiences, it is important tomake sure that clear media objectivesare fully integrated into campaigningand development strategies.Determining the specific role of themedia in achieving campaigning anddevelopment objectives is the firstbuilding block in the construction ofmedia strategies.

Constructing a mediastrategy Different campaigns demand differentmedia strategies. However, a Section islikely to benefit from a longer-termmedia strategy. Building good workingrelationships with the media that allowAI to get its message across when itneeds to is likely to be part of such astrategy. Individual campaign strategiesshould benefit from, and aim tostrengthen such relationships.

Two general points can help shapemedia strategies:N It is important to identify targetaudiences and find the specific mediathat reaches them. For example, AImedical actions may target doctors andmedical journals may be the best mediato reach them.


“The objective is perhaps notso much to create publicopinion, as to create anopinion about publicopinion.” W.J.M. MacKenzie

“For many organizationsthere is a very small group,even just one person, whowill make the final decisionon the issue that you areinterested in. But in order toreach that person, you mayneed to go through otherpeople and get them to exertpressure on that ultimatetarget.”Sue Ward, Getting the Message Across:Public Relations, Publicity and Working withthe Media, Journeyman Press, 1992

N Media strategies should be specificabout what action is needed.

As with strategies in campaigningthe following steps should be taken:

M research and analysis;M specify objectives (desired

change);M specify target audience and

media;M implement action;Mmonitor and evaluate.

Research and analysisA useful starting point for developing amedia strategy is to analyse the currentsituation of AI and the media in yoursociety. The following questions, not allof which need to be addressed, mighthelp you determine the informationthat might be useful for such an analysis.

gQUESTIONS

g Which newspapers, magazines,radio and television programs mostinfluence public opinion on issuesof concern to AI?

g What are the circulation oraudience figures for differentnewspapers and magazines, andradio and television news andcurrent affairs programs?

g Which newspapers, magazines,radio and television news and currentaffairs shows are most read, listenedto or watched by or likely to influencedecision-makers, politicians,government officials, etc.

g Which media is most likely toshape the debates or determine theagenda on issues of importance toAI?

g On what issues of concern to AIis government most likely to beinfluenced by the media?

g How important isregional/local media to shapingcommunity attitudes or influencinglocally based politicians anddecision-makers?

g Which journalists in print, radioor television particularly influencepublic opinion or government?

g Are there specialist publicationson foreign affairs? What is the foreignnews coverage of the different media? Isit increasing or decreasing?

g Do the different newsorganizations have their own foreigncorrespondents? Who are they and inwhat countries? Which internationalwire services do they subscribe to?

g Who are the editorial andfeature writers on foreign affairs orissues related to AI’s campaigningaction?

g What is the specialist media inyour society? Religious, women’s,ethnic, legal, etc?

g What national news agenciesexist and which national mediasubscribe to them?

g Are there organizations thatdistribute media releases tosubscribing media organizations?

g Are human rights issues andAI’s concerns regularly covered inthe media that AI targets?

g Are human rights seen as hard orsoft (human interest) news? Are theyseen as mainly foreign or domestic news?

g Is there an up-to-date list of mediacontacts? Does AI have an easy way ofcontacting the necessary media, such asa fax broadcast facility or computer fax?

g Does AI have goodrelationships with individualjournalists and editors?

g Does AI have a positive ornegative image in the media? Is itseen as a reliable source ofinformation? Is it seen as representingcommunity opinion? Is it seen as acampaigning organization?

Media and Publicity 161

Many governments monitorparticular news and media

outlets to see what issues areattracting public concern.News clips and transcripts

will be circulated to therelevant ministers and

departmental officials. Manyembassies also monitor thenews to keep in touch with

host public opinion andattitudes to the country they

represent. This coveragemay be mentioned in their

reports back to theirgovernment and may

influence the human rightssituation. Copying

campaign materials to anembassy can ensure they

hear the human rightsmessage.

g Do print and broadcast medianormally refer to AI as a London-based organization, the worldwidehuman rights organization, or AI asan organization in your country?

g Do foreign correspondents orjournalists seek briefings from AIon human rights before travelling?

g Do journalists seek AI’smaterial as background when doingcountry features or before the visitsof foreign heads of state?

g Do local AI groups feelconfident in doing media work? Dothey need training or support?

g Do you have specialist AIspokespeople trained to do mediawork on particular countries or issues?

g What will be the importantissues for AI over the coming year?

g Are there important dates in thehuman rights calendar that could bepegs on which to hang a humanrights story?

g Do current media or publicperceptions of the human rightssituation in your country act as abarrier to human rights action onthe target country?

g Is the government/military ofthe target country sensitive to mediacoverage and public opinion in yourcountry? Are they particularly sensitiveabout some media? If so, which?

g Which parts of the media areinfluential in reaching outreach groupsmost important to your campaign?

g Do any media organizations inyour country have correspondentsbased in the target country? Are theyreporting on human rights concerns?

g Is your government’s policytowards the target country likely tobe influenced by media coverage?

What do you want to achieve?

Establishing the media’s role in relationto your society and AI’s existingrelationships with the media (whereyou are now) should make it possible todecide on what specific changes shouldbe the objectives (where you would liketo be) for AI’s media strategy

These objectives could be: N establishing AI as an authoritativecommentator on government foreignpolicy or international affairs; N developing positive workingrelationships with a small number ofnews and current affairs journalists; N building AI’s public image as aneffective, credible campaigningorganization that offers everyone theopportunity to act for human rights.

It is important to be as specific aspossible about these objectives as thiswill determine what action you need totake and allow monitoring andevaluation.

Target audience and mediaYou must decide which media will bestreach an audience or a number ofdifferent audiences. All mediaorganizations seek to develop anawareness of the audience they aretrying to reach. If their audience isdeclining, they try to reach a wideraudience through better marketing,improving their product or changingit to appeal to a different audience.Some publications aim to reach only asmall, specialized audience. Theyinclude business magazines andserious television current affairsprograms.

Media audiences are highlysegmented. You may want to reach allsegments, but it is likely that somesegments are more important for youthan others (depending on yourcampaign objectives). This needs to bereflected in which media techniquesyou choose and how you use them. Forexample, you may choose a leadingbusiness figure to launch a reportbecause it will guarantee coverage inthe business press, even though thismay not bring wider media coverage.


The right story for the rightaudience

Local journalists aresearching for a local angle,such as what the localgroup is doing or saying.National journalists aresearching for a nationalangle, such as what role thecountry can play in theinternational politicalcontext. What you say to areporter from AlagoasState in Brazil may bedifferent from what you tellthe national televisionstation, TV Globo. So an in-depth discussion of specificAI recommendations aboutmilitary court systems inBrazil, based on cases ofhuman rights violations inthat state, will satisfy thelocal reporter, while areview of the state of humanrights in Brazil and theleading role Brazil shouldplay in promoting humanrights in the region is moreimportant to viewers acrossthe country.

Working with the mediaAI’s relations with the media need to becentralized and coordinated.

The media need to know who tocontact within the organization. Theyneed to know that the personrepresents the views and position of AI –rather than an individual opinion. AIneeds to decide what it wants tocommunicate to the media and toconvey that information clearly andconsistently.

If different parts of AI are sayingdifferent things to different journalistsat the same time, it is likely that AI’smessage will be confused and theorganization will lose credibility andeffectiveness.

There can be a number ofspokespersons but there should be acentral point of contact, available torespond to media inquiries during theday and outside regular working hours.

This person should:

N be available on the telephonenight and day – journalists often needto telephone to check facts or ask forcomments;N feel comfortable discussing issuesover the telephone;N be able to type and have access to atypewriter or computer and printer toprepare media releases;N have access to a photocopier andpreferably a fax machine to produceand distribute media releases;N have access to the AI e-mailnetwork to receive the IS news service orhave easy access to the weekly mailing;N feel confident and have theconfidence of the organization;N be familiar with AI’s mandate,policies and current concerns;have the time to develop an awarenessof the media, including tight deadlinesand constraints on space.


Finding the right angle*

AI reports form the basis of much of AI’s media coverage. From the perspective of themedia, the reports often seem to say much the same thing – the human rightssituation is bad and AI is calling for action. The example below illustrates how thesame story can be presented in a number of ways that will affect whether and how itis reported.

A report on Indonesia finds evidence of numerous specific human rightsviolations, although the situation was at its worst two years before. Below are fiveways of headlining the story:

N “ The Human Rights Paradox”: AI issues new report on IndonesiaThis is unlikely to interest a busy news desk and will be quickly filed in the bin.

N “ Indonesia – killings in Aceh down on previous years ”This is likely to be of more interest, but is not really the story AI wants to convey.

N “ Aceh – Fresh evidence of Indonesian terror ”This is more likely to be of interest, but news editors may not have heard of Aceh ormay think it is like other stories on Indonesia.

N “ AI questions Australian Government over training of Indonesian SpecialForces implicated in Aceh killings.”This report has identified a particular army unit with the violations and there haverecently been reports in the Australian media about its contacts with the AustralianGovernment. An AI Section that can put the two together is likely to get substantialcoverage. It transforms an international story into a strong domestic story. Localjournalists will find it easy to follow up.

N “ Yati’s fear for missing mother back home”AI asks a refugee from Aceh to help publicize its concerns. This has an human interestangle – so-called soft news – and will be of particular interest to the local mediawhere she lives. The refugee’s concerns provide an introduction to the wider storyand can help AI to reach a different audience.

* Based on an example cited in theCampaigning Handbook , by Mark Lattimer,

Directory of Social Change, 1994

One of the key tasks of a personresponsible for media orcommunications is developing goodworking relationships with journalists.There are a number of standardtechniques (outlined below) forseeking media coverage. All of themwill work better if AI members haveestablished good relationships withjournalists.

The following are generalprinciples in working with the media:N Be reliable. If you say you will callback in half an hour, then do so. If youpromise an interview with thechairperson, then keep the promise. Areputation for unreliability is a barrierto getting coverage. You must betrusted.N Be accurate. Know your facts anddo not exaggerate. You want to buildand reinforce AI’s image as anorganization of integrity and accuracy. N Provide service. Provide usefulinformation and good, clear stories.Always provide materials in the workinglanguage of the media.N Do not beg or lecture. Neithertactic works, and both work against asound long-term relationship based onrespect. There is always another story.

Production considerationsIt is worth finding out as much as youcan about the production process of thedifferent media as this can determinewhether your stories win coverage. Youhave to know their deadlines if you areto meet them.

Friendly journalists can explaintheir working day to you. They can tellyou what day or time of day decisionsare made to cover particular stories,who makes those decisions and who caninfluence them.

The following points are a roughgeneral guide to production schedules:N Print journalists on daily paperswork to tight deadlines. Storiesnormally have to be finished by lateafternoon or early evening. The bestcontact time is usually late morning –soon after they have started for the dayand before they are too busy (lateafternoon). If they want an AI response,

they will need it within a few hours if it isto be used.N The stories to be covered inevening television news programs willbe decided early in the morning.Decisions will then be made on whichnews conferences to send televisioncrews to. This can change as storiesdevelop through the day.N Production time for radio isgenerally shorter – they may need acomment from AI within the hour – butthe closer it gets to “on-air” time the lesslikely it is that they will want to speak toyou unless it is something they agree isurgent.N The deadlines for weeklymagazines or papers may be anythingfrom a few days to six weeks beforepublication. Sunday magazines andSunday editions of daily papers startpreparing features by the Wednesdaywith a Friday deadline.N Deadlines for glossy monthlymagazines are likely to be three monthsbefore publication. Magazine writersmay need more in-depth material,perhaps on several topics or countries.

The people you deal with and theroles they play vary from country tocountry. The following categories willapply in many places and may be useful.

N Print mediaThe managing editor (print) isresponsible for the paper or programand its content – editors cut stories.

The chief of staff, news editor orassignment editor generally receivesmedia releases and allocates stories tojournalists.

The journalist conducts interviews,prepares and writes the story.

The specialist editor or journalistis in charge of or is responsible for aparticular section of the paper orprogram such as politics, foreignaffairs, ethnic affairs or education.

Photographers work withjournalists. Photographers fromdifferent publications will be lookingfor unique images.

Sub-editors review stories, clean-up copy and write headlines (AI doesnot generally contact sub-editors).


Despite technologicaladvances and the power ofelectronic media,newspapers have retainedtheir reputation andinfluence as the media ofrecord. They are clipped andfiled, and it is to them thatacademics, researchers andjournalists subsequentlyrefer for information. Theyalso continue in many casesto set the news and currentaffairs agenda of the day forradio and television.

fDo not try to make ajournalist feel guiltywith appeals toidealism. You arelikely to damagerather than enhanceyour relationshipswith the media. Thejournalist may notthemselves be incontrol of the processand rather thancoming across aspassionate andcommitted you riskbeing seen as self-righteous and smug.This will onlyreinforce thedamagingperceptions thatsome cynical peoplehave of AI activists.

N TV and radioThe executive producer decides onoverall themes, interviews, balance of astory and of the program, and with theproducer allocates reporters to stories.

The producer has the “big picture” inmind. He or she helps to organize logistics,such as locations and additionalfootage for television. In radio, theproducer works with the presenter onthe flow, content and direction of theprogram.

Reporters provide the “on-air”presence. They will often work out howthey want to cover and construct theirstory (with the producer), who theywant to interview, etc. Reporters willoften have a specialized area or brief forreporting.

The researcher (television) assiststhe producer and reporter, obtainsbackground information andcontributes story ideas to programs.

Producers, reporters andresearchers are normally the mostimportant contacts for AI.

The newscaster (television andradio) reads/presents the news. Insome countries they also provideeditorial comment.

The presenter (radio) is the voiceof radio. She or he conducts theinterviews and works closely with theproducer.

Winning coverageEvery AI story needs to win acompetition before the public sees,hears or reads it. It has to competeagainst:

Mother stories provided bycompanies and press departments –many newsrooms receive hundreds ofnews releases every day;

Ma stream of stories from theinternational and national newsagencies – particularly in the case offoreign news;

Mall the other news that happensthat day;

M the attitudes of journalists andeditors, some of whom believe thathuman rights stories are not real news.

One of the main jobs of the mediaofficer is to give the story every possiblecompetitive advantage.

Journalists, editors and chiefs of staffwill decide whether or not to cover storieson the basis of their own feelings, viewsand workload, and on their assessmentof its news value and interest to theiraudience.They therefore need to beconvinced of the story’s news value andaudience interest.

Good media relationships andcampaigning aims to influencejournalists’ understanding of both newsvalue and audience interest. The followingtechniques are the most established forcommunicating with the media:N the media releaseN the media conference N the media briefing andinformation packN interviews and commentN the “photo opportunity”N the letters and comment pages N the telephone

What technique you use willdepend partly on the strength of yourstory, the resources you have availableand logistical issues.

Whatever the technique, you alwaysneed to be very clear about what the storyis, why it is news, why it will be of interestto the audience you want to reach, andwhat different angles the story has thatcan make it attractive. First andforemost, these need to be made clearand accessible to journalists.

The media releaseThe media release is the standard wayof distributing stories to the media. Itcan fulfil the following functions:N give advance notice of an eventyou are planning;N announce the launch of acampaign;N outline the organization’sresponse to events;N draw attention to a human rightssituation;N provide background information;N draw attention to and give detailson a new AI report;NN make it easier for journalists to filethe story and get the facts right.


Get to know your media

Spend time listening to thestyle and format of radio

programs. It will help youknow how to fit an AI storyin so you can talk with the

producer in a moreknowledgeable way. This

familiarity will help you dointerviews since you willknow the level of detail

required, the type ofquestions and whether

listeners can call in. Readnewspapers – what sort of

stories are printed in whichparts of the newspaper?

Are there particularjournalists covering AIrelated stories, or who

always seem to have theirstories in the newspaper?

If a story does not make it toprint or television screen it is

usually worth asking why,especially if a journalist has

written the story, done aninterview or attended your

media conference. It is agood opportunity to build

relationships with journalists– if they have made an effort

they are also likely to bedisappointed the story didnot appear. You might find

out that there was somethingyou could have done

differently, or learn that aproblem with covering AI’s

stories exists somewhere elsein the news organization, or

simply that there were biggerstories on the day.

cTIPS

c Always put a media release onheaded paper. It makes it look officialand professional, and immediatelyshows journalists who it is from.c Always put at least one contactname with day and evening contactnumbers on the release. Make sure thecontact person will be available onthese numbers at the specified times. c Always type – never handwrite. Usedouble line spacing to allow journaliststo more easily mark and make changesto the copy.c Keep it short and simple. Ideally,media releases should be on one side ofpaper and no more than two.c Always put a date on your newsrelease. Make it clear to whom it is

addressed (for example, news editor)and when the embargo time is. If it isnot embargoed, put “for immediaterelease”.c Make the heading interesting andput it in capitals or bold.c Keep paragraphs and sentencesshort.c Put the main facts – and the “5Ws”(see margin) – in the first paragraph ifpossible.c Make the first sentenceinteresting. If you do not hook thejournalist’s attention immediately s/hewill not read on.c Try and include a good quote froman AI spokesperson in the release.Always check this quote with the personconcerned before issuing the release.

It is always important to follow up


Journalists are generallytaught to use the invertedpyramid style. The mostimportant parts of the storyare at the top and they cutfrom the bottom up.

The “5Ws”

Who is doing it?

What is happening?

Where is it happening?

When is it happening?

Why is it happening?

The embargo

The embargo time placed on a release makes clear the date and time at which theinformation can be made public or used. It is a standard and well-established partof relations with the media. It allows AI to coordinate its publicity, manage the flowof its information and be fair in its dealings with the media. It allows journalists tohave advance notice of a news event and to plan their coverage knowing that othernews organizations will not be first with the news.

Embargo times have particular importance to AI as an organization that reliesfor its credibility on the sensitive handling of information. Embargo times allowdifferent parts of AI to plan media and publicity strategies. An embargo break on areport by a journalist in one country can wreck the media plans for the release of thereport in another.

Respect for embargoes depends largely on trust. If AI breaks this trust in onecountry it can have an effect on AI’s media relations elsewhere. No journalist whohas been waiting to release a story wants to see it appear elsewhere first. It is badpractice for any journalist to break an embargo – it destroys the trust on which theembargo system and good media relations are based.

Embargo times are about controlling the flow of information and can have a bigeffect on the coverage that can be achieved. An embargo time of midnight allowsthe story to be printed in the morning papers – an embargo time of 10am does notand the story will probably be dead the following day. A morning or afternoonembargo time is fine for radio and television.

The embargo time on a release should be placed at the top and marked clearly. Itshould be precise about date and time.

Media attitudes to embargoes differ from country to country. It is important tofind out whether they are usually respected or broken in your country. If embargosare not usually respected, send journalists the information at or just before theembargo time.

AI's policy on embargoes is set out in Policy on release of Amnesty Internationalinformation to the media (AI Index: ACT 81/01/96).


Pages 1 and 2 of a press release on the failure of theinternational refugee protection system

media releases. Whether you post or faxthe release you do not know whether it hasreached its destination unless you check.There is only one way to make sure, andto find out whether the journalist isinterested, and that is to talk to the person.Most of the time this means a telephonecall to follow up the release.

Be prepared when you make thecall. You may have to sum up yourrelease in a couple of sentences and thisis your chance to be persuasive. What isthe angle, why is it news, why willaudiences be interested?

Note these down in a few shortpoints. A busy assignment editor in anewsroom will have only a few minutesto talk to you and in those minutes sheor he will make a snap decision, so beready!

The media conferenceThe media conference is an establishedway of generating coverage. They canbe held virtually anywhere, but theygenerally involve the media makingmore of an effort as they will have toallocate reporters or television crews toattend. They will want a good reason formaking this effort. This means a goodstory or a story that is enhanced bybeing presented at a conference, or astory they fear they may regret missingif they do not attend. Their firstconsideration is likely to be whetherthey will get anything from the mediaconference that they could not get froma media release and telephoneinterview.

Releasing photographs at a mediaconference can be the “honey” toattract “busy-bee” journalists (but theyshould be good enough not todisappoint).

A media conference can be a goodway to create an atmosphere of a news“event”, and to get AI’s basic storyacross to all the media at one time. Acelebrity launching a report can givelife to a story and bring extra coverage.

Normally a media conference isonly justified if one or both of thefollowing criteria are satisfied:

N a genuine or major news story is tobe announced;N you have a good celebrity –someone the media are interested in.

A media conference usually consistsof someone delivering a short addressand then answering questions and being available for follow-up interviews.

cTIPS

c A joint press conference can beheld with other organizations if you areworking on an action together. Otherorganizations often have broaderconcerns than AI so you need to makeclear to the journalists that each groupat the press conference has a differentfocus.c Keep the panel small and thespeeches short. Journalists will be mostinterested in questions which enablethem to develop their own angle. Twospeakers or a maximum of three, givenno more than five minutes each ifthere is more than one, is a generalrule.c Different media have differingneeds. Radio and television will wanttheir own interviews and rarely usefootage/sound from the mainconference.


fThe mediaconference should beused sparingly andcarefully. This willhelp to build up theimpression that an AInews conference islikely to be anewsworthy event.

The publications list

One way of maintainingcontact with and providinga service to the media is toproduce and distribute amonthly one-page list ofnew AI publications whichcan be obtained from the ISoffice. The Dutch Sectionuses this technique to goodeffect. You could,alternatively, use themonthly document listproduced by the IS.

Taking opportunities

Good media work is partly a matter of taking opportunities when they arise – forexample, by injecting a human rights angle into existing news stories. During statevisits, for instance, there will be substantial media attention. Produce a media packoutlining the human rights issues or telephone key journalists to discuss the humanrights story. Ask if they have an interview lined up with the visitor. If they have,suggest a couple of questions they might be able to ask, such as whether humanrights are being discussed officially or whether particular laws are to be repealed.Offer to send background material, or video footage if you have it.

jCHECKLISTPREPARING A MEDIA CONFERENCE

j Provide sufficient noticeGive a week’s notice if you can, but neverless than two days, so the event can beentered into diaries. Send out a mediaadvisory providing details of when it is,where it is, who will be speaking, whatthe subject or theme is, and who they cancontact for further information. Follow upwith a telephone call: this makes surethey have received the advisory, is anopportunity to persuade them to attendand provides a rough indication of theexpected attendance.

j TimingIn many countries the best times formedia conferences seem to be latemorning (10.00 to 11.00) or earlyafternoon (14.30 to 15.00). Start mediaconferences on time.

j VenueIt must be accessible. Will journalists bedriving? Will they need parking? Is iteasy to find? Use banners or signsoutside to make it easier to find. Checkthe venue for capacity and lighting,power points (for television crews), forsound (is it shut off from outside noisesuch as traffic or telephones, will amicrophone be needed?), layout (wheredo you want people to sit, where can youput a backdrop, is there space to have anexhibition, is there a separate roomavailable to do individual mediainterviews after the media conference?).

j Keep presentations shortSpeeches or presentations should last nomore than 10 minutes. Long speechescan be distributed to the media as hardcopy. Only read out the key parts that youwant the media to use directly as quotes.Journalists are busy, easily bored andcan be keen to develop their own angleon the story through individual interviewsafter the conference.

j Distribute a copy of the keynotestatement at the start of the conferenceThis makes it easier for journalists to

follow what is being said and makes itmore likely that AI’s statement will bereported accurately. Put “check againstdelivery” on the statement as they arenever delivered exactly as prepared.

j Avoid having too many speakersThe more speakers, the more messagesthere are and the less control you haveover the message that journalists will takeaway from the conference.

j Have a chairpersonThe chairperson will introduce thespeaker, explain arrangements andproceedings (for example, whether thereis a possibility for individual interviewsafterwards and who to see about it),manage the flow of questions, perhapsanswer AI specific questions and bringthe conference to a close.

j Welcome peopleHave refreshments available. Keep a listof all those attending and ensure that theyare provided with the availableinformation (a copy of the report, amedia or campaign pack withbackground information, the speech tobe delivered). Someone with an AIbadge should welcome visitors, take theirnames, give directions, and generallycreate a good impression.

j Follow-up media releaseHave this ready in advance, featuring thebest and most newsworthy quotes from thespeech. This should be distributed to themedia who did not attend the conference.

j Cover your own conferenceHave a photographer and tape theproceedings. Offer photographs to themedia and write up the story for yourown publications.

The media packMedia or briefing packs are usuallyintended to provide backgroundmaterial to the media in an accessibleand useful form. This makes thejournalist’s job easier and provides AIwith an opportunity to focus attentionon particular issues. The content ofsuch packs is entirely flexible.


Advertising

Paying for advertisingspace guarantees

coverage. Because of itscost many organizations

and AI Sections useadvertising only where it isfree or has proven to be a

worthwhile fundraisinginvestment (as in the UK

and Ireland). AI’scampaigning messages are

probably more effectivewhen written by

independent journalistswhich carry the authority of

objective “news”.

Most of the time journalistscovering AI’s stories will not be experton the country or the issue on whichyou are campaigning. Your campaignmay be their first introduction to thesubject. They have a short amount oftime to put their story together. Theyare likely to have questions but notnecessarily know where they can go toget answers. Unless they are specialiststhey are unlikely to read the whole AIreport.

The more useful information youcan give journalists in a ready-to-useformat, the more influence you arelikely to have on what finally appears inthe media.

cTIPS

A MEDIA PACK FOR A MAJORCAMPAIGNAt the launch of a major campaign itcan be useful to provide a media packthat breaks down the information in amajor AI report into different issues.

Separate sheets, each of whichshould include the AI logo and acontact name and telephone number,might:

c Summarize the major findings orissues of the report.c Outline some of the individualcases featured in the report. c Explain who the victims are andwho is responsible for the human rightsviolations.c Provide sample quotes from thereport or a simple chronology of themajor events.c List AI’s major recommendationsto the government concerned or thehome government.c Explain what the campaign hopesto achieve and what will be happeningduring the campaign.c Produce the speech issued at thecampaign launch.c Give anticipated questions andAI’s answers in relation to the campaign(these should not include AI’s internalinformation).c Give background on AI.

A MEDIA PACK ABOUT AI

An information pack for the media onAI in your country might includeseveral sheets covering the following:c AI’s mission mandate, impartialityand independence, and history.c When AI was formed in yourcountry, its membership, local groups, etc.c Quotes from people in yoursociety praising AI’s work – ordinarypeople, celebrities, etc.c Names, profiles (andphotographs) of key staff and members.c AI’s current campaigns, includingdetails of cases where there has been asuccessful outcome.

A MEDIA PACK FOR A STATE VISITAn information pack prepared anddistributed to the media before yourhead of government/state goes on aforeign visit can help put human rightson the agenda. It might include:c One or more sheets on the humanrights situation in the country beingvisited – who are the victims, who isresponsible, what laws are of particularconcern, what the government has orhas not done.c AI’s recommendations to thatgovernment and to the homegovernment on raising particularhuman rights issues.c Human rights organizations oractivists in that country that the mediacould approach (check first with the ISresearcher).c Key questions to put to bothgovernments on human rights.c Where to find furtherinformation.

A kit with similar contents can helpto raise the profile of human rights forany visit to your country by an overseasgovernment official.

Media briefingsIn-depth background briefings for asmall number of journalists can help todevelop the media’s knowledge andunderstanding of key issues or eventsand therefore ensure that they areaware of the human rights dimensions.Small forums with a maximum of five or


six journalists, perhaps with a guestspeaker, encourage in-depth discussion.Lunches with individual journalists ormore formal meetings are also helpful.These may or may not result in specificmedia coverage, or in references to AI,but they will help define the way issuesare presented and build AI’s credibilityand presence. They also help to buildrelationships with the media.

InterviewsInterviews and providing a quotablecomment are perhaps the most usualway for AI to appear in the media –particularly radio and television inwhich the spoken voice and the pictureare so important. The interview is oftenthe desired result of media releases,media conferences and special events.The key to doing good interviews isknowing your subject and goodpreparation.

cTIPSBEFORE THE INTERVIEWc Set the time and place. With aformal interview, agree on the placeand the length of time it will take. Avoidopen-ended interviews that give ajournalist hours of time to wear youdown until you say things you do notwant to say. But be prepared for theinterview to run over time.c Agree the subject, define the issues.Be specific about the topics to becovered. Make sure you know what is tobe covered so you can be ready with thestatistics, names of example cases andfacts, especially for print journalists. Alljournalists want their stories to be fulland complete and may rely on you forbasic facts and figures. They may knowlittle about the subject or not be sure howthey want to cover it. A pre-interview chatis your opportunity to define the issues,highlight the points on which you want toconcentrate, minimize the importanceof others and suggest other people whomit would be useful for the journalist tomeet. The earlier in the process you dothis the better. Most stories can be told inmany different ways. You want it told inthe way that is most likely to have a

positive human rights result and this isyour chance. Be wary if the journalist ishesitant about outlining the interviewsubject. It is better to be direct with avague reporter by saying: “I want to knowwhat you’re interested in so I can provideyou with all the information/statistics.”c Make a list. Prepare theinformation you want to get across.Before the interview, list the three orfour most important points you want tomake. The list should be of short keywords, not the entire statement writtenout. No one wants to listen to you readout something, because you will soundwooden and rehearsed.c Determine the journalist’saudience. Remember, reporters aresearching for what appeals to theirrespective audiences. c Determine the nature of the mediaoutlet. Is it live or pre-recorded? If radio,you will need sound-bites. Is it a discussion?c Respect deadlines. If you haveagreed to call a journalist back in 30minutes, you must do so. Sometimesthey work outside office hours, so if youcan fit in a telephone interview in theevening you should do so. And if youoffer additional information, makesure you provide itc Anticipate the questions andpractise answers. You are speaking onbehalf of AI. A discussion with colleaguesor other members can help you clarify theposition AI should be taking, and how aninterview can best push forwardcampaigning objectives. A mock orpractice interview with a colleague canhelp to build confidence. Prepare somesound-bite answers in advance.c Concentrate on important pointsfirst.You may have limited time, so focuson speaking about the key issues first.c Check that you have the latestinformation. Look through the day’snewspapers to see if there is anyrelevant information that may come up.Has the government issued a statementin response to the report? Has any otherinformation about the country beenreported?c Relax. Journalists want goodquotes and a clear direct message –exactly what you want.


Shaping coverage

In 1992 a committee of theAustralian Parliament

handed down its first reportreviewing the government’srecord on human rights and

foreign policy. TheAustralian Section

contacted key journalists,explained the significanceof the report, identified key

issues, distributed a shortbackground paper to

journalists and explainedthat a staff member would

be on hand to provide apublic response. The resultwas that the media focusedon the issues highlighted by

AI and AI was seen onnational television and innewspapers as the body

providing the majorresponse on the issue.

DURING THE INTERVIEWc Be the expert, stay cool. You knowa great deal more about AI’s concernsin the human rights field than thejournalist, while s/he needs yourinformation to get a story. Therefore, ifyou are prepared and keep yourthoughts clear, you will be in control ofthe interview. Take the initiative andlead the interview into positive areas.Keep your cool as sometimes journalistsmay try to surprise or unnerve you. Donot get angry. It is their job. Your job isto answer as best you can.c Keep your answers concise andshort. Remember, the best sound-bite isonly eight seconds or 25 words. Out of a20-minute interview, a journalist may useonly 30 seconds. So use simple languageand avoid AI jargon. Say “politicalkillings” not “extrajudicial executions”,and never use the acronym“EJEs”. Stateimportant facts first, and remember tostop yourself after you have answered thequestion. Do not go on and on, trying toclarify what you have already said. c Speak in complete sentences forbroadcast media. Although a radio ortelevision interview can seem to be aconversation, try to remember that thejournalist is searching for completesentences that encapsulate your keymessages. So when asked, “What are thehuman rights concerns in Kenya?” donot respond in a fragment, such as,“Torture, committed with impunity,across the country.” A better responsewould be: “Amnesty International isconcerned that torture is used routinely

by police across the country, without theperpetrators being brought to book.”Also note that it is better to speak as AIthan as a person. Avoid “I think that...”.As an AI representative, you are talkingfor AI, so you should say so.c Do not get side-tracked. Steer theconversation back to your key points. Ifthe question is off the topic, you canrespond: “That’s a very importantpoint, but what is really crucial tounderstanding the situation is that ...”Remember, you can glance down atyour key word list to make sure you havemade the three main points you wantedto make.c Do not let a journalist put words inyour mouth. If the journalist asks, “Soyou mean to say that...” you shouldcounter with, “What I said was ...” Neverbegin the answer to such a questionwith “yes...” You should decide what yousay publicly, not the reporter. Avoidthose speculative or hypotheticalquestions. Journalists often ask “whatif?” questions when they wantsomething controversial to be said. Youshould answer that AI does notspeculate about the future.c To buy time, repeat the questionback to the journalist. This can give youa little more time to think about youranswer. So, when asked, “What doesAmnesty think of an oil embargo onNigeria?” you can say, “You want toknow about the proposed embargo –Amnesty International has no positionon embargoes but we do say that worldpressure should...”


The questions most often asked of AI

g What does AI’s report say? g Who is committing violations? g What are they doing?g Who are they doing it to?g How long has this been happening and how serious is it? g Is the situation deteriorating?g What are AI’s recommendations?g Why is the report being released today?g Can you give an example case of the abuses AI is talking about?g Where does your information come from?g Do you think anything will happen as a result of AI’s report? g Is the situation worse than in other countries in the region?

fJournalists willsometimes seek topersuade you to gobeyond what AI iswilling to say —either by suggestingthat the discussionwill be “off therecord”, or byasking for yourpersonal opinion.Nothing is ever “offthe record” and youare not talking tothem in a personalcapacity whateverthey may say.

c Be composed. If you are nervous,try to keep your hands in your laprather than let them flutter around innervous tics. If you are attacked by ahostile question, you should not getupset, just answer back firmly: “You aremistaken about... but I am glad youraised that point.” Or, “I’m sorry youfeel that way but let me ask you toconsider...”c Try to show the individual cases.Painting a picture of one person whorepresents the pattern of human rightsviolations can be more effective thanexpressing yourself in abstractconcepts. For example, instead ofsaying, “so and so was tortured”, try tocreate an image of what happens whensomeone is tortured. You can say, “so-and-so had his toe-nail pulled out by apolice interrogator using pliers”.c Do not be afraid to show someemotion. The journalist’s unspoken,basic question is: “Why should we care?”Your answer should convey theunspoken message that people shouldbe concerned, outraged and shouldtake action. So you can express youroutrage. Do not sound out of control,and do not speak in unreasonableterms. But expressing some of theanger that you feel when you speakabout “gross human rights violations”makes a good sound-bite and oftenconveys the message better than a long-winded, dispassionate statement.

FOR TELEVISIONc Discuss the questions to be askedfirst, before the interview. At the veryleast, you are entitled to ask theinterviewer what the first question willbe. That is your basic right as aninterviewee.c Wear solid colours (to avoiddistracting the viewer).c Sit upright to appear organized,confident and neat, not slumped backin the chair or perched on the edge.c In general, look at the interviewer,not the camera.c Use simple language.c Do not fidget. Cameras andmicrophones pick up the slightestmovement.

c Ask for a chair that does not swivel,so you do not nervously rock side-to-side while on camera.c If outside, take off your sunglasses.Otherwise, you will look like you havesomething to hide.c Do not react with facial grimacesto questions. Remember: the camera ison you at all times.

FOR RADIOc Again, ask to be told the firstquestion in advance.c Do not shuffle around: the noisemay be picked up.c Do not wear noisy jewellery.c Do not interrupt or speak at thesame times as others.

Feature articlesNews stories are only one outlet for AI’sinformation. Given competition forspace, news items on AI reports andcampaigns are often very brief. Otheroptions are provided by differentsections of newspapers and differentprograms on radio and television.

N PrintFor a major report, negotiate with oneor more newspapers to carry a featurearticle to back up news coverage. It isimportant to get the report tonewspapers in advance of the launch(remembering embargoes) so theyhave a chance to read and digest itsinformation for a longer feature piece.The news angle might be the launch ofAI’s campaign on political killings,while the feature article looks in moredetail at the problem and how it isemerging as one of the challengesfacing the human rights movement.When a country report is released thenews may focus on the facts containedin the report while a feature could lookat the implications for governmentpolicy, relations with the country or anaspect of the campaign.

Feature articles must benegotiated in advance with the editoror the editor of the features page. It isalso possible to negotiate with afreelance journalist who will write thestory and then negotiate to get it


Using comment

Issuing a media release canbe time consuming and

may not be the best way ofgetting AI into the news. A

quick telephone call to ajournalist to suggest a story

angle, or to provide acomment or quote from AIon something in the news

can work just as well orbetter. This is one of thebenefits of establishinggood relationships with

journalists. You will knowwho to call and when, and

they will know when theycan contact you for the

AI angle.

Stay in touch with theresearchers and journalists

of current affairs shows. Findout what stories they are

planning, especially in othercountries. Offer to supply

background material and trypersuading them of the

human rights angle.

published. Weekend newspapers willoften be more willing to agree tofeature pieces than dailies which haveless space. Offering one newspaper anexclusive feature story can make thesuggestion more attractive.

Many newspapers have differentsections in an attempt to attract andkeep readers with particular interests.These can be good places to try placingstories with different angles.

Newspapers often have an op-ed(opinion editorial) page to allowsubstantial space for opinion pieces.Writers of these are often a mixture ofstaff writers and members of thecommunity who have a reputation ofexpertise or who are seen to represent animportant body of opinion – such as AI.There is normally an editor for this page.

N Broadcast mediaThe broadcast space for AI reports isbecoming squeezed. In most countriesthere is less and less coverage foreignnews. It is therefore worth looking athow stories can be made attractive todifferent parts of the media. Can thestory be made domestic news byfocusing on the implications forgovernment policy? Can it be madedomestic news because of campaignactivities and strong visual images? Arethere specialist programs? Wouldcelebrity involvement in a campaignbring added media? Look through theschedules for radio and televisionprograms for possibilities. Think ofstory ideas with human rights anglesand suggest them to the media.

Video News ReleasesOne of the hurdles in getting televisioncoverage is that broadcasters needimages to tell a story. Without pictures,

they very often will not cover an issue.To help you provide images totelevision stations, video footage isprovided to Sections for majorcampaigns and actions.

The three main types of videopackage are: video news release (VNR),news access tape (NAT) and mini-documentaries. These are either "cutpieces" which look like television newsstories or simply an edited collection ofthe best footage AI has on human rightsin a country. These video productionsusually have footage of human rightsviolations, interviews with victims oractivists and sometimes an interviewwith an AI spokesperson.

If you want a television station touse the footage, you should usually tellthem up to a week in advance thatfootage is available. Broadcasters willneed copies of the footage in broadcaststandard, known as BETA SP. Oftenthey will also want a copy of the footagein VHS -- the standard for home videomachines -- so that they can watch thefootage beforehand.

The IS always provides a transcriptand running sheet describing thecontent of the VNR, any copyrightrestrictions, and the format of thevideo. All this information isimportant to producers andjournalists.

Where a VNR is available, it isworth stating this at the bottom of anews release and mentioning it whenyou call television producers.Alternatively, you can send out aseparate media advisory, tellingjournalists about the VNR.

It is also worth filing all your VNRs,as they can often be used later (subjectto copyright restrictions) to provide tojournalists for use in other stories theymay be doing.


Using the small ads pages

Many newspapers havepages of classifiedadvertisements offeringservices, or goods, “lostand found” notices, etc. Thecost per word is normallyquite low and some local AIgroups have placedWANTED or MISSING adsasking for information on aprisoner or “disappearance”as a way of publicizing thecase they are working on.They also provide a contactname for their local group.

Almost...

The Campaign to Free Tim Anderson in Australia hired an aeroplane to fly a longbanner carrying the campaign message “Tim is Innocent” over the Sydney HarbourBridge on a key date. The media were informed and at least one television networksent a helicopter up to get good footage of it. Unfortunately, the pilot had failed toget clearance to fly over the bridge at that time and flew over later – long after themedia had left. A good attempt that did not quite work.

Dedication ceremony

In December 1995 the IrishSection achieved majorcoverage for the dedicationceremony of a human rightssculpture in the centre ofDublin.

Letters pagesThe letters pages of newspapersprovide an excellent forum forencouraging discussion of issues anddemonstrating public interest andconcern. Some AI groups have beenknown to initiate community debatesthrough one member writing in acontroversial letter and then arrangingfor a response from another groupmember – other “genuine” members ofthe community have then joined in.

cTIPS

c Mark the letter “for publication”.c Keep it short – ideally under 200words but no more than 400.c Make it a response to somethingthat has been in the newspaper or thenews.c Have it signed by someonerepresenting an organization, or bysomeone respected in society.c Provide a contact number so thatfacts can be checked.

Phone-ins and talkbacksSome radio stations have programsthat invite audience participation.These can provide AI with a goodopportunity to demonstrate concernor express interest about an issue. It isnormally best for members not toidentify themselves as such but ratherto speak as a member of the public.Producers and hosts do not like tothink they are being influenced. Fordebates on the death penalty it can bevery important to have as manymembers get through as possible. Ifyou have advance warning of such adiscussion, recruit volunteers to callthe station and if necessary providethem with a sheet of paper mentioninga series of concise and powerfularguments – each person is likely to beasked only one point.

PicturesA good picture can guarantee a spot inthe newspaper. Television stations arealways looking for strong visuals.

cTIPS

c Make the picture attactive to themedia. A celebrity (providing they havenot been doing something similar forother organizations) can be enough.c Use strong imagery – the candleremains a favourite withphotographers, as do cages and bars.c An eye-catching public event, suchas releasing balloons, tree-planting, adedication ceremony of a building orstreet, is often popular, as are birthdaycakes for a prisoner or to mark ananniversary.c Make sure there is a backdrop ofan AI banner or poster behind aspeaker or campaign action so that itappears in the photograph.c Give the media plenty of notice. Beclear about the location and timing.Send out a media release giving thesedetails and headed “photoopportunity”.c Be flexible if possible. Offer torehearse or restage events to fit in withschedules. Make sure you take your ownphotographs and offer to supply themto newspapers that did not show up(check whether they use colour orblack and white prints), along withcaptions.c Captions should simply explainthe photograph, who is doing what,why, where, and when.c Be creative!

Trouble-shootingAI campaigners, members and mediaofficers often have concerns orobjections about the tone, style ornature of the reporting on AI, humanrights and related issues. These canonly be resolved by establishing goodrelationships that either prevent themoccurring or allow for positive andconstructive informal discussion whenthey do occur.

There can also be occasions whenerrors are made in reporting AI’sconcerns or position. These shouldonly be taken up for really seriouserrors or misrepresentations. Your


Australian soaps

A number of populartelevision “soap operas” inAustralia have featured AIstory lines. One showed AI

fundraising events, anotherfeatured refugees and the

human rights violationsfrom which they had

escaped.

A letter printed in anewspaper is normally taken

as an indication of a muchmore widespread feeling.They will be monitored bymany embassies and the

home government.

Symbolic success

The Danish Section took 43cows into the centre of the

capital, Copenhagen, as asymbolic action during the

campaign on Colombia.Forty-three people from a

village in Colombia hadbeen made to “disappear”

in reprisal for the theft of 43cows. This stunt won wide

coverage on television andin newspapers.

response should fall into one of thefollowing categories:N Seek a retraction or apologyIf there is a blatantly biased attack on AIor a serious error, contact the editor byletter or telephone, explain thenewspaper’s mistake and ask for aretraction or apology to be inserted in thenext issue. Do not demand a retractionor apology if you simply did not like thetone, style or content of the article.N Write a letterWrite to the editor, explaining theincorrect information, and ask them toprint your letter on the letters page.This can be important as making noresponse can leave the impression thatAI is unable to defend its position.However, it is worth consideringwhether having an apology printed will,by repeating the original error,reinforce rather than ameliorate thedamage. If the mistake was yours, then aletter can provide evidence of yourintegrity.

It is good policy to reply to everyattack on AI even if there is little chanceit will be printed. The editors will getthe message.N A positive comebackAn article critical of AI can provide anopportunity to open a dialogue in themedia. An approach to a newspaperwhich printed a very critical articleabout AI would be along the lines of:

M The article about AI’s views wasvery misleading and we feel the writerdid not fully understand our position.We would like the opportunity toexplain our views and the work we havebeen doing. Would you accept a shortarticle from us?

M The piece in the newspaperraised interesting questions andopened up the possibility of aninformative debate about the issue.Could AI provide a response?N Ignore itDo nothing. Some people take the viewthat people will forget a news itemwithin a week, so it is better not toremind people of a mistake or hostilearticle. Small errors or an offensivetone should be ignored in terms ofofficial response, particularly in

“opinion” or “feature” pieces. Membersof the public may of course want to takeissue with the views expressed. Anuncorrected misrepresentation of AI’sposition, however, risks staying on therecord as the actual position.

Not getting coverage?

It is unrealistic to expect that AI willalways get the coverage that its storiesdeserve or that you would like.However, if AI is consistently failing toreceive media coverage and this isinhibiting development andcampaigning, it is worth trying to findout why.


Top: 1997, a press conference at the IS onthe arrest of alleged Bosnian war criminals.From left to right: Lotte Liecht, HumanRights Watch; Nick Howen, IS Legal andInternational Organizations Program(LIOP); Martin Bell, war correspondent andmember of the UK Parliament; Colonel BobStewart DSO, former British ArmyCommander in Bosnia.Bottom: 1995, Casey Kelso, IS staffmember, holds a press conference at the UNWorld Conference on Women.

© AI

© AI

cTIPS

c Is AI’s current image a problem? Is itseen as a radical or marginal organization?Is AI seen as an international ratherthan national organization?Try to meet the editors to give them abetter understanding of AI.c Are the media unaware of theinformation that AI can supply? Supply media with a publications list.Offer a human rights briefing service tojournalists going abroad.c Are human rights not seen as hardnews? Relate your information more to itsimplications for the home government’sposition or policy or to trading, historicaland cultural links, etc. Relate it moredirectly to the stories seen as hard news.c Journalists do not know who tocontact. Send out a media advisory pack tojournalists providing names andcontact numbers, background on AIand current campaigns, and who does

what in the organization.c Do editors believe that yourspokespersons do not have expertise?Build up media expertise of countrycoordinators through training (or recruitand train country coordinators) so thatyou have specialist spokespeople availablefor interview. Train existing spokespeople(seek professional advice on this).c There has been a problem inmedia relations in the past which is stillcausing problems.Seek meetings with editors to clarifyand resolve problems.c Stories on particular countries donot receive coverage, perhaps becausejournalists do not think there is publicinterest. Look for other angles. Persuade AImembers or members of sympatheticorganizations to write letters (asmembers or simply as readers) to themedia asking for more coverage offoreign affairs, or human rights issues,or on particular countries as a way ofdemonstrating community interest.


Amnesty International UK Press Awards

The annual AIUK Press Awards, first made in 1992, were originally seen as a way ofdeveloping closer links with the media and of encouraging different mediaconstituencies to cover human rights issues. As such they have proved spectacularlysuccessful, with competition for them becoming increasingly intense among journalistswith each passing year.

The event has also become AIUK’s main annual public relations event and providesan opportunity for excellent contact-building with journalists.

The awards recognize excellence in human rights journalism that has made asignificant contribution to the British public’s awareness and understanding of humanrights issues – focusing on human rights work covered by AI’s mandate.

The awards ceremony, which in recent years has been held at London’s prestigiousPark Lane Hotel, is attended by senior journalists, commissioning editors and foreignnews editors, and is hosted by a prominent broadcaster or figure in the media.

Each year’s entries are judged by a specially selected panel, which usually includesAIUK’s Director of Communications and others chosen for their expertise on the mediaand human rights, such as high-profile journalists and lawyers. Membership of thepanel itself is both a form of recognition and an opportunity to develop closer workingrelationships with important media figures.

There are six categories of award: television documentary; television news; radio;national print; periodicals (including weekend national print magazines andsupplements); and photojournalism. A further award is made to the overall winner.

The event itself now generates substantial media coverage. In 1994 and 1995 thewinners were announced on prime-time national news, and the presentation by AISecretary General Pierre Sané of the overall winner award in 1995 was broadcast onBBC television news.

Photographs

Providing photographs forsmaller regional or local

papers can almost ensure astory, because smaller

publications can be starvedof interesting photos which

are used to fill space andbreak up text. Make sure

the photographs youprovide are good quality

and interesting. Thosesupplied by a local group

or Section should:

N be black and white, notcolour

N large – not standardholiday snap size

N show activities – signingletters, lighting candles, etc

Black and whitephotographs of people

featured in AI’s campaignsare often available for

campaign launches fromthe IS and can be offered to

groups to help in theirmedia work.

Media servicing from the ISVirtually all AI’s relations with the mediaare driven by information from the IS andin particular its Media & AudiovisualProgram. They are responsible fordrafting international releases, settingembargo times and issuing AI’s publicresponse to human rights developmentsworldwide. As a minimum the IS willdistribute most of these releases to theinternational wire services, who thenedit and distribute them worldwide.

These releases generally provide amuch greater volume of informationthan any AI Section can handle. It istherefore important to be selective.Where possible, this selectivity shouldbe based on:N whether or not publicity in yourcountry can influence the humanrights situation in the countryconcerned; N whether AI needs to build itsmedia profile locally, and be seen to bereacting and campaigning to particularevents; N the resources available locally; N whether the Section has decidedto prioritize work on particularcountries; N whether AI is saying anything newor newsworthy.

Sending out lots of news releasesthat do not contain new information ordo not point to a new angle is morelikely to undermine rather than buildcredibility with the media.

IS news releases should be editedand adapted by AI structures to makethem more appealing to your localmedia and to help establish AI as arelevant campaigning organization inyour country.

cTIPSADAPTING NEWS RELEASES FROM THE ISc Cut them. IS media releases arefrequently more than a page. Try andcut them. If you need to include moreinformation, then prepare a separatesheet of background information.c Quote a local AI spokesperson.Either use the same quotes as in theinternational release or write your ownthat may be more relevant to yoursituation.c Give it a domestic focus. What isAI locally doing? For example, has itasked for government action (if yourrelease says that AI has asked for suchaction, make sure it has!)c Keep it consistent with AI’smessage. Make sure your changes do notalter the main message. Check withSection staff or others if you are not sure.


Preparing for a public response

One objective of media work is to generate interest and action from the community.If you are campaigning on a particular issue, or are expecting substantial publicity,then remember to prepare for the response.

People answering the telephones in AI offices should be prepared to answerquestions on a particular subject. They should try and get a name and address sothat these people can be sent follow-up and membership information.

Prepare simple action sheets that can be sent to anyone who calls to ask what theycan do. These can be simple letter-writing guides, including:

N background information;

N points to make in a letter;

N names, addresses of people to send letters to.

Sometimes producers and editors are willing to put AI’s address and telephonenumber at the end of programs or articles related to AI’s work. It is always worthasking!

Other information from the IS

Apart from the individual mediareleases, country and theme reports,the following sources are useful incampaigning media work.

N AI’s facts and figures. The ISregularly produces a document called“Facts and Figures”, which is a usefulsource of information on AI. It detailsAI’s history, how many members thereare worldwide, the costs of some of itswork, how many cases were worked onin the previous year, how many caseshave been closed, etc.

N The annual report. The AmnestyInternational Report is a useful andauthoritative reference book. Itincludes which countries have signedwhat human rights treaties, shortindividual country entries that canquickly give a journalist an overview ofAI’s concerns in any country, recentdetails of AI’s campaigning, theworldwide incidence of violationswithin the mandate such as torture,etc.

N Urgent Actions. UAs can containAI’s most recent information on acountry and provide a compellingpicture of real individuals at risk ofhuman rights violations. They are veryeasy to fax to journalists. An annualreport entry and a UA can be a goodcombination of materials to supply tointerested journalists. UAs can also beused in a similar way to media releases.A journalist who is interested in thatparticular country will have little

problem in converting a UA into anews story. Ask a sympatheticjournalist to seek comment from thegovernment concerned or from itsembassy in your country. Concern fromthe media can substantially add to thepressure being mounted on a particularcase.

N IS researchers/campaigners.Some media will want to speak to the“expert”. Offering an interview with theresearcher/campaigner at the IS canhelp to get coverage, particularly after amission or if they are on the spot. If yourSection has a speaker-phone facility, amini-briefing over the telephone withthe IS researcher could be arrangedfor a few journalists. You can also askresearchers/campaigners for details ofpeople in the country concerned whowould be useful for journalists tointerview – particularly if they aregoing to the country to do a story.

Coordinating the media work of othersIn many societies, locally based media isthe most read, watched and listened to.It is the most important in shapingcommunity attitudes. It is also central tobuilding AI’s reputation as amembership-based organization,offering everybody the opportunity tobecome involved in human rightscampaigning. Encouraging local AIgroups to do media work, andproviding them with the skills andresources to do so is therefore animportant issue for campaigncoordinators, among others.


Present the evidence

At the end of each campaigncompile a dossier or file of all

the publicity that has beenachieved at the national and

local level and send a copywith a covering letter to theambassador and the mostappropriate government

official. It may help topersuade an embassy to

meet you if it has not before,and it provides solid evidence

of public concern. A similardossier might usefully be

provided to your ownminister of foreign affairs.

Monitoring the media

Ask AI members to listen to or watch certain programs and read particularnewspapers and magazines. This kind of media monitoring is particularly usefulwhen issuing news releases or holding media conferences.

On a more regular basis you could ask them to look for (and cut out or record)mentions of AI, mentions of human rights or of particular countries, or of politicaldevelopments in you own country which may be of importance, such as newgovernment appointments. Their time is important, however, and therefore you needto explain why the information is useful and how you will use it. A good filing systemis also important.

cTIPS

c Provide a group manual whichincludes a section on media work. AIUKhas produced an excellent guide tolocal group press work which may besuitable or could be adapted for use inyour country. Sample copies areavailable from AIUK Press Office.c Provide training sessions in mediawork. Friendly professional journalistsare often pleased to contribute to AI’swork in this way. Training could includethe following:

M getting to know your media,what exists locally and how journalistswork;

M writing media releases –deciding the right angle, including allthe important information first;

M practise interviews – televisionand radio.c Include media suggestions andmaterials in group campaign kits. c Provide groups with a draft mediarelease to publicize campaign events orlaunch.c Provide suggestions on storiesdifferent local media might beinterested in.

Monitoring andevaluationMonitoring and evaluation of mediawork can be problematic. It is possible,depending on levels of resourcesavailable, to know how much mediacoverage you have achieved. It is muchmore difficult to know whether this ishaving the impact you hoped for.

Media monitoring may be availableas a commercial service (local journalistsshould know if this is the case). Suchservices can be asked to monitor anypart of the media and to supplytranscripts and clippings on a range ofsubjects, such as reports on humanrights or AI. Alternatively, AI memberscan be asked to undertake monitoring.

Some level of media monitoring isnecessary for evaluation. One way ofjudging the value of the media work is

to put a price on the coverage you haveachieved by estimating the cost of buyingequivalent advertising space. Anotherindicator may be whether journalists,politicians or non-governmentalorganizations subsequently referpublicly to the issues raised, or use thephrases and terms introduced by AI.

Other indicators may be anoticeable shift in government policyand practice, or in levels of publicresponse, such as a rise in the numberof membership inquiries received bythe AI office or letters to the press.

For specific events, such as mediaconferences or major news releases, it isworth setting specific targets. Explicitlystate the target amount or type of mediacoverage you hope to achieve and whatmedia coverage it is realistic to expect.This might be the number of newschannels, chat shows or opinion piecesthat feature AI or human rightsconcerns. It may be the number ofmedia organizations you expect toattend your media conference. Beingexplicit makes it possible to understandwhy things did or did not work.

Reasons for success may be that thenews release arrived on the desk ofsomeone at exactly the right time, orthat you were able to persuade a seniorenough journalist to cover the story, orthat it was a quiet news day, or simplythat it was a good story.

A campaigner or media officer canrarely if ever control what stories will beused or not used by the media. Thereare normally too many factors at play –many of which are outside acampaigner’s control. But the mores/he understands these factors themore s/he will be able to influence theextent and nature of coverage.

The person doing the monitoringcould call up journalists and – inpleasant way – ask why the event was orwas not covered.

For more on evaluation, seeChapter 13.


In many cases a significantproportion of a newspaper’sincome is made from sellingadvertising space. On dayswhich are big for advertising(this may be set days of theweek, weekends, nationalholidays) the newspaper hasmore pages, more space forcopy and therefore may bemore likely to run AI’s story.

1

CHAPTER 10OUTREACH/ACTIVATING SOCIETY

Outreach is about AI reaching out to othergroups, organizations and individuals to worktogether on common concerns and beliefs abouthuman rights. This type of work has always beenat the heart of AI’s campaigning. It stems fromAI’s central principle that human rights are theresponsibility of all, and from the recognitionthat no matter how large AI may grow, AI will bemost effective if it can persuade others to act indefence of human rights.

Contents

Activating society / 181

What is outreach? / 182

Who can AI reach out to? / 182

The benefits of outreach / 182

Deciding outreach priorities / 183

Outreach in practice / 184

Outreach structures / 185

Checklist: What others can be asked to do / 187

The Business Community / 189

Military and Law Enforcement Officers / 201

The International Legal Network / 207

Trade Unions / 213

Youth Activists / 217

Religious Groups / 223

The Medical Sector / 229

Working on Women’s Human Rights / 235

Working on Children’s Human Rights / 241

Cooperation with the Human Rights Movement / 247

“Injustice anywhere is athreat to justice everywhere”

Martin Luther King, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

What is outreach?In practice outreach can be:

N single actions, such as an approachto a women’s organization on a specificconcern in the course of a particularcountry campaign;

N the building of longer-termrelationships with differentprofessional or organizational sectors,such as the legal community or tradeunions. This can also offer fundraisingand membership opportunities.

AI approaches others becausehuman rights are the responsibility ofall. AI has a responsibility to informothers about human rights violationsand about how to help protect humanrights. This can be achieved by askingpeople to support AI as anorganization, but most importantly bypersuading them to act directly.

When we approach otherorganizations to work with us, weshould expect to be asked to supporttheir causes (the principle of mutualityor mutual interests). This is almost a“natural” law that operates in thedynamics of working collaboratively.

AI’s principles mean that itbelieves that winning support fromother groups in defence of humanrights should not be conditional on AIsupporting the claims of those groups.In practice, however, AI Sections doreceive requests for reciprocal support.Care should be taken when turning

down such requests that we do notleave the impression that pursuing AI’sobjectives, or protecting itsindependence or impartiality, aremore important than those of theorganization asking for our support.

Who can AI reachout to?Outreach is targeted towards organizedsectors of society and influentialindividuals – professional associationssuch as doctors and lawyers, andorganizations from particular sectors ofthe community such as women, youthand business.

Outreach is targeted in this waybecause:

N it reflects how our societies areorganized;

N it allows AI to reach the greatestnumber of people (already organized)with the least expenditure of resources;

N it allows AI to generate specializedactivity from those parts of society thatmay have the most impact on particularhuman rights situations.

The benefits of outreachReaching out to other organizationsand individuals can increase AI’seffectiveness in two distinct ways:

N internationally, because specific


Engaging in outreach

All parts of AI, from local groups to the International Secretariat, should be engagedin outreach. Some examples are:

Local groups M Organizations Local women’s organizations,at local level: religious organizations, schools

Section M Organizations National women’s organizationsat national level: legal and medical associations,

national trade unions

IS M Organizations at International trade union bodies,international level : international legal, medical or

women’s associations

The most effective andefficient target sector work isthat carried out at the locallevel, utilizing the skills,contacts and affiliations of AImembers to spread ourmessage further, to mobilizenon-members to take actionand to involve otherorganizations and groups incampaigning for humanrights.Target Sector Review (AI Index: ACT 70/01/91)

fWhichever approachor structure isadopted, it isimportant tointegrate strategiesfor AI’s developmentin different sectorswith the Section’soverall campaigningprogram.

organizations or individuals may have aparticular role to play in influencingthe human rights situation in certaincountries;

N domestically, through developingAI’s influence, credibility, specialistexpertise, fundraising, membershipand campaigning capacity in our ownsocieties.

It can also promote other groupsand build their capacity for action.

InternationalOutreach sectors can exert influenceon target countries directly andindirectly because:N the sector or individual influencesthose responsible for human rightsviolations in the target country (theymay even already be actively opposingthe human rights violations);N the sector is part of aninternational body or network believedto be influential, for example,international professionalassociations;N the sector is influential in gainingaction from others in your society,including your government, on thehuman rights situation in the targetcountry.

It is largely from an analysis ofthese factors that decisions should bemade about which outreach sectorsshould be targeted in campaigningstrategies on different countries.

DomesticOutreach can also influence homegovernments’ human rights policiesand actions, and can contribute to thedevelopment of AI’s work by:N demonstrating the breadth ofsupport for AI’s goals in differentsectors of society; N using existing communicationchannels within different sectors toreach wider or more specialistaudiences;N giving access to specialistknowledge or expertise on countries,issues, organizational and legal matters;N building human rights awarenessand human rights constituencies;

N providing a source of newactivists/members/supporters andincome.

Deciding outreachprioritiesThe combination of international anddomestic impact should governdecisions on developing outreachwork. It is very easy, though, foroutreach to develop in an unplannedand haphazard way.

A strategic analysis of your societyin relation to the region and the world,and of AI’s place in your society, shouldbe the starting point for decidingoutreach priorities. However, in orderto maximize effectiveness and ensurecoherence in AI’s work as aninternational organization, yourSection’s outreach priorities would alsoneed to reflect the priorities defined atthe international level. The followingquestions may assist in this analysis.

gQUESTIONS

g Is the sector influential in itsown society? Does the sector haveimportant contacts with the homegovernment, with other sectors ofsociety or in the media? Does this sectorhave its own media? Is it able tomobilize large numbers of people? Canit draw on significant resources?

g Does the sector have internationalinfluence? Does it have access tointernational structures or organizations?Does it have links or contacts withcounterparts in target countries?

g Does the sector have thecapacity to act on AI’s concerns?Does the organization have anindividual or committee with specificresponsibility for human rights? Does ithave a mechanism for applyingpressure in pursuit of AI’s concerns?Can it contribute to AI’s country ortheme research?

g Is the sector approachable?How easy is it to identify and contact the

Outreach/Activating Society 183

Outreach is an importantmeans of building a

cooperative andcollaborative environment

for engaging in effectivehuman rights work. It offersan opportunity to build onstrengths and improve on

weaknesses

relevant people? Are they open to AI’smessage? Will we need to invest a lot oftime and resources in preparingapproaches? What are their currentconcerns and how do they relate toAI’s? Are there creative ways in which AIcan draw the links? Will specialmaterials need to be prepared?

g Is it a sector which we do notreach and mobilize already throughour general activities? Do we need tomake a special effort to reach thissector? What is the potential for raisingfunds from organizations andindividuals through targetedapproaches?

g How will our relationship withthis sector affect the credibility andimpartiality of AI? Are thereadvantages or disadvantages to beingseen to be associated with this sector? Isthere any chance that this sector mightmisuse its relationship with AI to ourdisadvantage?

Outreach in practiceThere are many different ways tocoordinate outreach, some of whichrequire little more than keeping openchannels of communication.

Developing contacts in a range ofsectors can be a simple way of achievingsome of the purposes of outreachwithout the need to establishadministrative systems or commitsignificant resources.

Often AI’s objectives enjoysupport in a wide cross-section of

society. By approaching differentorganizations over time, it is possible tolearn how they may be able to assist AIand whom to contact. Attendingrelevant conferences and meetings isone way of developing these contacts.

The quality of outreach work ismore important than the quantity.When deciding to approach a sector, aSection must commit sufficientresources to have an impact. Relationswith other organizations and individualscan be damaged by the apparent lack ofconsistency and commitment which canresult from inadequate planning ofoutreach approaches.

cTIPS

c Identify the right person tocontact in the organization.c Find out what they can do, andhow they may be able to help.c Be clear about what you want themto do.c Be prepared to explain why youwant them to take action.c Only ask them to do what it ispossible for them to do.c Be familiar with the currentconcerns of the organization you areapproaching.c Provide enough information toenable them to take the action you wish.c Ask to be copied in on any actiontaken and on the responses and results.c Be clear about how you wish tofollow up any meeting and maintaincontact.c Maintain regular contact.Establish clear expectations in both AI


“Dialogue” means give andtake, active listening – acircle of communication, nota one-way demandingcommunication.

Identifying priority sectors

The analysis of your society in relation to its immediate region and the world may,for example, indicate that your society is particularly well placed – through military,cultural, economic or other strategic links – to influence certain other countries. Theanalysis of AI in relation to your society may suggest that new members are mostlikely to be found in one sector (for example, medical), or that in order to be moreinfluential in your society you need more support from another sector (for example,religious organizations).

The sectors found to be common to both analyses are likely to emerge as the prioritysectors for developing outreach structures. Identifying such sectors enables the easiestintegration of the short-term goal of influencing international human rights situationsand the long-term goal of building AI’s capacity to be influential domestically.

and the organization approached onthe level of contact, provision ofinformation, etc.c AI’s publications are an importanttool for outreach. Develop a mailing listof these outreach contacts whom youhave prioritized and make sure thatthey regularly receive AI’s publicationsrelevant to their areas of interest.Make full use of the keywording systemof AI publications to identify thepublications that can be used tomaintain your outreach contacts.c In many Sections, Urgent Actions(UAs) are used to develop contacts withsome organizations. They are short,clear and are categorized by gender,occupation and so on in ways that areuseful to particular organizations.

Outreach structuresThe specialist or professionalcoordination group

Some Sections build outreachstructures because they provide asustained base for campaigning – agroup or network of people who aremotivated, have a particular expertiseand are ready to work for AI.

It is important, however, to planthese rather than simply allowstructures to develop and absorbresources in a way that does not reflectthe potential for helping victims andpotential victims of human rightsviolations.

Outreach structures should existnot just to do the work with a particularsection of society but also to make surethat outreach is integrated into thecampaigning work of the movement.Outreach structures need to be closelyinvolved in planning andimplementation of campaigning.

There are a number of variationsof this type of specialist group. Thegroup can consist, for example, of AImembers from a particular sector suchas police personnel, lawyers or doctors,and can sometimes include AImembers who have developed aspeciality in this area.

The most important functions ofthese groups are: carrying out actionsassigned to them because of theirspecialist expertise; developing,coordinating and supporting theoutreach of other groups and networks(in a similar way to a country co-group);and mobilizing key individuals andorganizations from within their sector.

The groups function similarly toan AI group. They meet regularly, planwork, allocate responsibilities anddevise and implement strategies forgetting others – in this case, othersfrom their “target sector” – to act.

As with a local group, the specialistgroup will seek to involve and coordinatethe activity of other AI members fromtheir sector (and attract new members totheir AI group), as well as to harness thepotential of the sector as a wholethrough targeted campaigning andfundraising materials.

This model encourages mutualaccountability and a commitment togroup work. As it involves peopleregularly meeting and discussing issues,it can encourage creativity andflexibility in individual campaigns andthe development of AI’s work withdifferent sectors.

Below are some models of howSections organize their outreachspecialist structures.


fStructures normallymake demands on

resources — the timeof staff or volunteersas well as money for

such things astelephone calls,

meetings,photocopying,

postage, newsletters,etc. For this reasonthe development of

outreach sectors mustbe planned rather

than accidental.Without planning,resources may be

unavailable whenthey are most

needed.

Example

AI Netherlands developed the followingcriteria for including sectors of society insystematic outreach programs, and theaims the Section might have for outreachwork with each sector.

CriteriaN Possible impact on target countriesN SizeN “Preventive aspects”N Availability of information for“solidarity action”

AimsN ActionN EducationN Supply specialist knowledgeN Recruitment

The networkA “network” usually consists of a numberof AI members sharing an interest oridentity which gives them a particular roleto play in taking up human rights issues.This might mean, for example,journalists taking up freedom ofexpression issues, or lawyers working onunfair trials. The role of the networkmeans more than this, however. Just likethe specialist or professional groups, theyare expected to build their expertise onthe relevant sector and to mobilize othersto work on all AI’s concerns.

Unlike a local group, however, anetwork is considered ”loose” becauseits members do not meet regularly andthey have no regular structures. ManyAI Sections have such networks. Theyseek action from them through specialnewsletters, usually featuring cases ofpeople from these sectors. In somecases these simply ask for the same

letter-writing action as is included inother action material. In others there isa request to use their specialinterest/identity as it may have moreinfluence. Some will ask networkmembers to approach other membersof their sector for action.

Servicing these networks issometimes done by a coordinatingcommittee, sometimes by a volunteeror staff member from a central office.Some Sections seek to cover the costs ofnewsletters and servicing by chargingan extra subscription fee.

Where networks are servicedprincipally by newsletters it can be verydifficult to monitor accurately whataction members of the network take.Developments in communicationstechnology may help to overcome someof these problems. Providing individualswith targeted action materials remainsrelatively cost-intensive, however, bothin terms of time and money.


Copies of the now-discontinued Lawyers’Group Newsletter, formerly produced byAIUK.


jCHECKLIST

WHAT OTHERS CAN BE ASKED TO DO

j Publicize AI’s concernsProvide organizations with a draft article likely to interest and appealto their membership or audience. This should generally be no morethan 400 words. They can include this in their publications. Provide acopy to local AI groups so they can approach local organizations.Persuade leading individuals within a sector to publicly support AI’scalls, through an article, comment in other media, passing resolutionsof support, etc. Ask organizations to distribute AI’s campaign materialto members.

j Lobby the home government The contacts may be able to pass a resolution and send it to thegovernment, write a letter to the government, ask their members towrite to the government and individual political representatives, join adelegation to meet the government, sign a joint appeal or seek aseparate meeting with the government. Provide organizations withpoints to make (this is better than a standard draft), or offer to draft aletter, and give them the relevant addresses.

jj Write letters to the embassyAsk them to copy letters to the embassy or write separately to theambassador.

j Contact counterparts in target countryAsk them to write letters to sectors in the target society – provide themwith enough information and points for letters.

j Mobilize the international networkSuggest that they ask the international bodies to which they areaffiliated to take action – such as sending a letter, passing a resolution,or campaigning on the issue.

j Join the Urgent Action networkAsk them to be part of the UA network – at least on particular countriesor issues.

j Mobilize their membersSuggest that the organizations write to their members asking them tosend letters, join protests or vigils, contact AI, etc. Ask if they willdistribute petitions to their members.

j Donate fundsAsk them to make a direct donation, to encourage their members tosupport AI, or to put an advertisement for membership/donationsin their publications.

j Offer expertiseAsk them to be part of a reference group in their specialist area.

PHOTOCOPY

The advisory group

Some Sections have formed a smalleradvisory group from either a specialistor professional coordination group ornetwork. The aim is to gain advice onhow the sector might contribute to AI’smission and development and on thebest strategies for achieving AI’s goals.

As the term suggests, there is lessexpectation that the group willundertake the program of workthemselves. This may increase thelikelihood of AI being able to benefitfrom the expertise and knowledge ofextremely busy people unwilling tomake a greater time commitment to AI.This model has been tried by some AISections. It can be both a starting pointfor outreach work to new sectors, and away of providing practical advice andassistance to a Section’s ongoingoutreach program.

An advisory group may, forexample, provide advice on key peopleto approach for support, what it is bestto ask from whom, and how best tomake that approach.

The local group with a sectorbriefSome Sections, particularly smallerones, delegate the development ofoutreach work on particular sectors toexisting AI groups. This approach hasbeen adopted by the VenezuelanSection, for example.


1

OUTREACHTHE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

The role of the business community presents AI withgreat opportunities and challenges. It is a rapidlydeveloping area of work for AI and for the humanrights movement generally. This section looks at:

N Why the business community is important to AI / 190

N Why businesses might see human rights as their business / 190

N Why businesses might not see human rights as their

business / 191

N Focusing on business / 192

N Developing an outreach strategy / 192

N Understanding business culture / 193

N Outreach structures / 194

N Outreach in practice / 195

N Researching information on businesses / 198

N Checklist: What you can ask companies to do / 200

During the UN Conference on Women inBeijing in 1995, the Body Shop supported

the campaigning events of the Irish Section:the flagship outlets in Belfast and Dublin,

the Republic of Ireland, displayed CD ROMinformation about AI’s work and that of

the Irish NGO, Women’s Aid; 14 otherbranches of the Body Shop decorated their

shops with lanterns and AI campaignmaterial. Campaign postcards were

suspended from lanterns, shown right.© AI

Why the businesscommunity is importantto AIIt is a central principle of AI’s work thathuman rights are the responsibility ofall and that there is a role for everybody.This applies to corporations andcompanies as much as to any othersector of society.

International relations in the post-Cold War world have made AI’s workwith the business community and oncompany approaches increasinglyimportant. Ideological blocs areincreasingly being replaced byeconomic blocs – the Americas,Europe, Asia, for example. Trade andbusiness interests are breaking downmany of the previous barriers betweencountries and are increasing contactbetween societies. International trade,including in services such as education,is growing. Political relations betweencountries are increasingly shaped byeconomic interests. In many societiesthe state is retreating from functions ofpublic life – from the running ofprisons to transport services – to bereplaced by companies andcorporations.

Domestically, the businesscommunity can influence many aspectsof government policy – includingforeign affairs – that are important toAI’s work. For example, sections of thebusiness community may oppose astrong government stand on humanrights in relation to a particular countryif they believe it damages tradeinterests, especially where there arecalls for imposing human rightsconditions on trade. This is a challengeto which AI needs to respondeffectively.

Internationally, companies andcorporations can influencegovernments in countries where theyhave major operations or investments.Competition for inward investment andthe need for economic developmentcan make governments particularlysensitive to the concerns of business.

Trade can also be the major form

of contact between different societiesand provide a valuable conduit forhuman rights information anddialogue. The human exchange thatgoes with increased economicinteraction can stimulate debate anddiscussion, and a broaderunderstanding about respectiveculture, society, values and humanrights.

Companies can also, in a numberof circumstances, be directly implicatedin violating human rights – eitherthrough products they manufacture, orthrough their operations in particularcountries.

Finally, companies and businessescan also be important sources of funds,material support and expertise for AI.

Why businesses mightsee human rights astheir businessThe field of business ethics and codes ofconduct is developing rapidly. Newarguments are likely to emerge as thedebates evolve.

The business community is not asingle, united entity. Companies havedifferent and sometimes competinginterests. Some are concerned abouttheir public image, while others are not.Some have established policies oncorporate responsibility to the widercommunity, while others have not.Individual managers may have widediscretion for policy and practice andbe willing to take risks for human rights,while others may not.

Below are some reasons whycompanies might be interested in AI’sconcerns.N Corporate responsibility and goodcitizenship. In some countries, agrowing number of companies aredeveloping a corporate approach thatacknowledges a responsibility not onlyto owners and employees but to thewider community. They want to be, andbe seen to be, good “corporate citizens”pursuing responsible policies. Manyreflect this approach by adoptingcorporate codes of conduct or ethical


“There is no need for timidity indiscussing what society shoulddemand from those incommercial life. It is part of acivilized society that peopleinside and outside business actmorally. No more, and no less.”Financial Times, London, 6 September 1995

Levi-Strauss

Levi-Strauss (US-basedjeans manufacturer) hasestablished guidelines forwhether or not it will dobusiness in particularcountries.

The Universal Declarationof Human Rights calls upon“every individual and everyorgan of society” to “striveby teaching and educationto promote respect for theserights and freedoms byprogressive measures,national and international,to secure their universal andeffective recognition andobservance...”

codes. These may cover issues such asemployee rights, the use of forcedlabour in prisons, child labour, andenvironmental standards.N Image. Some corporations spendmillions of dollars each year simplypromoting their corporate imagethrough advertising. Donations andsupport to local community groups mayalso be seen in the context of acompany’s image. They may not want tosee this investment threatened throughassociation with practices or policies inother countries that could reflect badlyon them.N Consumer concern. In a numberof societies “consumer power” is now afactor in the planning and decision-making of some companies. This isprobably partly a response to “boycott”campaigns. There is at least anecdotalevidence from the United Kingdom, forexample, to suggest that consumersinclude “moral” factors in makingpurchasing decisions – even when therehas been no call to boycott.N Investor concern. In an increasingnumber of industrialized societiespotential investors can chooseinvestments in companies that conformwith certain ethical criteria. Thesemight relate to products (such asexcluding companies involved in thetobacco industry), or to practice (suchas excluding companies using childlabour). In some countries theemployee pension funds of majorcompanies and public bodies (forexample, New York City, USA) havebegun to take ethical issues intoaccount. They can exert considerableinfluence in some cases to change thepolicy and practice of companies and toaffect investment decisions. Religiousorganizations may also be substantialinvestors and have policies in relationto corporate conduct. Shareholderaction, where investors have aparticular role in raising concernsabout company policy and practice, hasalso become a more commoncampaigning tactic in some countries.N Political risk analysis and a stableinvestment environment. Largecompanies require international

information not only on markets, butalso on long-term political and socialtrends for their investment decisions.Human rights information can be seenin this context. Many companiesmaking long-term commitmentsinvolving significant resources can bewary of societies where power isexercised arbitrarily. There is somerecognition that human rightsviolations are inherently destabilizing.Companies can therefore have aninterest in promoting the rule of law, theproper functioning of the judiciary, etc. N Personal concern. As withindividuals, companies may takedecisions based on moral concern andprinciple. It is clearly easier to do sowhen these decisions do not conflictwith perceived self-interest. Wherecompanies have codes of ethics,committed individuals may be able touse them effectively and creatively topromote human rights.

Why businesses mightnot see human rights astheir businessN Self-interest. Businesses might beconcerned that action on human rightswould mean abandoning their politicalneutrality and constitute interferencein the internal affairs of anothercountry. They might also be concernedthat it could be against their interestand attract retaliatory action fromgovernments or others.N Opposition to AI’s aims. Somebusinesses might not see human rightsas part of their core activities or maybelieve that AI is politically partial.They might also believe that the targetgovernment’s policies provide anenvironment for good economicreturn or are necessary for stability.N Commercial interests. Companiesmay not support action that appears tothreaten their commercial interests.However, they may be willing to re-evaluate their long-term interests in thelight of human rights information andto look constructively at how they maycontribute to AI’s objectives.

Outreach/The Business Community 191

fIn all company

approaches, it mustbe made clear in

writing that AI takesno stand on whethereconomic relations

should bemaintained withcountries where

human rights areviolated.

Focusing on businessWhich companies or businessinstitutions does AI approach? Acompany means “any entrepreneur,corporate body, institution or agencyfrom the business world”. AI can makeapproaches to any of these. What AIseeks to gain may vary considerably –from building awareness of AI’s goals orobtaining a corporate donation, toobtaining a general statement ofsupport for human rights, AI itself oreven action on a specific case.

Approaches to the businesscommunity can be once-only andcountry specific, but ideally theyshould be part of a longer-term strategyof developing AI’s campaigningcapacity and influence within thecommunity.

The business community in mostsocieties is large and diverse. The partsof it most likely to be of importance toAI’s lobbying work and internationalcampaigning are:N larger companies, especially thosewith international investments ortrading relationships; N the national bodies or associationsto which they belong.

Before beginning any individualapproach it is best to draw up a long-term strategy that sets out what AIwould like to achieve from a program ofcompany approaches. These objectivesmight include:N persuading national businessassociations to produce a statement insupport of human rights/action;N persuading national businessassociations to establish a sub-committee to draw up policy and adviseindividual member companies onaction that can be taken in relation tospecific human rights violations;N persuading key companies andbusiness people to initiate a dialoguewithin the business community on therole of the business community inpromoting and protecting humanrights;N persuading individual companiesand business people to take officialaction on AI’s concerns.

Being clear about objectivesshould make it easier to decide who toapproach, how to approach them andwhat to ask for. It can also helpdetermine what organizationalstructure, if any, you wish to establish tosustain ongoing work.

Developing an outreachstrategyKnow who you are dealing withIn order to select appropriate tactics,you need to know the type of companyyou are dealing with. An inter-Sectionmeeting on company approaches heldin February 1996 classified differenttypes of company involvement inhuman rights concerns as follows:1. Companies which are human rightsadvocates.2. Companies which are inactive onhuman rights.3. Companies which are inactive onhuman rights in the face of serioushuman rights violations in some of thecountries in which they operate.4. Companies whose products oractivities are misused without theirknowledge.5. Companies which knowinglycooperate with those who arecommitting human rights violations,for instance by supplying equipmentused for torture or relying on policeunits which are known to be likely tocommit human rights violations.6. Companies which are involved inactivities which constitute human rightsabuses, for example, hiring “deathsquads” or using forced labour.

Your initial strategy shouldtherefore be to elicit information as towhat a company's profile is concerninghuman rights. Most companies will bein categories 2, 3 and 4 and need to bemoved to category 1 if at all possible.

gQUESTIONSg Are companies in your societymajor investors in countries whereAI has concerns? What proportion offoreign investment in that country dothey represent?


During AI’s campaign onIndonesia in 1993 and1994, Club Med, theFrance-based internationalholiday company,approached AI to ask forinformation about localhuman rights activists whomight be in a position tospeak at one of its resorts inIndonesia.

g Are companies in your societymajor exporters to countries whereAI has concerns? What proportion ofimports do they represent in thatsociety?

g Which companies are majorimporters of products/raw materialsfrom countries where AI hasconcerns? What proportion of exportsdo they represent to that society?

g Do any multinational companieshave their headquarters or regionalheadquarters in your country?

g Are there leading businessfigures who may be sympathetic toAI or willing to make statements onhuman rights? What is the best way ofapproaching them?

g Are there business figures whohave influence on governmentforeign policy?

g Do companies in your societyhave subsidiaries, franchises, joint-ventures or manufacturingoperations in countries where AI hasconcerns?

g Are companies publiclyadvocating or promoting theimportance of trade with particularcountries where AI has concerns?

g Is developing new markets forraw materials or manufacturedproducts in countries where AI hasconcerns seen as an importantelement of national policy?

g Are government departmentsinvolved in promoting trade withparticular countries – financially

and through training and materials?Are they discussing or raising humanrights with the business sector?

g Is your country seen as a majorsource of tourism revenue by thecountries where AI has concerns?

g Is the business communityorganized at a national level inumbrella/national organizations,such as a national business council?Do the organizations take positionson trade or foreign policy?

g Are there bilateral tradeassociations bringing togethercompanies trading with a particularcountry? Which companies belong tothem? Do they have a secretariat thatcould be approached?

g Are business media seen asinfluential on business andgovernment policy?

g Have the business communityor media made statements onhuman rights and trade, or onforeign policy?

Understanding businesscultureThe business community can be anunfamiliar world to AI, with its own sub-culture and methods of working. It canbe useful to seek advice from within thebusiness community when developing along-term strategy. This advice mighthelp to identify:N who the key business leaders andorganizations are;N what networks exist within thebusiness world;

“It is important thatapproaches to business be

appropriate to this particularaudience. The characteristics

we have to deal with in therelevant companies are

professionalism, lack of timefor discursive documents,

ignorance/suspicion of AI”.Sir Geoffrey Chandler, AIUK and former

senior company executive

Human Rights Council of Australia

The Human Rights Council of Australia campaigns for the government to encouragebusiness to engage actively in discussion and action on the relationship betweenbusiness and human rights. In February 1996 it set out 12 recommendations. Theseincluded providing businesses with up-to-date human rights information,encouraging discussion with businesses on the relationship between Australiancorporate operations abroad and government human rights policies, and exploringregulatory measures where self-regulation fails.

fAvoid ‘off the

record’ exchanges.Approaches to

companies should befrank and open

rather than secretiveor confidential so

that discussions canbe reported to the AI

movement ifnecessary. Keep the

option of makingsuch discussionspublic at a laterstage if judged

appropriate. Thisdoes not mean that

meetings have to bepublic, but only that

a mutually agreedrecord must be kept

of each meeting.(See Guidelines on

CompanyApproaches in AI’s

policy manual.)


N whether there is a lack of awarenessof AI and human rights generally thatneeds to be addressed first;N what are likely to be the mostpersuasive arguments for this audience; N what it is reasonable to ask for inthe first instance.

Outreach structuresSome AI Sections have established“advisory groups” of business people toprovide advice on developing andimplementing strategies. Others haveestablished business co-groups tosustain an ongoing strategy.

Regular approaches to the seniormanagement of large or strategicallyimportant companies or businessassociations may require the formationof a knowledgeable and committedgroup of AI members at the Sectionlevel who are themselves professionalbusiness managers. Such people usuallyhave access to resources foradministrative support, but mayrequire internal human rightseducation and training in AI structuresand policies, as well as servicing withregular AI information from Sections’secretariats. Such a group usuallydepends on a few active members who


The South Korean Sectionsecured the support of amajor department storechain, which provided spacefor an AI photo-exhibitionused to promote AI andrecruit members.

AI members include businesspeople, workers, investorsand consumers. AI reflects awide range of communityopinion in many societies –one reason why companiesshould listen to AI.

Going Dutch

The Dutch Section began approaching companies about human rights in 1980. Theyestablished a business group at Section level. In 1995 the group had about 12members and was involved in both advising the Section on strategy and conductingoutreach work.

The approach of the Dutch Section has always been an “approach of dialogue”:creating human rights awareness and trying to educate and involve companies inAI’s work. A second goal has been to try to influence the Dutch Government andother parts of Dutch society by creating good relationships with the businesscommunity. Operating in a small society with tight interrelationships betweensectors of society makes this a worthwhile goal, although it is difficult to evaluate itssuccess.

Over the years there have been meetings with around 20 companies, most ofthem multinationals. In one or two cases, long-term relationships have beenestablished. The Section also has an educational program in business schools anduniversity business courses. (The material used is available from the Dutch Section.)Successes include the following:N one or two companies have taken steps to secure the release of prisoners ofconscience;N occasionally managers of companies have asked for country-specific humanrights information;N AI members have been invited to deliver human rights education during in-company training of expatriates and managers;N AI members have been invited to discuss implementation of human rights inbusinesses’ “codes of conduct”;N in at least one case AI’s approach apparently succeeded in persuading acompany to seriously consider the need for a human rights policy.

The Dutch Section believes it is important to realise:N how time-consuming this kind of work is if you wish to get results: it needs long-term commitment; N that the Section must be willing to have a dialogue with the company: toapproach the company as a possible ally and not as an adversary;N that a long-term strategy must be worked out for each company, taking care tobe consistent in what you are saying and what you are asking for;N that care must be taken to ensure that a company will not use a good relationshipwith AI only for their own public relations.

should be accountable to the Sectiondirector/board and have a contactperson at the national secretariat.

Some AI business groups havedeveloped a plan of action based uponsystematic approaches to the mostimportant companies involved incountries on which AI has majorcampaigns. They have also sought thepublic support of leading figures in thebusiness community (for example, byasking them to act as patrons for afundraising dinner). Such groups alsoapproach business associations, schoolsand the media to seek support forhuman rights education and promotion.

Outreach in practiceThe following tips are useful to keep inmind when preparing to approach acompany:

N Base approaches on a systematic,well-informed exchange. N Aim to establish positive dialogue.N The best method for high-levelapproaches to business is to arrangemeetings.N Action plans should be based on atwo-stage approach – a letter seeking ameeting, followed by a meeting.N At the beginning of all approachesstress that AI is independent of allpolitical parties, ideologies andgovernments and bases itself strictly ona human rights mandate derived frominternationally agreed human rightsstandards.N Delegations approachingcompanies should inquire about thecompany’s ethical codes/standards, asthis might prompt a discussion onhuman rights.


The French experience

The French Section has a commission for company approaches. It has secured anumber of positive statements affirming human rights work from leading Frenchcompanies – quotes that it can use in campaigning. The Section has also produced ahandbook on company approaches and a training program for French AIgroups.They see that they have four functions:N advising the Section on priorities in this area of work;N acting as a central information resource – collecting information from thebusiness media and summarizing meetings with businesses;N organizing national level approaches to businesses and the business media;N helping and providing advice to local AI groups in this area of work.

They first approach the company through a personal letter to the managerseeking an appointment. They do not mix fundraising and campaigning requestsand they provide details of what they would like the company to do. The initial lettersto companies are kept short and contain the following:N the name, position and company of the addressee;N a short introduction to AI;N a summary of AI’s concerns and its public recommendations;N a paragraph to show AI’s knowledge of the company and why AI isapproaching the company;N a conclusion comprising a polite and formal identification of the sender.

They believe it is important that the person signing the letter is a member of thedelegation meeting the company. They try and make sure the meeting is in thefollowing format:N introduce AI and its reasons for seeking the meeting in general terms;N detail AI’s concerns in the country and how AI believes these are relevant to thecompany, illustrating knowledge of the company;N discuss the possibilities for action by the company;N listen carefully and politely to the company’s viewpoint;N provide examples of what has been done elsewhere by others;N agree follow-up and confirm by letter.

Reebok

The US-based sports shoemanufacturer Reebok hascommitted itself to human

rights in its manifesto. In1986 it sponsored a

worldwide rock music touron behalf of AI. In 1988 it

established the ReebokHuman Rights Award forhuman rights activists. It

does not, however,systematically focus on

countries’ overall humanrights record when

deciding where it conductsbusiness.

What’s the beef?

A local group of AIUSAworking on behalf of an

Argentine prisonerpersuaded a local

supermarket to allow anexhibition on the prisoner

and human rights inArgentina to be staged next

to the shelving carryingArgentine corned beef. Thegroup took a picture of the

display and included it witha letter to the Argentine

Embassy in Washington.

N Always try to find out the name ofthe most relevant business manager –normally the chief executive and theassistant. Approaches that are notpersonally addressed are unlikely to beeffective.N Before making the approach beclear about what you want them to doand the results you expect from theiraction.N Only ask them to do things inwhich they are likely to be effective.N Be aware of AI information aboutbusiness people who have been victimsof human rights violations (check yourSection’s list of UAs, Action Files andappeal cases).N Conduct approaches in aprofessional manner or not at all.N Make sure all contacts arecoordinated – there should be onecontact point between AI and thecompany.

Sections should decide exactlywho to approach on the basis ofeffectiveness and local conditions.Approaches can include writing letters,arranging meetings and attendingcompany shareholder meetings.N Writing letters, arranging meetingsIf the principal objective is to spreadawareness of AI, or of a particularhuman rights issue, a mass or directmailing is one option. In an increasingnumber of countries mailing lists canbe rented or bought from “list brokers”.There may already be a list for exactlythe audience you wish to address . Listscan also be compiled from association

directories. Letters should bepersonalized as much as possible.

This is unlikely to be an effectiveapproach in establishing long-termdialogue or gaining a high-levelmeeting.

For more targeted approacheswhere the intention is to ensureawareness, provoke action or establish alonger relationship, combinations ofletter, telephone call and personalmeetings are most advisable.

Letters seeking a meeting should:N not be confrontational,condemnatory or threatening;N point out that AI takes no positionon embargoes, boycotts and sanctions;N use positive statements by otherbusinesses or business leaders on humanrights and mention any leading businessfigures who are willing to be publiclyassociated with AI – always stress thatthere are business groups in AI;N stress AI’s willingness to hear thepoint of view of the company – thisprovides the rationale for the proposedmeeting;N conclude positively by saying thatyou are looking forward to meetingthem; when addressed to nationalbusiness associations, stress the desireto discuss the wider responsibilities ofthe business sector.

At first you may only be offered ameeting with the public relationsmanager or someone at a similar levelwithin the company. Do not refuse thismeeting. Use it as an opportunity toseek a higher-level meeting. Make clear


Multinational/transnationalcompanies or corporations

For such corporations, AImay use multilateralapproaches by differentSections. This shouldalways be based upon anapproach by the AI Sectionin the country where thecorporation’s headquartersare based. Manycompanies are interested inreceiving regular AIinformation on thecountries where theyoperate, even if they do notalways want to be seen tohave a close relationship tohuman rights organizationssuch as AI. This informationcan be sent by country co-groups or the Section’ssecretariat, but may also beavailable on the “AI Doc”computer system (consultthe IS for details).

Be realistic about what companies will do

Business people are usually more willing to commit themselves to taking concretesteps within their own sphere of responsibility – for instance in policies which affecttheir employees in the areas of discrimination and affirmative action, health andsafety, and adherence to international labour standards – than they are in using their"good offices" to try to affect the broader human rights situation.

The general rule should therefore be to begin with modest and reasonablerequests, such as “accept our documents”, “agree to meet us”, etc. The next stepshould be to request that they take steps within their sphere of responsibility whichaffect positively the human rights of their employees and suppliers, or to ask them totalk about human rights with other company officials or trade organizations in theirown countries. Only lastly should you attempt to enlist them as allies in pressinggovernments to end the human rights violations which occur in foreign countrieswhere they have business interests.

cTIP

Remember: make it easy. Ifcompanies indicate awillingness to distributematerial internally, offer toprovide them with a draftarticle.

in your introduction that you hope tomeet the chief executive.

Try to keep the meeting as friendlyand informative as possible, anddistribute relevant samples of externalAI material. All meetings should consistof more than one AI representative.Before beginning any meeting, agreeon a procedure to record a mutuallyagreeable minute. Make sure these areagreed in writing afterwards.

Have ready a series of prompts fordiscussions. You could, for example, ask:N What are the views of the companyor association?N Has the company a code of ethics?N Who is responsible for itsimplementation?N How is it implemented – forexample, is it used when trainingmanagers?N How is it monitored?N How are human rightsincorporated into the code of ethics?

Link any follow-up to a simple taskwhich both you and the company willdo, even if it is only to circulate furtherrelevant information.

When meeting senior companymanagement or national businessassociations, AI delegations should tryto include professional managers whoare members of AI and knowledgableabout human rights. Their knowledgeof the business culture can be veryuseful. The Dutch Section have aspecial presentation pack, including avideo, to take to such meetings.

Where companies refuse to meetand discuss the issues with AI, or where

you wish to illustrate the extent ofhuman rights concerns, there are anumber of other options. These areonly likely to be worthwhile if AI hasmajor concerns about the companyinvolved.

N Outreach to other members of thebusiness communityApproach an intermediary, such as awell-known figure from the businesscommunity, and ask them to contactthe company to request a meeting withAI.

N PublicityCopy letters expressing concern at thecompany’s refusal to respond to ahuman rights issue to:M the board of directors;M major shareholders;M ethical investment trusts andorganizations;M other non-governmentalorganizations (NGOs).

N Involve AI’s membershipAsk AI members to telephone or writeto companies. Members of local AIgroups who are shareholders in thecompanies concerned can be asked towrite as concerned shareholders. AIgroups in the areas where companieshave their headquarters or operationscan also be asked to write, ascompanies can be sensitive to theviews of the local community. It isimportant that very clear guidance beprovided by Section campaigncoordinators.


Action on forced labour

An approach by AIUSA members to a chemical company with subsidiaries in Chinaelicited the following memo to all those employed by the subsidiaries:

“The [company] is fully supportive of human rights and sensitive to the currentethical issues involving doing business with enterprises which use forced labour.

“The [company] will not do business with enterprises using forced labour,including enterprises which source their labour from prisons.

“In implementing this policy, we need to know our customers and suppliers inorder to determine if they are buying or selling to any forced labour enterprises. Wewill avoid even meeting with or corresponding with enterprises which front forprison labour forces.

“We encourage your sharing information among our offices and staff as an aidto implementing this policy.”

N Involve the trade union movementIt is possible to involve AI members intrade unions in the work on companyapproaches. If it would be useful inorder to show a “bi-partisan approach”,a trade unionist could be included inany meeting delegation.

Some companies have acommitment to involve or consult theirworkforce or to be sensitive to the viewsof their union representatives. A letterfrom the relevant trade unionleadership supporting AI’s request foraction, or outlining support forbuilding awareness of human rightsissues, may therefore be effective.

However, care should be taken toensure that AI retains an independentprofile and it may be more effective infirst contacts not to involve tradeunions.

N Shareholder meetingsThe annual general meetings (AGMs)of publicly listed companies present anopportunity for shareholders to putquestions of the chief executives ordirectors on company policy andpractice.

Meetings are frequently covered bythe specialist media. By providingadvance notice to the media, you mayattract other journalists – particularly ifthere are photo-friendly public orsymbolic actions taking place.

Investor groupings

Religious organizations, employeepension funds and public bodies mayhave policies on investment and havesufficient levels of investment incompanies to be influential. Approachthem to discuss what role they mightplay.

N PublicityWhere there is strong evidence that acompany is directly implicated inhuman rights violations, AI can usedemonstrations, symbolic actions andmedia briefings to draw attention to thecompany and act to spur change incompany policy. Care should be takenin any publicity not to implyresponsibility for human rightsviolations for which we have noevidence.

Researching informationon businessesResearch sources will vary enormouslyfrom country to country. Advice is likelyto be available from other NGOs,sympathetic officials in governmentdepartments of trade, journalists,academics or students specializing inbusiness and finance. Below are a fewpossible sources:


Principles of pressure

The Sullivan Principles

The Sullivan Principles in the USA were an attempt to provide an alternative option todisinvestment for US corporations operating in apartheid South Africa. Theycommitted firms with operations in South Africa to pay employees a minimum wage,to use racially non-discriminatory employment practices, and to use their corporateinfluence to end apartheid. By 1986 over 260 US corporations had signed up to theprinciples.

The MacBride Principles

The MacBride Principles (named after Sean MacBride, one of AI’s first members) is aUS-based campaign to ensure that companies operating in Northern Ireland do notdiscriminate or contribute to discrimination on the grounds of religion. Firmsapplying the principles also make reasonable efforts to protect the safety of theirRoman Catholic workers – at the workplace and while travelling to and from work.By February 1995, 16 US states and more than 40 city bodies in the US had passedMacBride legislation.

Any allegations of companycomplicity in human rightsviolations should be sent tothe IS for checking beforeany action is taken. AI canrarely prove a company’scomplicity in torture, politicalimprisonment and the deathpenalty (except wherecompanies have suppliedmilitary, security and police(MSP) transfers whichcontribute to such violations).Many companies employtheir own security force andthe conduct of such forcesshould be closely scrutinized.However, Sections should notmake any allegationswithout these being agreedby the IS. In general, extracare should be taken overpublicity which could evenimply a company’scomplicity – not leastbecause companies andtheir managers may use libellaws against those whodamage their commercialreputation.

N Public or university librariesM Business directoriesM Who’s Who/Who’s Who in

Business and Finance (these are nowavailable on line on DIALOG, theKnowledge Index, and CompuServe)

M Registers of corporations,directors and executives

M Specialist business pressM World Guides and

encyclopaediasN Government sources

M Trade/Industry ministriesoften keep relevant statistics onpatterns of trade and companiesinvolved

M Journals of ministries of foreignaffairs and trade often provide news ontrade promotions, the winning of majortrade contracts, etc.

M Publicly elected officials may beable to ask questions on more specificissues on AI’s behalf

M Government statistics bureauN Other

M National business associationsand chambers of commerce may producereports with relevant information

M Bilateral business/industryassociations (these are sometimes listedin the phone book, and the associationis normally happy to provide a list ofmembers)

M Trade unions and labour-funded research bodies

M Religious groups, charitablefoundations, ethical investmentorganizations and pension funds

M Business ethics centres andpublications (see Appendix 3)


By 1996 some 800businesses, including majorfirms such as AT&T, Coopers

and Lybrand, and Honeywellhad joined a consultancy

and clearing house “Businessfor Social Responsibility”,

which includes a program onhuman rights and business.

During a campaign in the1980s the Australian Section

persuaded the ANZ bank,which had investments in

Chile, to allow local AIgroups to mount exhibitions

on human rights violations inChile in the bank’s foyer.

AI’s Secretary General, Pierre Sané, withAnita Roddick, the founder of the

UK-based Body Shop© TIM FISHER

jCHECKLISTWHAT YOU CAN ASK COMPANIES TO DOj Accept AI information on countries.

j Distribute information internally.

j Make a general statement insupport of human rights or AI’s work thatAI can use publicly.

j Run human rights briefings beforeexecutives take up appointments abroad.

j Raise concerns on individual cases.

j Make official representations togovernment officials on AI’s concerns.

j Include human rights components inethical/corporate codes. (AI is currentlyfinalizing a checklist on human rightsprinciples for inclusion in company codesof ethics.)

j Allocate staff resources todeveloping human rights policies inconsultation with NGOs domesticallyand in countries where the company hasoperations.

j Encourage national businessassociations to actively exploredevelopment of policy in the area ofhuman rights.

j Treat all employees in accordancewith international human rightsstandards.

j Make a commitment that thecompany will not be complicit in humanrights violations and will instruct itsemployees not to be silent witnesses tohuman rights violations.

j Promote knowledge andunderstanding of human rights within thecompany domestically andinternationally.


AI can approach companieswith requests for fundsand/or sponsorship withinthe terms of the fundraisingguidelines. However,approaches to companies onhuman rights questionsshould never be combinedwith a request for funds.(Guidelines for ApproachingCompanies in AI’s policymanual.)

1

OUTREACHMILITARY AND LAWENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

Military, security and police (MSP) personnel areoften those most directly responsible forcommitting human rights violations. Gettingthem to listen to and take note of AI's concerns isa challenge which requires an understanding ofthe structures and the culture in which theyoperate. This section looks at:

UN civilian police in Mozambique receive AI’scards listing 10 basic rules for safeguardinghuman rights during a course organized by

the UN Centre for Human Rights© CEES DE ROVER



N Outreach in practice /203

Letter-writing / 204

N Human rights training / 205

N Outreach work in a target country / 206



this publication.

Developing an outreachstrategyThere are a number of ways in whichserving and retired military, securityand police personnel can assist AI’scampaigning work. The main purpose ofAI's outreach to such personnel is topromote awareness and observance ofinternational human rights standardsamong military and police forces (seeChapter 2). Usually this outreach workdoes not involve asking military and policeofficers to directly campaign againstspecific military, security or police (MSP)transfers from their own countries.

Each AI action request (UrgentActions, major country andthemecampaigns, Action Files and otherrequests) is based upon AI's mandate, anassessment of the needs of the victims andpotential victims, who the perpetrators areor might be, an analysis of the mostimmediately relevant political, legaland other factors governing the situationand how AI might best campaign to assistthose victims or potential victims.

The following questions may beuseful to pose in order to decide whichAI action requests may be mostimportant at any particular time andmost relevant to your outreach workwith military, police and other lawenforcement personnel.

gQUESTIONSg Who is responsible for themajority of human rightsviolations?

g Who within that country is in aposition to influence thoseresponsible?

g What is the avowed self-perception of the army, security orpolice command?

g What kind of economic activityis the military or law enforcementagency involved in?

g What types of MSP relationsexist between your country andthose in which the violations arecommitted?

Outreach structuresAI Sections in countries where police,other law enforcers and militaryofficers are not systematically orpersistently involved in human rightsviolations may set up AI groups madeup of members of the military, police orother law enforcement agencies. Therelevant AI guidelines stipulate thatSection boards should decide whetherit is feasible to do this.


fBeware of possibledangers and pitfalls.The potential role ofmilitary, police andother lawenforcementpersonnel in violatinghuman rights,especially in countrieswith serious humanrights problems,means that AI must becareful when workingwith such personnel toguard itsindependence andimpartiality, and theclarity of its concerns.Sections shouldconsult the IS beforemaking suchapproaches.



this publication.

Riot police prepare to shoot into a crowdduring a demonstration in Norrebro,Denmark, in May 1993.© CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

In order to function effectively,such groups usually require someadministrative, educational and othersupport from the Section’s secretariat.

A "group in formation" is usuallybuilt around a coordinator and a coreof reliable and energetic volunteers.Professional demands may mean thatsuch volunteers are retiredprofessionals who have time to offer AIand who may have good contacts in theprofession.

Devoting adequate time todeveloping a common understandingof AI among the core members of thegroup is essential. Internal humanrights education can be facilitated bypreparing key topics for discussion ateach meeting and gradually findingconsensus on the group's terms ofreference and its main tasks. If othermembers of the same profession join anetwork of supporters of the group, itmay become a co-group sending outregular information, new actions andfeedback.

Outreach in practiceYou may find the following tips usefulwhen planning an AI action involvingpolice or other law enforcement ormilitary officers:

cTIPS

c Consult your relevant Sectionbody/coordinator.

c Read the basic internationalhuman rights standards most directlyrelevant to such professions, and alsothe relevant humanitarian law (noteand respect the role of theInternational Committee of the RedCross).

c Choose the most relevant AIaction request.

c Seek advice from sympathetic orretired officers in the same profession.Some may have already joined AI asordinary members. Check yourmembership records!

c Define who exactly to approach:are they in a relevant governmentministry, are they commanding officersin the establishment, officials of aprofessional or veterans’ association,tutors or heads of training institutes,military or prison doctors, military orlawyers with good connections,journalists or religious representativesspecializing in work with military,police or prison personnel?

c Prepare the first approach verycarefully to avoid misunderstandings,and include basic information on AI'srole and structure, AI's independenceand impartiality, AI's position on theuse of violence, and case material onpolice/law enforcers/military asvictims of human rights violations – notjust as perpetrators of such violations.

c Do not be over-ambitious.Concentrate at first on establishing adialogue to promote basic humanrights awareness, and be prepared tolisten to the views and understand theexperiences of your contacts. Once youhave reached some commonunderstanding and agreement on basicprinciples, you may be ready to proposea letter-writing action in support ofcases where military, police or other lawenforcers in the same profession arevictims. Always draw attention tointernational human rights standardsand relevant humanitarian law.

Outreach/Military and Law Enforcement Officers 203

fIn order to clarify

your work on MSPrelations, refer to

Chapter 2.

People from the same sectorwill commonly have an

understanding of the"culture", which gives them

an insight into how best tomake an appeal that will be

listened to.

Withdrawal of US training manuals

In 1996 AI helped publicize the revelation that over a period of three decadesSpanish-language US army manuals used to train military officers at the Schoolof the Americas contained instructions recommending the use of bribery,blackmail, threats, extortion and torture. The manuals were eventually recalledand retracted, but many had been distributed in Latin America and may still bein circulation.

Letter-writingWriting to the highest levels of themilitary, police and prisons is one of themost commonly used AI campaigningtechniques. If an AI Section is establishingprofessional groups composed of militaryand law enforcement personnel,attention will need to be given to therespective letter-writing roles of theprofessional group and other AI membersfor each AI action request (UAs, majorcountry and theme campaigns, ActionFiles and other actions).

Letter-writing by AI members inthe military or police can increase AI'scredibility, and build the legitimacy ofhuman rights activism. It is likely thatmembers or former members of thesecurity forces in your country will bemore familiar with the "culture" to befound within other security forces andlaw enforcement agencies.

Military or police figures may knowbest how to make an appeal that will belistened to and taken note of. Appeals

to non-military and non-policegovernment ministers and officialsfrom senior military and lawenforcement personnel may also betaken more seriously if such appealsinclude arguments backed up byprofessional expertise.

Writing to lower levels of themilitary or police can fulfil a number offunctions . Many violations occur at themid-command level, which is normallymissed by writing only to those in thehighest authority and with formalauthority. Letters to middle ranks oroperational commanders can illustratethat their actions are being monitored,and may therefore act as somedeterrent to committing or allowinghuman rights violations.

In other cases, letters may reachmembers of the armed forces who aregenuinely concerned but have notknown what to do. Letters may providea tool they can use, or a moral incentiveto take some action to prevent humanrights violations by others.


The professional group of police in AI Netherlands

From modest beginnings, the professional group of police in AI Netherlands had grown toabout 120 police officers by 1990. Any policeman or policewoman could join.Representatives of the Dutch Police Union, the General Christian Police and the Associationof Higher Police Officials were closely involved in supporting the development of thegroup. The Circle of Chief Commissioners of the municipal police as well as the InspectorGeneral of the State Police were also enthuiastic supporters.

Members of the police group regularly write and send telegrams to the authorities andto police colleagues in other countries raising AI’s concerns and drawing attention tointernational human rights standards relating to police conduct. They also work on behalfof police colleagues who are themselves victims of human rights abuses. Each letter issigned by the police officer, giving his rank, and is written in their private capacity. Thegroup regularly publishes articles in police magazines on human rights abuses andpolicing, and also assists with lessons in police educational institutes in the Netherlands.

fAI does not organizeor become intimatelyinvolved in theorganization ofhuman rights trainingof military and lawenforcementpersonnel. If agovernment couldclaim that AI hasapproved theirhuman rightstraining, they mightfeel less accountablefor ensuring thattheir forces areprevented fromcommitting humanrights violations.

1. Respect them2. Treat those in your power

humanely3. Vengeance and taking ofhostages are prohibited.

4. Respect their property; do notdamage it or steal it.

These pictures are taken from a bookletproduced by the ICRC. It is distributedamong UN peace-keeping personnel, andattempts to establish basic behaviouralprinciples for troops dealing with civilians.

© IC

RC

Human rights training We must always point out that thetraining of military and lawenforcement personnel is theresponsibility of the governmentalauthorities, and that human rightstraining cannot be meaningful oreffective without the establishment ofproper systems of accountability.

Where there is a serious pattern ofhuman rights violations and abuseswith impunity (see below), suchtraining may first require a program oflegal reform in accordance withinternational standards, as well as thedisbandment of certain types ofsecurity force units which aresignificantly responsible forcommitting violations. Otherwisehuman rights training will, at best, be adrop in the ocean and, at worst, apublic relations stunt to redeemirresponsible authorities.

Where conditions are favourable,AI Sections which have human rightstraining expertise relevant to militaryor particular law enforcementagencies could take steps to act as acatalyst to promote such training.

This may be done by:N Encouraging and supportingother reputable and independentagencies which have recognizedexpertise to assist with such training;one vital role of such an agency wouldbe to provide independent monitoringand evaluation of the training.

N Forwarding relevant training andeducational materials to military, policeand prison training establishments;providing critical comments on curricula.

N Providing expert speakers to givepresentations and answer questions onthe work of AI and human rightspromotion and protection. Such speakersmust command authority and respect.

N Providing expert trainers to sit in ontraining courses to make constructivecomments for improvement and to tryto ensure openness, particularlyconcerning questions about the dailypractices of officers. Such commentscould be made about:

M the best selection and mix oftrainees (e.g. whole units, trainingtrainers);

Outreach/Military and Law Enforcement Officers 205

fTreat military, police

or other lawenforcement sectorsas separate entities.Each profession hasits own role, rules,

institutions andtraditions.

“...my impressions from havingconducted seminars and

workshops on human rights forpolice in many states in Europe,Africa, the Middle East, CentralAmerica and Asia [is that] mostnational training programs donot address human rights as aseparate and significant topic,

and that the internationaldimension of human rights

protection is not covered to anygreat extent. Furthermore,there is fairly widespreadresistance to the notion ofhuman rights amongst the

police and that many policeofficials feel that they areentitled to violate, or are

justified in violating, humanrights in the course of their

duties.”Ralph Crawshaw, former Chief

Superintendent, Essex Police Constabulary inthe UK, now a consultant to the UN, the

Commonwealth Secretariat and theInternational Committee of the Red Cross in

law enforcement and human rights.

Police and human rights education in Brazil

In December 1988, the Rio Grande do Sol state legislature enacted a law to includehuman rights in the training of civil and military police. This iniative happened aftermembers of AI Brazil developed a project to convince members of parliament thatsuch a step was necessary to stem the widespread abuses by police in Brazil. AIBrazil members then began to work with other NGOs to try to encourage theauthorities to implement the law. After six years, about half the civil police hadreceived some form of human rights education and there was a visible drop inabuses compared with the 1980s. Civil police worked with AI Brazil members ondocuments, amateur videos and photographic exhibitions on human rights.Unfortunately, it was more difficult to reach the military police. Nevertheless, thenew law was copied in the state of Bahia, and working parties were set up in SãoPaolo and other areas of Brazil to revise police training. AI subsequently addresseda conference of all senior police officers at the federal level.

In 1996 the Brazil country coordinator of the Canadian Section, together with sixindividuals and three local groups, set up a support project to help this effort. Theyarranged finance, accommodation and briefings with the Edmonton Police Servicein Canada and for a Brazilian police chief of the state of Sergipe to attend policetraining courses in Canada on subjects such as interrogation techniques, communitypatrols and dealing with difficult people. They also organized a workshop withEdmonton police on international human rights standards, including thoseconcerning the rights of the child and to torture. The Brazilian police chief worked todevelop human rights training on his return home.

M the sensitivity of teachingmethods (e.g. religious or languageissues);

M the usefulness of human rightsmaterials (e.g. copies of main humanrights texts, audiovisuals);

M the practical relevance of theexercises on particular topics (e.g.role-play by police on crowd control orinterrogation); and

M the effectiveness of follow-up(e.g. support for trainers, reunions oftrainees, newsletters, evaluationreports).

Outreach work in a target country If you are in a country where police,other law enforcers and militaryofficers are systematically orpersistently involved in human rightsviolations, any approach by AI to suchpersonnel requires extra care. Carefulsteps need to be taken to phold theindependence and impartiality of AI. An approach shouldalways begin in writing and seek anofficial commitment to human rights inwriting before any discussions,meetings or telephone calls take place.

Testing the sincerity of anydeclared commitment is not easy, butyou may try by asking officials if they willagree that their government should:

M vigorously investigate,prosecute and bring to justice thoseresponsible for violations and abusesof human rights;

M make it part of the training ofthe armed forces and law enforcementagencies that anyone ordered tocommit such acts has a duty to refuse;

M work towards theestablishment of impartial andindependent bodies that oversee theprotection of human rights and do notimpede the free functioning ofdomestic and international humanrights organizations.

fAI does not take partin the drafting ofhuman rightstraining programsfor MSP personnelfrom countries wherehuman rights withinAI's mandate aresystematically andpersistentlyviolated. This doesnot prevent AI fromhelping to clarifythat internationalhuman rightsinstruments shouldroutinely be part ofthe training of allMSP personnel.


The Spanish Interior Ministry holds aconference on the training of policeofficers as the basis for the protection ofhuman rights, 1984.

1

OUTREACHTHE INTERNATIONALLEGAL NETWORK

Lawyers have been intimately involved with AIsince it began. In several countries lawyers havebeen among the founder members of Sections andin many places they are influential campaigners forhuman rights. This section looks at:

N Why the international legal network is important to AI / 208

N Why the international legal network might contribute to AI’s

work / 208



N Checklist: What you can ask lawyers to do / 211

Peter Benenson, the British lawyer wholaunched Amnesty International, rekindlesthe original candle on the 20th anniversary

of the organization in May 1981© AI

Why the internationallegal network isimportant to AI

Lawyers, judges, magistrates,academics, law students and others inthe international legal network who arefamiliar with the theory and practice oflaw have a vital role to play in AI’s work.This is because the profession is:N influential in its own country;N well-informed and adept atcommunication;N widely respected internationally;N linked through its nationalprofessional associations;N linked internationally throughpersonal and professional contact,professional associations andmembership of internationalassociations.

Why the internationallegal network mightcontribute to AI’s workMembers of the international legalnetwork might contribute to AI’scampaigns because of their:N personal interest andcommitment;N professional interest in the role oflaw in promoting and protectinghuman rights; N professional solidarity with lawyersin other countries who are humanrights activists and/or victims of humanrights violations.

Many national and internationallegal organizations campaign on issuesvery close to AI’s mandate throughtheir human rights committees orbranches. Whether this work is done bynational bar associations and lawsocieties, the International BarAssociation or the InternationalCommission of Jurists , the internationallegal network is generally very receptiveto AI’s message. The issue for AI is howto use this support to greatest effect andhow to organize it on a long-term basis.

Developing an outreachstrategyThe following questions may help youdetermine what is the best strategy toadopt:

gQUESTIONS

g What national associationsrepresenting lawyers exist in yourcountry?

g Do these associations have sub-committees or individuals withresponsibility for human rights?

g How do these legal organizationstake decisions; for example, do theyhold monthly or annual meetings?

g Does the international legalnetwork, particularly its memberorganizations or individuals,influence government orcommunity attitudes on particularissues such as the death penalty?

g Have leading lawyers’ or legalorganizations made public statementson domestic or international humanrights issues in AI’s mandate?

g Are particular lawyers’ or legalorganizations likely to influenceyour government’s ratification ofinternational human rights treatiesor government policy in relation toAI’s mandate concerns?

g Are there individuals ororganizations with links toparticular countries in which AI hasconcerns?

g Are there lawyers’ or legalorganizations in a target countrywith influence on human rightsissues? Have they made statementsor taken a position on these issues?

g How do legal organizations inyour country communicate withtheir members; for example,


Lawyers are a crucial link inthe struggle for humanrights. They are persecutedprecisely for this reason.

"I sincerely thank you for yourstrong condemnation of theillegal and unjust execution ofKen Saro-Wiwa and eight otherOgoni activists..." Letter sent to Michael Kingston from theRichmond North lawyers group in Australiafrom a Nigerian in relation to letters writtenby the group about the executions of Ogoniactivists in Nigeria.

through what types of publications?Are there specialist legal media?

g Do the publications acceptarticles from non-lawyers?

g Are there particular lawyerswho write media columns or provideeditorial opinion in the generalmedia?

g Are lawyers or legalorganizations affiliated tointernational bodies that may beable to take action, such as sending aletter raising human rightsconcerns?

Whatever the structure, the overallobjective of outreach to theinternational legal network is todevelop a positive working relationshipthat enables AI to call for action andsupport as necessary.

Outreach structuresMany AI Sections and somecoordinating structures haveestablished lawyers’ groups. The extentand nature of campaigning undertakenby these groups varies from Section toSection, and structure to structure,depending on human and financialresources. At the very least, however,lawyers’ groups can and should beasked to perform in three fundamentalways:

N As technical advisers to themovement. They can work as legalconsultants to intergovernmentalorganization (IGO) and homegovernment lobbyists, country andcampaign coordinators, as well as to

non-specialist groups on legal issuesunderpinning campaigning goals.

N As links between the movementand the wider legal profession. Theycan reach non-AI colleagues – throughlocal or national law societies, barassociations and academic institutions –to raise awareness and encourageunified and, where appropriate, high-profile campaigning on specific casesor issues. They can also increasemembership among legal professionalsand create opportunities to raise fundsfor AI’s work.

N As defenders of victims of humanrights abuses, including other humanrights defenders, and promoters oflegal reform. They can makerepresentations in a professionalcapacity about individual cases or abouthuman rights issues, presenting thelegal arguments supported byinternational law.

AI’s global legal network as ofSeptember 1997 comprised lawyers’groups in 50 AI Sections/coordinatingstructures in all five world regions. Thenetwork has held inter-Sectionmeetings at intervals of about 18months since its first meeting inAntwerp in 1990. The 1995 inter-Section meeting in Oslo broughtdelegates from all but one region of theworld. Development goals for thenetwork aim at full regionalrepresentation by 1998 and expansionwithin targeted regions in the South.This process has begun -- illustrated bythe delegates from all regions whoattended the inter-Section meeting inAmsterdam in October 1997.

Although non-specialist AI groups

Outreach/The International Legal Network 209

Human rights and laws linked

Violations of human rights are violations of law. The idea of human rights is morethan a philosophical or moral concept, it is a concept embodied in law. Lawyersmust be in the forefront of efforts to protect human rights, as human rights and lawsare fundamentally linked in two ways:

N The scope and meaning of the term “human rights” is defined by internationallaw.

N Most human rights violations are also violations of national law.

“I am glad my talk inspired youto redouble your efforts to workas lawyers in promoting human

rights both in Malawi andthroughout the world. You are

doing a good work... “Vera Chirwa, a lawyer and former prisoner ofconscience in Malawi, in a letter written to the

AI UK’s lawyers’ network

have lawyers as members, it is commonfor AI lawyer members to formspecialist groups, usually comprisingbetween six and 20 members. If greaternumbers of members are available,additional groups are formed.Networks of practitioners and lawstudents often exist alongside groupsor instead of groups. These areserviced either by Section staff or by asteering committee.

Not all specialist action andcampaigning has to be carried outthrough a lawyers’ group.Sections/coordinating structures withlimited human and financial resourcesmay consider campaigning, regularlyor on an ad hoc basis, by individuallawyer members or small clusters oflawyer members (two or three) whowould not require significant on-goingresourcing by a Section/coordinatingstructure.

Law students sometimes form all-student groups, working inconjunction with a group of qualifiedpractitioners. A student group can be agood source for the time and energyneeded to undertake campaigning andcan provide access to practical resourcessuch as photocopiers, reference materials

or meeting rooms through theiruniversity or college law faculties.

Section coordination of lawyers’groups is done in different ways,depending on resources. SomeSections, for example, take full chargeof all coordination through staffcoordinators who receive all mailingsfrom the legal network coordinator,assign the work to the group andprovide the necessary training andfunding. Some share the task, in whichcase the Section receives all mailingsfrom the IS but services rather thandirects the groups and provides onlysome funding. The model depends onthe circumstances of theSection/structure and its members.

The IS continues to developstrategies to increase the campaigningpotential of lawyers’ groups in thenetwork and encourages Sections to dothe same.


Lawyers holding an independent public inquiry intoallegations of an extrajudicial execution in Northern Irelandafter the UK Government refused such an inquiry© FRANKIE QUINN

jCHECKLISTWHAT YOU CAN ASK LAWYERS TO DO

j Meet the media Participation by a leading lawyer in amedia event – for example, a pressconference to launch a country report inwhich legal concerns are a major issue –can help you win coverage in the legal aswell as the wider media.

j Make a statementA public statement of support orconcern by a respected legalorganization or individual lawyer canbe specific or general. A specificstatement, such as on the need fordetainees to have access to lawyers,doctors and relatives, may be useful tohighlight the issue in your own and thetarget country. A general statement,such as one supporting AI’s work, canbe quoted when needed – whether inseeking contact with governmentofficials or seeking support or actionfrom individual lawyers. A shortstatement can be signed by all relevantorganizations and individuals as asimple and quick way of showing thelevel of support on an issue.

j Write a letterAn official letter written by a respectedlegal organization or a prominentmember of the legal community togovernment officials in a target countryand copied to the embassy can be agood indication of the level of concernwithin your community on a humanrights issue. A letter from an individuallawyer on official paper looks impressiveand immediately makes clear the statusof the author. Such letters also illustratethat AI’s concerns are shared by thewider community.

j Promote professional solidarityAsk lawyers or legal organizations inyour country to contact theircounterparts in a target country andoffer their support as co-professionals onhuman rights issues. This demonstrationof concern and professional solidarity

may also lead to opportunities forexchange visits and sharing expertiseand resources.

j Publicize AI’s concerns in themediaA regular AI or human rights column in alegal publication published by your barassociation or law society could featureappeal cases, or thematic and countryissues, using information from AIexternal reports and Urgent Actions,with the legal focus emphasized. Fromtime to time, space may be available forlonger, feature-length articles by alawyer, taking up human rights issuesfrom a legal perspective. In the generalmedia, an opinion piece (see Chapter 9)in the newspaper could be written by aleading lawyer sympathetic to AI’sconcerns (who is permitted to expresswider concerns than those in AI’smandate but who must then make it clearthat the article is not written on behalf ofAI). Copies of articles in the legal orgeneral press on country issues may besent with a covering letter to the relevantembassy, asking for a comment orresponse.

j Help raise fundsAsk a respected legal figure to appeal tolawyers for donations to AI as you planfundraising events of interest to membersof the international legal network.

j Encourage legal delegations tovisit a target countryA visit by a delegation of legalprofessionals – for example, a group ofbar association lawyers – to a targetcountry is an effective action for an AIlawyers’ group to promote. Attendingand observing trials of politicaldetainees can be another useful form ofaction if carried out by experiencedlawyers who have some training in trialobservation. However, in either case, thecountry researcher at the IS should beconsulted first.

j Organize a petitionOrganize a petition among the legalcommunity on the case of a professionalcolleague in detention or under threat.

Outreach/The International Legal Network 211

j Visit embassiesOffer to join an AI delegation to anembassy when there is a relevant legalcomponent to AI's concerns.

j Increase awarenessArrange a presentation at a universityduring the induction period for lawstudents. Sponsor a human rights lawyerto speak at a public meeting.

j Contact othersContact other professionals ororganizations that may have a particularinterest in a case.


Delegates to the African jurists’ colloquiumattending the opening of the Institute forTraining in Human Rights, Dakar, Senegal,1979. At the conclusion of the colloquium,delegates adopted a detailed resolutionproposing measures for the protection ofhuman rights in Africa.

“The task which still remains to beaccomplished is to make this ideal[of human rights] a reality.”Moustapha Seck, President of the SenegalBar Association (front row, second fromright).

1

OUTREACHTRADE UNIONS

In many societies trade unions and tradeunionists are in the frontline of the human rightsstruggle, seeking respect for social and economicrights in particular, but often civil and politicalrights as well. This section looks at:

‘Hand in hand for human rights’ – AI participation in a May Day rally in the

Philippines© AI

N Why trade unions are important to AI / 214

N Why trade unions might share AI’s concerns / 214


N Checklist: What you can ask trade unionists to do / 216

Why trade unions areimportant to AITrade unions represent millions of peopleand can speak on their behalf in defenceof human rights. They can also be animportant political force influencinggovernment action and public opinion.

Many trade unions have extensiveinternational networks, providingopportunities for dialogue, mutualsupport and which campaign on issuesrelevant to AI’s campaigning work. Theyoften have an organizationalinfrastructure that enables them tomobilize others and take action quickly.

Why trade unions mightshare AI’s concernsN The principle of solidarity is at theheart of both AI and trade unionism. N Human rights are the basis ofworkers’ rights. N Trade unionists in many societiesare activists for other human rights.N Trade unionists in many countriesare targeted for human rights violationsbecause of their activities.N AI has acted on behalf of manytrade unionists.N Many trade union officials andrank and file members are committed tohuman rights.N Trade unions share AI’s concernsat the efforts of some governments toundermine the basis of internationalsolidarity (specifically, the universalityof human rights) and to question thevalidity of specific rights (indivisibility ofhuman rights).

In the Cold War years trade unionfederations and affiliations reflectedwider ideological divisions. Sometimesthis led to tensions in outreach to tradeunions as AI was seen to be focusing onthe rights of the individual, whereas thefocus of trade unions is on collectiverights. Many of these tensions have nowdisappeared and AI has a cooperativeworking relationship with the trade unionmovement at the international level.

Preparations for the UN WorldConference on Human Rights in Viennain 1993 found AI and the trade unionmovement campaigning togetheragainst the efforts of governments toundermine the Universal Declarationon Human Rights.

Developing an outreachstrategy

gQUESTIONS

g What is the potential importanceof outreach to trade unions for AI asan organization in your society andfor its international campaigning?

g How is the trade unionmovement structured?

g What AI structure is best suitedto your needs?

g Does or can the trade unionmovement in your society influencegovernment policy and in particularits international relations policies?

g Do trade unions influence theposition of particular political parties?


Every year AI seeks to lobbynational trade uniondelegations attending theannual meeting of theInternational LabourOrganisation in Geneva.

AI’s aims in relation to trade unions

AI’s work with national and international trade unions aims to:

N maximize impact in protecting and promoting human rights – for labour rightsactivists and the general population – in countries where human rights are violated;

N exchange information on human rights violations and the means of combating them;

N maximize impact at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), initiatingappropriate criticism of human rights violations of working people;

N achieve full ratification of ILO Conventions No. 87 and No. 98, on freedom ofassociation and the right to organize.

Direct action

In 1987 members of theFurniture Timber and AlliedTrades Union in the UKcampaigned against theexport of gallows to AbuDhabi in the United ArabEmirates. Workers at thedocks from which thegallows were supposed tobe dispatched helped toensure that two sets ofgallows were not exported.

g Which trade unions are mostinfluential? Which have the mostmembers?

g What international links doesthe trade union movement have withother trade unions?

g Do trade unions influencepublic opinion? How do the tradeunions communicate with theirmembership and others (throughnewsletter, magazines, radio, etc)?

g Have trade unions previouslystated support for AI’s objectives?

g Do trade unions have officespace, printing facilities or otherresources they may be willing todonate to AI?

g Do trade unions have thecapacity to send appeals quickly (forexample, via fax) to home andforeign governments?

g Can trade unions donate or helpto collect funds for AI’s work?

g What issues are of most concernto the union movement at present?

g Do the different trade unions,or the trade union federations haveofficials/ members/a committeewho are responsible forinternational relations or links?

g How do the different unionstake decisions on the issues ofimportance to AI? Is it at an annualmeeting, in response to resolutionsat executive meetings or theposition of key officials, etc?

g Will maintaining regular oroccasional contact with key tradeunion members/officials achievemost of what AI needs?

g Can AI members who are tradeunion members win their union’ssupport for AI generally and onspecific issues?

g Is there enough potentialsupport from the trade unionmovement or is the trade unionmovement influential enough tojustify establishing a permanentoutreach structure?

g Is there enough expertisewithin AI or should sympathetic

Outreach/Trade Unions 215

Every year there is an actionaround International LabourDay (1 May) and a lobbying

action before annualmeetings of the ILO. AI

members who are also activein a trade union could try to

develop an outreachstructure or an ongoing

outreach program to tradeunionists, if resources are

available.

We just told them it was fun...

The German Section’s trade union co-group was re-formed in September 1995.Within weeks articles about AI and UAs were published in trade union newspapers.By November IG Metall, the largest trade union in the world, hosted a concert whichraised nearly US$100,000 for AI. The group is planning courses for trade unionistson trade union and human rights.

Their recipe for success was simple. In the words of the coordinator:“We never wrote about structures of the organization, never gave reports about

boring meetings and never talked about the difficulties we had. We always repeatedthat we are only a few members who are interested in trade union work, but we alsopointed out that our group grows, that we have success and a lot of fun. I think thiswas the method to get the success we have today.”

Swedish initiative

In 1996 a delegation from the Swedish Section met the presidents of both the whiteand blue collar national trade union federations. All agreed that they shared asimilar view of the state of the world, including the increasing danger for humanrights and the rights of trade unionists. It was confirmed that a more intensecooperation should be developed, chiefly in the form of networks of activists in thetwo federations. Since then the Urgent Action network has increased immensely.

trade unionists be recruited toadvise AI on its strategy and relationswith the trade union movement?

g What resources can AIrealistically devote to establishingand maintaining a permanentstructure or to servicing AI’s tradeunion members?

jCHECKLISTWHAT YOU CAN ASK TRADEUNIONISTS TO DO

j Join the UA network. Many tradeunions have secretarial support andfaxes, and appeals on headed paper canhave more impact. Perhaps use a singleUA on the case of a trade unionist tointroduce them to the scheme. Manyjournalists’ unions are asked by theirinternational federation to take action onbehalf of journalists featured in UAs. In anumber of AI Sections, trade unionsagree to act on all or some UAs –sometimes on particular countries,occupations or trade unions.

j Donate a monthly sum of money.

j Run a regular column oradvertisement in their publicationfeaturing AI’s campaigns and asking foraction (time or money).

j Take action in relation to specificcampaigns, such as writing togovernments at home or abroad insupport of AI’s calls.

j Pass a resolution on a human rightsissue and forward a copy to the embassyof the country.

j Display AI posters/leaflets in theiroffices.

j Include human rights educationtraining in educational programs theyrun.


“We think that pressure fromunions on the USGovernment on the issue ofthe right to form independenttrade unions was effective inpressuring Indonesia and ledto Muchtar Pakpahan’srelease.”AIUSA

International solidarity

Muchtar Pakpahan, the leader of an independent trade union in Indonesia, wassentenced to four years’ imprisonment in January 1995 for his trade union activities.AI worked with both national and international trade unions, ensuring press coverageand a huge volume of appeals. In the run-up to the International Labour Conference(ILC) in June that year, Muchtar Pakpahan was released — ostensibly on a legaltechnicality. Because his release was not confirmed as permanent, the work on hisbehalf continued. Delegates to the ILC used AI information which had been sent tothem by the Sections in their country and was handed out by the lobbyist at themeeting. The ILC condemned the violations of workers’ rights in Indonesia. In Octoberthe Indonesian Supreme Court acquitted Muchtar Pakpahan of the charges againsthim. Despite the rearrest of Muchtar Pakpahan following riots in Jakata in 1996,international trade union support for him has helped to keep his case in the public eye.

1

OUTREACHYOUTH ACTIVISTS

Optimism, energy and creativity are all qualitiesassociated the world over with youth and students.It is therefore important to build a partnershipwith youths and students. This section looks at:

N Why youth activists are important to AI / 218



Working within the education system / 220

N Supporting young members / 221

N Checklist: What you can ask youth and students to do / 222

Children participate in the launch of AI’scampaign on China by the Philippine

Section, March 1996© AI

Why youth activists areimportant to AIYouth and students, and theirorganizations, are not necessarilyinfluential in society (yet), or in relationto target societies, but there are manyreasons which make outreach to themimportant.N Students may have ready access toresources as well as the time to be active. N The organizational infrastructurefor students – such as student federationsthat link up with regional or nationalbodies, or the administrative systems ofuniversities or colleges – may be ofbenefit to human rights campaigning.N Students may have access tospecialist knowledge: students are trainedin professional skills and research, andhave access to academic materials as well asto specialists in their area of study. Theymay therefore be in a position toundertake specialist work for AI Sections.N Youth and students may be morewilling to initiate and take part in publicand direct forms of campaigning actionthan other AI members.N Attitudes and associations formedwhile young and during student life canbe enduring. Youth should therefore bebrought into AI’s campaigning in adynamic way, through full involvementin the design of campaigns and in theleadership of the organization.N There are international youthorganizations and networks that canprovide a valuable opportunity fordialogue and action on AI’s concerns.N Outreach to young people andadapting AI materials and message toyouth culture can enhance AI’scredibility with an appeal to a largecross-section of the population.

Developing an outreachstrategyGenerally, the most effective way tomobilize young people and students isto empower them to moblize themselves.Some or all of the questions below mayhelp young people in your Section todevelop an outreach strategy for youth.

gQUESTIONS

g What issues are young people inyour country most motivated by?

g Which organizations are mosteffective in mobilizing youngpeople and why?

g What youth organizations existin your country? Are there nationalstudent associations, scoutingorganizations, youth wings of politicalparties, or youth bodies attached toreligious, social justice orenvironmental organizations? Howmany members do they have? Do theyhave their own media? Do theyinfluence public opinion orgovernment? Do they generate actionfrom their membership? Do they haveinternational affiliations?

g Could AI do a joint outreachproject with a youth organization, orjust learn about how thatorganization does its outreach andmembership work with students andyouth?

g What is likely to be the mosteffective way of approaching youthand student organizations? Is itthrough particular individuals?


Youth-friendly materials

Sections should think about modifying their “standard” material to make it moreaccessible to youth groups. The Canadian Section (English-speaking), for example,creates campaign packages which are used by both local groups and youth andstudent groups. In addition to this, there is a specialized mailing for the youthprogram. If specialised mailings for youth are to be planned, then Sections couldconsider focusing on key months of the year, such as the start of each academic term,and offer advice, such as how to recruit and keep new members.

For the Children’s DayAction in 1995, youthgroups in countries that hadratified the Convention onthe Rights of the Childresearched when theircountry had reported to theCommittee, and whether itsreport was accurate.

In Grenoble, France, astudent journal with acirculation of 4,000 devotestwo pages a month to AI.

g What media target youth? Whatsort of information may they beinterested in receiving from AI?

g Will it be necessary to producespecialised materials to reach out toyouth, to generate action and toretain support? What resources will beneeded to do this?

g Do you have the resources tomake contact with youthorganizations? Are there influential orlarge youth organizations near you? Arethey planning any big meetings inwhich AI could be involved?

Outreach in practiceIt is important to know how you can bestencourage the participation of youthand students. Some of the particularskills and facilities which young peopleand students have to offer are listedbelow. Once you have identified theseskills, you may need to provide trainingand support in order to utilize theseskills effectively.

N General skills gained from theirstudiesStudents have access to vast amounts ofinformation in their places of

education. Their training in researchcan be utilized by the Section inparticular projects, for instance inresearching details of homegovernment legislation and humanrights.

N Particular skills gained from theircoursesM language students may be able tohelp translate materials and may linkup with AI groups in the countrieswhere they spend time improving theirlanguages;M business students who spend a yearworking in industry can be encouragedto raise discussions in the workplace onethics and human rights in the businesssector, or to undertake research onattitudes in the business communitytowards human rights;M medical students can highlightissues of human rights and the medicalprofession (such as organ transplants,executions and torture) in theirmedical schools;M law students can bring legalanalysis to actions or give talks oninternational human rights law;M international students can giveinput on their own cultures and todiscussions on the situation in theirown country;

Outreach/Youth Activists 219

Unfortunately due to copyright reasons we are unable to show this image. Please

contact your nearest Amnesty International office toobtain a hardcopy of this publication.

Scandinavian delegates to the 13th WorldFestival of Youth and Students in 1989 in

Pyongyang, North Korea, protest at the absence of AI delegates, who

were unable to attend because the North Korean authorities delayed the

issuing of their visas.© PAUL SVEISTRUP

M student teachers can design classeson human rights education;M marketing students can surveyattitudes to or awareness of AI orhuman rights in the community oramong specific sectors of thecommunity;M public relations orcommunications students may be ableto help produce campaigning andmedia strategies and materials, or tostage events;M design students may be able todesign materials for AI campaigns. M students may be aware of thedebate on military service andconscientious objection: this can be putto use in working on cases ofconscientious objectors imprisoned inother countries, or on ill-treatment ofyoung people performing militaryservice.

Working within the educationsystemFind out about common rules andregulations within the school systemthat affect how youth groups areformed and run. Are there restrictionson fundraising in schools? Do mostschools require the mail for a schoolclub to go to a teacher (regardless of theteacher’s role in the group)? Giveadvice about how youth members cancope with these situations and beeffective activists.

N Adapt to the students’ timetableAdapt your calendar of campaigningactions to fit in with the academic yearin your country. When majorinternational campaigns fall at anawkward time for youth activities, forinstance when a campaign straddles themajor school or college holidaysthought needs to be given to arrangingactivities so that effort is sustained or asecond push is made after the holidays.

Encourage youth groups toremain active during the main holidayperiod by sending a mailing at thebeginning of the holidays to thesegroups containing ideas specifically forthis period. When groups are

disbanding for the holiday period,individual members in the groups canbe encouraged to sign up for actions. Atthe end of the holiday period, thesemembers can be sent a special mailingstrongly encouraging them to take outformal individual AI membership.

N Encourage the talents of youngpeopleYoung people’s energy to undertakeimaginative actions and respondquickly to actions requiring an urgentresponse offers a tremendousadvantage over some local groups whowork to different schedules and cannotalways be available for immediate large-scale action. It is worth considering howstudent and youth groups can beintegrated into the Section’s plans forcrisis response work.

For sheer volume of appeals andstrong publicity, youth groups are oftenunbeatable. It is worth considering,however, which campaigns would mostbenefit from the special talents of youthand student members, and which maybenefit more from the input of othergroups in society.

Decide what sort of issues may bemost appealing for young people. Talkto others who work with young peopleand work out what some of the keymotivating issues are in your context.For example, is it important to findcases of youth/children/studentvictims of human rights violations foryouth members to work on?

Scouting for success

The Dutch Section made a big impact inthe Scouting World Jamboree, held inthe Netherlands in 1995. More than30,000 young people attended theevent. One of the major themes washuman rights, including a focus on thedeath penalty. The Dutch Sectionproduced imaginative materials for thejamboree, in cooperation with youthcoordinators in other Sections. Theiraim was to get a high percentage of thescouts and visitors to the jamboreeinvolved in AI’s work on return to theirown country.

In Ontario, Canada, theTeachers’ Federation hassubsidized an Internetaccount, including a certainnumber of free hours, for allschools. They approved aproposal for schools toreceive Urgent Actionselectronically.


Calling on Europe

An action was issued by theIS in October 1995 at thetime the Council of Europewas running a Campaignagainst Racism,Xenophobia, Antisemitismand Intolerance. The actioncalled for youth members inEuropean countries tocontact the NationalCampaign Committee ofthe Council of Europe intheir country and ask themto look at AI’s report onRomania. While the scopeof the Council of Europe’sCampaign went beyondAI’s mandate, there wassome overlap offeringcampaigning opportunities.

Supporting youngmembersYouth and students are a major part ofthe membership in many Sections. Insome they are organized in specificyouth and student groups. There aremany issues that should be addressedassociated with servicing thismembership and retaining theirsupport.

Firstly you must establish that youhave the resources to keep the youngmembers. Second, you should thinkabout how you will ensure that some ofthe youth maintain their interest in AIin the future. It should not be taken forgranted that the young members oftoday will remain involved in AI asadults. We need to recognize that youthis a time of exploration, and not assumethat the young members of today will beAI’s future. However, a positiveexperience in AI while people areyoung may lead to further involvementlater on.

If youth members do not go on todevelop their interest in human rightsissues, then skills learned are not builtupon and a huge and influentialpotential membership is lost.

cTIPS

c Try to make a concerted effort todevelop young leadership by involvingyouth in supporting youth work. Ifyoung members are excluded from thedecision-making process, Sections riskalienating and losing them. Talk toyouth and student leaders inside andoutside AI about outreach work withyoung people.

c Look for opportunities to supportyouth activism in general, not solelyyouth or student groups. Find ways tohelp multi-issue youth clubs (such asyouth groups associated with a place ofworship) to get involved in humanrights activism. Many skills aretransferrable across issues. Helpingyouth as activists makes AI a credibleactivist option for youth and may

encourage people to continue in AI asadults.

c Ensure that there is continuity incontacts between AI youth/studentgroups and the Section. It is oftensuggested that youth groups are not themost suitable groups to take up cases ofAction Files for long-term work.However, they should not be excludedfrom taking on Action Files if they showcommitment and continuity. How canyou help to make this happen?

c Involve teachers in youth groups.In the Canadian Section(francophone), each school group hasan animateur – a teacher who supervisesthe group and keeps in contact with theSection office.

c Share Action Files between severalgroups in the same area. It has beensuggested that if continuity cannot beregularly found at the group level, thena structure must be created to “house”the stability and expertise needed foreffective Action File work. Thisstructure could take the form of acoordinating body, perhaps consistingof trained youth field workers, a Sectionstaff member and other interestedvolunteers. These people could then bethe point of contact for the youthgroups and the relevant people in theIS. They would be a key resource forassisting participating groups indeveloping strategies for their Action Files.Such a model would mean that therewould be no need for a direct link betweenthe IS and single youth/student groups.The Action Files would be assigneddirectly to the coordinating body.

c Encourage and support jointactivities between local groups andyouth groups, such as fundraising,public awareness, demonstrations andoutreach work to other sectors.

c Consider holding regionalmeetings of youth and student groupsto establish a network and focus onactivist skills and human rightsknowledge development. Such

Outreach/Youth Activists 221

Friendship bracelets

To highlight the humanrights violations of streetchildren and as part of a

fundraising appeal, aSection organized petitionswhich were sent to schoolsalong with two friendshipbracelets made by streetchildren in Guatemala.

Students then organizedextra bracelets and sold

them, using the opportunityto create awareness, take

action and raise funds.

Students at a design collegeapproached an AI Section

offering to contribute a PublicService Announcement for

free, as they needed todesign an announcement as

part of their studies.

It is estimated that AIUSAstudent groups wrote more

than 480,000 letters during1995 alone.

meetings can be highly motivating.

c Help improve the image of youthgroups inside local groups (and viceversa): show the local groups what theyoung members have been doing;report their successful activities in theSection newsletter.

c Train local groups in how to dealwith new members effectively. Youngmembers joining a local group afterleaving their school or college groupmay find themselves patronized andtheir experience and energyunrecognized and unused.

c Make sure there is some continuityfor graduating student members as theymove into the world of paid work. Forexample, provide them with details oftheir local group and continue mailingsto their home address. AIUSA puts anadvertisement in its end-of-year editionof the newsletter, entitled “Don’tgraduate from Amnesty International”.

jCHECKLISTWHAT YOU CAN ASK YOUTH ANDSTUDENTS TO DO

j Help raise awareness in thecommunity.

j Participate in mass letter-writing,demonstrations, street theatre, lobbying,petitions, public meetings, vigils,symbolic events, etc.

j Help with building contacts withyouth in the target country.

j Work with youth and studentorganizations in the target country.

j Become involved in crisis responseactivities.

j Twin with groups in other countries.

j Promote and undertake humanrights education.

j Stage international dinners, serving

food from countries being worked on bygroups.

j Organize art competitions with ahuman rights theme, with the entriesbeing displayed in a public place.

j Organize concerts or dances, toraise money, educate and have fun!


1

OUTREACHRELIGIOUS GROUPS

Many adherents of different religious beliefs findthat their faith gives them a particular motivationfor human rights work. AI can provide practicalways of expressing their support for humanrights. This section looks at:

Ian Martin, former Secretary General of AI,with the General Secretary of the World

Council of Churches, Emilio Castro, April 1991© AI

N Why religious groups are important to AI / 224

N Why religious groups may contribute to AI’s work / 225


N Who you can approach / 226

N Understanding different religions / 226

N Ensuring AI’s impartiality / 227


N Checklist: What you can ask the religious community to do / 228

Why religious groupsare important to AISince the formation of AI manyindividuals, groups and communitiesfrom all of the world’s major faiths havebeen deeply involved in AI’s work.Many of the victims on whose behalf AIhas campaigned have been imprisonedfor the peaceful exercise of theirreligious beliefs, and people ofreligious affiliation in other countrieshave been actively involved in thecampaigns on these and other cases.

In many societies religious faithsare central to the values of the widersociety. Religions often have a centralrole to play in the promotion oftolerance or intolerance, which in turninfluence the rights on which AIcampaigns. People in positions ofreligious authority may:N influence the opinions and actionsof the religion’s adherents;N represent that opinion; N help shape wider communityopinion;N influence those in secularauthority.

This was highlighted during the1994 and 1995 UN World Conferencesin Cairo (on population) and Beijing(on women), where officialrepresentatives of the Roman CatholicChurch and Muslim bodies had astrong influence over certaingovernments in debates on issues ofrelevance to AI.

Outreach to different religionsand their organizations is important formany other reasons.N Many of the world’s religions haveestablished international networks thatprovide channels for contact anddialogue between people of differentsocieties. People travel and work indifferent places, hold conferences andmeetings that bring people togetherand provide opportunities for pursuinghuman rights issues. In some cases thismay include passing on information toAI about human rights violations.N Religious bodies often establishmeans of communications, including

journals, newsletters and radio andtelevision channels. These provideopportunities for getting AI’s messageacross and persuading people to act forhuman rights and to join AI. Examplesyou might like to take up are:

M diocesan newsletters in theChristian churches, which reach a largenumber of people. Find out how to getan introductory article about AI intosuch publications;

M if there is a religiouscorrespondent on your local radiostation, see if you could have a “spot”highlighting a recent campaigningactivity by AI.N Many religions in differentsocieties play a key role in the provisionof education, which may or may notincorporate a human rights educationcomponent. Education has thepotential of promoting toleration andthe values of human rights. In this wayreligion has an important role inpreventing human rights violations.Religious affiliated schools havesignificant practical involvement insome AI Sections.


fOutreach to religiousorganizations needsto be done withsensitivity. In somecases it iscontroversial withinAI’s membership; inother cases it cansimply be impracticalor unsafe.

AI is a secular organization.This is an affront to many indifferent religious faiths.Laws and practices thatviolate human rights havesometimes been justified byreference to differentreligious texts and byparticular religious leadersand followers. Incampaigning against thesepractices it is important thatAI is never seen as being foror against any religion. It isbest to argue against theviolations that result fromreligious laws by referring tothe universal valuesenshrined and agreed in theUDHR.

Nein Pagoda in Myanmar, with Buddhistmonks in the foreground. Pagodas wereoften the meeting place of demonstratorsduring 1988 protests against one-partyrule.

Why religious groupsmay contribute to AI’sworkBelief in the sanctity of human life isreflected in many religious traditions.Issues of justice and peace are also atthe heart of some traditions. Manyreligions have organizations that striveat a grassroots level for civil, political,economic and social rights withincommunities.

Some religions have a practical,social component. They thereforewelcome involvement and work with AIon behalf of people of all faiths who arevictims of human rights abuses.

Developing an outreachstrategyThe questions below, not all of whichneed be addressed, may help youdetermine an outreach strategy:

gQUESTIONSg What are the important religiousorganizations in your society?

g What is the relationship betweenthese religious organizations orleaders and the government or state?

g What is the role of religiousorganizations or leaders in shapingpublic opinion or the opinion orposition of specific sectors ofsociety?

g What religious media exist inyour society?

g What international links do thesereligious organizations/ leaders have?

g What is the involvement ofreligion in the educational system?

g Does the campaign/countrystrategy or other information suggestthat particular religious organizationsor leaders in the target country maybe able to influence the human rightssituation of concern to AI?

g Are there connections betweenthe religious communities or leadersin your country and those in the targetcountry?

g Does the country/campaignstrategy suggest that action from aparticular religious leader ororganization in your country maycarry some weight with thegovernment in the target country?

g Are religious NGOs in yourcountry employing people working inthe target country or which have aparticular interest in the target country(for instance, Roman Catholicorganizations in Europe working inIndonesia/East Timor)? If so, could youorganize sharing of information or jointmeetings with them? What potential dothey have to act on AI’s concerns?

g Is there willingness amongreligious groups in your country tocampaign on behalf of their fellow-believers and others in the targetcountry? Do you know of any visitsplanned by religious leaders that couldbe useful to campaigning?

g Are religious people the victimsof repression in the target countryon which you are campaigning? If so,could this provide an opportunity foroutreach to members of that religious

Outreach/Religious Groups 225

Candle Day

In Australia the involvement of many Roman Catholic schools has been central to thesuccess of AI’s most important annual fundraising event, “Candle Day”. Each yearthousands of school children take to the streets to sell badges for AI, raisinghundreds of thousands of dollars for human rights work.

Teachers often help to promote AI, and local AI groups provide speakers. Someof the Roman Catholic religious orders advertise for volunteers to help out in the AIoffices.

Meeting the Cardinal

During AI’s 1994campaign on Colombia theAustralian Section learned

that a Roman Catholicdelegation would shortly be

attending an internationalmeeting at the Vatican atwhich the Cardinal fromColombia would also be

present. The strategy hadidentified the Roman

Catholic Church as havingan important role to play in

supporting the legitimacyof human rights activism.Following AI’s approach,

these concerns were raiseddirectly by the Australian

delegation with theColombian Cardinal.

community in other countries to raisethe profile of AI’s work?

g Would appeals from religiouscommunities in your country givethe campaign a more diverse imageand help to convince the target countrythat AI’s concerns are not based onany single cultural or religiousperspective?

g Do you know of a major meetingof a religious organization duringthe course of an AI campaign atwhich it may be possible toencourage some discussion or astatement on human rights concerns?

Who you can approachDepending on the campaign/action,you may be trying to mobilize some orall of the following in your religiousoutreach work:N officials, leaders and members orfollowers of various religious faiths atthe national and local levels;N national and local churches,synagogues, temples, mosques,gurdwaras and other worship centres;N national and local publications ofthe various religious faiths;N academic institutions, individualscholars and experts in theology;N human rights groups or advocatesamong the various religious faiths;national religious organizations.

Understanding differentreligions

N Make sure that you learn somebackground information about thestructure and basic tenets of thereligious body you are planning toapproach.

N Make sure you know something ofthe attitudes to human rights, peace andjustice issues in the religious group youare approaching.

N Ensure that the information youprovide is balanced. If you areapproaching, for example, a Sikhcommunity for the first time, take casesof Sikhs who have been victims ofhuman rights violations. However, oneof the aims of religious outreach is toinvolve religious groups in campaigningagainst human rights violations ingeneral, not just against one sector ofthe population. It is therefore advisablethat at your first meeting you give abroad overview of AI’s work on peopleof all faiths or none.

N Find out about the major festivalsof the faith and be sensitive about askingpeople to take action around these dates.


fPeople who areactive in a religiouscommunity may beinterested in humanrights issues buthave too manycommitmentsalready to becomeactively involvedwith AI. Be sensitiveabout this. Duringyour first contact, donot ask too much.Giving a talk at aregular meeting orworship event maybe the most practicalway of makingcontact withmembers of the faith.

International standards on freedomof religion

N UN Declaration on the Eliminationof All Forms of Intolerance and ofDiscrimination Based on Religion or Belief,proclaimed by General Assemblyresolution 36/55 on 25 November 1981

N European Convention for theProtection of Human Rights andFundamental Freedoms, Article 9

N International Covenant on Civil andPolitical Rights, Article 18

N Universal Declaration on HumanRights, Article 18

Religious groups and congregations mighthave links with other outreach sectors.Here, a Roman Catholic priest says mass for the safety of the work forceduring a strike occupation in a warehousein Guatemala, 1984.

Ensuring AI’s impartialityThe following questions may help youavoid misrepresenting AI’s position:*

g QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

g Is AI affiliated to any particularreligious tradition?No. AI members include believers frommany different faiths. The movementtakes no position on any religion, nordoes it present its appeals togovernments in terms of the teachingsof any religious tradition.

g Do the principles of humanrights which are inherent in AI’smandate originate from particularreligious traditions?No. The Universal Declaration ofHuman Rights (UDHR), on which AI isbased, has been affirmed bygovernments of all political ideologiesand religious affiliations. The UDHRreflects the values shared by manydifferent faiths, traditions and cultures.

g How do some governmentsconnect human rights violationswith religious teachings?Some governments justify human rightsviolations – for example, the use of thedeath penalty – by referring toparticular interpretations of religiousteachings. However, each of the majorfaiths includes certain teachings thatsome people regard as the basis for theiropposition to human rights violations,including the death penalty. This meansthat a member of any faith can, on thebasis of the teachings of that faith, be amember of AI. Because AI does notmake religious arguments in its appeals,it does not quote these teachings.

g During AI meetings, is itappropriate for a group to includeprayers or other forms of religiousexpression?No. The principle of inclusiveness of allpeople who support the AI mandate

must be respected. It would thereforebe inappropriate for a group to includeprayers during an AI meeting. Thosemembers who are interested in sharingreligious expression can do so outsidethe context of a formal AI meeting.

g In AI meetings at which thereare guests who are members ofreligious communities, how do weallow for the religious expression ofthese communities?Working together effectively withpeople of diverse cultures necessitatesrespecting and to some degreeunderstanding those cultures. It mustbe clear to the co-organizers of meetingsthat AI is not a religious or politicalorganization. However, there should bea certain freedom for the guests topresent their perspective in a way whichis true to their interpretation of theirown traditions. At the same time it needsto be clear that any religious expressionbelongs to the invited guest, not to AI.

g Can AI provide speakers inreligious services?Yes, provided that AI’s principles ofindependence and impartiality and thefact that AI is not a religiousorganization are made clear during thepresentation.

g Can religious arguments beused in AI letter-writing?No. Arguments used in letters in thename of AI should be based oninternational human rights agreementsand the country’s own constitution. It isunwise to confuse the picture byquoting religious arguments.

Outreach structuresThere are a variety of structures formedin different sections with regards toreligious outreach. The primary aim offorming an outreach structure shouldnot be to take up only the cases of humanrights violations against people with thesame identity. If this is the case, thestructure can end up as a networksearching for cases within a narrowsubject area and ignoring other cases.

Outreach/Religious Groups 227

* The Canadian Section (English-speaking)has produced a very helpful set of

guidelines, Guidelines for Religious Activitiesand Outreach in AICS (ES), from which this

series of questions is taken.

fBe aware that peoplein the group you are

approaching mayhave personal

experience of humanrights violations of

the sort you aredescribing. The

Baha’i community,for example, have

been severelypersecuted in Iran

and Iraq because oftheir religious faith.This may mean they

are particularly opento AI’s campaigning.

It may also mean thatthey do not want to

be involved forsecurity and

personal reasons.

jCHECKLISTWHAT YOU CAN ASK THE RELIGIOUSCOMMUNITY TO DO

j Introduce specific cases into theirregular activities, such as in their acts ofworship, perhaps by inviting AI membersto speak at these services.

j Feature concerns/cases in nationalor local publications produced by theircommunity asking for supporting action.

j Issue a statement or send an open orprivate letter addressed to the targetgovernment, or to others in the targetcountry or to the home government,condemning the violations of human rightsand urging them to take concrete steps.

j Encourage others to take action toprotect human rights.

j Contact their co-religionists in thetarget country to foster discussion and tosupport the human rights community there.

j Raise funds for human rights work,make a donation to AI.


1

OUTREACHTHE MEDICAL SECTOR

Health professionals are often concerned abouthuman rights issues and many human rightsviolations have a direct bearing on medical ethicsand practice. This section looks at:

N Why the medical sector is important to AI / 230

N Why health professionals might be interested in AI’s work / 230


N Setting up a health professionals’ network / 231

N Support received by network groups / 231

N Checklist: What you can ask health professionals to do / 233

The Irish Section stages an anti-deathpenalty demonstration during a visit to

Ireland by US President Bill Clinton. Manyhealth professionals are involved in

campaigning work against the deathpenalty and other forms of cruel, inhuman

or degrading treatment or punishment.© AI

Why the medical sectoris important to AIThere are a multitude of reasons whyoutreach to health professionals isimportant to AI’s campaigning. Many ofthe human rights violations that fallwithin AI’s mandate have a healthperspective. Often, there is a cross-overbetween the ethics of the medical sectorand human rights standards. Healthprofessionals are usually influentialmembers of society – both at home andin target countries. In most countriesthey have national associations torepresent them, which are usually partof international medical associations.

Why healthprofessionals might beinterested in AI’s workAmong the reasons why healthprofessionals might help AI’scampaigning are:N Health professionals, particularlyphysicians, are involved in administeringthe death penalty in some countries. Inothers, they supervise punitivemutilation and corporal punishment. Insome, physicians have been implicated incertifying fitness for torture and even inapplying torture.N Prisoners are often held in cruel,inhuman or degrading conditionswithout adequate access to medical care.They are also the victim of a variety ofbreaches of medical ethics, such as lackof confidentiality, disregard for the needfor informed consent and lack of respectfor personal autonomy.N Health professionals are themselvesnot immune to human rights violations.As prominent members of theircommunities, often with political viewsthat they express peacefully, theyfrequently find themselves the victims ofabuses. Medical neutrality is oftenviolated in situations of conflict. Healthprofessionals fulfilling theirhumanitarian obligations withimpartiality find themselves targeted byone or both sides to a dispute.

Outreach structuresThe most common model in AI Sectionsfor outreach to the medical sector is ahealth professionals’ group. Such groupsconsist of doctors, dentists, nurses,physiotherapists, psychologists, medicalstudents and others who work togetherwithin the AI mandate to opposeviolations of human rights. Currently,the AI health professionals network hasgroups in more than 30 countries.

The advantages of such groups are:N Health professionals have a specialunderstanding of the health implicationsof human rights violations. Many of themwant to join a group that works on humanrights from the health perspective.N Within a professionalenvironment, a health professional witha concern for human rights may feelisolated and uncertain about the way toact on that concern. A network groupprovides contact with other interestedhealth professionals who are alreadyworking for human rights.N The voices of health professionalscarry special credibility when it comesto the medical side of human rights. AIneeds that credibility to campaignagainst violations.N Health professionals provideexpertise within the AI movement. Thecontacts generated by a network group,for instance, may enable treatment tobe arranged for a released prisoner whohas been tortured.N Members of AI network groups arein a unique position to educate thehealth professions about human rights.There are also several reasons why a healthprofessional would want to be part of anAI health professionals network group:

MThe support and informationprovided by AI enable healthprofessionals to focus their effortswhere they are most needed, so thatthey maximize the impact of the timethey devote to human rights.

MNetwork groups providecontact with colleagues who sharehuman rights concerns and they allowhealth professionals to speak with acollective voice when individual voicesmay not be heard.


The Pakistan Section beganas a group of doctors, beforespreading out and attractinga broader membership fromsociety.

Setting up a health professionals’ networkIdentify other health professionals whoare enthusiastic and interested inworking in a network group. Onceactive, a group will probably find iteasier to make contact with otherhealth professionals who want to workfor human rights.

Choose a coordinator – a memberwho is prepared to act as a centralorganizer for the group and who will dosecretarial tasks. The coordinator will bethe point of contact with the AI Sectionand with the medical office at the IS.Information coming from the medicaloffice to the coordinator forms the basisof much of the group’s activity.

There is no blueprint. Somegroups are very large and organized ona national basis. Others are local and allthe members know each other. Inseveral countries there are localbranches that fit into a nationalnetwork.

Some groups meet regularly,anything between once a month andonce a year. Other groups never meet,communicating by letter, phone, fax ande-mail.

The internal workingarrangements of each group aredecided by its members in conjunctionwith the AI Section. There may be asingle coordinator or a steeringcommittee. Functions within the groupare allocated in various ways. Thesearrangements will depend on the localrealities faced by the Section and group.

A network group may start off withthree people who meet face-to-face anda fourth member 200 kilometres awaywho stays in contact by letter andtelephone. Five years later it mightconsist of three sub-groups with a centralorganizing committee that is electedannually. Network groups change asthey grow and conditions change.

Different conditions demanddifferent styles. What really matters isfor each group to work out the best wayto work effectively on the issues thatmatter to it.

Support received bynetwork groups N Medical office. The medical officeat the IS provides information andsupport to AI health professionalnetwork groups worldwide. N Medical Actions. Prompt access toreliable information is the life-blood ofeffective human rights work. Themedical office provides a steady flow ofinformation on health-related humanrights violations in the form of MedicalActions, which are sent to thecoordinators of AI network groupsaround the world. They are thenpassed on to the individual groupmembers. Medical Actions raise thealarm over specific cases of refusal ofmedical care to prisoners, of healthprofessionals who have sufferedhuman rights violations, and of widerissues of medical ethics in the contextof human rights. They give detailedinformation and suggest campaigningstrategies to be used by networkgroups, including letter-writingappeals, that have been planned tomaximize the impact of AI’s protest.Medical Actions provide thefoundation for much of the humanrights work performed by networkgroups.N Campaigns. Network groupscontribute to general AI countrycampaigns by exposing the healthaspects of human rights violations inthe country or of the issue in question.They can also conduct outreach toother members of the medicalprofession domestically, where calledfor in national strategies.N Newsletter. The medical officepublishes a newsletter which is sent toall groups and other interested healthprofessionals and institutions. Thenewsletter contains information aboutthe activities of the AI healthprofessionals network, as well asarticles of human rights interest fromthe general and medical press. It alsocarries notices of forthcoming relevantmeetings and publications. N Other publications. Other

Outreach/The Medical Sector 231

cTIP

If medical concerns are amajor issue, invite a leading

health professional to launchan AI report at a press

conference, or to be on thepanel.

In May 1995,representatives of the AI

health professionals’network met in London to

discuss the role of doctors,nurses and other health

workers in AI’s campaign forhuman rights. Participants

attended from 21 countries.

publications are produced by themedical office in response to perceivedneeds in health-related human rights.Recent publications include abibliography of human rightsliterature, an international survey ofrehabilitation centres for victims ofhuman rights violations, and acompendium of the majorinternational ethical codes anddeclarations relevant to healthprofessionals.N General support network. The

medical office provides advice to networkgroups on other matters that they maytake up, such as planning meetings onhuman rights for health professionals.When the entire network iscampaigning on a health-related humanrights theme, the medical office providessupport in the form of planning,information resources and coordination.N AI Sections. Network groupscoordinate their work with the AI Sectionin their country. The Section ensures thatnetwork group activity fits in with other


Human Rights and the Health Professions isproduced at the IS for the healthprofessionals’ network

AI work and helps network groupsmaximize their impact. The Sectionoffers practical advice and supplies thefull range of reports and policydocuments produced by the IS. Inaddition, it may help groups withadministrative facilities, such as officespace, telephone, fax and photocopiers.N Network groups. Contacts withother AI health professionals networkgroups may be a valuable source ofsupport in terms of advice andexperience.

jCHECKLISTWHAT YOU CAN ASK HEALTHPROFESSIONALS TO DO

j Send lettersLetters can be politically neutral appealsto governments, prison officials, policeand national associations, or letters ofsupport to prisoners themselves.Letters sent by medical networks carryextra weight when the subject of anappeal is a fellow health professional ora person deprived of medical care, orwhen the writers protest against a humanrights violation that is also a breach ofmedical ethics. The Medical Actions sentout by the medical office at the IS identifyspecific cases and give the addresses towhich appeals should be sent formaximum effect. Much of the mosteffective work done by AI healthprofessionals network groups is achievedby this simple means.

j Arrange for publicity – in medicaljournals, through mailings to doctors,through displaying AI posters and leafletsin waiting rooms, etc.

j Approach national associations –ask them to take positions and raiseparticular cases and issues with the homegovernment, other governments andprofessional counterparts in othercountries.

j Publish a letter or articleThese can be about a case featured in aMedical Action for publication in thegeneral or medical press.

j Make a medical ethics presentationSuch presentations should have a humanrights theme and could be made at aprofessional meeting.

j Conduct a surveyCarry out a survey of awareness of ahuman rights issue, such as the deathpenalty, among professional colleagues,and use the results to campaign forgreater human rights education.

j Contact the ISIf a medical professional is travellingprofessionally to a meeting or to work ina country where human rights violationsare happening, ask them to contact the ISto see if there is anything it can do.

j Organize a petitionThis could be done on the case of aprofessional colleague in detention orunder threat.

j Join a delegationOffer to join an AI delegation to anembassy when there is a medicalcomponent to AI’s concerns.

j Circulate a newsletter This could be distributed to networkgroup members and to medical librariesand professional bodies.

j Investigate medical treatmentSeek information in your country aboutpossibilities for medical treatment forvictims of human rights violations.

j Educate professional colleaguesAsk them to offer their services toorganizations that care for victims ofhuman rights violations.

j Urge your government tocontribute to the UN Voluntary Fund forVictims of Torture

j Monitor the pressWatch out for important press articles onhuman rights and send a copy to yourSection or the IS.

j Film showsOrganize a screening of a film

Outreach/The Medical Sector 233

highlighting medical human rightsconcerns, such as the AI video “Doctorsand Torture”.

j VolunteerVolunteer your professional services torefugee organizations working withvictims of human rights violations.

j Raise medical human rights issues Raise such issues at the general meetingof your national association and seekresolutions in favour of the protection ofhuman rights.

j Organize a human rights groupwithin your national professionalassociation.

j Sponsor a human rights speaker ata public meeting.

j Share materialShare medical human rightscampaigning material with other AInetwork groups.

j Inform the ISInform the medical office at the IS ofissues on which you think the networkshould be campaigning.

j Collect informationCollect information and campaignconsistently on a medical human rightsissue, such as physician participation incorporal punishment.

j Raise fundsOrganize a fundraising day at yourworkplace.


1

OUTREACHWORKING ON WOMEN’SHUMAN RIGHTS

AI’s desire to reach out to the women’s sector ismotivated by its fundamental belief in theprotection and promotion of human rights ofboth men and women, and in the important rolewomen perform in pursuing this aim. Outreach towomen has a distinctive dimension because of AI’scommitment to raise the profile of women’shuman rights in its work in research,campaigning, on human rights education andawareness. AI’s effectiveness in winning thesupport of women for all AI’s concerns is closelylinked to how AI can realize its commitment tosupport the struggles of women against gender-based human rights violations and integratingtheir human rights issues into all aspects of ourwork. This section looks at:

Dr Habiba Hasan calls for the release ofMa Thida, a prisoner of conscience from

Myanmar, at an event staged during the UNConference on Women in Beijing, 1995.

© AI

N Why outreach to women is important to AI / 236

N Developing a women’s outreach strategy / 237


N Checklist: What you can ask women’s organizations to do / 240

Why outreach towomen is important to AIHalf the world’s population are women.They have established a myriad oforganizations to defend and promotetheir rights, and constitute a massworldwide force that AI must reach tobe effective.

1995 signalled the beginning ofthe new UN Decade for Women. Itmarked another turning point in thelives and struggles of women all overthe world as thousands of activists cameto Beijing for the Fourth UN WorldConference on Women.

1995 was also significant for AI’swork on women’s human rights. Welaunched an international themecampaign to highlight the issue ofwomen’s human rights in the lead up tothe Beijing Conference. This was agreat success in many respects,including the expansion of contactsbetween AI Sections and women’sgroups in their countries. The sameyear AI, through the InternationalCouncil Meeting (ICM), committeditself to making women’s human rightsa top priority as the organization workstowards the new millennium.

AI’s outreach work to prominentwomen and women’s groups andorganizations is important for manyreasons. N Contact with women’sorganizations increases AI’s awarenessand sensitivity about issues relating towomen’s human rights.N Many national women’sorganizations are part of internationalnetworks or affiliates of international

bodies, providing opportunities forinternational action, including dialogue.N Women’s NGOs and prominentwomen are increasingly influential andeffective in the international humanrights arena.N Many women’s organizations andindividuals are in a position to increaseawareness of AI’s concerns andgenerate action on them, includingfinancial support for AI.N Many women’s organizations are avital and influential part of localcommunities and national societies.N AI needs to contact women’sorganizations to engage in dialogue forus to build a greater understanding ofhow AI can be most effective inpromoting and protecting the humanrights of women and men. AI couldcontribute to women’s organization’suse of the human rights language intheir own work.

Outreach to the women’s sector isnot limited to women’s organizations.Sections should identify other NGOswhich although not exclusively focusedon women may nevertheless have majorconcerns on women’s issues or involve asubstantial number of womenmembers. Some of these groups mayhave a women’s desk, women’s chapteror women’s committees within theirorganizational structure. Theseorganizations and their womenmembership can be approached if theymeet your Section’s priorities andcriteria for outreach.

It should be recognized that thedocumentation of and campaigningagainst gender-based violations againstwomen were pioneered by womenthemselves in many countries. Whenapproaching these women and


Violence against women: how to approach the issue

Many women’s organizations are working on abuses against women perpetrated byprivate individuals. They may be frustrated by the fact that AI does not, as anorganization, act on these violations. Human rights education activities around theUN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women andon the Beijing Platform for Action provide them and AI with the opportunity to worktogether to inform the community that violence both by private individuals and bygovernment agents is a human rights violation. Such activities allow them and AI toget the word out and to show how all of us can act to stop these abuses.

fIt is particularlyimportant whenapproachingwomen’sorganizations thatyou give theimpression that AI ispart of a communityof human rightsorganizations, andthat we believe eachmember of thatcommunity is doingimportant andvaluable humanrights work.

women’s organizations who specializein these issues, care should be takenthat we are not seen as imposing ourparticular knowledge and experiencein human rights. What should beenhanced is the atmosphere ofdialogue and learning from eachother.

The following are some questionsyou may want to use when planningyour outreach to women’s groups.

Developing a women’soutreach strategyThe questions below may help youdevelop a women’s outreach strategy:

gQUESTIONSg Who are the influential womenand women’s organizations in yourcountry? What impact could they haveon the work of AI in your country?Which do you believe to have importantcontacts with the home government,other sectors of society or the media?Do these organizations have their ownmedia? Are they able to mobilize largenumbers of people? Do they havemailing lists of their supporters?

g What national women’s mediaexist that may be interested in AI’sconcerns? What is the circulation ofthe different publications?

g If you have country coordinationgroups or country specialists in yourSection, are they already in touch withwomen’s organizations that havecontacts in the target country?

g Which women’s organizationshave international influence? Dothey have access to internationalstructures or organizations? Do they

have links or contacts with counterpartsin target countries?

g Do women’s organizations havethe capacity to take up and act onAI’s concerns or to promote humanrights in general? Does theorganization have an individual or acommittee with specific responsibilityfor human rights? Can they contributeto AI’s country or theme research?

g What is the best way toapproach relevant individuals andorganizations? Are they likely toalready know or be open to AI’smessage? What are their currentconcerns and how do they relate toAI’s? Are there creative ways in which AIcan draw the links? Will it be necessaryto invest a lot of time in makingapproaches?

g What is the potential for raisingfunds from organizations andindividuals through targetedapproaches?

g What resources will outreachrequire? Will special materials need tobe prepared? Will organizations needregular contact? Will they need toreceive AI materials regularly? Is AI ableto dedicate these resources?

g During campaigns on specificcountries, do women’sorganizations in the target countryhave an influence on AI’s concerns?

g How can AI offer practical ormoral support to women’s NGOscampaigning against human rightsviolations? Are there women activistswho could be invited to speak in yourcountry as part of the campaign?

Outreach/Working on Women’s Human Rights 237

cTIP

The experience of AI’soutreach to women suggests

that it is generally moreeffective and adds to AI’s

credibility if it is undertakenby women activists.

However, do not give thiswork only to women in your

Section. The work onwomen’s human rights is for

everyone!

Pakistan: the benefits ofcooperation

AI groups in Karachicollaborated with 19 major

women’s NGOs to launchAI’s campaign on women in1995. Their hard work and

persistent dialogue withthese groups eventually

paid off. The 16-point jointNGO recommendations to

the Pakistan Governmenton the Beijing Platform forAction contained most of

AI’s recommendations andwas publicized at a jointpress conference at the

Karachi Press Club.

Peru: a moving experience

The Peruvian Section launched the 1995 campaign on women’s human rights withother women’s NGOs attending. One NGO invited a Peruvian woman who hadsuffered human rights violations. She unexpectedly spoke about the effectiveness ofAI’s international campaigning on her behalf. Her account of her experience and ofAI’s support was very moving and touched everybody in the audience.

Outreach in practiceBefore undertaking outreach towomen, it is important to have a basicknowledge and understanding of therole and status of women in your societyand the situation of women’sorganizations in the country.

Women’s organizations in yoursociety are likely to have many differentconcerns and perspectives. Beingfamiliar with these concerns can makeoutreach more effective and this willmean that you can: N more accurately ask for supportthat they will be able to deliver;N know what they are most likely towant to know about AI’s work;N acknowledge the significance oftheir work.

Do your homework and goprepared. Educate yourself about AI’sconcerns on women’s human rights andbe up to date with AI’s reports and

actions on women’s human rights. ManyAI Sections have found during women’soutreach work that indifference to AI bywomen’s NGOs is mainly caused by theirlack of awareness about AI or their lack ofunderstanding of the full range ofwomen’s human rights. In addition,familiarize yourself with theorganizations you wish to work with.Obtain information about them from alibrary, attend their meetings, contactthem for an informal “get together”.Outreach to women’s NGOs provides anexcellent opportunity for dialogue onhuman rights and women’s rights.

Avoid being defensive about “AI’snarrow focus on women’s humanrights”. AI’s work to protect womenfrom governments’ violations is wellknown, even if limited. Remember thatmany women have been imprisoned,tortured, raped, abducted, made to“disappear”, killed or executed bygovernment agents because they havebeen campaigning on broaderwomen’s rights. AI supports andcontributes to the protection andpromotion of women’s right toadvocate equality and an end toviolence against women.

Sections have found thathighlighting the cases of women that AIis working on, or the way in whichwomen are affected by the violationsagainst which AI campaigns, has beenimportant in establishing AI’srelevance to women’s concerns.

In many countries, lack of accessby women to protection by law is oftenlinked to a wider pattern ofdiscrimination and lack of compliancewith international human rightsstandards that affect all citizens. Such alink should be explored with the peopleand groups from whom you are tryingto seek support. This also helps raisethe interest of women to act on behalfof other victims of human rightsviolations.

AI can also work with women’sNGOs to put women’s human rights atthe centre of the international humanrights agenda, including the variousinternational human rightsmechanisms of the UN and other


Ghana: a groundbreakingconference

The Ghanaian Section helda groundbreaking nationalconference for women’sNGOs in their country onthe issue of female genitalmutilation. It aimed to raiseawareness about the abuseand to discuss how the issuecan be addressed jointly bythem at a national level.

“When women are denieddemocracy and human rights inprivate, their human rights inthe public sphere also suffer,since what occurs in ‘private’shapes their ability toparticipate fully in the publicarena.”Charlotte Bunch, Transforming Human Rightsfrom a Feminist Perspective in Women’sRights, Human Rights, Routledge, 1995

Future priority themes for the UNCommission on the Status of Women

The following themes are useful to knowif you or other NGOs are planning togo to the Commission on the Status ofWomen or wish to provide input intogovernment discussions andpreparations for the Commission.1998

N Violence against women

N Women and armed conflict

N Human rights of women

N The girl child

1999

N Women and health

N Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women

N Initiation of the comprehensive review and appraisal of theimplementation of the UN BeijingPlatform for Action

2000

N Comprehensive quinquennialreview and appraisal of theimplementation of the Platform forAction

N Emerging issues

intergovernmental bodies. We canwork together to:N promote public awareness of theimportance of women’s rights asguaranteed in the UDHR and otherinternational human rights treaties andstandards; N campaign for the ratification ofvarious international human rightsconventions and other standards thatare relevant to the protection ofwomen’s human rights; N lobby home governments to followup on their commitment to the UNBeijing Declaration and Platform forAction.*N work around InternationalWomen’s Day (8 March). The day isused by the international movementand by many AI Sections as an excellentopportunity to focus action on women’shuman rights.

Outreach to women’s groupsrequires clear planning. It needs anassessment of women’s issues and thewomen’s movement in your country,and of your own capacity and resources.This allows you to prioritize your targetcontacts.

cTIPSc Make sure where possible thatcases and the human rights situation ofwomen are properly reflected in all AI’spublic actions and media appearances.“I’m worried that people will think weneed to have a specific campaign onwomen to actually talk about women”was a comment from NalyniMohammed, coordinator of the 1995“Human Rights are Women’s Right”campaign in Australia.c Work with women’s media.Prepare advertisements featuringwomen’s cases and calling for support.These can be given to newspapers andmagazines if they offer free placementas a form of support. Commercialmagazines targeting the women’smarket may be interested in featurearticles focused on women. These canbe based on AI cases or human rightssituations, women activists or girls andwomen involved in campaigning for AI.c Invest time in working with youthand students. Start with the women’sstudies programs in universities andwomen’s colleges and offer their

Outreach/Working on Women’s Human Rights 239

Nepal: achieving a first

The Nepalese Sectionorganized its first all-women’s group in the

foremost women’s teachers’college in Kathmandu.

From here, many AIactivities on women’s

human rights originatedand many women

subsequently joined AI.

*Most of AI’s recommendations onwomen’s human rights to the UN Fourth

World Conference on Women were adopt-ed in the final draft of the Beijing Platform

for Action. AI produced Women’s Rightsare Human Rights: Commitments made by

Governments in the Beijing Declarationand the Platform for Action and action

advice (AI Index: IOR 41/06/96 and41/05/96, respectively) as a follow-up to

our work in this area.

Working together, sharing resources

In March 1997 the Irish Section in association with the Irish Council of Civil Libertiesand Irish women’s NGOs organized a Working Conference on Women’s Rights asHuman Rights in Dublin. The conference was attended by 400 people from theRepublic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The focus was on the follow-up to theBeijing Platform for Action. After the conference, the Irish Section women’scoordinator put together a list of all the conference participants – the first of its kindin Ireland. The need for such a list was raised at almost every workshop at theconference whenever issues of networking, resources, solidarity between groupsand the sharing of information were addressed.



this publication.

© IW

TC

libraries AI materials on women’shuman rights. Offer them a speaker toaddress classes. Explore whether youcould hold some of your activities,especially during the InternationalWomen’s Day action, on the campus. Ifyou have AI groups in these universitiesand colleges, ask them to involvewomen’s clubs and associations in AIactions on women’s cases. c When featuring women as victimsof human rights violations in yourcampaigning materials, especially inpublicity and fundraising, always takeinto account the sensitivity in languageand images that women’s groups inmany countries would expect from ahuman rights organization such as AI.Make sure your women’s network orcommittee, if they exist, are consulted.You can also ask your contacts in thewomen’s organizations or in thewomen’s media for advice.Sections should promote AI’sworldwide website, which has a sectionon women’s human rights, duringcampaigning and outreach activities(see Chapter 2). The UN Division forthe Advancement of Women alsomaintains its own website where UNdocuments on women can be accessed.Numerous women’s organizations havetheir own pages on the Internet whereAI Sections can contribute on subjectsrelated to women’s human rights.

jCHECKLISTWHAT YOU CAN ASK WOMEN’SORGANIZATIONS TO DO

j Put AI on their mailing lists.

j Join the Urgent Action Network.

j Run articles or advertisementsfeaturing AI’s campaigns, highlightingwomen’s cases and concerns, and askingfor action.

j Support specific campaigns, suchas by writing to governments in supportof AI’s calls.

j Display AI materials in their offices.Act as a resource or provide expertadvice to AI members to promote theirown awareness on gender and humanrights issues.


fSee Appendix 2 foraddresses ofregional structuresundertaking follow-up action to the UNWorld Conference onWomen in Beijing.

Left: May 1997, activists make acommitment to eradicate female genitalmutilation at a conference organized by theTanzanian Section.Below: Members of AI in Cape Town, SouthAfrica, at an International Women’s Daystall in March 1996.

© AI

© AI

1

OUTREACHWORKING ONCHILDREN’S HUMANRIGHTS

To work for human rights of children today is aninvestment for future generations. Children sufferthe full range of human rights violations. But theyalso have a special vulnerability, especially whenthey or their close relatives are targeted for abuses.The protection required by a child's particularvulnerability led AI to resolve in 1980 that it wouldwork on the special problems concerning childrenfalling within the mandate. This section looks at:


Work on your own country / 242

Campaigning on themes and countries / 243

N Identifying outreach targets / 243


N An integrated approach / 245

N Fundraising / 246

The Universal Declaration of Human Rightsbeing distributed at a human rights rally in

Istanbul, Turkey© Z. AKNAR/CUMHURIYET


this publication.

Developing an outreachstrategyWhen doing outreach to groupsworking on children's rights, it is usefulto expand your targets beyond thoseNGOs or individuals specializing inchildren's issues. Interest aboutchildren's rights is widespread in manyparts of the world today.

Campaigning for children's rightsalways generates a high degree ofparticipation by members and thepublic at large. Groups and networksfocusing on children's rights alsocontinue to grow.

At the time of writing there weremore than 25 AI Sections with workinggroups for children or children’shuman rights networks. AnInternational Working Group forChildren (IWGC) has been establishedand met for the first time in March1997. It is hoped that the IWGC willeventually represent each world region.It works in close partnership with the IS.

There is a vast field of work for AIto undertake, including itscampaigning to oppose human rightsviolations against children, andpromoting the full range of children'srights through human rights educationand human rights awareness. Your

campaigning and outreach strategy onchildren's human rights should giveequal importance to activities topromote other aspects of children'srights, enabling your Section to developa wide range of contacts withindividuals and different types ofNGOs.

The following are some suggestedactivities or aspects that may beconsidered when working with otherNGOs and individuals for children'shuman rights.

Work on your own countryN Be familiar with the provisions ofthe UN Convention on the Rights of theChild. N Examine whether your country'slegislation and mechanisms withregards to protecting the rights ofchildren are consistent with itsobligations under the UN Conventionon the Rights of the Child. N The Country Reports to theCommittee on the Rights of the Child(CRC) and in particular the reportsfrom the CRC evaluating each CountryReport are valuable sources ofinformation when checking thediscrepancies between governmentpolicies and the provisions of theConvention -- be it in your own countryor when focusing on other countries.


Developing standards for children's human rights

The contribution so far of the broad human rights movement that includes AI inraising the standards of human rights for children is remarkable. In 1959 the UNadopted the Declaration on the Rights of the Child which, although expressing anintention to promote the rights of the child below the age of 18, was not a bindinginternational document. Twenty years later, in 1979, Poland took the initiative andbegan drafting a convention that would be binding. In 1983 a coalition of 50NGOs, including AI, began to generate proposals for the working group of expertsformed by the UN following the Poland initiative. Some of these proposals foundtheir way into the final text of the new convention, which was approved by the UNCommission on Human Rights.

Today, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most widely acceptedinternational human rights treaty, ratified by 183 of the 185 member states of theUN (the USA has signed but not ratified and Somalia has neither signed norratified).

The Convention considers the child a person, and children's essential needs asrights which the adult world – individuals, families, communities and governments –are obliged to respect and fulfil. These "children's human rights" are understood tomean that children are in need of, and have the right to protection.

"A child – every child – isanother chance to get it right."Anonymous

“Children’s lives cannot be puton hold while adult society mullsover its obligations towardsthem.”World Conference on Human Rights, Vienna,1993

fWhen approachingNGOs working onchildren’s rights,care should be takenthat we are not seenas imposing ouragenda. Anatmosphere ofcooperation andlearning from eachother should beencouraged.

N Undertake human rights educationand awareness directed at children and atthe different sectors of your society aboutthe UN Convention on the Rights of theChild and other international humanrights instruments and standards. N Support the activities of otherNGOs by sharing your information,expertise and materials on humanrights and the international humanrights standards. (Refer to AI'sguidelines on cooperation with otherNGOs produced by the IS.)N Support other NGOs when lobbyingyour home government at the UN andother IGO bodies on issues based on acommon agenda on human rights.

Campaigning on themes andcountries

N Involve your outreach contacts inUAs and campaigns on themes orcountries where common interests onhuman rights and children arehighlighted.N Ask them to publicize AI and whatwe do among their own constituenciesby featuring our actions andpublications in their magazines,journals and gatherings.N Ask them to introduce AI to theirown contacts in other organizations.

Identifying outreachtargetsAI's campaigning for children's rights islikely to find allies among groupsworking on issues concerning refugees,development issues, welfare,education, peace, domestic violence,and modern forms of slavery (such astrafficking in people and child labour).Below are some of the key sectors withwhich you can link. You may be able toadd more sectors depending on yourlocal situation.

N Children’s rights organizations.There are many local, national andinternational NGOs working ondifferent aspects of children’s rights, aswell as many NGOs which, althoughnot exclusively focused on children,may nevertheless have major concernson children’s rights. Some of theseorganizations might have a children’sdesk or committee.

N Youth and students. The UNConvention on the Rights of the Childapplies to young people up to the age of18. Those in their adolescent years areas vulnerable as young children tohaving their human rights violated.

Outreach/Working on Children’s Human Rights 243

"It's important to get to knowand develop a sustainable

working relationship with therelevant NGOS working on

children. Knowing them welland what their programs are

could help us in identifying thepotential areas of cooperation.

In Denmark, we put eachother's names on our respective

mailing list. We shareinformation on initiatives and

activities to profit from eachother's support; to save

valuable resources by avoidingoverlaps and duplications; butat the same time, accepting the

value of friendly competitionand challenges. A couple of

years ago, we participated inan exhibition directed at

children (and their parents)where we shared an

information stand with Save theChildren and Danish Refugee

Aid. We displayed anddistributed materials for the

public from the UNICEF whichexplained each article of the

Convention on the Rights of theChild, the ones produced by the

Danish Centre for HumanRights on Children's Rights and,

of course, our own." Jan Christensen, Coordinator of the Danish

Section's working group on children

During the Scout’s jamboree celebrations,members of the AI youth group in Mongolia

organized a week of activities to highlightAI’s human rights work

Young people in student campuses,religious groups and communitiesoften identify with issues concerningother young people. When they speakon behalf of young victims of humanrights, they create a distinct, powerfulimpact in the minds of the public andon politicians whom you want to target.They can also bring creativity, vibrancyand visibility to your work, inspiring theactivist spirit in your Section.

N Teachers and academics. Suchpeople are influential in almost allsocieties and are your "natural" links toschools and therefore toschoolchildren, and to students in highschools and universities. They can playan important role in teaching humanrights. AI's working groups on childrenin some Sections are working closelywith teachers and academics in thedevelopment of human rightseducation curricula and materials.Teachers and academics use AI'scampaigning materials and stories ofchildren who suffer violations to teachlessons of human rights to theirstudents.

Outreach in practice N Working with schoolchildren andteachersOne important aspect of campaigningon children's human rights is outreachto schools. This aims to createawareness among young children inyour country about human rightsabuses against children elsewhere.

In Denmark, human rights havebeen included in the school curriculumfor some years and this has created aunique opportunity for the DanishSection to keep in touch with childrenand their teachers. Many teachersapproach the Section and the specialistgroup on children for materials andinformation for their classes.

Outreach to schools sometimesproduces touching and hearteningscenes in AI's campaigning through theinvolvement of children and youngpeople in focusing the attention of thepublic, including their parents, on theplight of other children.

In Ireland, during the AIChildren's Week, children and youthfrom Dublin schools and colleges


During the 1996 campaignon Turkey, AIUK's localgroups, children's rightsactivists, youth and studentswere joined by a group ofinternational students in acolourful vigil outside theTurkish Embassy in London.Dressed in their nationalcostumes, the studentspresented the Embassy witha letter from the AIUKdirector and a petitionsigned by over 43,000people protesting against theill-treatment and torture ofTurkish children in policecustody.

fIn your campaigningand outreach onchildren's humanrights, it is alwaysimportant to find thelink between the UNConvention on theRights of the Child,as the maininstrument againstwhich governments'performance aremeasured, and otherinternational humanrights instruments orstandards to whichgovernments areequally accountable.

Campaigning on human rights and child labour: an example

The Nelson Group of the New Zealand Section (AINZ) was allocated the Action Fileon the case of Iqbal Masih, a young activist against child labour in Pakistan who wasmurdered in suspicious circumstances in May 1995. A meeting took place betweenthem and the local branch of the Trade Aid office, an NGO which promotes productsand trade with developing countries. The meeting prompted the Trade Aid office toconsider issuing a public statement that their hand-made rugs were not made bychild bonded labour.

Several months later, in November, a multi-sectoral coalition of several NGOs,including the national offices of the Trade Aid Office, Christian World Service, theUN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Links, was setup. Called the "Set the Children Free Coalition", they launched the "Stop ChildSlavery" campaign and invited AINZ to join in. AI's mandate did not prevent theSection from accepting the invitation to join on a limited basis.

The campaign was launched at the parliament building and AINZ issued its owninformation leaflets and press statement outlining AI's's position and human rightsconcerns. The campaign received the support of Wools of New Zealand, a privatecompany, and the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, boosting AINZ'approaches to the business sector. Meanwhile, the Nelson Group continued with thecampaigning, producing leaflets and posters about the case that were thendistributed by the 35 Trade Aid shops throughout the country. They receivedconsiderable positive feedback and an unknown number of letters were sent by thepublic to the Pakistan authorities.

marched to the Brazilian Embassy toprotest against the Candelaria massacreof street children. School children inSwitzerland made flowers which weresent to children and their families whohad suffered human rights violations inBrazil with a message that they werebeing remembered.

N Working with other sectors Countless individuals andorganizations from different sectorsand backgrounds have taken part inAI's advocacy for children's rights. Theinitiatives of African Sections to raiseawareness on the harmful effects of thegenital mutilation of girl-children haveproduced many important results in

building AI's relationships withwomen's and human rights NGOs intheir countries.

An integrated approachA good example of an integratedapproach in tackling issues concerningchildren's human rights is shown bylooking at why and how states can beheld responsible for the harmfuleffects of female genital mutilation(FGM). This can be done by examiningwhat the various international andregional human rights standards andinstruments say about the issue. Suchan approach opens up a number ofopportunities to involve other sectorsin working with AI on children'shuman rights.

On this particular issue, women'sNGOs are involved as they areconcerned with the question of FGMfrom the women's rights perspective.Development agencies are involvedbecause of the need to relate to FGM asa human rights issue, which thereforebecomes a development issue.Teachers and academics are involvedbecause of the human rights educationand awareness aspects of exposing theissue of FGM.

Outreach/Working on Children’s Human Rights 245

AI Denmark produced this sticker for useby the Danish Working Group for Children

In August 1997, AI group 17 inKathmandu, Nepal, organized a talk

program on AI and Children's Rights. TheMinister of State for Information and

Communications, Rakam Chemjong, tookpart, together with a number of membersof parliament. AI Chairman Charan Prasaisaid that children's rights today have been

left in a shambles, and added thateveryone should unite in support of the

inherent rights of the child.© AI

FundraisingThe popular appeal of images ofchildren always boosts AI's work inmany ways, but especially infundraising. In Denmark, for example,the working group on children is self-financing. Sections who have beensuccessful in this way have realized thatcare must be taken to ensure thatfundraising activities that featureimages of children as victims are donein conjunction with actual work onchildren's rights. The public aregenerally seen as critical of anyorganization that seeks to use images ofchildren for fundraising withoutaccompanying evidence that there isactual work being done on behalf ofchildren.


The Italian Sectionpersuaded the nationalpostal office to run apostmark with the text"International Children'sDay – 20 November 1996 –with AI for Children'sRights".

AIUK’s youth action network and Children’sHuman Rights Network took part in a vigiloutside the Turkish Embassy in London onInternational Children’s Day,1996.Participants presented a petition of 43,000signatures protesting against the ill-treatment and torture of Turkish children inpolice custody. Taking part were childrenfrom the Atlantic College in Wales, dressedin their national costumes (left).© AI

1

OUTREACHCOOPERATION WITHTHE HUMAN RIGHTSMOVEMENT

The rapidly expanding worldwide human rightsmovement offers tremendous potential formutually beneficial cooperation on human rightsissues. This section looks at:

N NGOs and the broad human rights movement / 248

N Rationale for cooperation / 248

N Benefits of cooperation / 249

Methods of cooperation / 250

N Making the decisions / 251

N Evaluating joint activity / 252

Lyndsay McAteer (second from left),women’s outreach network coordinator,

represents AI New Zealand in a joint eventorganized with Rape Crisis National

Collective and Maori women. Mayor FranWilde speaks at the microphone.

© AI

NGOs and the broadhuman rightsmovementAlthough there is no single definitionof a non-governmental organization(NGO), for the purposes of AI’s workthe term covers trade unions, churchand school-based organizations,professional and businessorganizations, solidarity and pressuregroups, arms control/violencemonitoring groups, human rightseducation organizations, fundingNGOs, academic institutions with ahuman rights focus, developmentalNGOs, environmental groups,umbrella organizations and a widerange of groups and organizationscovering civil, political, social,economic and cultural rights. Thenumber of these NGOs has growntremendously over the past threedecades in many parts of the world.

The term “broad human rightsmovement” includes people who maybe in a position to improve the humanrights situation but who do not belongto an organization, for exampleteachers, community leaders,sympathetic doctors, lawyers, judgesand others.

Most human rights organizationsderive their mandate frominternational human rights treatiessuch as the International Covenant onCivil and Political Rights (ICCPR) andthe International Covenant onEconomic, Social and Cultural Rights(ICESCR) which, together with theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights(UDHR) from which they spring, makeup the Bill of Human Rights.

Some of the more prominentmembers of the international humanrights movement include:N the International Commission ofJurists, working in the area of law, legalaid and the administration of justice;N the International Committee ofthe Red Cross, national Red Cross andRed Crescent societies, working in thearea of armed conflict, prisoners of warand humanitarian law;

N the Asian NGO Coalition forAgrarian Reform and RuralDevelopment, working on the right todevelopment and economic rights;N Oxfam International, a worldwidehumanitarian organization;N Greenpeace, working onenvironmental rights;N the World Council of Churches,working on freedom of religion;N International Pen, working onfreedom of the press and freedom ofexpression;N Médecins sans Frontières, workinginternationally in the field of health;N Survival International, working onindigenous people’s rights;N Anti-Slavery International,working on bonded labour andmodern forms of slavery;N the International Organization ofConsumers Unions, working onconsumers’ rights;N Food First International ActionNetwork, which has done pioneeringwork to promote and realize the rightto food around the world;N Coalition on Housing Rights andEvictions, an internationalorganization which promotes andprotects the right to housing;N Human Rights Internet, forum for the exchange of humanrights information set up in 1976,which now communicates with morethan 5,000 organizations andindividuals (www.hri.ca);N Human Rights Watch, monitoringhuman rights violations in the differentregions of the world.

However, the vast majority ofNGOs work at the national or locallevel.

Rationale forcooperationAI’s work with NGOs aims tostrengthen civil society and empowerthe human rights constituency, both ofwhich help promote the observance ofthe principles enshrined in theUDHR.* Intrinsic to this policy is theunderstanding that all human rightsare universal and indivisible.


fThe basic guidingprinciple is that,where possible, AIstructures shouldcooperate with otherorganizations if suchcooperationincreases theeffectiveness of AI’swork and helpsstrengthen the broadhuman rightsmovement. The newflexibility andemphasis on workwith NGOs must,however, beconsidered inconjunction with thebasic principleswhich help to protectAI’s effectiveness —its independence,impartiality,integrity andcredibility.

* AI’s NGO Policy and Guidelines (AI Index:ORG 20/01/96), written at the request ofthe 1993 ICM, called for improved andexpanded cooperation with NGOs.

The specific rights that are thefocus of AI actions are inextricablylinked to other human rights. Theorganization recognizes that the fullexercise of human rights is essential tothe realization of economic, social,cultural and political development.Although the specific rights on whichAI campaigns fall within the range ofcivil and political rights, theorganization promotes awareness of,and adherence to, all the rightsembodied in the UDHR andelaborated in standards such as theICCPR and ICESCR.

The recognition that social,economic, cultural, civil and politicalrights are indivisible is directly relevantto the way in which AI relates to thehuman rights movement. NGOcoalitions, networks and umbrellastructures involving multiple NGOs arelikely to cover a broader range of issuesthan those contained in AI’s mandate.Participating in networks that also workto promote the economic, social andcultural rights elaborated in the UDHRcan show AI’s commitment to theserights, even where this position is limited.

The need for AI to protect itsimpartiality and independence can becompatible with membership of a broad-based, multi-interest coalition, so long asAI can retain, and be seen to retain, itsindependent identity and control of theuse of its name. Coordination with NGOsrather than competition is the directionfor the future.

AI members have made it clearthat adapting to the changing patternsof human rights violations worldwideinvolves greater collaboration withother organizations. By doing so AI canbenefit from enormous expertise, localknowledge and ready-made networksof contacts.

In regions where NGOs arerelatively new, or are struggling againsta hostile environment, moral andcampaigning support to NGOs by AIcan boost an organization’s profile andreputation locally or nationally.

Benefits of cooperationAI is committed to strengthening,expanding and developing moresystematic links with the broad humanrights movement in ways that aremutually beneficial. It is trying todevelop at different levels of themovement a closer and moreinteractive relationship with local,national, regional and internationalhuman rights NGOs through specificprograms of cooperation.

AI benefits from cooperation withother organizations in many ways. Suchbenefits include expanded exchange ofinformation and contacts; access tolarger networks with greater impact onthe public; strengthened AIcampaigning and lobbying activities;and an enhanced reputation as apartner within the NGO community.NGOs benefit from their relationshipwith AI in that AI uses information onhuman rights violations provided byNGOs, leading to an expandedaudience for their human rightsconcerns, and from training in areas ofresearch, campaigning andorganizational support.

AI’s NGO Policy and Guidelines helpin deciding what type and level ofcooperation is feasible and willenhance AI’s general effectiveness.They provide all parts of AI, includingSections, coordinating structures andthe IS, with a common framework forwork with the broad human rightsmovement.

Outreach/Cooperation with the Human Rights Movement 249

Strengths of cooperation

Without information sent to AI by hundreds of national NGOs, AI’s documentationand campaign work on Action Files and individual prisoner cases would be lessefficient. In both country and thematic campaigns, the impact of AI’s message ismultiplied many times because of the crucial participation and cooperation ofNGOs. In fact, AI relies heavily on cooperation from all types of NGOs in order tomonitor, document and report human rights violations.

fAI has many

opportunities tostress that economic,

social and culturalrights are human

rights. It should seekto overcome

perceptions that mayexist that the human

rights it campaignson are the only

human rights, as thiscan marginalize

other human rightsorganizations.

Methods of cooperationSome activities can be carried out incooperation with NGOs without theneed for any special considerations orauthorization. These include providingon request and actively distributing AIexternal information, and receivinginformation from other organizations.Section involvement in some of thecooperative activities with NGOs, suchas campaigning, development,promotional work, publicity, lobbying,co-sponsorship of conferences, reliefwork and fundraising, require specialconsideration and possiblyauthorization.

The scope for cooperation withNGOs includes major joint initiativessuch as co-sponsoring an NGO Forum –the International NGO Forum onChina during AI’s 1996 campaign onchina, for example – or determining ajoint strategy to deal with a nationalcrisis such as that in Rwanda. Suggestedareas of cooperation are listed in theNGO Policy and Guidelines, as arechannels of authorization necessary forvarious levels of cooperation.

AI can provide access to regionaland international networks of NGOs,sources of funding, advice oninternational law, intergovernmentalorganizations and UN procedures.Cases of human rights defenders

working under threat of violence canbe worked on by AI members in asecond country. AI can include NGOsin training sessions on subjects such asorganizational development, humanrights education, lobbying, how tocampaign on MEC/MSP issues, use ofinformation technology anddocumentation techniques. Forexample, an AI member participated ina week-long workshop meeting in Asia in1994 which resulted in the publication ofa handbook about human rightsviolations. The sharing of databases andinformation technology systems couldbe mutually advantageous too.


Raising funds from across the world

A journalist in Rwanda was attackedand left for dead for expressing hisopinions. AI representatives who werein the country helped the victim and hisfamily to receive medical treatment inKenya. AI was later faced with highmedical fees but other NGOs inRwanda contributed to the expenses.Another international NGO issued anappeal through the InternationalFreedom of Expression Network on theInternet to raise funds for the victim andreferred those interested in the case toAI. Several thousand dollars wereeventually raised for the victim.

fIf attendance atanotherorganization’smeeting is likely tocompromiseperceptions of AI’simpartiality orindependence, itshould be avoided.

(left and right) The International NGOforum on human rights in China, August1996. More than 70 people from 18countries attended the conference hostedby the Philippine Section.© AI

© AI

Joint publications may be anotherarea of cooperation involvingeconomies of scale, expanded audiencesand enhanced credibility for thecontributors. Referral of cases which falloutside AI’s mandate to other NGOs isanother useful area of cooperation.

Cooperation with an NGO mustnot result in AI being prevented fromimplementing its own strategy. This mustbe made clear in advance, otherwise AImight have to withdraw and perhapscontribute to the collapse of cooperation.AI should be consistent in its work withother NGOs. Therefore all safeguardsaimed at protecting the organization’sindependence and impartiality shouldalways be considered.

Generally, if a local AI group wantsto participate in a coalition or umbrellagroup, it is advisable to consult theappropriate people in the Section, or in theabsence of a Section, the relevant regionalor international program in the IS.

If AI decides not to cooperate withanother NGO, the reasons for this shouldbe clearly explained where possible whilekeeping local sensibilities in mind. AI’sdecision should not be seen as a judgmentof any kind on the NGO concerned. Everyeffort should be made to ensure that nomisunderstanding arises on this point.

In each case cooperation must beevaluated and decided upon by therelevant AI decision-making bodies who

are best placed to judge the benefits ofcooperation on a country-by-countrybasis.

Making the decisionsThe following questions may help youdecide whether or not to collaboratewith a particular NGO:

gQUESTIONS

g Will the cooperation benefit AIwithout damaging its impartialityand independence?

g Is there compatibility betweenAI’s objectives and mandate andthat of the organization you proposeto work with?

g Is there a degree of personaltrust, based on knowledge of theorganization’s track record, itscredibility and public image?

g Will AI’s association with anNGO show AI in an unbiased light? Will the action mobilize a wider public?

g Will AI retain control over theuse of its name and logo, and beseen to retain its distinct identity, itsimpartiality, and political andfinancial independence?

Outreach/Cooperation with the Human Rights Movement 251©

AI

Evaluating joint activityThe questions below may help youevaluate any initiatives you have takenwith other NGOs.*

gQUESTIONS

g Is the cooperation proving tobe successful?

g Is it an effective use ofresources?

g Are targets being reached?

g Have there been any negativeeffects so far?

g Is there a need for anyredirection, or further explanationof AI’s position?

g Have opportunities forpublicity and membershipexpansion been fully exploited?

g Has cooperation beenbeneficial to both AI and the NGOpartner?

g What lessons have been learnedfor use in future cooperation?


A broad platform

The Dutch Section and 13 other Dutch NGOs, including the National Council ofChurches and trade union umbrellas, are members of a “broad human rightsplatform”. The platform reviews Dutch foreign policy in the field of human rights anddiscusses proposals aimed at improving the human rights performance of thegovernment, companies, employers’ organizations and members of the platformthemselves. The platform meets about six times a year with the secretariat rotatingbetween the member organizations. Its role is to facilitate coordination and exchangeof information. Joint activities may be discussed in the context of the platform, but arethen carried out by one or more organizations in their own name. It may issue jointstatements if all its member organizations agree.

*A longer checklist can be found inAppendix B of AI’s document, NGO Policyand Guidelines (AI: Index: ORG 20/01/96).

1

CHAPTER 11HOME GOVERNMENTLOBBYING

Lobbying of our own governments or homegovernment approaches is an important part ofmany of AI’s campaigns. Lobbying is oftenassociated with quiet words behind closed doors,but this is just one technique. It is usuallynecessary to use many other campaigningmethods to persuade a government to listenseriously to those quiet words and to take thedesired action.

Why approaching home governments is important / 254

Developing a strategy / 254Research and analysis / 255Specify objectives / 257How to achieve the objectives / 257Action / 258Monitoring and evaluation / 258

Campaigning methods / 258Membership action / 258The media / 259Outreach / 260

Holding governments to account / 260

Practicalities of lobbying / 261Ingredients of successful lobbying / 261Selecting the issues / 261Letters / 261Telephone contacts / 262Lobbying through meetings / 262Structures for lobbying / 264

Bilateral action on human rights by governments / 265Urgent Actions / 265Meeting local human rights NGOs and activists / 265Attending meetings and other NGO events / 265Making diplomats responsible / 265Special visitors programs / 266Practical and material support / 266Aid consortiums / 266Legislation on MSP transfers / 266Bilateral representations / 266

Why approaching home governments isimportantApproaching your own government isimportant because:N governments have power;N politicians lead as well as followpublic opinion;N governments can influence othergovernments;N governments compose and decidethe actions of intergovernmentalorganizations (IGOs);N governments can strengtheninternational standards andmechanisms to protect human rights;N governments can changelegislation and practice, for example byabolishing the death penalty.

Much of AI's campaigning is aboutpersuasion and building up thepressure for change. Letters from AI'sindividual members to foreigngovernments are one way of showinginternational concern. The raising ofthe concern by your foreign, defence ortrade ministries with their counterpartsin other countries is another.

The principal overall objective ofAI's home government approaches is toensure that the protection andpromotion of human rights becomes akey component of internationalrelations in a consistent, principled andeffective way. This objective needs to bereflected in Section lobbying andcampaigning programs.

Home government lobbying is alsoan essential component of AI's

domestically focused campaigning forratification of human rights treaties, forabolition of the death penalty, and forupholding the rights of asylum-seekers.

Internationally, AI's homegovernment lobbying seeks to persuadegovernments to integrate human rightsobjectives into:N their relationships with othercountries (bilateral relations);N their involvement in IGOs(multilateral relations);N domestic policies through actionon the death penalty, human rightseducation, etc.

Developing a strategyThe following principal objective of ahuman rights campaigning programshould be standard to all AI Sections: toensure that the protection andpromotion of human rights becomes akey component of the government'sinternational relations.

This objective requires that:N the government adoptscomprehensive human rights policiesencompassing the human rightsdimensions of multilateral and bilateralinternational relations;N the Section establishes a homegovernment approaches program toensure a minimum degree of access togovernment to solicit support foraction on individual cases, countriesand issues in concert with othergovernments.

What this will mean in practice indifferent Sections will varyconsiderably. Some might focus only on


Effective action

Lobbying homegovernments to supportAI's recommendations isone of the most effectiveways AI can generateeffective action on behalf ofvictims of human rightsviolations.

AI

home government

target government

prisoner of consciencereleased

Universal lobbying

Lobbying by smaller Sections, very often with less influential governments, is asimportant as AI's lobbying by larger Sections.

N It is damaging both to AI's mission and to the wider human rights movement ifonly a few governments are vocal and active on human rights.

N In many international governmental forums, including the UN GeneralAssembly, each state has one vote.

N Small countries often take or support selected key initiatives which they mighttake on as "their" issue.

N Small states often have at least temporary powers, such as when they host majorconferences or chair intergovernmental organizations.

fSend the rightmessenger to reachthe right target withthe right message.

MM

M

one or two international issues whichare high priority for AI and where thegovernment could play a useful roleand where there is some chance ofsuccess.

Research and analysisThe starting point for developingstrategies is research and analysis of thesituation you are in, the problems youare trying to overcome, theopportunities you may be able to takeadvantage of, and the resources youhave available.

This will need to be done inrelation to specific campaigns. It alsoneeds to be done on a more generallevel to provide a longer-term strategicframework for individual lobbyinginitiatives.

In AI's experience, the mosteffective approaches to governmenttake place in an environment where it ispossible to establish positive long-termrelationships with individuals andinstitutions, even where majordisagreements persist.

Governments may be willing tolisten to AI for a number of reasons, butfor this to happen AI must be seen as arespected and credible organization.Developing an effective homegovernment approaches program may

therefore include a review of the way AIis perceived in your society. This respectand credibility can be based on anumber of factors:N the reflection of AI's mandate ininternational standards;N the reliability of AI's informationand relevance of AI's recommendations;N the size and activity of AI'smembership;N the support for AI from across thepolitical spectrum and from manyorganizations;N the consistency and balance of AI'swork on many different countries;N knowledge and trust of individualsinvolved.

In developing a long-termgovernment approaches program, andin relation to particular issues wherethe government may be reluctant totake action, it will be necessary tohighlight these factors through publiccampaigning activities as well asthrough behind-the-scenes lobbying.

The aim of a home governmentapproaches strategy should be toidentify:N the role and potential of yourgovernment to act on AI's concernsinternationally and domestically;N the influences in your society onyour government’s foreign and

Home Government Lobbying 255

Why have a lobbying strategy?

N It allows best use oflimited resources.

N It gives coherence to ourwork and ensures

consistency andimpartiality.

N It enables us to identifysuccesses and mistakes.

N It improves our ability torespond flexibly.

cTIP

In governmental systemswhere representatives are

elected by, and accountableto, constituents or a

geographical electorate,action from AI members in

these areas is likely to bemost effective.

Creating a lobbying strategy

The SituationWhere are we now?

Evaluation ObjectivesWhat were What shouldthe results? happen?

Actions StrategyMake it happen! How?

PlansWhat should be done?

n

n

nn

n

n

relevant domestic policy;N possible directions for gettinghuman rights more thoroughlyintegrated into foreign, trade and otherpolicy;N how your government works (whoAI should be lobbying and how).

gQUESTIONS

g Has your government signedand ratified all basic internationalhuman rights treaties? (AmnestyInternational Report includes mostcountries’ ratifications.)

g Has your government madeexplicit policy statements andcommitments in relation tointernational human rights issues?

g Is there parliamentary scrutinyor other official monitoringmechanisms on government policy?

g Are there any mechanisms forindependent scrutiny of the linksbetween human rights andforeign/trade/defence policy? Whois responsible for these mechanisms?Do they take submissions?

g Are there any formalmechanisms for AI and other humanrights organizations to input intopolicy generally and in relation tospecific countries or issues?

g Does your government have

particular military, economic orcultural links with other countriesthat may give it influence? Which arethese countries? What are thesources of influence within thesecountries?

g In which IGO bodies is yourgovernment represented? Is itrepresented on the UN Commissionon Human Rights, UN SecurityCouncil, the World Bank, regionalIGOs?

g Who should AI lobby? Whichministers, departments and interestgroups are involved in theformulation of foreign (or otherrelevant) policy generally and inrelation to specific countries orissues? Does AI have good access tothese people?

g Who is responsible for foreignpolicy within political parties?

g Is the media influential onforeign or trade policy? Is the mediamore influential in relation to somecountries or issues than others? Issome media more influential onpolicy than others? Are somejournalists more influential onpolicy than others?

g How important to foreignpolicy and practice (generally andon specific countries) is publicopinion expressed in opinion polls,


Why governments might act on human rights

In preparing a lobbying strategy it can be useful to consider why your governmentmight be willing to act on human rights. The reasons might include the following:

N personal commitment of particular ministers or officials;N the government takes formal commitments to international agreements seriously;N government self-interest, as a good human rights record might promoteeconomic or other advancement;N the government is sensitive to its international image and wants to be seen as agood citizen of the global community;N there are opportunities for playing a role in international organizations;N there is pride in national values which accord with international human rightsvalues.

fIt is usually harder tooverturn a positionthat people havecommittedthemselves to than toinfluence theoriginal decision.

Reviewing objectives

Lobbying, as with othercampaigning, operateswithin certain parameters,such as a government'strade, foreign or regionalsecurity policy. Sometimes,AI or others may be able tochange these parametersthrough campaigning. Onother occasions, AI will notbe able to. In thesecircumstances AI mustreview its lobbyingobjectives to ensure theyare realistic given theparameters – or be clear onthe reasons for proceedingif they are unrealistic.

letter-writing to particularpoliticians or officials, letters to themedia, street protests, etc?

g Are particular individuals, suchas judges, academics, writers ortelevision personalities, likely tohave greater influence on policythan other people?

g How is the ministry of foreignaffairs organized? Are therespecialists on particular countriesand themes? Is AI in direct contactwith them?

g Is there an institutional policy-making body on human rights ininternational relations, such as ahuman rights unit? Is AI in directcontact with them?

g Is there specific legislation onthe human rights considerations ofmilitary or economic links, or MSPtransfers?

g Is there a wider constituency ofsupport for integrating humanrights into foreign policy, such asother NGOs?

g Do staff members of theforeign affairs ministry and otherrelevant government departmentsreceive human rights training?

g Does the government have, orhave a commitment to developing,human rights strategies onparticular countries?

Specify objectivesThe overall objective of an AI lobbyingprogram is to ensure that theprotection and promotion of humanrights becomes a key component of thegovernment's international relations(and relevant domestic policy).Depending on how far this objective isfrom being achieved, other shorter-term objectives need to be set based onyour analysis of the current situation.

These objectives could be:N developing public debate about

foreign policy and human rights;N developing contact with electedrepresentatives and political parties oninternational human rights issues;N establishment of an annualindependent review of governmentaction on human rights;N access to, and good workingrelationships with, key officials in thehuman rights unit of the foreign affairsministry;N access to and influence with theminister of foreign affairs, presidentand/or prime minister;N agreement of the foreign affairsministry to take up and act on each casethat AI brings to its attention;N taking the lead role on a particularcountry/human rights issue ininternational organizations.

Whatever your objectives, youshould seek to make your progresstowards achieving them measurable sothat you can evaluate your strategy andwork.

How to achieve the objectivesOnce you are clear on what you want toachieve, the next step is to decide onthe best way of achieving it.N Who do you need to take action?The foreign minister/president, etc?N Who or what is likely to influencethem? Advice from their officials ordepartment? Influence of partycolleagues or particular committees ororganizations? Independent experts?Editorial and news coverage in themedia? Public pressure through letter-writing?N Who or what might oppose theaction you seek? Bureaucraticresistance to new initiatives? Particularofficials/departments? Other interests,such as political, economic or military?How can you make this oppositionineffective?N How important is timing? What arethe constraints on timing? Will keyindividuals/bodies have to becommitted to a position by a certaindate? Are there deadlines for publicsubmissions before decisions aremade?


ActionThe implementation of your strategy islikely to include producing the rightdocumentation, preparing for andfollowing up meetings, preparingmembership materials, etc. Practicaladvice on materials, lobbying by letterand meeting follows below.

Monitoring and evaluationWhen preparing strategies include waysthat you can monitor your progress andevaluate the outcome of the strategy.This means making sure that theobjectives set are specific andmeasurable.

One of the advantages of an overalllobbying program is that it makes itmuch more likely that you will haveearly or earlier notice of issues that arerelevant to AI. This increases thepossibility for influencing outcomes.Another is that relationships andcredibility will already be establishedwith those needing lobbying.

Campaigning methodsIt is to AI's advantage if no more energyor resources are needed to getgovernment action than a telephonecall or a meeting. There are, however, arange of campaigning techniques thatwill be necessary and effective to use atdifferent times.

AI will normally need to play boththe "insider" role (lobbying in thecorridors of power), and the "outsider"role (publicly and vocally calling on agovernment to change its policies andactions). Politicians and civil servantswill often imply that publiccampaigning could be counter-productive. However, the capacity of AIto mobilize public pressure and ourcommitment to speak out on humanrights are the basis of our credibility aslobbyists.

Even where the relationshipbetween AI and the government isconstructive and the government iscommitted to action on human rights,there will inevitably be occasions whenthey are reluctant to take the necessary

action. In these circumstances atelephone call or meeting will not beenough. A range of techniques willthen be necessary to push thegovernment to do what it would preferto avoid.

Which methods are effective willdepend on the system of governmentand how the system works at differenttimes.

All AI structures should get used toinfluencing their own government'sforeign affairs, including in relation toIGOs, early on in their work. Even if aSection is not yet able to develop astructured home government lobbyingprogram, it can still influence itsgovernment through these othercampaigning techniques that havebeen described. Influencing your homegovernment, including on IGO issues,should become part of the day-to-daywork of all levels of the movement.

Membership actionGovernments are generally responsiveto pressure from the community. AImust therefore develop a strategy toinvolve them effectively and providethem with the resources to act.N Organize letter-writing by AIgroups and other members to targetedmembers of the government or electedrepresentatives on selected issues.N Make sure AI groups seekmeetings with their electedrepresentatives to convey concern asconstituents. Target particularinfluential representatives andmembers of the government.N Hold campaigning events such aspublic meetings and protests in theconstituency/home area of electedrepresentatives.N Ensure AI groups do outreach topersuade others in the community tosupport AI's position. Ask religiousorganizations, women's organizationsand others to write letters, sign a shortstatement, distribute petitions, etc.N Ask AI groups to write to themedia.N Involve the membership in publicprotests inside or outside importantgovernment meetings.


"AI representatives could tellmany stories of freak events,chance meetings or casualremarks over lunch that had asmuch impact as a carefullyplanned lobbying action."Helena Cook, former director of LIOP at the IS

IGO work is campaigningwork. IGO work is notmysterious. Like much of AI'swork it aims to change therhetoric, policies and actionsof states. What distinguishesit is that it targets states asmembers of IGOs. Like othercampaigning, IGO workuses a range of techniques toinfluence governmentsincluding grass-roots publiccampaigning, mass letterwriting and media work. Theadditional layer is the homegovernment lobbying workSections do and theadvocacy work the IS doesdirectly at IGO fora.

The mediaThe media may offer opportunities forinfluencing the government. Manyorganizations will go to the media ifunable to achieve their objectivesthrough meetings and other methods.The media can be useful for settingagendas and redefining issues. It canalso be a way of putting pressure onthe government to state its positionfor the public record.

It is easy, however, to overrate theinfluence of the media. Their attentionspan is often short, whereas the processof government policy formulation is

usually quite lengthy. Many mediaoutlets are primarily interested inconflict as they see this as moreinteresting to their audience. In thesecircumstances issues can becomeoversimplified and positionsstereotyped, sometimes in a way that isunhelpful to AI's cause. Having goodrelationships with journalists can helpto overcome this problem.

Media releases, backgroundbriefings, feature articles and opinionpieces are all techniques that can beused (for further details, see Chapter9).


A sample strategy objective: abolishing the death penalty

SCENARIO 1

Who do you need to convince to take action? The Constitutional Court.

Who or what is likely to convince them? Legal arguments connected to provisions ofthe constitution and international standards. Individual judges, lawyers'organizations, particular politicians, international concern/pressure.

Who or what are the people/factors that might oppose the action you seek? Policeassociation, some judges, some politicians, media/public opinion.

Timing? The Constitutional Court has outlined a process for accepting submissionsfrom experts and NGOs by a certain date.

Possible strategy: Provide a submission including arguments using internationalstandards. Identify key judges, politicians and lawyers’ organizations and persuadethem to make private or public representations to the Constitutional Court. Seekaction from judges and lawyers internationally. Arrange for supportive editorialcomment if public opinion becomes hostile. If the police's position is likely to becomea threat, try and identify serving or retired high-ranking officers to put theabolitionist argument.

SCENARIO 2

Who do you need to convince to take action? Parliament (a majority of members).

Who or what is likely to convince them? Party policy, the issue being defined as oneof individual conscience and personal responsibility, community attitudes, respectedorganizations, religious leaders, individual judges, lawyers' organizations,international concern/pressure.

Who or what are the people/factors or influences that might oppose the actionyou seek? Police Association, some judges, fear of crime, media/public opinion.

Timing? Parliament is scheduled to vote on abolition in six weeks time.

Possible strategy: Either seek commitment of political parties to abolition or for avote based on individual conscience. Identify those members of parliament for andagainst and those most likely to change their mind. Focus action on those most likelyto change their position. If public opinion is hostile to abolition either change this (ifthis is a realistic objective) or define the issue as one where public opinion should notbe a deciding factor. Get individual groups to write to and meet with targetedindividual members of parliament.

Outreach

Outreach is another technique that canbe useful when governments areresistant to acting on AI concerns.Identify those organizations that aremost likely to influence the governmentand persuade them to lobby thegovernment in support of AI's concerns.

Also identify other organizationsthat may share AI's concerns onissues/countries as well as broaderconcerns and work with them. Some AISections participate as observers oncoordinating committees of humanrights organizations. These committeescan come up with common objectivesand strategies in relation to differentgovernments.

Governments will expect AI andother human rights NGOs to argue acertain line. Mobilizing women’sorganizations, religious groups, tradeunions or business leaders can havegreater impact because it indicates thatthe issue is of much broader concern.

Holding governments to accountTransparency and accountability arekey overall objectives for AI with regardto foreign policy and human rights. Invarious countries AI and other humanrights activists have campaigned forinstitutional reforms that would placehuman rights higher up on thegovernment policy agenda and thatwould involve NGOs and the widercommunity more substantially inconsultation and scrutiny of policy.Some examples are given below:N Reviews of bilateral relationshipsIn some countries the legislature canhold public inquiries into bilateralrelations with other countries.Submissions from members of thepublic and from interestedorganizations (including AI) can raisehuman rights, concerns about aspectsof the relationship (including MSPtransfers), suggest steps for raising orpursuing particular human rightsissues through different parts of the

bilateral relationship, etc. Suchinquiries might be an objective oflobbying, provide a furtheropportunity for lobbying and inthemselves be a way of a governmentraising the concerns.N Annual reviews of human rightsactionThe Australian Parliament hasestablished an annual review of humanrights action by the government towhich public submissions are invitedand for which public hearings are heldfor concerned NGOs. Somegovernments also organize one-offreviews of foreign policy, as did the IrishGovernment in the mid-1990s.N Parliamentary AI groupsSome Sections have established AIgroups among members of parliamentas a way of increasing AI's lobbyingstatus and power. It was at the request ofsuch a group in the Australian FederalParliament that the AustralianDepartment of Foreign Affairscommitted itself to act on every UAissued by AI. Inquiries from the AIparliamentary group are often able toget a quicker and more substantiveresponse than standard inquiries.N Human rights unitsIn response to lobbying by AI andothers, a number of governments haveestablished human rights units withintheir foreign affairs departments. Therole of these units varies but might be:

M to provide advice to foreignministers on human rights issues and torecommend action on particularcountries/issues;

M to provide human rightstraining and information to diplomaticstaff and other foreign affairs personnel;

M to ask diplomats to raise cases orissues and take other action;

M to review and report on acountry's human rights situation and toadvise on strategies for improvement;

M to advise on the reform andstrengthening of internationalhuman rights mechanisms.

Apart from specific initiatives, theestablishment of such a unit can be aneffective strategy for trying toinstitutionalize human rights within a


Making the choice

July: AI reviews andevaluates recent (March)session of Commission onHuman Rights. Selectscountries and issues topursue at next session.

September: IS sends outinitial indication of prioritycountries and themes fornext session of theCommission.

October: Section discussesissues/countries with thegovernment. Governmentindicates willingness tosupport a draft declarationthat AI is supporting and itsreluctance to support actionon a particular country.Section gives feedback toIS.

November: IS and Sectionconsult. IS has informationthat other countries arewilling to support theDeclaration and to push foraction on a particularcountry. Section and ISdecide whether to focus onsupport for Declaration orto also lobby harder toovercome governmentresistance to action on theparticular country.

government bureaucracy -- and ofcreating an internal lobby for humanrights action. In this way longer-termpolicy may be partly protected from thevicissitudes of political change. Humanrights work can also be seen asbeneficial to the professional status ofindividual foreign affairs staff.However, it can also lead to thecompartmentalization of human rightsinto one unit of a department where itmay be isolated and ineffectual ininfluencing broader change.

Practicalities of lobbyingThe process of informing andpersuading those with power orinfluence to act to protect and promotehuman rights involves a number oftechniques. You may decide you needto use membership action, theinfluence of third parties and mediapublicity, or you might simply have achat with the foreign minister over acup of coffee. In the long-term, successalso depends on:N Quality: this involves the use ofreliable information, proof ofarguments, and realistic proposals forsolving the problem.N Treatment: This means stayingopen and friendly, keeping emotionslow, fulfilling promises, and providingsome lasting service.

Ingredients of successfullobbying

M Clear focus of effortM Clear and achievable objectivesM Credibility of the organizationM Credible and reliable information

and messageM Access to target groupsM Current informationM Subject expertiseM Professional presentationM ResourcesM Timing

Selecting the issuesWhether lobbying is focused on animportant event such as the UNCommission on Human Rights or on

longer-term objectives, AI is likely tohave many more human rightsconcerns than it is able to raise at onemeeting or over a period of time. To beeffective it is necessary to choose a smallnumber of issues and focus effort onthem. The following criteria can helpthis selection process:

N IS documents list the mainconcerns which we can raise with ourhome government and for particularmeetings should list priority countries(these circulars also indicate whichSections in particular should lobbytheir governments).

N Is your home government in aposition to influence human rightssituations in other countries andactions by IGOs?

N The long-term lobbying strategy ofyour Section and the need forconsistency and balance. For example,it is advisable not to allow one single,perhaps controversial issue todominate.

N The Section's expertise. You willprobably be more effective if youconcentrate on countries/themes onwhich you have expertise within theSection or through helpful contacts.

LettersIn general, individual letters are notusually a very effective way of lobbying.However, they can open up a dialogueor supplement other lobbying.N Structure of letter: state what youbasically want, try to win them over toyour objective, show them how toachieve it, and point out the benefit tothem of doing so.N Information: find out theaddressee's exact name, title and how toaddress them. Refer to their position ofinfluence.N Make the letter personal: use fullnames, tell them who you are and signletters by hand.N Keep it short: use short sentencesand include no more details thannecessary.


N Make it inviting to the eye: use anattractive lay out, left-aligned ratherthan justified, and no more than fivelines a paragraph.N Explain: be careful not to assumeknowledge -- use clear language.N Give lists: summarize to five itemsusing bullet points to attract the eye.N Use polite tone: offensive remarkswill send the letter into the rubbish bin.N Keep them reading: refer to theirassumed interest, address possible fearsor reservations and use positivelanguage.N Ask for activity: appeal to theirreadiness to help, giverecommendations, tell them what yousee as the next "step" and announcemore information/telephonecalls/visits.N Copy to superior: this mightincrease the chance of a response.

Telephone contactsN First contact: announce by letteryour planned telephone call, explorename/setting/situation of targetperson.N Secretaries: make friends withthem, remember their name, ask themfor help.N Prepare yourself: draw up anoutline of intended call -- the points youwant to make -- your maximum andminimum goals, the intended flow ofconversation, possible objections andhow to overcome them, and havesupporting material to hand if you need it.

N Get their attention: you will have45 seconds to catch their interest – tellthem who you are, engage them byasking questions, design your messageaccordingly, be open and enthusiasticabout what you want.N Take notes: write down thedecisions, useful information forimproving your tactics next time, andthe best calling hours.N Talk in warm and polite tones:create a pleasant atmosphere.N Be positive: do not use negativeformulations, making it easier to say“yes” than “no”.N With difficult contacts: start with arecommendation from someone theyknow, ask why they are not interested,ask if they know someone who wouldbe.N Close with some agreement:summarize what they will do, what youwill do and the next steps.N Afterwards: send a letter of thanksand confirmation of outcomes.

Lobbying through meetingsHolding a meeting is one of the centralactivities of all types of lobbying. Atypical meeting with home governmentrepresentatives lasts no more than onehour. To make this meeting effective,you need to:

Mprepare thoroughly before themeeting;

Mmake sure your goals are clearthroughout the meeting;

M not raise too many issues –


Difficult questions

Despite the expertise of your delegation and your preparations, you might be askedquestions that are awkward or that you are unable to answer on the spot. Thefollowing responses may help:

"I don't know, but I can find out and let you know..."

"Yes, but..."

Change the subject: "I don't think we should be talking about what criminals deservebut about how a civilized society should treat its citizens..."

Shift the burden of proof to the questioner: "So why do you think that..."

Use your expert subject knowledge to give facts.

Appeal to common interests or a common sense of humanity.

Sections should askthemselves whether it isnecessary and possible tohave material, or at least asummary, translated intoanother language.

know the one or two most importantmessages you want to convey, especiallyif you have a short meeting;

M take appropriate actions tofollow up the meeting.

N Preparing for meetings:

The secret of a good meeting is carefulpreparation, thinking about what the"worst case scenario" is and how to dealwith it, and rehearsal.

jCHECKLISTPLANNING A MEETING

j Who is responsible for preparingthe meeting?Name this person.

j Find out about the people you aregoing to meet.Have they met AI before? On whatissue? What was the outcome? Are theyAI members? Does an AI member knowany of the people personally? If therehas already been a meeting, who wasthere? Read the notes of the meeting.What roles do the people you aremeeting have and what is the scope oftheir authority? What action can theytake? Is there anything in theirbackground or do they have anyparticular interests that may berelevant? If the person is a politician,then obtain his/her political biography.Has he/she been engaged in anyspecial campaigns/actions? Doeshe/she have contact with otherorganizations? Has he/she ever spokenpublicly about human rights, aboutrefugees and asylum? Has he/shecontacts with foreign countries?

j Plan the meetingWhat is the meeting for? Is it anintroductory meeting with a newminister? The letter asking the person fora meeting should include concrete itemsyou want to discuss and a preferred date.Provide any necessary supportingdocuments. Set up an AI delegation:Section director, chairperson, member ofa co-group?

j Choose a delegation and assignrolesIn lobbying it is usually important for AI'sdelegation to consist of at least two, butnot usually more than three members.This allows for:

M notes to be taken for asubsequent formal record andconfirmation of outcomes;

M a number of different issues to beraised by the different participants anddifferent expertise to be brought to bear;

M difficult situations to be handledwith greater confidence.

It may be, for example, that asenior staff member/volunteer and acountry specialist attend the meeting sothat there is expertise on AI generally aswell as on the specific country/issue.The roles for different delegationmembers include:

M delegation leader, whointroduces the other members of thedelegation, acts as chair, outlinesproposed structure of talk, acts asgeneral overall spokesperson and sumsup at the end of the meeting;

M specialist member, whoaddresses AI's specific concerns anddesired actions;

M AI member, who can talk aboutAI's position more generally (importantto do at the beginning in first meetings)and take notes.

j Prepare the meetingBe clear on what the objective of themeeting is and what action outcomes youwant. Set up detailed list of themes for themeeting and distribute it to thedelegation. The delegation should meetbefore the meeting and prepare together(who says what, who introduces AIgenerally, who speaks about theconcerns, etc). Clarify whatdocumentation you will need to take andto leave with them. Rehearse the meeting.This can help to refine arguments, clarifydelegates’ roles and help to anticipatequestions or problems that may arise.

The effective meeting:Assuming that you have been able toarrange a meeting at the right time withthe right person, the effectiveness of


Active listening

Listeningconcentration

understand withoutjudgment

discover personal interestmove along without

exerting pressure

Activeask questions

give feedback to signalunderstanding

show any real interest andgive positive support

your lobbying depends on presentingyour case effectively. To do so, you needto consider both the materials anddocumentation you use and the way yourun the meeting.

jCHECKLISTEFFECTIVE MEETINGS

j Have a clear, achievable goal.

j Decide who is going to say what.

j Plan for different kinds of responses.

j Dress appropriately: showingknowledge of dress codes increases trust.

j Sit comfortably, be relaxed.

j Maintain eye contact if appropriate.

j Keep a positive atmosphere: listenactively and show interest in andunderstanding of their point of view.

j State your case precisely.

j Make your request for help explicit.

j Keep the discussion on track:summarize progress, dare to interruptand let yourself be interrupted.

j Deal confidently with questions.

j Check what you have agreed beforeleaving.

Documentation:

Decide the length/detail of materialsversus the likelihood of them beingread. Decide the best time to sendmaterials. If you send them too far inadvance, they will be forgotten, but ifthey arrive too close to the meeting,there will be no time to study them. Donot assume that anything will be read inadvance. Bring a second copy (orsufficient copies) of everything to themeeting.

jCHECKLISTAFTER THE MEETINGj Who is responsible for action afterthe meeting? Name a person.

j Send a letter thanking the person forthe meeting, mentioning the promiseshe/she made.

j Make a written report of the meetingfor your AI records. Distribute the reportto everyone within AI who may beinterested.

j Give feeback to the IS.

j After a while, call the person againand ask if they have kept their promises.

Structures for lobbyingMost Sections will not make a bigdistinction between lobbying their owngovernment about domestic issues,about bilateral country issues, or issuesin the context of IGO work. Indeed, it isimportant that there is a good overallcoordination of lobbying andintegration with campaigning.

Within the IS, most lobbyingrequests will come from the regionalprograms with regard to specificcountries or from the Legal andInternational Organizations Program(LIOP) in relation to IGO work. TheCampaigning and Crisis Response(CCR) program is responsible for theoverall coordination of our actioncalendar and takes the lead with regardto theme campaigns, MSP work, andwork on economic relations andhuman rights.The Research andMandate Program (RMP) takes the leadon refugee work.

LIOP is the principal contact pointfor IGO coordinators and others whocoordinate campaigning on IGO issues.Other IS programs also lead initiativeson certain regional IGOs or themes.While IGO coordinators should guidelobbying and other campaigning onIGO issues, Section press officers andcampaign coordinators will need tounderstand the basics of IGO work andwork very closely with IGO


coordinators. Country coordinatorsand specialist networks, such as lawyers’groups, should learn about IGO workand be able to lead IGO campaigning intheir area of expertise.

At the Section level there arealmost as many structural models asthere are structures. The outline belowis intended to provide only a guide tothe functions of such a homegovernment approaches program andthe resources it might need in order tofunction.

Creating a lobbying working group:M One or two people at the start.M Identify core roles.M Identify what administrativesupport you need.M Identify what training is needed.M Identify outside resources andexpertise.M Work with the IS to identifysuitable actions (do not try to doeverything at first).M Ensure regular feedback from ISto Sections and from Sections to IS.

Bilateral action onhuman rights by governmentsDiplomatic protocol, inertia andestablished practice can restrict thewillingness of governments and theirofficials to take action on behalf of thehuman rights of individual citizens inother states. In practice theseconstraints can and have been brokendown by political will, individualinitiative and imagination. Lobbyingand other campaigning by AI can helpto provide all these.

Below is a list of some of the thingsthat AI knows governments have donein relation to international action onhuman rights. You may want to refer tosome of these when meeting yourgovernment.

Urgent ActionsIn response to lobbying, the foreignaffairs ministry of at least onegovernment has given a commitment to

act on each UA issued by AI. Incountries where an embassy exists,embassy staff are requested to makeinquiries and make concerns known tothe government concerned. Where noembassy exists, other diplomaticchannels are used. Any informationlearned is passed back to the foreignaffairs ministry, which then feeds thisinformation back to AI.

Meeting local human rightsNGOs and activists

Governments can signal theircommitment to human rights bymeeting local human rightsorganizations and activists. This shouldonly be encouraged if there is no riskthat it would put the activists in danger.These meetings can be held at thehomes or offices of theseNGOs/activists or at the embassy.

Formally inviting human rightsNGOs and activists to attend officialreceptions or dinners at the embassycan: N help to build the legitimacy ofhuman rights activism;N offer some protection to those atrisk by demonstrating the internationalinterest in them;N ensure that the embassy staff arekept informed about human rightsdevelopments, trends and opinions inthe country.

Attending meetings and otherNGO events

Diplomatic staff can attend meetingsand other events to show an interest inthe work of human rights NGOs. Insome circumstances it can also act as adeterrent against physical attacks orharassment of activists.

Making diplomats responsibleLobbying can seek to make sure thathuman rights work is integrated as oneresponsibility of the work of diplomats.This may mean:N receiving a briefing from AI andother human rights NGOs beforeleaving the country to take up a post;


N reporting back to the homegovernment on human rightsdevelopments and violations;N advising on strategies to improverespect for human rights;N knowing what action is likely to bemost effective in individual cases, forexample whether particulargovernment ministers are responsibleand how they may be influenced;N dedicating specific embassy staff tohuman rights.

Special visitors programsSome governments have a specialvisitors program where internationalvisitors are invited to the country as thepersonal (official) guest of the foreignminister. Visitors on these programscan include human rights activists fromdifferent countries.

A formal program for such a visitmay include meetings with othergovernment officials and human rightsorganizations that may be in a positionto offer material, moral or other formsof support.

Media work associated with thesevisits may help to increase media andcommunity understanding and actionon the human rights situation in thevisitor's home country. Such visits canhelp to give activists an internationalstature that provides a degree of safety.

Practical and material supportSome governments provide funding orother material support for humanrights organizations or bodies in othercountries. As a matter of policy AI doesnot identify specific individuals ororganizations that it believes shouldreceive support, but it does lobby homegovernments to have a human rightsstrategy that includes the strengtheningof human rights movements in othercountries.

Aid consortiumsAI lobbies governments to raise humanrights issues in the course of discussionson development or economicassistance between provider andreceiver governments. Somegovernments have used their position

as a provider of aid or assistance as alever for human rights change byimposing particular human rightsconditions, or simply suspending aiduntil elections are held, for example.

Legislation on MSP transfersAI has pressed governments to passlegislation to control military, securityand police (MSP) transfers to try andensure that these transfers do notcontribute to human rights violations.The most effective legislation:N applies to government transfers aswell as those of private companies;N enforces transparency -- such asdocumentation allowing forindependent scrutiny of transfers.

Bilateral representationsIn formal diplomatic channels directgovernment-to-government concernsare made through respective foreignaffairs ministries.

Concerns are expressed eitherthrough the ambassador in the targetcountry seeking a meeting with thegovernment, or through the foreignminister requesting a meeting with theambassador stationed in her/hiscountry. According to diplomaticprotocol, the latter is normally onlydone where there is an issue of seriousconcern in the relationship.

In particularly serious cases,governments can recall theirambassadors temporarily -- andsuspend diplomatic relations.

Increasingly, bilateralrelationships exist through a range ofdifferent government departments orministries, including trade, culture anddefence. These contacts also provideimportant opportunities forrepresentations to be made.


1

CHAPTER 12HUMAN RIGHTSEDUCATION

Human rights education is increasingly seen as animportant and integral part of the struggleagainst human rights violations. It aims toincrease knowledge and understanding aboutfundamental rights and about the legalinstruments designed to protect them. It alsoaims to transmit the skills needed to upholdhuman rights.

Contents

AI and human rights education / 268

A closer look at human rights education / 268

Human rights education in practice / 269

Integrating human rights education in campaigning / 270

AI and human rightseducationAI's mandate aims to contribute to theobservance throughout the world ofhuman rights as set out in the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights (UDHR).In pursuance of this aim, AI promotesawareness and knowledge of, andadherence to, human rights standardsin general, and actively campaignsagainst violations of certain civil andpolitical rights.

AI's mainstream activities until the1980s were mostly designed to opposeand denounce existing violations ofsome civil and political rights. In thepast decade there has been growingawareness that the worldwide struggleagainst human rights violations can bestrengthened if it is combined withmore vigorous preventive human rightswork such as human rights education(HRE) or human rights awareness(HRA).

AI defines human rights educationor training as a program which providesknowledge and understanding abouthuman rights, and which also seeks todevelop attitudes and behaviourrespectful of those rights. To besuccessful, such an educationalprogram must be sustained over aperiod of time and involve interactionbetween two parties – trainer/trainee;teacher/pupil.

HRE includes the development ofbasic skills such as critical thinking,communication skills, problem-solvingand negotiation, all of which areessential for effective human rightsactivism and participation in decisionprocesses.

AI defines human rights awarenessin terms of focusing on thedissemination of information abouthuman rights. HRA work includes, forexample, the displaying of posters, aconcert such as "Human Rights Now", aradio program, or a lecture. The activeparticipation of the audience is notrequired, and the event can be a one-off. This means that individual HRAevents are unlikely to have a long-termimpact on attitudes and behaviour.

There is a natural overlap betweenHRE and HRA. In some countries itmay be necessary to begin with someHRA work in order to create the desiredenvironment in which a sustainableHRE program can be developed andimplemented.

A closer look at humanrights educationHRE is about helping peopleunderstand the importance of humanrights and providing them with theknowledge, attitudes and skillsnecessary to promote and protect them.

HRE can be regular trainingcourses for police personnel on how torespect the rights of detainees, or onthe need to report colleaguesresponsible for ill-treatment, or it mayentail developing a curriculum andteaching materials on the UDHR foryoung children. Lobbying the relevantauthorities to have human rightsintroduced in a specific training orteaching curricula is also part of thework human rights educators do.

While HRE work does not includeAI's campaigning work on individualcases, HRE and other preventive workcan be part of a country strategy, toenhance the local impact of AI's actionsagainst violations of human rights andto help the development of a wider andstronger human rights movement.

AI's campaigning contributes toeducation for and about human rights.AI's members develop knowledge andskills in the course of everyday


Members of the Colombian Section runningan information stall about human rights

© AI

campaigning. Their activities educatethe people they seek to mobilize in thewider community as well as those whoare the targets of AI's actions.

Human rights education inpracticeEducating an entire population abouthuman rights is clearly an ambitiousgoal – particularly for AI or other non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

AI Sections have adopted a rangeof more focused approaches to increasetheir effectiveness. These approacheshave included lobbying governments toensure that human rights are includedat all levels in the educational syllabusand sometimes working with theministry of education or the policeauthorities providing advice on thecontents of that curriculum. Some AI

Sections have developed HRE packswhich form the core of sucheducational programs.

For other Sections the focus oflobbying has been targeted towardsIGOs or NGOs. In some societies thereare national human rights bodies, againwith large funds at their disposal andHRE within their mandate. Thelobbying of these organizations and ofgovernments has sought to ensure thatbuilding knowledge of human rights isone of their tasks, and one that theytake seriously.

The armed forces have beenanother focus of domestic lobbying fortargeted human rights training – partlyin response to the growing number ofgovernments deploying soldiers oninternational peace-keeping missions.The role and mandate of soldiers onsuch missions is, it has been argued,quite different from the role of a soldiersent to war.

Human Rights Education 269

Aims of a human rights educationprogram

A human rights education programaims to enable individuals to acquireknowledge, understanding andexperience of:

N human rights concepts and theunderlying values and attitudes that leadto the respect of human rights;N the instruments which record andprotect human rights;N the skills, values and attitudes thatuphold the same rights for all andencourage action in defence of theserights.

Aims of a human rights awareness program

A human rights awareness programaims to ensure that individualsacknowledge the existence, relevanceand importance of:

N the instruments which record andprotect human rights;N the need to promote and protecthuman rights;N the human rights work carried outby governmental and non-governmentalorganizations.

Elements of a human rights education program

AI's HRE program includes:

N lobbying for incorporation of HRE in official training and educational programsin institutions ranging from schools to universities, military and police academiesand the civil service courses;N taking part in educational and training programs, whether organized by AI, byother organizations, or by official bodies;N organizing, alone or with other organizations, informal educational activities,such as street theatre, puppet shows for children, writing competitions for youngpeople, films, radio and television programs;N supporting and facilitating the work of human rights educators inside andoutside AI, mainly through participation in human rights education regional andnational networks.

This remains quite a new field ofexpertise, but one of growingimportance as such deploymentsincrease, particularly where armies witha domestic record of violating humanrights serve in such missions.

Integrating humanrights education incampaigningBelow are just some ideas which youmight find useful. You might want to trythem out or you might think of moreappropriate ones for your country andAI structure.

cTIPS

c Make systematic the training of AISection and group members on humanrights issues. This will ensure that allthose involved in campaigning have asound knowledge and understandingof human rights and the mechanismsdesigned to protect those rights.

c When deciding Section and groupaction plans, ensure that HRE is anintegral component. The integration ofHRE work in AI enhances the work ofSections and groups.

c Coordinate with the Section andgroup members involved in HRE so

that their work takes into account AIcampaigns (they can use AIcampaigning materials), and vice versa.For example, a poster produced toaccompany a campaign could be madeinto a human rights teaching tool bysending it out with a leaflet givingsuggestions on how the educator mightuse it in a lesson (see box above).

c Relevant sectors of society can bespecially targeted in a particularcampaign to make them sensitive tohuman rights issues, so that they can beasked to work for the introduction ofhuman rights in specific teachingcurricula.

c When relevant, appeals togovernments of other countries caninclude the request for theintroduction of teaching for and abouthuman rights. For example, in acampaign on a country where childrenare victims of gross human rightsviolations the appeals written to theauthorities can ask that those workingwith children receive training onchildren's rights and the mechanismswhich protect them.

c Getting young people, and others,involved in campaigning action can bea valuable way of educating people –and can be done formally, usingcontacts with schools and other bodies.


A campaigning poster as an educational tool

1992 was the anniversary of the arrival of Europeans in what came to be known asthe Americas. Many indigenous organizations from the Americas region took thisopportunity to teach people about the richness of their cultures. One of the manymaterials produced was a large poster which was distributed throughout the regionin large numbers.

One side of the poster showed a beautifully illustrated map of the region. Next toeach country an image described an aspect of the local indigenous population'sculture. The poster was very colourful and attractive.

The other side of the poster showed ideas about how an educator could use it,and an explanation of what each picture represented. In one corner there was ashort list of reference books which the educator could probably find in a library ifs/he wanted more information on the subject.

The poster was laminated to help it survive wear and tear in the classroom, andwas large enough to be easily read. It was sent to organizations that work on humanrights issues, HRE, adult education, teachers' unions, etc, and was widely used as anHRE tool for campaigners in the region.

If you need advice the HRETeam at the IS will be morethan happy to discuss anyideas with you and help inwhatever way possible. Youmay also want to readAmnesty International'sHuman Rights EducationPolicy (AI Index: POL32/03/93) and AmnestyInternational’s InternationalHuman Rights EducationStrategy (AI Index: POL32/02/96). But alwaysremember to share yourplans with the HRE group inyour AI structure.

1

CHAPTER 13EVALUATION

Campaigners and those who assist them want toknow whether their efforts are actually having theintended impact. If not, they want to know whetherthere are different things they might try that could bemore effective. Evaluation (and the related activity,monitoring) is a tool that all campaigners use toimprove the effectiveness of their campaigning. It isa way of learning from and building on experiencein order to do things better in the future.

Contents

The importance of evaluation / 272

Why do you want to evaluate? / 272

What do you want to evaluate? / 273

Evaluation of outcomes / 273

Evaluation of methods / 273

Choosing what to evaluate / 273

Timing / 273

Resources / 274

What information is required? / 274

Assessment / 275

Presenting the results / 276

“Who shall stand guard to theguards themselves?”

Juvenal, 60-130 AD, Roman satirist

The importance of evaluationThe time spent on evaluation shouldnot be seen as lost to campaigning, butrather as time used to enhance theimpact of future work. Useful andpractical evaluation can be done withrelatively small amounts of time andother resources, and does not requirespecialist expertise.

Sometimes it is desirable to use anexpert outsider, but evaluation done bycampaigners themselves should be anessential and integral part of campaigning.

Evaluation simply meanscollecting information and using it tojudge the merit or worth of something.The judgment might be about whetheran activity was “un/successful” or“in/effective”; it might also include anassessment of the reasons for success orfailure, of changes that might improvethe effectiveness of the activity, or ofadditional or alternative activities.

The term “monitoring” is generallyused to refer to the regular and systematiccollection of information about what ishappening. This might be the extent ofmedia coverage, the number of peoplewriting letters on behalf of a prisoner ofconscience and the responses beingreceived, or the number of requests forspecific publications.

Some people also use the term“monitoring” to describe the process ofusing the information to assess how wellthings are going, and to make decisionsabout whether changes are needed. Inthis sense, monitoring is the same kindof activity as evaluation.

To avoid confusion, this chapteruses “monitoring” to refer only to theregular and systematic collection ofinformation that describes “what is”.Evaluation refers to the use ofinformation to assess whether there is agap between “what is” and “what shouldbe” or “what could be”, and if there is,how it might be closed.

The following questions may helpyou decide when to evaluate yourcampaigning, what to evaluate and howto do the evaluation.

gQUESTIONS

g Why do you want to evaluate thecampaigning and who wants to usethe evaluation? Is it to inform the membership aboutwhat has been achieved or to help thecampaign organizers improve thequality of the work, or both?

g What do you want to evaluate? Is it just the impact or changes that thecampaigning has had, or thecampaigning methods as well?

g Was it the right strategy?

g When do you need the results ofthe evaluation?Is there, for example, a planning meetingscheduled that needs the informationto make decisions about future activity?

g What resources are available orneeded for the evaluation? How much time and money should youdevote to it?

g What information is neededand how will it be collected? What is the best you can get with theresources you have available?

g What does the information tellyou about how well you are doingand what changes might be neededin your campaigning methods?

g What are the most effectiveways of telling the relevant peopleof the results? Is it in a newsletter, at a meeting or in awritten report?

Why do you want toevaluate?You need to be clear about “why” youwant to evaluate your campaigning, andthe related issue of “for whose benefit”,in order to decide such things as “whataspects” will be evaluated, and whenand how the results will be reported.


The most important reason forevaluating is to improve futurecampaigning techniques. The main“audience” for such evaluation shouldbe the campaigners themselves.Campaigners need to know whatworked well and why in order to buildupon their strengths. They need to knowwhat did not work well and why in orderto take steps to overcome weaknesses.

Another reason for evaluation is toinform AI members and others aboutthe results of the activity which theyhave assisted. They contribute time andperhaps other resources to thecampaigning and are entitled to knowwhat has been achieved. If campaignersdo not keep them informed, themembers and others may not be willingto help in the future.

A third possible reason is“accountability” – to report on activitiesto the management committee or theannual general meeting of members.

An evaluation may have more thanone purpose. In this case each purposeshould be considered in determiningwhat will be covered, the timetable,presentation and other aspects.

What do you want toevaluate?There are two types of issues that couldbe the focus of monitoring/evaluation:N Outcomes: has anything changedas a result of your campaigning? Whatimpact have you had?N Methods: what things did you do inorder to bring about the changes? Howwell did they work?

Evaluation of outcomesSome evaluations are restricted togathering and assessing informationabout whether changes have takenplace. The most important changes thatevaluation should examine are thoseindicated by the objectives in the plan,i.e. the intended changes. An evaluationmight also note unintended effects thatmay be important to future campaigning.There might be unintended positiveeffects (for example, you found a

valuable new ally who might cooperatewith you in the future) or negative ones(for example, you offended someoneyou might have wanted as an ally).

Evaluation of methodsEvaluation should also look at thecampaigning methods, even if it is clearthat the objectives were successfullyachieved. “Methods” is used here in thewidest sense and includes strategies,techniques, resources (people, money,etc.), and how the work was organized,managed and implemented. Only byunderstanding what worked well andwhat did not, and the reasons for successor failure, can monitoring/evaluationhelp you to build on strengths and findremedies for weaknesses.

Choosing what to evaluateThere is often not enough time, moneyor interest to evaluate thoroughly everyaspect of campaigning. You have tomake choices about what you will cover,and should do so on the basis of twocriteria:

N What is most useful to you and otherpeople for whose benefit you are doingthe evaluation? What issues are ofgreatest importance or interest to them?If the campaign had a number ofobjectives and a variety of methods,were some more important than others?

N What is practical, taking intoaccount the limited resources and thedeadline for using the information?

TimingEvaluation has to be useful to justify theresources expended on it, andtimeliness is an important element ofusefulness. Sometimes, the results ofevaluation are needed by a specific timeor date that cannot readily be altered.This may have significant implicationsfor what is evaluated and the methodsused to collect and assess theinformation. For example, if thedeadline is relatively short, you mayhave to restrict the number ofoutcomes that you will try to examine

Evaluation 273

and the number of people you caninterview.

If you consider it essential that aparticular issue be thoroughlyevaluated and there is no specificdeadline, you should set the deadlineon the basis of the length of timerequired to do the research adequately.

ResourcesOnly one resource is absolutelyessential for evaluation: time. One ormore people have to collectinformation, people may have to spendtime providing the information, theinformation needs to be assessed, andthe results considered by those who areinterested in it.

Other aspects may require moneyfor things such as postage and printing.

There is no formula fordetermining how much time andmoney you should spend on evaluation.If you have some flexibility, then the“budget” should reflect the answers tothese questions:

g How useful would it be to havethe information that evaluationcould provide? Will it help you toimprove the quality of a techniquethat is critical in futurecampaigning?

g How much time/money will itcost to collect and analyse theinformation that is required toproduce useful evaluation?

Can you do useful evaluation withno money and little time? Yes! Lack ofmoney and time are problems thatconfront people in the IS and Sectionswith paid staff as well as groups whosemembers are all volunteers.

What information isrequired?The information you need isdetermined by the focus of theevaluation. Is it going to look only at thechanges the campaigning has brought

about, or methods as well? Forexample:N if the campaign objective is “topersuade the government to sign aninternational human rightsagreement”, you will want to know whatresponse the minister gave when AIrepresentatives met her or him, and, ifthe government had announced itspolicy on the agreement, what it is. Canyou find out why -- was it the publicpressure, the quality of thepresentation, etc?N if you want to evaluate theusefulness of campaigning materials,you will want to know what the peopleto whom you provided the materialsthought of them. Did they find thematerials easy to understand and use?Were the materials produced anddistributed in a timely manner? Did thematerials persuade and enable them totake action?

The ways in which you collect theinformation depends on the kind ofinformation you need as well as factorssuch as its accessibility, your resourcesand the deadline.

Some information may be readilyavailable. For example, you can


The booklet produced by AIduring the 1996 campaign forthe establishment of apermanent internationalcriminal court. The campaignwas evaluated, both at the IS andby the rest of the movement.© AI

monitor coverage of your mediareleases by designating people to scanspecific newspapers and magazines,and listen to/watch specific radio andtelevision news programs. You cancollect information about the impact ofan exhibition by counting the numberof people who attend and by having avisitors’ book in which they are invitedto indicate their background (such aswhether they are AI members) andwrite comments. Important events maybe documented in minutes of meetingsto monitor whether or not people havedone what they said they would do, ontime, and if not, why not.

A big advantage of planning toevaluate when you are working out acampaign strategy is that you canidentify at the beginning theinformation that will be needed andalong the way can consider ways ofcollecting at least some of thatinformation. For example, it is far moredifficult to evaluate your media impactif you have not monitored it during thecampaign.

Other information required forevaluation may have to be collected bymeans such as interviews and writtenquestionnaires. If you are not familiarwith designing and using questionnaires,try to obtain advice from someone whois experienced in these methods orfrom books on the subject.

There is some importantinformation that you will not be able tocollect. One reason is that it may beinaccessible. For example, governmentsoften give vague or non-committalresponses to requests for informationuntil they think it suits their interests toannounce their policy. Another reasonis that the methods needed to collectthe information may be too expensiveand time-consuming. For instance, acommon campaigning objective is “toraise public awareness” about an issue.To get direct evidence about this needssurveys before and after the campaign.Human rights campaigningorganizations can rarely, if ever, affordto do this. In these circumstances, youmay be able to identify and collect otherinformation that is relevant to the issue

you are evaluating. For example, inrelation to the objective of raisingpublic awareness, you may want to lookat:

N the extent and quality of mediacoverage – using the media is one of themost common methods used by AI andother campaigning organizations onthe assumption that the public readsand is influenced by “favourable”stories;

N the response of people who are notAI members – did they join AI, donatemoney, sign a petition or requestliterature? If you update membershipstatistics on a monthly basis, you can seewhether there was an increase in thenumber of people who joined AIfollowing the launch of a campaign,compared with previous months, or thesame month a year earlier.

AssessmentAssessment is the process of using theinformation to accomplish the aims ofevaluation – to answer questions such as“are we making progress?”, “are weusing our resources well?”, “is theresomething different we should try?”

Assessments can be quitedifferent. One kind is factual – whathappened and why? Sometimes afactual assessment can be confidentlymade. At other times it cannot be madebecause we do not have the informationthat is needed.

In some situations it is relativelyeasy to claim a link between what we didand the outcome. For example, an AIspeaker addressed a trade unionmeeting and the union then agreed tosend a letter in support of an appeal forthe release of a prisoner of conscience.In other situations we do not haveenough information to be certainabout the factors that led to the eventsthat occurred. For example, if AI is oneof a number of organizations thatsuccessfully lobbied the government tomake a particular decision, it is unlikelyyou will be able to assess the exactcontribution you made to the outcome.

Evaluation 275

A second kind of assessment is“making value judgments”, such aswhether an activity was “successful” orwhether results were “worthwhile”.Making a value judgment requires notonly information about what happenedand why, but also criteria against which“success” and “achievement” can beassessed. Success is more difficult todefine where:

N Your plan does not specify targetsin objectives or methods, such as “toincrease public awareness”. How big anincrease is a good outcome? How manysignatures on a petition or number ofpeople attending a meeting is asatisfactory result?

N Your target represents what you“hope” will happen, rather than a well-founded expectation. This is generallythe case where an activity is new.

N Your target was partially achieved –you aimed to gain support from 10trade unions and seven agreed.

Where there are no explicitsuccess criteria, the person doing theassessment should be wary of imposingher/his values. The expectations ofpeople involved in a campaign maydiffer, so it is important to state whathappened (“our campaign launch wascovered in three newspapers”) as wellmaking judgments (“the coverage wasgood/poor”) that reflect your ownexpectations. If you do want to make ajudgment, you should state the criteriaon which it is based. For example, “theletter-writing campaign was a success –300 people participated this year,compared to 200 last year”.

A third kind of assessment involvesmaking recommendations aboutwhether an activity should becontinued in its current form, changedor discontinued, and whether adifferent activity should be initiated.Making recommendations involvesmaking factual judgments about boththe past (why did something work orfail?) and the future (how willsomething work?). Recommendations

may be based on an assessment of theinformation collected for theevaluation, or on information relatedto other situations, such as successfulcampaigning techniques used by otherorganizations, or both. If you want torecommend something because itworked elsewhere, think carefully aboutthe circumstances under which itworked. Are there any critical elementswhich are different to the situation youare evaluating, such as the resourcesavailable?

Presenting the resultsHow the evaluation should be presenteddepends on a number of factors,including:N who the monitoring/evaluation isfor;N what they want it for;N when they want it;N whether a formal record isrequired.

For example, if an evaluation is toprovide information to a large andwidely dispersed group of people, youcould prepare a detailed report andsend it to them, or you could provide asummary in a newsletter, advising that adetailed report is also available onrequest.

If the evaluation is intended onlyfor the campaign team, the mosteffective means of communication maybe a short outline paper and an oralpresentation. This would give themembers the opportunity to seekclarification and elaboration, and todiscuss how to use the findings.


1

APPENDIX 1USEFUL QUOTATIONS

This compilation includes inspirationalquotations from prisoners on whose behalf AI hasworked, listed alphabetically by country, as well asfrom organizations and personalities. Thequotations are intended to be used individually:the compilation is not geopolitically balanced andis not intended for use as a collection. Thequotations are arranged in the following order:

N Prisoners of conscience and Urgent Action letters / 278

N On the death penalty / 289

N World faiths / 290

N Media / 291

N United States Government / 292

N International organizations / 292

N Performing arts / 292

N Well-known personalities / 294

PRISONERS OFCONSCIENCE ANDURGENT ACTION LETTERS

ARGENTINA

"At last, I can enjoy the immense

pleasure of writing to you as a

free man. Yes! I'm a free man and

feel so much pleasure and

excitement about being able to

kiss and hug my wife, my

children, my parents, brothers,

sisters, family and friends, not to

mention the strangers who have

welcomed me with open arms.

You are part of this group of

human beings who have been so

intimate and dear to my family...

Perhaps you don't realize how

much hope you gave us, how

much you helped to bring relief

from the horrible nightmare. From

the beginning we realized we

were not alone... we, the

prisoners, received your help with

indescribable joy.

"Thanks to you and your

people we were able to get

through those years in prison in

dignity."

Released prisoner of conscience

"There should be no double

standard [concerning human

rights], because this double

standard is part of the strategy of

fascists and communists alike. On

this point, Amnesty International

has surely been the organization

that has maintained an

independent position with the

most courage and which has

withstood most of the attacks."

Jacobo Timerman, author andreleased prisoner of conscience

AUSTRALIA

"Your correspondence of 16

September 1988 relating to the

death of Edward Charles

Cameron is acknowledged and

your expressed concern is

noted... In an endeavour to

prevent further deaths in custody

the Western Australian

Government has been supportive

of any action designed to reduce

the likelihood of further deaths.

Several of the recommendations

of the State Interim inquiry into

Aboriginal Deaths have already

been approved by the

Government while the others are

being further examined with a

view to implementation."

Letter sent to an Urgent Actionparticipant by Ian Taylor, Ministerfor Police and EmergencyServices, regarding the death indetention of Edward CharlesCameron, which was the subjectof an Urgent Action appeal

BENIN

"I am free. I have just been freed

this evening. I assure you that I

owe my freedom to you. I survived

thanks to you. It is true that one

must never despair in life. This

victory is completely yours, you

who have been untiring workers.

From this moment a new page in

my life has been turned."

Released prisoner of conscience,in a letter to AI

CHILE

"With deep gratitude and

emotion we have received your

message of solidarity regarding

the threats against 81 of our

fellow actors, directors and

writers. The truth is that we lack

the words to express what your

support has meant to us. You have

touched us profoundly, and have

given us strength at a time of

growing alarm. There is no doubt

that you have also protected us...

"We have received

thousands of messages... It has

truly been a flood of affection and

support. We wish we could thank

you all personally, but we simply

lack the hands to do so... we are

in good spirits. Our trust is that

'Commando 135 – Pacifying

Action Trizano' will fall short of

the sufficient viciousness to carry

out its threats. But, in any case, we

will not leave our country. Here

we stay, with your support and

that of our people."

Edgardo Bruna, President ofSIDARTE (Association of Radio,Television, Theatre, and MovieArtists, Writers, and TechnicalWorkers), in response to lettersreceived from members of theUrgent Action networkconcerning death threats in Chile

"On behalf of the Chilean

Nursing College, we would like to

salute you for your support of

solidarity expressed in the report

of violation of human rights in our

country and the demand which it

makes upon the authorities with

respect to their responsibility to

cease these atrocities.

"Your letters and actions of

solidarity invigorate our cause

and motivate us as citizens not to

give up our commitment to

freedom and emancipation."

Letter to a member of the UrgentAction network from members ofthe Chilean Nursing College:Patricia Grau Mascayano,Secretary General; PatriciaTalloni Valdes, NationalPresident; and HortensiaArizabio Valle, a member of theInternational Commission

"With this greeting we wish to share

the joy of freedom and express our

gratitude for all the support and

solidarity you gave us. Thank you!"

Dr and Mrs Ramiro Olivares, in aJanuary 1988 card to AImembers who had worked for therelease of prisoner of conscienceDr Olivares

CUBA

"While nothing could prevent my

serving the 20-year sentence in its

entirety, there is no doubt in my

mind that your endeavours were

a determining factor in the

preservation of my life during my

imprisonment."

Huber Matos, released prisonerof conscience


"After the rigorous

investigations it always conducts,

Amnesty International adopted

me as a prisoner of conscience.

They named several groups in

West Germany, Holland, and

Sweden to work toward achieving

my freedom. I learned about the

activities of the members of

Amnesty International through

my clandestine correspondence

with [my wife] Martha. Being

adopted by Amnesty

International constituted a kind of

protection. I believe this greatly

contributed to the fact that the

Cuban authorities did not

physically do away with me in

some violent manner. The

government knew that all the

world now knew that I existed,

and not only that but exactly what

my situation was. [Amnesty

International] Group 110 in

Sweden worked unceasingly for

me, and in great part it is due to

their extraordinary efforts that I

was finally released."

Armando Valladares, releasedprisoner of conscience, in hisbook, Against All Hope

CZECH REPUBLIC

"When I say that I have read your

letter from 3 August with deep

feelings of emotion and gratitude,

it is an understatement. In fact, I

am totally at a loss what words to

choose in order to express my

thanks to you all...for what you

did for me and for other political

prisoners in Czechoslovakia. And

it is not because I am writing in a

foreign language; even in Czech I

would be able to use only an old-

fashioned phrase: 'Thank you

from the bottom of my heart'."

A former prisoner of conscience

"I would like to use this

opportunity to thank all the

people of good will who in the last

years had helped me to survive.

Only my wife was allowed to send

letters to me in prison, but she

managed to convey the

astonishing solidarity and help

large numbers of people were

showing to my family. There were

letters from Germany, from

Austria, from New Zealand, from

Iceland... When I was released I

could read those letters, and I was

overwhelmed by the magnitude

and intensity of this mainly moral

help. From Norway, for instance,

my family had received woollen

blankets made by schoolchildren.

Approximately fifty children from

one school took part, each of

them had knitted one woollen

square, then they put them

together... and now under those

blankets my two young daughters

sleep.

"It is extremely difficult for

me to speak about those things,

but I am happy to have this

opportunity to let the people

outside know that what they did

was of immense importance to me

and my family. I have got the

feeling that the world is not as bad

after all, if it is still possible that

people are able to do for others –

and for somebody they don't even

know – what they did for me."

Ivan Jirous, poet and releasedprisoner of conscience

"For a number of months, I was

totally cut off from the outside

world, and the interrogators did

their best to persuade me that

nobody would give a damn if I

were to disappear. And now this

letter [written by an AI member

from California, USA, and

smuggled into his prison hospital

room]... the overwhelming

sensation I had been

experiencing was a joyful feeling

that somebody whom I didn't

know at all, at least one person in

the distant wide world thought

that I did exist... It was immensely

important for us to know that we

were not forgotten, that people

who mostly did not even know us,

cared. And again – I do not

underestimate the more tangible

results of such appeals: months

later, some of my friends were

released before the end of their

prison terms. Nobody can be sure

under which circumstances, but I

am convinced that one of the

reasons was the fact that their

cases were being talked and

written about abroad, that they

had not simply vanished without

trace."

Karel Kyncl, released prisoner ofconscience

"I was amazed at the great

number of letters sent to heads of

states, parliaments, influential

politicians, and other people who

are in a position to intercede

effectively on our behalf... I would

like to express to you my sincere

thanks for everything Amnesty

International has done for me.

Without this work I would have

had to stay in prison for many

months. By this action, Amnesty

International saved my life and

gave me the chance of a new and

truly human existence."

Dr Jan Mlynarik, historian andreleased prisoner

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

"When the first 200 letters came,

the guards gave me back my

clothes. Then the next 200 came,

and the prison director came to

see me. When the next pile of

letters arrived, the director got in

touch with his superior. The letters

kept coming and coming: three

thousand of them. The president

was informed. The letters still kept

arriving, and the president called the

prison and told them to let me go.

"After I was released, the

president called me to his office.

He said: 'How is it that a trade

union leader like you has so many

friends from all over the world?'

He showed me an enormous box

full of letters he had received and,

Appendix 1/Useful Quotations 279

when we parted, he gave them to

me."

Julio de Pena Valdez, releasedprisoner of conscience

GERMANY

"My friend informed me that your

organization took care of me.

Because of this I feel the deep

desire to thank you very much for

everything your organization has

done for me. I understand there

exist groups all over the world

who adopt particular cases and

who take measures to get people

free... It is my intention, after

having managed to start into my

new life, to actively participate in

AI's work."

Dr Martin Schmitt, formerprisoner of conscience fromformer East Germany, in a letter toAI

EL SALVADOR

"My friend, what you wrote has

lightened my heart, because I

understand that I am not alone, as

I feel, but that the solidarity of the

whole world is with me, I who am

just a poor, insignificant woman

destroyed by a common enemy. I

never imagined that anyone

would cast a glance in my

direction but this fills me with the

will to go on."

Teacher and released prisoner, ina letter to the AI group that hadworked on her behalf

"...if there's lots of pressure – like

from Amnesty International or

some foreign countries – we might

pass them on to a judge. But if

there's no pressure, then they're

dead."

Former torturer

ETHIOPIA

"One remarkable thing was the

smuggling of the Amnesty

International document into the

cell by one of the soldiers who felt

sympathetic to us... That really

was great hope... A friend of

mine came and told me, 'I was

going to commit suicide. It was

only this paper that saved my

life'."


GREECE

"Accept my thanks for the

sensitivity, attention and justice

you have shown till now on the

subject of conscientious objection

to military service.

"I thank you all, as well as

the people of Europe who, during

my 10 months' imprisonment,

filled my heart with courage with

their words of love and their

protest against the lengthy, unjust,

ignominious imprisonments in

Greece.

"In particular I would like to

thank Amnesty International for

its decisive work and the members

of the European Parliament who

support me with their statements,

letters and presence at my trials."

Detained prisoner of conscience

"We received your letter of 10

December 1987 and we thank

you very much for your interest

and concern about our son

Alexandros Albanidis, who is in

prison for his religious beliefs. I

would like to let you know that we

have another son who is also in

prison. He went there six months

after Alexandros; his name is

Christos Albanidis and he is also

in the agricultural prison of

Cassandras. You understand this

is a very sad situation for parents

to have two children and both of

them to be in jail not because they

robbed somebody, not because

they stole from somebody, not

because they killed somebody, or

not because they committed any

other crime, but because their

conscience does not permit them

to take a gun or a weapon and to

kill their fellow human beings...

"Please accept my friendly

greetings and we thank you from

the deepest of our hearts."

Sotirios Albanidis, father of aprisoner of conscience, in a letterto an AI member

"This year the letters from

Amnesty International and your

sweet words made my heart feel

joyful. You gave me courage to

carry on our struggle. The world

today needs all of us to achieve

true Peace and human rights and

liberty... From my small cell,

Merry Christmas and a Happy

New Year."

Michelis Maragakis, prisoner ofconscience, in a letter to an AImember

GUATEMALA

"I take this opportunity to thank

you sincerely for your

indispensable help which

enabled me to regain my liberty

and life and to bring to an end the

unjust treatment which I received

from the authorities of my country.

I do this on my own behalf and on

behalf of my family. I feel sure that

my release would not have come

about without your help.

"I would like to express my

thanks to everyone who

contributed their efforts, but I

have come to realize, in these

days following my release, that

this would be most difficult to do.

If it appears reasonable to you,

perhaps you can send a copy of

this letter to those persons who

worked with you to help me.

"I also take this opportunity

to beg your pardon for not writing

sooner. The days immediately

following my release were hectic.

Leaving Guatemala was very

difficult. I thank you again for all

you have done."

Released prisoner, in a letter to AI

"I would like to take this

opportunity to express the

profound thanks which we owe to

Amnesty International for the

tenacious labour you have

carried out for so many years on


behalf of our people. The constant

reports of Amnesty International

have rescued from oblivion and

anonymity the right to life of so

many children, old people and

others who have persecuted,

kidnapped, tortured and

murdered by the successive

military dictatorships which have

imposed themselves on our

people through blood and fire.

These murderers have tried to

wipe us off the face of the earth, to

wipe us out because our love of

life and our unshakeable

determination to defend it is

inconvenient for those who only

wish to preserve their profits and

privileges. Your assiduous work,

your 'divine madness' have been

for us a reassuring confirmation

that no matter how poor or ill-

treated we are, we have the right

to life and to be respected, that to

kill a new-born baby or an old

person bowed down by the

persecution of the army

constitutes a capital crime that

deserves the most energetic

condemnation."

Leader of an Indian peasantfarmers' association inGuatemala, in a letter to AI

KENYA

"All the political prisoners

released in the past two years

have been released as a direct

result of pressure from

international human rights

organizations."

Gitobu Imanyara, releasedprisoner of conscience, speakingat the Annual General Meeting ofthe US Section in 1992

One day Maina Wa Kinyatti was

given a card which said: "Stay

strong – we are fighting for you."

"Those were very powerful

words. They literally saved my

life", said Maina Wa Kinyatti.

"Only someone in prison knows

how beautiful those words can be.

They gave me courage. I wanted

to hold on. I didn't want to betray

those people on the outside

working for me."

When Maina Wa Kinyatti

arrived in the USA, he

immediately contacted the AI

group that had worked so hard on

his behalf.

"It was incredible", he said.

"It was as if I had known these

people personally. It proves

compassion knows no politics, no

colour."

Maina Wa Kinyatti, releasedprisoner of conscience

LIBERIA

"I wish to express my profound

gratitude for the concern shown

by you during my illegal detention

from 3 December 1984 to 26

September 1985 in Liberia, West

Africa. It was precisely because of

this gesture coupled with the

unwavering fighting spirit of my

people that I am today a free

man. Otherwise, I may still be

held behind bars. My crime was

for speaking out against the

wanton abuse of human rights

and the oppressive policies of my

government.

"Though I was subjected to

very inhumane treatment such as

flogging, questioning at

gunpoint, forced and hard

labour, threats of elimination, etc,

I was able to pull through because

of the knowledge that you were

expressing concerns for my

release.

"Please continue such good

work for there are still scores of

others languishing behind bars in

my country and other parts of

Africa. You certainly can make a

difference. For my part, I have

been steeled by these experiences

and henceforth remain committed

to the fostering of democracy and

human decency. No amount of

sacrifice will make me abandon

this noble objective."

Ezekiel Pajibo, released prisonerwhose case was the subject of an

Urgent Action appeal, in a letterto Urgent Action participants

MALAYSIA

"Today I took all the letters and

cards you sent me in the past, re-

read them, looked at them again,

and it is hard to describe the

feelings in my heart. The number

of these letters and cards is not

many. I know that from 1977

onwards you certainly sent me a

large number of letters and cards,

but I received only 10; I don't

know how many of those you sent

me were lost – these things that I

regard as precious jewels.

"Of the 10 items there are

five that I received in 1977 or

before while I was in 'the camp'.

In anticipation that they might

very well be taken from me, I had

arranged to keep them in a place

outside the camp, and so they

have been preserved. There are

three you sent to my sister which I

was only able to see five or six

years later. The other two are

those you sent me at the

beginning of this year. I cannot

describe my gratitude towards

you; as I re-read these letters I

cannot control my own

emotions."


MEXICO

"I received your letter of 27

January which I am now replying

to with great pleasure.

"On Saturday 8 February

I was called to the office of the

directors of the prison so that they

could give me an envelope, inside

which was a message, simple but

stimulating.

"I say stimulating because

without knowing me and so far

away, people like you are

concerned about my freedom,

driven only by interest in the

respect for human rights.

"In your letter you say that

you do and will do whatever is

possible to achieve my freedom. I


want to tell you that your most

modest effort has incalculable

value. I have commented with my

companions on various occasions

that the freedom of the political

prisoners [of my organization]

was and will be the work not only

of our people and organization,

but also of other forces opposed

to injustice, as is the case with

Amnesty International.

"I appreciate your writing

to me and ask that you continue to

do so, and I promise to reply. Give

an affectionate greeting to all the

members of your group and tell

them I hope their concern for the

respect for human rights will not

wane."

Prisoner of conscience, in a letterto the AI group working for hisrelease

MOROCCO

"You know, before I received your

last letter, I was a little unhappy

and I felt absent. But as soon as I

received your letter, I smiled. Shy

smile in the beginning, but little by

little, it became a frank and happy

smile, and my mood changed

wonderfully. You did me such

good! For us, a letter is the

outside, the forbidden! It

increases the hope to see, some

day in the future, unknown

strands, the world of our

imperfect dreams, the world of the

living. When I opened your letter,

my eyes went through the lines

while my thought, my imagination

were with you. Don't hesitate to

write every time possible. I was

deeply moved by your letter. You

send me nice, attentive letters, full

of kindness and comprehension. I

congratulate myself on having

you as my friends."

Letter from a prisoner to the AIgroup working on his case

"Whatever your religions,

origins, colours, cultures... you,

men or women, young or older,

and even so younger children,

you wrote me softly your wishes,

strengthening me to have and

keep more and more hope. Even

there are some people among you

who had the touching idea to light

up a small candle for me. And

your action is just unforgettable...

I'm so affected by its tenderness,

that [I am] unable to express

correctly my mind... it was just

unexpected for me to receive all

this testimony of friendship and

love. I'm cheerfully pleased that I

don't feel any loneliness now, and

thanks to you, even in this

[precarious] condition... I passed

a wonderful time. These last days

of 1987 and early 1988, and like

you did, I lighted up a candle

thinking of you with wishes of

love, peace, and happiness.

Then, once more, I'm grateful to

you for the [assurance] you gave

me, that there are people in the

USA who are concerned of lot

[about] other human beings

across the [ocean], and who don't

forget those who struggle for

freedom, justice, and peace...

these words [are an] answer to all

[the] cards I received."

Mghagha Mohamed, prisoner ofconscience, writing to thank AImembers who had sent him cardsin December 1987

NIGERIA

In Nigeria, the Military State

Governor of Kwara State

commuted the death sentence

imposed on a 17-year-old boy for

armed robbery. In a statement

issued on 23 February 1988, the

Acting Director of Public

Prosecutions said that the

Governor's decision was "in

response to an appeal by

Amnesty International".

PAKISTAN

Addressed to Shahid Nadeem,

imprisoned for his union work

and student political activities, the

letter said: "You are not alone;

don't lose heart. We pray for you.

If there is anything you need,

don't hesitate to ask."

In spite of the intense heat

at the maximum security prison in

the semi-desert, Shahid Nadeem

said: "Suddenly I felt as if the

sweat drops all over my body

were drops from a cool,

comforting shower... The cell was

no longer dark and suffocating."

Soon the whole prison

knew about his letter from an AI

local group member in San

Antonio, Texas, USA. "My

colleagues were overjoyed and

their morale was suddenly high."

That evening the deputy-

superintendent summoned him.

"He was so friendly and respectful

I was shocked... He explained his

dilemma as a God-fearing jailer

who had to obey orders and

follow the rules." The head

warden also began to ‘behave

himself’. Taking their cue the

junior staff changed as well.

As Shahid Nadeem puts it

now: "A woman in San Antonio

had written some kind and

comforting words which proved

to be a bombshell for the prison

authorities and significantly

changed the prisoners' conditions

for the better."

Shahid Nadeem, former prisonerof conscience

"When Amnesty International

adopted me as a prisoner of

conscience, the newspapers

started talking about me, I got

better treatment in prison, and I

was given a proper hearing in the

courts. There had been a

complete blackout on my name

and case. That was blasted when

Amnesty International took up my

case."

Mukhtar Rana, teacher andreleased prisoner of conscience


PANAMA

"Faith in your efforts and concern

sustained me throughout the

horrible period of my

imprisonment. Without hope I

think I would have died."

Released prisoner

"The Panamanian Committee for

Human Rights expresses its

gratitude for the great interest

Amnesty International has shown

in the critical situation of the

Panamanian prisoners of

conscience.

"We are pleased to inform

you that all the persons who were

unjustly arrested have been

released after having received

cruel, inhuman and degrading

treatment. There is no doubt that

Amnesty International's

intervention and the hundreds of

letters that were sent to President

Eric Arturo Delvalle and to

General Manuel Antonio

Noriega contributed to the

freedom of the Panamanian

political prisoners."

The Panamanian Committee forHuman Rights, writing to AI on 27November 1987 about the casesof 15 Panamanians which hadbeen the subject of an UrgentAction appeal

PARAGUAY

"For years I was held in a tiny cell.

My only human contact was with

my torturers. For two and a half of

those years I did not experience

the glance of a human face, see a

green leaf. My only company was

the cockroaches and mice. The

only daylight that entered my cell

was through a small opening at

the top of one wall. For eight

months I had my hands and feet

tied.

"On Christmas Eve, the

door to my cell opened, and the

guard tossed in a crumpled piece

of paper. I moved as best I could to

pick up the paper. It said simply,

'Constantino, do not be

discouraged; we know you are

alive.' It was signed 'Monica' and

had the Amnesty International

candle on it.

"Those words saved my life

and my sanity. Eight months later I

was set free."

Constantino Coronel, releasedprisoner of conscience

"I have been able to recover my

human rights. I consider this to be

an important victory in the

worldwide movement for human

rights. This was directly due to the

enormous number of letters and

protests that arrived from inside

Paraguay and from many parts of

the world... I have kept a great

pile of letters and cards that I

received and which the postal

censorship didn't dare seize.

Without doubt, Amnesty

International's documents and

calls for urgent action contributed

to this mobilization,

unprecedented in Paraguayan

history... I would ask Amnesty

International to pass on my

personal and profound gratitude

to all those people who

responded to Amnesty

International's appeals on my

behalf... Please accept my warm

gratitude and my sincere hope

that the noble cause of Amnesty

International may continue to

achieve success."

Maria Margarita Baez de Britez,released prisoner whose case wasthe subject of an Urgent Actionappeal

"Early this morning I was taken

out of my cell for the first time in

three months and taken to the

station's commanding officer's

quarters. There he handed me a

sealed envelope; it contained a

copy of your letter dated 27 July

to President Stroessner in which

you express your concerns about

my case and a brief message at

the bottom of it. This simple act,

normal in a democratic country

like yours, is extraordinary here

and it also has a very special

meaning for me since it is the first

time in the past six and a half

years that mail sent directly to me

has reached my hands. It's not

easy to explain how I felt this

morning when I was handed your

letter. I can't tell you how I feel 10

hours later, but of one thing I'm

sure: it's good to know I'm not

fighting alone and I thank the

Lord, for as long as there are

persons like you, this crazy world

will have hope and people like me

will have a chance to have justice

done."

Alejandro Mella Latorre, Chileanphotographer detained inParaguay, whose case was thesubject of an Urgent Actionappeal

PERU

"I am writing to thank you for

Amnesty International's support

during my detention earlier this

year in Peru. I was at the time

vaguely aware of your

organization's interest in my

problem and since my release

have had the opportunity to see

the Urgent Action memo issued on

August 12th and to hear directly

from friends of the assistance your

offices provided.

"I am most thankful to you

all for your efforts in my

protection... I am aware of the

weight which surely carries any

expression of concern from an

organization as widely

recognized and highly regarded

as is Amnesty for its seriousness of

purpose and its professionalism. I

feel very fortunate indeed that my

case came to your attention...

"With many thanks for

your assistance to me and with

heartfelt wishes for the

continuance of your help to others."

Cynthia McNamera, whose casewas the subject of an UrgentAction appeal during herdetention in 1988, in a letter to AI


Carlos Taype was working for the

Confederation of Peasants when

he was arrested on 17 March

1984, taken to the barracks of the

Civil Guard in the provincial

capital, Huancayo. From prison,

he wrote:

"Before, we knew nothing

about Amnesty International.

Until we were hunted, captured,

tortured, some murdered, and

imprisoned, until all of our human

rights were violated. We have

measured with our very bodies

the valuable and important role

that Amnesty International plays

in the defence of human rights.

Apart from us, how many more

have there been in my country

alone? How many more in the rest

of the world? Now we can

understand the great task you

face. Being in the worst of

conditions, the very fact of

learning that those who defend

human rights already knew of our

detentions gives us great hope. It

lightens the burden to know we

are not alone, that there are

others, like Amnesty

International, who care about us.

To you we owe a great deal.

Because of the intervention of

Amnesty International, some

people have ceased to be

persecuted, others were only half

tortured, others won their release

from prison, and others were not

killed. All of this we owe to you."

After his release on 26

January, he said:

"I owe my freedom to the

poor people of my country, to

Amnesty International and all

your groups... to all the

institutions and personalities who

fight against human rights

violations... to those who

energetically protested against

my unjust confinement to the

Peruvian government and

authorities, in events, meetings,

marches, in newspapers, in letters

to Peruvian Embassies in other

countries. In this way the Peruvian

Confederation of Peasants

received 565 copies of protests

sent to President Belaunde from

29 countries demanding my

immediate release... the only way

I in particular can repay you is to

keep fighting for the defence of

human rights for my people and

the peoples of the world. If we

have to give up our lives to do this,

then we will do so gladly."

Carlos Taype, released prisonerof conscience

PHILIPPINES

"Greetings of Solidarity and

Justice! We have received

countless letters from different

groups of Amnesty International

all over the world, mostly

concerned with the plight of

Rodolfo Romano and his father-

in-law, Jose Laceda.

"It has touched us deeply

that all compassionately

expressed sympathy to the victims

and revulsion to the perpetrators

of torture and cruelty. These

gestures of commiseration we will

remember forever. The barrage of

letters you sent to our Minister of

National Defence and the Acting

Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces

denouncing the brutalities done

by their men has certainly

hastened action on these cases.

We are pleased to bring the good

news that your efforts have borne

fruit of justice: the fabricated case

which was filed against Rodolfo

Romano by his torturers was

finally dismissed by the court."

Office of the Bishop of Sosorgon,Philippines, 1984.

ROMANIA

"Amnesty International saved my

life...

"I found out [that I had

been adopted by AI] in prison,

from somebody in the next cell. I

didn't see the person; my cell was

dark; I was not permitted to see

other persons or be seen. He

asked me quietly if I was Carmen

Popescu...

"He told me 'don't be

frightened, don't be discouraged.

You have friends over the seas:

they know about you...'

"The message from many

Romanians who know your

wonderful work for prisoners of

conscience around the world is to

say thank you for your wonderful

work."

Carmen Popescu, releasedprisoner of conscience, in a talk toa high-school group inCalifornia, USA

SOMALIA

"I believe that without Amnesty

International our world would

have been more of a tyrannical

and unhappy place to live. Apart

from the day-to-day worthy

achievements, obvious for all to

see and generally appreciated by

all men of good will everywhere,

inspiring confidence and a

hopeful future in the hearts of

many who have sadly lost their

freedom, tasting the painfulness

and the bitterness of tyranny and

repression, I believe the efforts of

Amnesty International create a

healthy and restraining effect on

many unjust governments in this

world."


SOUTH AFRICA

"It is with great pleasure to tell you

that I am free at last from

detention.

"How grateful are we with

all the help from you and friends.

May God be with you throughout

your lifetime. We are grateful

indeed."

Released prisoner, in a letter to theSan Francisco Bay Area AI groupin the USA that had worked on hisbehalf

"Those letters made the Minister

of Police actually visit the prison,

show his face. The government

doesn't ever want to admit they


released somebody because of

the pressure. But they do, they do.

They would say, 'Who are these

people writing letters? Why can't

they leave us alone?'"


"Some of the letters reached me in

the hospital where I was treated

for a heart attack resulting from

torture. Knowing we are not alone

in our struggle strengthens the

courage and determination of

myself and my people. We are

hopeful. We cannot afford not to

be optimistic."


After describing AI as a "social

scourge", Transkei Security Police

Chief Colonel Martin Mgceba

showed prisoner Fikile Bam a

large collection of telegrams and

messages of concern about him

from all parts of the world. Mr

Bam was then released

unconditionally. No charges were

ever brought against him and the

authorities have given no reason

for his detention without trial. Mr

Bam, a lawyer, expressed his

thanks to AI and to all who

appealed on his behalf.

"I am a black Lutheran minister in

South Africa and Amnesty

International just helped win back

my freedom...

"I want to express my

deepest thanks to you for your

generous commitment to easing

the plight of literally thousands of

prisoners of conscience.

"And if you ever wonder if

your support of Amnesty

International USA really matters,

feel confident it does. Bless you...

"I owe you and Amnesty

International my life."

Dean Reverend T. Simon Farisani,released prisoner of conscience

SOUTH KOREA

"Don't stop writing. Each

individual can have an effect. If

you give us moral support, we will

do the rest."

Kim Dae Jung, opposition leaderand released prisoner ofconscience

"During the dismal and lonesome

days, international concern and

support have always encouraged

us greatly... All the dictators have

fantasies that they can suffocate

and divide people in their own

country. Under these

circumstances we know that what

they are afraid of most is world

opinion and criticism of their

tyranny. Here we can see the

effective role of the Amnesty

International movement

encouraging the oppressed.

"Your efforts and prayers

saved my life and thanks to your

support I can have an opportunity

to live as a human being."

Lee Shim-bom, released prisonerof conscience

"Thank you for your letter. When

in prison, especially, I could not

fail to forget your

encouragement, which created

my courage and power. Thanks to

God and you, I have safely

returned home from

imprisonment of 54 months. Only

looking at the blue sky, I have the

pleasure of flying into the sky. I

don't know how much I am

delighted to be free. Up to now, I

have treasured the pair of socks

made of wool which you gave me

in prison, which keep my feet as

well as my heart now warm. I

thank you from the bottom of my

heart again."

Park Chong-suk, teacher andreleased prisoner of conscience,writing in November 1987 to theDutch AI group that had workedon his behalf

FORMER SOVIET UNION

"While I was in Severodonetsk I

received New Year's greetings

cards from Austria, but without

any sender's address. Now I

understand that they came from

an Austrian group of Amnesty

International...

"It is difficult to imagine

where I would be and in what

condition I would be if it were not

for your work. There were not only

your letters addressed officially to

the CPSU Central Committee, the

Procurator General and the

director of the camp, but there

were also the letters which you

addressed to me personally –

especially a greeting card for my

birthday, which touched me deeply.

"The administration

subjects the prisoners to a very

great moral solitude. Many efforts

can be undertaken to defend [the

prisoner]: demonstrations,

petitions, letters to the authorities,

etc... but the prisoner himself

cannot know about these in the

midst of rot and stench. And if by

chance he does learn of this, a

break in space and time is created.

Everything that happens,

everything that is done on his

behalf happens in a completely

different world, on a different

level, it seems to the prisoner...

"And the guards learn

...that there is a certain V. in the

zone who is receiving letters from

abroad. And these guards will be

a little cautious regarding me,

because an ordinary citizen is

suspicious about everything

foreign. Because of this I will be

protected from the gratuitous

cruelty of this petty administration,

which is characterized by

aggressiveness: I won't be beaten,

I won't be put in a punishment cell,

etc... Of course if the higher

authorities give certain orders to

the guards, 'the machine' will take

its course and I will be beaten

anyway, put in a punishment cell

and denied food. But I will have 80

per cent protection from all that.

And all thanks to an envelope!"

Released prisoner of conscience,in a letter to an AI group


"When you are in confinement,

you have no contact with friends,

or anyone. You feel completely cut

off, deprived of the outside world.

Suddenly I got the letters [from

Amnesty International members].

It is difficult to explain what that

meant. These two letters I got gave

me hope. I understood how

important this human rights

support, and the defence from the

West was for me, because only

thanks to it did I keep my mind

and my brain alive."

After he was freed, Viktor

Davydov was called into the office

of the KGB colonel who had first

investigated his case. The official

pointed to a stack of letters sitting

on the desk. "I want you to write to

them and tell them you are free so

they stop sending these letters",

he said. The letters were from AI

members and had been written to

the Soviet authorities, to appeal

on Viktor Davydov's behalf.

"The only reason why I am

not in a psychiatric hospital, why I

was not arrested again, is the

activity of human rights

organizations and other activity

in the West in defence of Soviet

human rights."

Viktor Davydov, dissident and released prisoner ofconscience who had been held ina special psychiatric hospitalbecause of his "sociallydangerous acts"

"Thanks to the strong and

persistent efforts of Amnesty

International, I am now a free

woman and my husband Ivan

Kovalyov, a prisoner of

conscience, is also free...

"In September 1977

I joined the Helsinki Monitoring

Group – a private group created

to monitor Soviet compliance with

the human rights provisions of the

1975 Helsinki Accords...

"Because of my human

rights work for the Helsinki group,

I was arrested in 1980 and

convicted a year later of 'anti-

Soviet agitation and

propaganda'...

"During my long

imprisonment, my husband and I

were not permitted to see each

other. For me the worst part of my

confinement was the terrible

isolation. My feeling of being

forgotten, cut off from contact

with my husband, my family and

the outside world.

"Because of our human

rights work, we knew of Amnesty

International and hoped that they

knew of our plight. And then I

began to hear that Amnesty

groups were working on my case

and others. To know that we were

not alone and not forgotten gave

us a tremendous feeling of hope.

When one is shut off from the rest

of the world, I cannot even begin

to express how very precious and

powerful the gift of hope is.

"To encourage ourselves

and to demonstrate solidarity, we

recreated the AI universal symbol

of the candle and barbed wire in

our labour camp. This was easy to

do because we had the candles in

our camp and of course plenty of

barbed wire...

"As a former prisoner, I

want to stress how very important

it is to continue the work of

Amnesty International. For some

prisoners in Soviet camps, it is a

matter of life or death. You and

other Amnesty members must

never give up your fight for

human rights until every prisoner

is released. Never underestimate

your collective power.

"The very fact of being

named a prisoner of conscience

by Amnesty International and

having one's case publicized

restrains the Soviet authorities –

and acts as a powerful deterrent

to more serious abuse.

"I know this is true from

personal experience. Although

other prisoners were severely

beaten, I'm convinced I was not

beaten only because my name

and the circumstances of my

imprisonment were known and

vigorously publicized by Amnesty

International...

"From the bottom of my

heart I want to thank you again

for your commitment to the life-

saving mission of Amnesty

International. And I hope that

your work on behalf of many

other political prisoners will be

just as successful as your work on

behalf of my husband and me."

Tatyana Osipova, human rightsactivist and released prisoner ofconscience, in a letter to membersof AI

"I am very happy to inform you

that thanks to the efforts of many

people like you and your friends

from your Amnesty group, I am a

free man now, residing with my

relatives in Canada...

"I beg you to convey my

sincere gratitude to all your

friends whose persistent and

unyielding pressure on the Soviet

authorities played an important

role in overall efforts, which

finally resulted in this happy

conclusion.

"Thank you all and may

God bless you."

Danylo Shumuk, releasedprisoner of conscience, in a letterto an AI group

"I am eternally grateful that for the

first time in my life I can meet the

honoured members of Amnesty

International. I was fully aware of

Amnesty International's work

even before my arrest...

"After I arrived in the

camp, the news from newcomers

or loved ones about the work of

Amnesty International,

particularly about individual

cases, gave us much joy... We

thought the work of Amnesty

International was of supreme

importance to prisoners of

conscience, although due to the


political realities of the USSR, we

didn't always come into direct

contact with the fruits of your

labour. And the slanderous

attacks on Amnesty International

in the [Soviet] press only

reaffirmed our commitment to

Amnesty's goals. About a year

ago when we began to see signs

of amnesties for political

prisoners, we were convinced this

was the result of pressure from

Amnesty International groups.

"Having come to know

many prisoners in the Mordovian

and Perm camps, I extend the

greetings of many many others

who truly value the work of

Amnesty International. It is very

difficult to survive in a labour

camp if there is no one paying

attention to your particular case.

Your situation was much easier if

you knew that there was someone

out there caring for you, lobbying

on your behalf."

Vytautas Skuodis, releasedprisoner of conscience, in a talk toa New York AI group in the USA

"I was very glad to receive your

letter as not all letters from

overseas friends and helpers

reached me and my family. What

is important is that these letters

are very useful even if they don't

reach us. Sometimes in the camp,

the camp authorities and guards

started to be especially polite to

me and avoided in my presence to

ill-treat other women prisoners. I

guessed something had put them

on their guard. Later on, just by

accident, I found out that a letter

from the West came for me and

caused this change in behaviour.

Any letter or postcard addressed

to a political prisoner, their family

or to official places in the USSR

plays an important role in the life

of a dissident and improves his

position even if the letter doesn't

reach his hand, so again and

again I repeat, be patient and

persistent in writing your letters to

save these people, if you possibly

get disappointed, if you see no

results for your work – your

writing is still productive...

"One time they weren't

careful at the Post Office and I

received Christmas greetings

from Spain. I don't speak Spanish

but this postcard I always carried

in my pocket and sometimes in the

severe Siberian frost this card

gave me a drop of Spanish sun."

Julia Vosnesenskaya, writer, poet,and released prisoner ofconscience, in a letter to AI

SUDAN

"At last I can write to you from

home. I am now a free man...

"I cannot find words to

express my thanks to you in

Amnesty International, for your

solidarity, your sympathy and

your struggle for my release.

Without your help, without the

feeling that other people in the

world are defending our freedom

and helping us and our people,

life would have been so hard and

difficult. Please convey my thanks

and best wishes to your friends."

Sidgi Awad Kaballo, releasedprisoner of conscience

SWAZILAND

"I was on the verge of total

collapse and desperation before I

was introduced to you, but you

gave me strength and courage to

go on."

Relative of a released prisoner ofconscience

TAIWAN

"During my four years in prison...

your action and warm concern

helped us to continue believing in

the value of human beings with

firmness even when we were in

the coldest jail. I certainly have no

regrets for losing freedom just

because of my thoughts and

ideals."


"I can never forget how I was

moved to tears when

unexpectedly I was handed in a

solitary cell a brief letter from

Amnesty International."

Released prisoner

"Eleven years ago, the Taiwanese

people, even privately, were not

bold enough to receive former

political prisoners. Now though,

they dare to hold warm welcome

parties – openly and publicly.

There are many reasons for this

change, but the painstaking

efforts and the influence of

Amnesty International may be

one of the most important factors.

Therefore, we Taiwanese have to

be all the more grateful to [AI]."


THAILAND

"I am Mr Snan Wongsuthee. I

would like to thank you for

everything. I have already been

released from the prison on 3

February 1988. By help of

Amnesty International I have got

the freedom. I would like to thank

you very very much again."

Snan Wongsuthee, releasedprisoner whose case was thesubject of an Urgent Actionappeal, in a telex to AI

TUNISIA

"It is with great joy that I send you

my first letter in liberty, out of

prison, to express my deep

gratitude for the efforts made by

you and your friends."

Abderraouf ben Romdhane,released prisoner of conscience,in a letter to an AI member whohad corresponded with him inprison

UGANDA

"I write to thank you from the

bottom of my heart for everything

you did for me and my baby when

we were both in custody... These

letters were a great consolation to

me and mother... I believe these


letters influenced the Uganda

Government authorities when

they decided to release me on 19

September 1984."

Letter to AI from a releasedprisoner whose case was thesubject of an Urgent Actionappeal

URUGUAY

"I myself perhaps owe my life,

and with absolute certainty I owe

my freedom to the action that you

took at the moment I was

kidnapped in my country in

November 1980. This is the

reason why I have great

confidence in what you

can do."

Released woman prisoner whosecase was the subject of an UrgentAction appeal

"It gives me the greatest of

pleasure to communicate with you

and establish a dialogue in

writing, in which I want to express

my gratitude for all the support

that has been extended to my

family, to my people, and to me

personally. The gratitude that all

the Uruguayans feel for the moral

and material assistance which all

of you extended during these dark

years we had to face is so great

that it is difficult for me to find

adequate words to express this

feeling. Therefore, I only will say

that I send you in these lines my

most affectionate

acknowledgement of your

attitude, wishing that you will

never need our support, but if fate

should put you in circumstances

requiring our help, count on it

unconditionally from then and

forever."

Released prisoner of conscience,in a letter to the AI group that hadcampaigned for his release

"You have been present during all

these years with a constancy and

dedication which have

accompanied me in the worst

moments, giving me strength and

joy.

"I remember clearly the

emotion I felt on returning to my

cell after one of the fortnightly

visits, the only time I talked to

anyone, having learned about

your letters. The solidarity that is

expressed over oceans of

distance gives strength and faith

in one's solitude, and helps one

confront the repressive apparatus

by keeping one's human integrity

and its essential values intact."

Lilian Celiberti, released prisonerof conscience, in an letter to the AIgroup that had worked on herbehalf

"We feel very insignificant – in

comparison with all the effort and

'lobbying' that you have put into

helping us. As people, we feel

proud to be members of the

human race when we come

across people like you. I don't

know whether you have ever

considered this, but probably the

best thing you have done for us is

to maintain our morale and

restore our faith in human nature.

I am really astonished at how

much you have done, how many

people, and how much time, all

without my knowing anything at

all... From our hearts, our

profoundest thanks for everything

and we hope that this letter is not

the last time we have contact."

Brenda Ines Rovetta Dubinskyand Antonio Morelli, releasedprisoners, in a letter to an AIgroup

"For my mother as well as for my

family, I want to tell you how

important it was for me to know

that outside my family and across

the seas there were people whom

I did not know, but who fought on

my behalf and were near to me.

When I read the letters that you

sent me or my mother, my heart

bursts with emotion as it does also

when I learned of the financial

help you gave my family, which

was essential for them to survive.

"The most important thing

is that...between us, human

beings, it has been proved that

borders are absurd, languages

are surmountable, that distances

can be overcome, because the

heart is big...and people like you

keep the hope of a new dawn

alight."

Maria Cecilia Duffau Echevarren,released prisoner of conscience,in a letter to an AI group

VIETNAM

"We could always tell when

international protests were taking

place... the food rations

increased and the beatings were

fewer. Letters from abroad were

translated and passed around

from cell to cell, but when the

letters stopped, the dirty food and

repression started again."

Released prisoner of conscience"I have recommenced my life as a

free citizen, with below-average

health and several physical

weaknesses – the consequences

of three years of detention,

deprivation and ill-treatment. I

want to express my thanks, to you

personally as well as to the

members of your organization for

all the efforts and interventions

which you have made to free me.

Perhaps I have to thank your

interventions for my remission of

two years (three years in prison,

instead of the five to which I was

sentenced)."

Released prisoner, in a letter to AI

FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

"This letter gave me much

courage. I feel like a different

person. Just the thought that there

is someone like this group that

intervenes for human rights... It is

nearly two years since my

husband was locked up and no

one from the government has

asked me how I am living. I love

my homeland and want to be a


good citizen, but we have been

pushed aside without a thought.

Therefore a letter such as the one

from Amnesty International gives

a person strength and makes you

feel human again. The very fact

that you have written to us means

a great deal to me, and I will not

forget it."

Wife of prisoner of conscience,Anto Kovacevic, prisoner ofconscience, in a letter to the AIDutch group working for AntoKovacevic's release.

"Greetings to Amnesty

International. I have come home

from prison and am very, very

grateful... Mainly I owe my early

release to you and to your work

on my case... Thank you for all

your support."

Anto Kovacevic, releasedprisoner of conscience, in a letterto AI and the groups that hadworked for his release

"My only crime was my concern

for humanity... I was treated in a

very brutal manner because I had

the courage to demand an

amnesty for prisoners of

conscience in Yugoslavia. I wrote

a petition and collected some

signatures. Then I sent it to the

Yugoslav Presidency...

"During that time of

persecution and suffering, I came

to know your generous hearts, full

of sympathy, full of solidarity,

fraternal affection and ideal

support. Your constant care for

my fate and the efforts you took to

publicize this...did not permit

injustice to triumph. I passed 271

days in solitary confinement,

often without the right to read or

rest. Because of that my eyes have

become weak. However for me

that is all nothing in comparison

with the great happiness of being

able to feel authentic human

solidarity and to gain, in you,

such devoted friends. I pray that

God enables you to feel my great

gratitude and friendship. We are

united by the same ideal: to do

well for all people. You defend

human rights, for me this is the

greatest duty of every person."

Dobroslav Paraga, releasedprisoner of conscience, in a letterto AI

ON THE DEATH PENALTY"Retribution or vengeance seems

difficult enough for a government

to justify where adult offenders

are involved and vengeance

against children for their

misdeeds seems quite beyond

justification... The spectacle of our

society seeking legal vengeance

through the execution of children

should not be countenanced."

American Bar Association report

"State-authorized murder is no

more right that some of the

heinous crimes committed by

individuals."

Donald Avenson, House Speakerof the Iowa Legislature, quoted inthe Des Moines Register, 25January 1989, USA

"The death penalty has been a

gross failure. Beyond its horror

and incivility, it has neither

protected the innocent nor deterred

the wicked. The recurrent spectacle

of publicly sanctioned killing has

cheapened human life and dignity

without the redeeming grace which

comes from justice meted out

swiftly, evenly, humanely."

Pat Brown, Governor ofCalifornia (1959 to 1967)

The death penalty "is undeniably

a murder which arithmetically

cancels out the murder already

committed; but it also adds a

regularization of death, a public

premeditation of which its future

victims are informed, an

organization which in itself is a

source of moral suffering more

terrible than death..."

Albert Camus

"The Observer opposes capital

punishment, period. The

statistical evidence of racism in its

application is overwhelming. And

anyone can be wrongly convicted

of a crime – and wrongly

executed for it. That is the horror

of capital punishment. Nor do we

think that executions either

promote public regard for the

value of life or deter potential

murderers any more than the

threat of life imprisonments

would."

The Charlotte Observer

"The murder rate has always

varied widely from nation to

nation, presumably due to the

differing cultural attitudes to

violence and the availability of

weapons. Nothing else could

explain why the US murder rate

has held steady at about 60 times

the British rate, both before and

after the two countries stopped

executing people."

Gwynne Dyer, San Francisco

Chronicle

"If you cast your eyes around the

world and want to know the most

infallible way to judge whether a

nation is free or oppressive, all

you have to know is whether that

nation imposes the death penalty.

"What nations lead the

world in executions? The Soviet

Union and South Africa. What

totalitarian or authoritarian

nations have abolished the death

penalty? None. What

democracies impose capital

punishment? With the exception

of the United States, none...

"What does this suggest?

"In my view, it tells us that,

even though liberals tend to

oppose the death penalty, the

most powerful argument against

it is conservative in nature: The

state should not have the ultimate

power over any individual, no

matter what.

"This is a far less sweeping,


far more modest argument

against the death penalty than

those usually made.

"In my view, it has the virtue

of being right."

Jeff Greenfield, syndicatedcolumnist and ABC News analyst,in a column which appeared on30 January 1989 in the Dallas

Times Herald

"Injustice is still alive and well and

equal opportunity is still denied

black Americans even in death."

The Reverend Jesse Jackson

"As one whose husband and

mother-in-law have both died the

victims of murder-assassination, I

stand firmly and unequivocally

opposed to the death penalty for

those convicted of capital

offenses. An evil deed is not

redeemed by an evil deed of

retaliation. Justice is never

advanced in the taking of a

human life. Morality is never

upheld by legalized murder."

Coretta Scott King

"The old law of an eye for an eye

leaves the whole world blind."

Martin Luther King, Laureate ofthe Nobel Prize for Peace

"The death penalty is no more

effective a deterrent than life

imprisonment... While police and

law enforcement officials are the

strongest advocates of capital

punishment, the evidence is

overwhelming that police are no

safer in communities that retain

the sanction than in those that

have abolished it. It also is evident

that the burden of capital

punishment falls upon the poor,

the ignorant, and the

underprivileged members of

society."

US Supreme Court JusticeThurgood Marshall

"If you can prove to me that in any

state that has the death penalty

that there is a reduction in (crime

rate) I'd be supportive of it. But

I've yet to see the death penalty in

any shape, manner or form

reduce the crime rate for violent

crime in any state."

Governor Rudy Perpich ofMinnesota, quoted in the Star

Tribune of 10 December 1988

"I regard the death penalty as a

savage and immoral institution

that undermines the moral and

legal foundations of a society. I

reject the notion that the death

penalty has any essential

deterrent effect on potential

offenders. I am convinced that the

contrary is true: that savagery

begets only savagery."

Dr Andrei Sakharov, releasedprisoner of conscience from theformer Soviet Union

"It is the deed that teaches, not the

name we give it. Murder and

capital punishment are not

opposites that cancel one another,

but similars that breed their kind."

George Bernard Shaw

"Capital punishment deserves no

standing in our criminal justice

system.

"Most countries that

presume to the description

'civilized' have long since

abandoned state killing, with no

increase in what previously had

been capital crimes. If the death

penalty were a deterrent to crime,

there could be an argument for it.

But it is not. It is just an unworthy

act of social vengeance, and

there's worse still: It may actually

incite violence, serving perversely

as a socially approved

demonstration that killing is a

legitimate way to solve a

problem."

Tom Teepen, editorial page editor,Atlanta Constitution

WORLD FAITHS"He who destroys one life is as

though he destroys a whole

world."

The Mishna

"We believe it to be the task of the

Jew to bring out great spiritual

and ethical heritage to bear upon

the moral problems of

contemporary society. One such

problem, which challenges all

who seek to apply God's will in

the affairs of men, is the practice

of capital punishment... We

believe there is no crime for which

the taking of human life by society

is justified, and that it is the

obligation of society to evolve

other methods in dealing with

crime... to prevent crimes by

removal of its causes, and to

foster modern methods of

rehabilitation of the wrongdoer in

the spirit of the Jewish tradition of

tshuva (repentance)."

Resolution of the 1959 Union ofAmerican HebrewCongregations GeneralAssembly

"I the Lord have called thee in

righteousness, and will hold thine

hand, and will keep thee, and

give thee for a covenant of the

people, for a light of the Gentiles;

"To open the blind eyes, to

bring out the prisoners from the

prison, and them that sit in

darkness out of the prison house."

Isaiah 42:6,7, the Bible (KingsJames version)

"Open thy mouth for the dumb in

the cause of all such as are

appointed to destruction.

"Open thy mouth

righteously, and plead the cause

of the poor and needy."

Proverbs 31:8,9, the Bible (KingsJames version)

"...in its humanitarian concern,

the Holy See strives to recommend

clemency, even pardon, for those


condemned to death, above all

when these have been

condemned for political reasons,

which can moreover be very

changeable, tied to the

personality of those in power at

the moment."

His Holiness Pope John Paul II

"We can choose death for

offenders. If we do, we must be

prepared to kill some by mistake,

others arbitrarily, and all at very

high cost, without making society

safer. At best, we give ourselves a

false sense of security."

Howard Zehr, Mennonite CentralCommittee's Office of CriminalJustice

"Save those who repent before ye

overpower them. For know that

Allah is Forgiving."

The Qur'an

"The extermination of the root (of

existence) (namely of man) is not

to be countenanced; that by no

means constitutes the eternal

dharma. Indeed proper expiation

can be made without killing."

The Mahabharata

"War, capital punishment, the

taking of human life, cruelty of all

kinds whether committed by the

individual, the Sate or society, not

only physical cruelty, but moral

cruelty, the degradation of any

human being or any class of

human beings under whatever

specious plea or in whatever

interest,... are crimes against the

religion of humanity, abominable

to its ethical mind, forbidden by its

primary tenets, to be fought

against always, in no degree to

be tolerated."

Sri Aurobindo

"All men tremble at punishment.

All men fear death. Likening

others to oneself One should

neither slay nor cause to slay.

Who so, himself seeking

happiness Inflicts punishment

upon beings who also desire

happiness He will not attain

happiness hereafter."

"Hatred does not cease by

hatred; hatred ceases only by

love; this is the eternal law."

The Dhammapada

"Where there is Divine

Knowledge there is

Righteousness; where there is

Falsehood there is Sin. Where

there is Greed there is Death but

where there is Forgiveness there is

God."

The Sikh scripture, Guru GranthSahib

"Strictly speaking from a

Mahayana Buddhist point of

view, taking of life generally is

prohibited and the practice of

compassion an essential

ingredient..."

"Deep down we must have

real affection for each other, a

clear recognition of our shared

human status. At the same time

we must openly accept all

ideologies and systems as means

of solving humanity's problems.

No matter how strong the wind of

evil may blow, the flame of truth

cannot be extinguished."

His Holiness the Dalai Lama ofTibet, Tenzin Gyatso

MEDIA"Amnesty is to be commended for

its care and tenacity in

documenting the 'ugly picture' of

what governments are still doing

to their people 40 years after the

adoption of the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights.

Amnesty does not recognize a

world broken into blocs and

makes no distinctions between the

human rights abuses of 'our side'

and 'their side,' nor does it reduce

violations to some sort of rankings

whereby one country might claim

justification in coming off

numerically better than a rival.

Rather, the reports are given

straightforwardly, with a simple,

implicit challenge that the

government responsible clean up

its act...

"Amnesty, with its reports

and with its quiet, polite, but

splendidly obstinate letter-writing

campaigns on behalf of

individual political prisoners, is

helping to move the world to a

single standard of human rights.

Time and again we see that

ostensible support for the

Universal Declaration of Human

Rights has not prevented abuses.

But worldwide political pressure

can be effective in pushing a

nation from nominal to real

support for that standard. And

Amnesty has been an effective

agent of that pressure."

Christian Science Monitor

editorial, 5 October 1988

"The world's foremost human

rights organization."

Peter Jennings, ABC News,speaking of AI

"For 25 years they have shined

the light of conscience on the

jailers and the torturers. Amnesty

International fights for the

freedom of political prisoners with

cards and letters. And the

amazing thing is, it works."

Ted Koppel, on a 1986 ABC

News Nightline show focusing on AI"For the world's prisoners of

conscience, Amnesty

International is a beacon of

hope...

"No group has worked

more visibly or effectively than AI

to end [human rights] abuses."

Christopher Ogden, in the coverstory on AI in the internationaledition of Time Magazine, 17October 1988.


UNITED STATESGOVERNMENT"Twenty-five years ago, British

barrister Peter Benenson founded

Amnesty International, an

organization dedicated to

investigating cases of

imprisonment, torture, and

execution of prisoners of

conscience around the world.

When it first began, Amnesty

International – or AI – comprised

a handful of volunteers in a small

London office. Today it has more

than 500,000 members,

subscribers, and supporters, and

3,400 affiliates in more than 55

countries of Africa, the Americas,

Asia, Europe, and the Middle

East.

"Through the years, AI has

monitored, reported, and

protested abuses of prisoners'

rights in virtually every country on

earth, from psychiatric

confinement of political dissidents

in the USSR to police attacks on

black demonstrators in South

Africa; from tortures of civilians

by government security in

Zimbabwe to banishments of

political opponents in Chile; from

forced denationalization of ethnic

Turks in Bulgaria to police

mistreatment of suspected

terrorist sympathizers in northern

Ireland. Since it began its activity,

more than half of the prisoners of

conscience have eventually been

freed. AI does not take credit for

their release, although many have

written or phoned their thanks to

Amnesty members. In 1977, a full

measure of appreciation was

finally accorded when Amnesty

International was awarded the

Nobel Prize for Peace.

"Amnesty International's

greatest asset is its objectivity, and

no country is immune from its

scrutiny. It receives no funds from

governments or politically-

motivated interest groups, giving

it a credibility enjoyed by few

other organizations. Certain

regimes, especially in totalitarian

countries, invariably fare poorly

in Amnesty's yearly reports, and

top the list of human rights

abusers worldwide. Some, like

the Soviet Union, only publicize

Amnesty reports that support their

own propaganda objectives.

When Amnesty's criticism focuses

on their own transgressions, a few

have resorted to fabricating

attacks on Amnesty itself. In

1981, after an AI report

described mass executions in

Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah

Khomeini accused the

organization of 'collaborating

with the conspiracy of

superpowers to suffocate the

Islamic republic.' The Ayatollah

forgot about 1978 Amnesty

charges of secret police tortures

during the previous reign of the

Shah.

"Because of Amnesty

International's dedicated work,

more and more people are

concerned about human rights.

Because of the publicity accorded

Amnesty's investigations and

reports, governments that violate

human rights are more sensitive to

international censure, and may

often think twice before

incarcerating, torturing or

executing prisoners of

conscience. Amnesty

International's symbol is a lighted

candle entwined by barbed wire.

After a quarter century of

defending the rights of the

persecuted around the world, it

has become the essence of that

symbol – a candle of freedom and

hope in the dark face of

repression.

"That was a VOA Editorial,

reflecting the view of the U.S.

Government."

Voice of America editorial,broadcast on 28 May 1986, the25th anniversary of AI's founding

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS"Through its activity for the

defence of human worth against

degrading treatment, violence

and torture, Amnesty

International has contributed to

securing the ground for freedom,

for justice, and thereby also for

peace in the world."

Nobel Prize Committee, uponawarding the Nobel Peace Prizeto AI

"In our day and age people

should not have to suffer for their

conscience, their beliefs, or their

opinions... In drawing attention to

this issue, Amnesty International

has once again rendered a

valuable service to the entire

international community. Your

previous campaigns against

torture, the death penalty,

arbitrary and summary

executions, and now against

political imprisonments have

served to focus world opinion on

these problems in a very special

way."

Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, formerSecretary-General of the UnitedNations

"Amnesty International is making

effectively good the rule that

'eternal vigilance is the price of

liberty'."

Jorge El Illueca, President of theUnited Nations GeneralAssembly

"It's a worn cliche, but if Amnesty

did not exist, it would have to be

invented. It is simply unique."

Jean-Pierre Hocke, UnitedNations High Commissioner forRefugees

PERFORMING ARTS“When Amnesty began 25 years

ago, the subject of human rights

didn't even come up between

governments. Now, partly

because of the work of Amnesty,


it's really impossible for

governments to discuss their

agendas with each other without

having to discuss human rights

and their violations, and the facts

of torture, detainment, no trials,

etc."

Joan Baez

"It's been a double pleasure. As

an attorney and as a Latin

American, I know how important

Amnesty International has been in

terms of saving lives in Latin

America and throughout the

world, and also how important it

is that people become aware that

the problems that we confront on

this earth are common and the

solution to these problems should

be, and will be, also a common

one. And it is a tremendous

opportunity to have all these

different people, all this different

music in a city like New York,

which is very befitting as a

rallying point to make people

aware of the need to confront

these issues together and to

resolve them together as well."

Ruben Blades, at theMeadowlands, USA, during the1986 AI "Conspiracy of Hope"concert tour

"Amnesty inspires us to play. The

music cuts through to people, and

the message is clear: You can

write a letter or send a postcard.

And the more you give, the more

you get back.

"It's a success story, and it's

good to be part of a success story.

There's so many tears shed over

world hunger and the like, but

these are tears of joy when it

comes to Amnesty International,

because a thousand people a

year get out of prison."

Bono of U2

"I believe this tour is very

important because it will make

people aware of the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights. I

hope their consciousness will be

raised, that people will become

aware of their rights as

individuals and exercise those

rights, and that they will then go

on to urge their governments to

comply with this document. It is

clear to me that we as individuals

are not free until we are all free."

Tracy Chapman, in Montreal,Canada, during the AI 1988"Human Rights Now!" concerttour

"We're Amnesty members, and

we believe in the cause."

Bob Dylan, who with Tom Pettyand the Heartbreakers, appearedin Los Angeles, USA, in the"Conspiracy of Hope" concerttour for AI

"The work that I have done with

Amnesty is very important to me. I

was very moved to meet some of

the people that had been rescued

from torture and unjust

imprisonment, for whom Amnesty

had been the only line of hope.

Although there is still so much that

needs changing, there is no doubt

that Amnesty, in its 25 years, has

changed the attitudes of

governments on human rights all

around the world. Through the

simple tools of letter writing and

the embarrassment of publicity,

Amnesty has been surprisingly

effective.

"It is part of a process that

is making ordinary people aware

of the power and responsibility

they have in improving our world.

"I ask you to get involved."

Peter Gabriel

"It's necessary that people know

what Amnesty does. It's an

international body that infiltrates

the pits of madness and horror."

Bill Graham, organizer of the1988 "Human Rights Now!"concert tour

"We are free citizens, and it's our

responsibility to share that

freedom with the rest of the

world."

Madonna, speaking from thestage in Los Angeles, USA, duringthe "Conspiracy of Hope" concertfor AI

"We are asking the governments

worldwide to put the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights in

practice. I want my audience to

understand my message directly

through my music and the

rhythms of Africa. My message is

the dignity of all human beings."

Youssou N'Dour, in Montreal,Canada, during the AI "HumanRights Now!" concert tour

"It's difficult for the Neville

Brothers to afford this tour,

financially. But morally and

spiritually, we couldn't afford not

to do it."

Aaron Neville of the NevilleBrothers, speaking of theirparticipation in the "Conspiracyof Hope" concert tour for AI

"Rock 'n' roll, to me, is a statement

about energy and freedom.

Therefore, it has a direct

relationship to Amnesty – the most

astonishing group I've ever been

involved with."

"The moral outrage that

you feel about some of the things

that happen, you can actually do

something [about] with Amnesty

International. I think people

should be aware of that. It really

does make a difference."

Lou Reed

"Amnesty International is an

extremely important (what an

understatement!) human rights

organization that helps to free

prisoners of conscience (people

imprisoned for speaking out and

standing up for what they believe

in!), ensure fair and prompt trials

for all political prisoners, and end


torture and executions –

worldwide. Their 25 years of hard

work, care and dedication has

helped bring hope and, in most

cases, life to thousands of people

throughout the world.

"You too can help, and it's

easier than you probably think.

"Amnesty International

provides members with human

rights news and suggestions for

letter-writing activities. Yes, just

by writing a letter to a government

official who can authorize each

prisoner's release, you are

helping to let them know you're

watching, and this has been quite

an effective method in helping to

stop senseless torture and death."

7 Seconds

"We believe in the dignity of all

human beings. We

wholeheartedly support the work

of Amnesty International in

defence of all those who are

imprisoned or tortured because of

their peacefully held beliefs. So

should you!"

Simple Minds

"At the moment I don't think

there's a more important

organization in the world than

Amnesty International. That's why

I'm here."

Bruce Springsteen, in London,United Kingdom, during the"Human Rights Now!" concerttour for AI

"As a child I got a sense of many

things from rock' n' roll music – a

sense of life, a sense of fun, a

sense of human possibility, a

sense of sex. But I think that what I

got most of all from the records

that first inspired me was a sense

of freedom. One of the greatest

challenges of adulthood is to hold

on to your idealism after you lose

your innocence. Whether you are

young or old, if you believe that a

single human spirit can be a very

powerful thing, Amnesty

International, in a very tough,

pragmatic, and realistic way,

gives you a way to put your ideals

into service in a world in which

they are so badly needed."

Bruce Springsteen in Montreal,Canada, during the AI "HumanRights Now!" concert tour

"It can be fun to write to people

who lead authoritarian or

repressive regimes, have a

dictator as a pen-pal, and be a

complete nuisance to him by

sending him these letters."

Sting

"One postcard might seem very

insignificant, but when you

multiply that by thousands upon

thousands these governments are

embarrassed as hell to receive

them, and it really does work."

Sting, speaking of the AI postcardcampaign during the"Conspiracy of Hope" concerttour for AI

"The people who are looking for a

better future are the people that

Amnesty International must

protect, whether they are working

for the environment, political

reform, better working

conditions, wages, housing or

health. These things affect all of

us. These are real people with

families and addresses. I hope

that this tour will reinforce

Amnesty International where it is

most needed. I think Amnesty

International is one of the most

civilized organizations in the

history of the world. It strives for

justice through the work of

ordinary people. I am proud to be

a part of it and this tour."

Sting, in Montreal, Canada, atthe AI "Human Rights Now!"concert tour

WELL-KNOWN PERSONALITIES"What after all has maintained

the human race on this old globe

despite all the calamities of nature

and all the tragic failings of

mankind, if not faith in new

possibilities and courage to

advocate them?"

Jane Addams

"Open your newspaper any day

of the week and you will find a

report from somewhere in the

world of someone being

imprisoned, tortured or executed

because his opinions or religion

are unacceptable to his

government. There are several

million such people in prison – by

no means all of them behind the

Iron and Bamboo Curtains – and

their numbers are growing. The

newspaper reader feels a

sickening sense of impotence. Yet

if these feelings of disgust all over

the world could be united into

common action, something

effective could be done."

"Pressure of opinion a

hundred years ago brought about

the emancipation of the slaves. It

is now for man to insist upon the

same freedom for his mind as he

has won for his body."

The Forgotten Prisoners, thearticle in The Observer, in whichPeter Benenson announced thefounding of AI

"The only thing necessary for the

triumph of evil is for good men to

do nothing."

Edmund Burke

"We must realize that we cannot

escape the common lot of pain

and that our only justification is to

speak on behalf of those who

cannot."

Albert Camus

"Freedom of expression is the

matrix, the indispensable

condition of nearly every other


form of freedom.

Benjamin Nathan Cardoza

"The cost of liberty is less than the

price of repression."

William Edward Burghardt DuBois"Never be afraid to raise your

voice for honesty and truth and

compassion against injustice and

lying and greed. If people all over

the world, in thousands of rooms

like this one, would do this, it

would change the earth."

William Faulkner

"The strong and the weak have

alike a right to Justice."

Mahatma Gandhi

"In poor Basque villages even

teenage boys spoke of Amnesty

International (perhaps the only

English words they knew), and a

returned political prisoner

explained how much it meant to

them, in jail, to feel that this

organization existed and that

they were not forgotten by the

world."

Martha Gelhorn, US writer andwife of Ernest Hemingway, after avisit to post-Franco Spain

"When men have realized that

time has upset many fighting

faiths, they may come to believe

even more than they believe the

very foundations of their own

conduct that the ultimate good

desired is better reached by free

trade in ideas – that the best test of

truth is the power of the thought to

get itself accepted in the

competition of the market, and

that truth is the only ground upon

which their wishes safely can be

carried out. That at any rate is the

theory of our Constitution. It is an

experiment, as all life is an

experiment."

"If there is any principle of

the Constitution that more

imperatively calls for attachment

than any other it is the principle of

free thought – not free thought for

those who agree with us but

freedom for the thought that we

hate."

US Supreme Court Justice OliverWendell Holmes, Jr.

"The spirit of truth, and the spirit

of freedom – they are the pillars of

society."

Henrik Ibsen

"I have sworn upon the altar of

God, eternal hostility against

every form of tyranny over the

mind of man."

Thomas Jefferson

"There can be nothing more

dreadful than that the actions of a

man should be subject to the will

of another."

Immanuel Kant

"The rights of all men are

diminished when the rights of one

man are threatened."

John F. Kennedy

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to

justice everywhere."

Martin Luther King

"I firmly believe that I am a

spokesman for justice and

freedom and equality – a man

moved by the plight and pain of

my oppressed brothers and

sisters."

Don Mattera, poet, journalist andformer prisoner of consciencefrom South Africa on whosebehalf AI has worked

"In Germany they first came for

the Communists; I did not speak

because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews; I did

not speak because I was not a

Jew. Then they came to fetch the

workers, members of trade

unions; I was not a trade unionist.

Afterward, they came for the

Catholics; I did not say anything

because I was a Protestant.

Eventually they came for me, and

there was no one left to speak."

Pastor Martin Niemoller, aProtestant minister imprisonedduring Germany’s Third Reich

"Necessity is the plea for every

infringement of human freedom.

It is the argument of tyrants; it is

the creed of slaves."

William Pitt, 1783

"Perseverance is more prevailing

than violence; and many things

which cannot be overcome when

they are together, yield

themselves up when taken little by

little."

Plutarch

"We stand today at the threshold

of a great event both in the life of

the United Nations and in the life

of mankind. This Universal

Declaration of Human Rights may

well become the international

magna carta of all men

everywhere... Man must have

freedom to develop his full stature

and through common effort to

raise the level of human dignity."

Eleanor Roosevelt, advocating forthe USA the approval of theUniversal Declaration of HumanRights, 9 December 1948

"Disavowed – sometimes very

quietly – but systematically

practised behind a facade of

democratic legality, torture has

now acquired the status of a semi-

clandestine institution."

"The purpose of torture is

not only the extortion of

confessions, of betrayal: the

victim must disgrace himself, by

his screams and his submission,

like a human animal. In the eyes

of everybody and in his own eyes.

He who yields under torture is not

only to be made to talk, but is also

to be marked as sub-human."

Jean-Paul Sartre


"I believe that world peace can

only be achieved when there is

freedom for people of all politics,

religions and races to exchange

their views in a continuing

dialogue. For this reason I would

particularly ask all those who are

working in their different ways

towards world peace to make

their contribution, preferably by

active service or failing that, by

financial contribution, to this

great new endeavour called

Amnesty International"

Dr Albert Schweitzer, 1963,Laureate of the Nobel Prize forPeace

"Under a government which

imprisons unjustly, the true place

for a just man is also in prison...

the only house in a slave state in

which a free man can abide with

honor."

Henry David Thoreau

"I disapprove of what you say, but

I will defend to the death your

right to say it."

"Liberty of thought is the life of the

soul."

Voltaire

"He who helps in the saving of

others, saves himself as well."

Hartmann Von Aue

"The greatest evil today is

indifference. To know and not to

act is a way of consenting to these

injustices. The planet has become

a very small place. What

happens in other countries affects

us."

Elie Wiesel, Laureate of the NobelPrize for Peace


APPENDIX 2USEFUL ADDRESSES

This appendix lists some of the organizations concerned withhuman rights worldwide and includes notes on their activitieswhich are of interest to AI Action File coordinators. Theinformation is based on Human Rights Internet, the Encyclopediaof Associations, and Encyclopedia of Associations: InternationalOrganizations. The organizations appear in the following order:

N International/general human rights organizations / 298

N Organizations that work on behalf of imprisoned lawyers and

judges, and against legal system abuses / 298

N Organizations that work against torture / 298

N Organizations that work on behalf of writers and journalists / 299

N Organizations that work on behalf of scientists and engineers / 299

N Organizations that work on behalf of health professionals, and against medical or

psychiatric abuse / 299

N Organizations that work on religious cases / 299

N Other human rights organizations / 300

N Business ethics centres and information sources / 301

N Women’s non-governmental organizations / 302

INTERNATIONAL/GENERAL HUMAN

RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS

International League for Human

Rights (ILHR)/Ligue internationale

des droits de l'homme

432 Park Avenue South,

Room 1103,

New York, NY 10016,

United States of America

Tel.: 212-684-1221

Fax: 212-684-1696

N especially for cases of human

rights advocates

N produces Human Rights Bulletin (monthly), In Brief(series), ILHR Annual Reviewand special reports

Freedom House

120 Wall Street, 26th Floor,

New York, NY 10005,


Tel.: 212-514-8040

Fax: 212-514-8050

N conducts worldwide survey of

human rights

N has a research and

documentation centre

N produces many publications

N gives awards

Human Rights Watch

485 Fifth Avenue,

New York, NY 10017,


Tel.: 212-972-8400

Fax: 212-972-0905

N includes Africa Watch, Americas

Watch, Asia Watch, Helsinki

Watch, and Middle East Watch

N publishes reports, including

Review of Department of State'sCountry Reports on HumanRights and the annual Summaryof Persecution Against HumanRights Monitors

N lobbies the US Congress

N affiliated with the Fund for Free

Expression

International Federation for Human

Rights/Federation internationale

des droits de l'homme (FIDH)

14 Passage Dubail,

75010 Paris, France

Tel.: 1-40 37 54 26

Fax: 1-44 72 05 86

N conducts missions

N publishes 30 mission reports

each year, and a weekly

newsletter in French

N works in the defence of victims

of arbitrary abuses of human

rights by government

N maintains a library

N has research programs

N sends observers to trials

N conducts public protests

ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK

ON BEHALF OF IMPRISONED

LAWYERS AND JUDGES, AND

AGAINST LEGAL SYSTEM ABUSES

International Commission of Jurists

(ICJ)/Commission internationale

des juristes (CIJ)

PO Box 160,

26, chemin de Joinville,

CH-1216 Geneva Cointrin,

Switzerland

Tel.: 22-7884747

Fax: 22-7884880

N sends observer missions to

trials of major significance

N includes the Centre for the

Independence of Judges and

Lawyers, which works on behalf

of lawyers persecuted or

harassed for their professional

work in upholding the

principles of the rule of law

N publishes country reports,

and a quarterly newsletter

International Human Rights Law

Group (IHRLG)

1601 Connecticut Avenue, NW,

Suite 700,

Washington, DC 20009,


Tel.: 202-232-8500

Fax: 202-232-6731

N assists and cooperates, on a

pro bono basis, with non-

governmental organizations in

preparing complaints of human

rights violations to be filed

before international, regional,

and domestic legal forums

N gives awards


N has an affiliate: The Human

Rights Advocates, PO Box 5675,

Berkeley, CA 94705, Tel.: 415-

540-8017

Lawyers Committee for Human

Rights

330 Seventh Avenue,

Tenth Floor North,

New York, NY 10001,


Tel.: 212-629-6170

Fax: 212-967-0916

N has volunteer lawyers

N helps with pro bonorepresentation of indigent

political asylum applicants in

the USA

N gives human rights medal

Human Rights Advocates

International (HRAI)

341 Madison, 20th Floor,

New York, NY 10017,


Tel.: 212-986-5555

Fax: 212-599-3027

N investigates allegations of

human rights violations

N maintains a law library of

international texts

N represents exiles

N publishes research results


AGAINST TORTURE

World Organization Against

Torture

37-39, rue de Vermont,

Case Postale 119,

CH-1211 Geneva,

Switzerland

Tel.: 22-7333140

Fax: 22-7331051

N works against torture,

"disappearances" and

summary executions

N works closely with AI

N rapidly disseminates

information about people at

risk of torture

N offers rehabilitative services

to victims of torture

N produces publications


Contact Human RightsInternet

It is advisable to contactHuman Rights Internet as itwill give you a morecomplete and up-to-datelist of human rightsorganizations, withextensive descriptions andcontact names, and a list ofhuman rights organizationsthat focus on the situation inyour target country.

Your co-group will alsobe able to identify somehuman rights organizationsthat focus on your targetcountry or region.

fRemember: youshould not write toan internationalorganization as amember of AIwithout permissionfrom the IS.

Association for the Prevention of

Torture

Case Postale 2267,

1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland

Tel.: 22-7342088

Fax 22-7345649

N visits detention centres

N publishes a newsletter in French

and German, How to CombatTorture and other publications


ON BEHALF OF WRITERS AND

JOURNALISTS

Writers and Scholars International

Lancaster House,

33 Islington High Street,

London N1 9LH,

United Kingdom

Tel.: 171-278 2313

Fax: 171-278 1878

N documents censorship and

repression on writers, artists,

scholars, journalists and others

worldwide

N gets information from the IS

N publishes Index on Censorshipsix times a year

Article 19

Lancaster House,

33 Islington High Street,

London N1 9LH,

United Kingdom

Tel.: 171-278 9292

Fax: 171-713 1356

International PEN

Writers in Prison Committee,

9/10 Charterhouse Buildings,

Goswell Road, London EC1M 7AT,

United Kingdom

Tel.: 171-2534308

Fax: 171-2535711

N works for the release of

imprisoned writers, journalists,

translators and publishers

N will "adopt" imprisoned writers

as honorary PEN members

N gets information from the IS

N sends delegations to visit

imprisoned writers

N organizes letter-writing groups

N conducts research

N publishes biannual reports

Committee to Protect Journalists

(CPJ)

330 Seventh Avenue, 12th Floor,

New York, NY 10001,


Tel.: 212-465-1004

Fax: 212-465-9568

N works on behalf of imprisoned

journalists and editors

N publishes a quarterly newsletter;

CPJ Update, which includes the

Committee's current case list and

updates on cases; and many

other publications, including the

annual Attacks on the Press

N gives awards

N receives Freedom Writers

mailings

World Press Freedom Committee

(WPFC)

c/o The Newspaper Center,

11600 Sunrise Valley Drive,

Reston, VA 22091,


Tel.: 703-648-1000

Fax: 703-620-4557

N maintains a strong global voice

"against...those who abuse

newsmen"


ON BEHALF OF SCIENTISTS AND

ENGINEERS

American Association for the

Advancement of Science and

Human Rights Program

1333 H Street, NW,

Washington DC 20005,


Tel.: 202-326-6790

Fax: 202-289-4950


ON BEHALF OF HEALTH

PROFESSIONALS, AND AGAINST

MEDICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC ABUSE

Geneva Initiative on Psychiatry

PO Box 1282,

NL-1200 BG Hiversum,

Switzerland

Tel.: 31-35-6838727

Fax: 31-35-6833646

e-mail: [email protected]

Joannes Wier Foundation

PO Box 1551,

3800 BN Amersfoort,

The Netherlands

Tel.: 033-726749

Fax: 033-726811

Physicians for Human Rights

(Denmark)

Banegaardsplads 20,

DK 8000 Aarhus,

Denmark

Tel.: 8619 6588

Fax: 8619 8393

The Association of Israeli-

Palestinian Physicians for Human

Rights (Israel)

PO Box 10235,

Tel-Aviv 61101,

Israel

Tel.: 3 5250526

Fax: 3 5250527

Physicians for Human Rights (UK)

Peter Kandela,

29 Greenlands Road,

Staines, Middlesex,

TW18 4LR,

United Kingdom

Tel.: 0784 461999

Fax: 0784 469145

Physicians for Human Rights (USA)

100 Boylson Street,

Suite 702,

Boston, MA 02116,


Tel.: 617 695 0041

Fax: 617 695 0307


ON RELIGIOUS CASES

Christian Solidarity International

Zelglistrasse 64,

PO Box 70,

CH-8122 Binz,

Switzerland

Tel.: 1-980 4700

Fax: 1-980 4715

N works for religious freedom

N assists persecuted Christians

N provides legal aid to ensure a

fair trial, where possible

Appendix 2/Useful Addresses 299

Telephone organizations

Your letters will have morepower and you will find iteasier to follow them up ifthey are addressed to theappropriate person in anorganization. Before you

write to any organization, itis advisable to telephone to

verify the organization'saddress and obtain the

name and title of the personto whom your letter should

be addressed.

Christian Solidarity International

P.O. Box 70563,

Washington, DC 20024, USA

Tel.: 301-989-0298

Fax: 301-989-0398

N protests against religious

persecution

N has an "Adopt-a-Nation"

prayer and correspondence

program

N gives awards

N holds human rights briefings

with members ofthe US

Congress

N provides legal counsel for

arrested Christians

Pax Christi – International Catholic

Peace Movement

Rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains 21,

B-1000 Brussels, Belgium

Tel.: 2-502 5550

Fax: 2-502 4626

N produces handbooks and

bibliographies on human

rights

N publishes Pax Christi International Newsletter six

times a year

N deals with peace, justice and

non-violence issues

N gives awards

Quaker United Nations Office

13, Avenue du Mervelet,

CH-1209 Geneva, Switzerland

Tel.: 22-7333393

Fax: 22-7340015

N publishes the quarterly QUNOnewsletter

N publishes human rights reports

N lobbies on conscientious

objection

World Jewish Congress,

American Section

501 Madison Avenue, 17th Floor,

New York, NY 10022, USA

Tel.: 212-755 5770

Fax: 212-755 5883

N defends the rights of Jews

whenever those rights are

denied, violated, or imperiled


and reports

OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS

ORGANIZATIONS

International Trade Union House

Bd Emile Jacqmain 155,

B-1210 Brussels, Belgium

Tel.: 2-224 0211

Fax: 2-201 5815/203 0756

N defends fundamental human

and trade union rights

N maintains International

Solidarity Fund to provide

assistance to workers who are

victims of oppression

Minority Rights Group

International

379 Brixton Road,

London SW9 7DE,

United Kingdom

Tel.: 171-978 9498

Fax: 171-738 6265

N publishes reports

N publicizes violations of human

rights of minorities

International Committee of the Red

Cross

19, avenue de la Paix,

CH-1202 Geneva, Switzerland

Tel.: 22-7346001

Fax 22-7332057

N visits political detainees

worldwide

N works to ensure that political

prisoners' detention conditions

conform to international

standards

N seeks to ban torture and

summary execution

N produces an Annual Report and

publications on humanitarian law

National Lawyers Guild

55 Avenue of the Americas,


Tel.: 212-966-5000


N has Central American Refugee

Defense Fund

N has sub-committees or task

forces on:

Cuba, the Middle East, the

Philippines, Southern Africa,

Central America, Chile and

Ireland

N works for the right of political

dissent

Defense for Children International

3 Stephen Place,

Ossining, NY 10562, USA

Tel.: 914-761-1641

Fax: 914-762-0316

N responds to individual cases of

human rights abuse against

children

Central American Refugee Center

(CARECEN)

3112 Mount Pleasant Street, NW

Washington, DC 20010, USA

Tel.: 202-328-9799

N provides emergency legal

assistance for refugees

N operates social service

referral program

N makes research on human

rights violations in El Salvador

N produces publications on

refugees

Survival International

310 Edgware Road

London W2 1DY

United Kingdom

Tel.: 171-7235535

Fax: 171-7234059

N seeks human rights for

indigenous peoples

N conducts missions

N provides speakers and

educational materials

N publishes biannual newsletter,

monthly Urgent Action Bulletinand reports

Center for Victims of Torture

717 East River Road,

Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA

Tel.: 612-626-1400

Fax: 612-626-2465

N provides medical and

psychological treatment for

victims of torture


BUSINESS ETHICS CENTRES AND

INFORMATION SOURCES

Europe/Japan/USA

Caux Round Table

N forum for senior business

leaders and industrialists

concerned with the

development of constructive

economic and social

relationships between their

countries and with their joint

responsibilities towards the rest

of the world. Plenary meetings

take place each summer in the

Swiss village of Caux (the

conference centre of the Swiss

Foundation for Moral Re-

Armament). Largely due to the

initiative of Ryuzaburo Kaku,

Chairman of Canon Inc, the

Round Table has focused

increasingly on the necessity

for an expanded sense of

corporate responsibility in an

interdependent world.

The Caux Round Table

publishes a document called

Principles for Business, acorporate code based on the

ethical ideals of kyosei, aJapanese work for "living and

working together for the common

good", and human dignity.

Caux Round Table Secretariats

N Europe:

Maartens de Pous, Coordinator

Amaliastraat 10,

2514 JC The Hague,

The Netherlands

Tel.: 070 364 3591

Fax: 070 361 7209

N Japan:

4-13-4 Sendagi Bunkyo-ku,

Tokyo 113

Tel.: 03 3821 3737

Fax: 03 3821 6479

N USA:

1156 15th St, NW, Suite 910,

Washington DC 20005

Tel.: 202 872 9038

Fax: 202 872 9137

The Caux Round Table is affiliated

to:

Minnesota Center for Corporate

Responsibility

1000 La Salle Avenue,

Minneapolis,

MN 55403-4122, USA

Tel.: 612 962 4122

Fax: 612 962 4125

The Institute of Business Ethics

12 Palace Street, London

SW1E 5JA, United Kingdom

Director: Stanley Kiaer

N conducts regular surveys and

publishes papers on business

ethics. It has also published a

model code for businesses

which includes a reference to

human rights.

Hong Kong

Independent Commission Against

Corruption (ICAC)

N As a response to an increasing

number of reports of

corruption, the ICAC launched

a campaign in 1994 beginning

with Hong Kong's first ever

Conference on Business Ethics.

The conference was organized

by the six leading chambers of

commerce and the ICAC, and

sponsored by over 100 trade

and professional bodies. It was

attended by over 3,000

business leaders, who agreed

that a set of broad guidelines in

the form of a corporate code of

conduct should be formulated

and recommended to all listed

and large private companies in

Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Ethics Development

Centre

1/F Tung Wah Mansion,

199-203 Hennessy Rd,

Wanchai

Tel.: 2587 9812

Fax: 2824 9766

Exec. Sec.: Mr Lawrence Tse

Dep. Exec. Sec.: Mrs Helen Lee

N Set up under the auspices of the

community relations

department of the ICAC and its

resource centre opened in May

1995. In addition to providing

a library and inquiries service,

a team of officers will launch a

corporate ethics program for

business organizations and

will coordinate activities to

promote work ethics among

young people. It also produces

a quarterly newsletter, Ethics inPractice.

USA

Business for Social Responsibility

1850 M St NW, Ste 750,

Washington DC 20036

Tel.: 202 872 5206

Fax: 202 872 5227

Pres. : Michael Levett

N has 700 members – small and

medium-size businesses – and

promotes responsible and

ethical corporate business

behaviour and public policy.

Council on Economic Priorities

30 Irving Place,

New York, NY 10003

Tel.: 800 882 6435

N compiles and makes available

information on the social

responsibility of individual

corporations.

Investor Responsibility Research

Centre

Suite 700,

1350 Connecticut Ave, NW

Washington, DC 20036-1701

Olsson Center for Applied Ethics

University of Virginia,

Darden School, PO Box 6550,

Charlottesville, VA 22906

Tel.: 804 924 0935

Appendix 2/Useful Addresses 301

Note: There are a widevariety of centres working on

behalf of victims of tortureand other state organized

abuse, details of which areavailable from the Medical

Office at the IS. They maytake occasional actiondepending on the issueinvolved. As quite a few

groups work with refugees,they may be open to

campaigning on refugeeissues. There are also a

number of humanitarianmedical bodies whose work,while primarily "hands-on"medical intervention, may

occasionally be interested incontact with AI. If your

Section has a medical group,please consult them for

further ideas.

WOMENS’ NON-GOVERNMENTAL

ORGANIZATIONS

Regional structures are being

organized to undertake and

facilitate follow-up action to the

World Conference in Beijing in

each region. Please contact the

following for up-to-date

information:

Africa

FDEA/FAVDO Women's Network

Point Focal Afrique Pour Beijing

Sicap Amitie,

Avenue Bourguiba

Villa No. 4336, B.P. 3921

Dakar, Senegal

Contact: Soukeyna Ndiaye Ba

African Women's Development &

Communications Network

(FEMNET)

P.O. Box 54562,

Nairobi, Kenya


Contact: Njoki Wainaina

Asia & the Pacific

Pan Pacific/SE Asia Women's

Assn. Intl

2234 Petcuhburi Road

Bangkok 10310, Thailand

Fax: 2-718-0372

Contact: Sumalee Chartikavanij

Pacific Regional YWCA

P.O. Box 3940, Samabula

Suva, Fiji

Fax: 301-222

Tel.: 304-961

Contact: Salamo Fulivai

Europe & North America

ECE Working Group,

IH NGO CSW

Office E2-1, NGO Lounge

Palais des Nations, CH-1211

Geneva 10, Switzerland

Fax: 22-917-0181

Tel: 22-917-4735

e-mail:

[email protected]

International Liaison: Danielle

Bridel

Women's Resource Centre

301 Vaughan Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba,

R3B 2N7, Canada

Fax: 204-943-6159

Tel.: 204-489-3531

Contact: Stella Zola Lejohn

Latin America & the Caribbean

CISCSA

Avenida Rafael Nunex 4329

Cordoba 5009, Argentina

Fax: 51-814-063

Tel.: 51-811903/814063


Contact: Ana Falu

Parque Hernan Velarde 42

Lima 1, Peru

Fax: 14-339-500

Tel.: 14-330-488


Contact: Virginia Vargas, Flora

Tristan

Middle East

Alliance for Arab Women

28 Adly Street - Flat 74, Fl. 7

Cairo, Egypt

Fax: 2-393-6820

Contact: Western Asia, Hoda

Badran

General Federation of Arab Women

P.O.Box 9796, Jabel El-Hussain

Amman, Jordan

Fax: 6-694-810

Contact: Haifa Abu Ghazaleh

Others

Congo offices/Status of women

committees

Conference of NGO's (CONGO)

777 UN Plaza - 8th Floor

NYC, NY 10017, USA

Fax: 212-986-0821/682-5354

(New York)

Fax: 301-530-1760 (Maryland)

Contact: Afaf Mahfouz, 1st Vice -

President

NGO Committee on the Status of

Women, NY

777 UN Plaza 8th Floor

NYC, NY 10017, USA

Fax: 212-986-0821/682 5354

Tel: 212-986-8557

Contact: Sudha Acharya,

Chairperson

Vienna NGO Committee on the

Status of Women

Kirchengasse 26,

A-1070 Vienna, Austria

Tel./Fax: 1-526 18 99

Contact: Marlene Parenzam,

International Liaison

Geneva NGO Subcommittee on

the Status of Women

Office E2-1, NGO Lounge,

Palais des Nations, CH-1211

Geneva 10, Switzerland

Fax: 22-917-0181

Tel: 22-917-4735


Contact: Irene Hoskins,

Chairperson


1

APPENDIX 3USEFUL PUBLICATIONS

This appendix lists useful publications and sources ofinformation which may help you when you are devising acampaigning strategy, working with others, or simply need to lookup information. It is arranged under the following headings:

N Children / 304

N Children’s rights / 304

N Youth / 305

N Religion / 305

N Business / 305

N Fundraising / 306

CHILDREN

An Introduction to the Conventionon the Rights of the Child;

Christine Lundy

Full Circle Press,

c/o Gothic Design,

RR #4, St Thomas,

Ontario, Canada N5P 3S8

Fax: 519 - 775 0099

N US$7.50 plus 15% postage

and packing

Papers of the Stockholm Congressc/o DCI, PO Box 88,

1211 Geneva, Switzerland

Tel.: 22 - 754 0558

Fax: 22 - 740 1145

e-mail [email protected]

N law reform and enforcement;

prevention and psycho-social

rehabilitation; tourism and

children in prostitution; the sex

exploiter; health and psycho-

social dimension; media; child

pornography; education;

social values

N copies from the NGO Group

for the Convention on the

Rights of the Child

Ombudswork for Children;Innocenti Digest No 1

UNICEF International Child

Development Centre,

Piazza SS Annunziata 12,

50122 Florence, Italy

Tel.: 55 - 234 5258

Fax: 55 - 244 817

N key information on a critical

children's rights concern

Have we asked the children?International Working Group

on Child Labour, 1997

Huddestraat 3,

1018 HB Amsterdam,

Netherlands

Fax: 20 - 422 0443

Tel.: 20 - 422 0444

Monitoring and measuring thestate of children – Beyondsurvival;

Helmut Wintersberger and

Asher Ben Arieh, 1997

National Council for the Child,

20 Metudela Street,

Jerusalem 92306, Israel

Tel.: 2 - 563 9191

Fax: 2 - 563 6869

e-mail:

[email protected]

UN Convention on the rights ofthe child training kit

International Save the Children

Alliance

Save the Children,

17 Grove Lane,

London, SE5 8RD,

United Kingdom

Tel.: 171 - 703 5400

Fax: 171 - 708 2508

N £28.00 plus postage and

packing £5.00 (UK), £10 rest

of the world

Children's Participation Pack: apractical guide for playworkers

The Children's Participation

Project,

Kirklees Metropolitan Council,

Save the Children,

United Kingdom

N ordering as above

Never too young: How youngchildren can take responsibilityand make decisions. A handbookfor early years workers

Judy Miller,

National Early Years Network,

Save the Children,

United Kingdom

N ordering as above

Empowering children and youngpeople: Training Manual

Children's Rights Office and

Save the Children,

United Kingdom.

N ordering as above

World's Web: the global educa-tion pack for work with youngpeople

Save the Children, UK

N ordering as above

Position on child workInternational Save the Children

Alliance

59 chemin Moise Duboule,

CH 1909 Geneva,

Switzerland

Tel: 22-788 8180

Fax: 22-788 8154

e-mail:

[email protected].

http://www.savechildren.or.j

p/alliance

Children: the invisible soldiersRachel Brett and Margaret

McCallin, 1996

Rädda Barnen,

107 88 Stockholm,

Sweden

Fax: 8 - 689 9013

Tel.: 8 - 689 9000


http://www.rb.se

Early child development:Investing in our children's future

Mary Eming Young,

The World Bank,

ISBN 0-444-82605

Fax: 202 - 522 3234

e-mail:

[email protected]

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS

I am a child, I have rightsSave the Children,

UNICEF and Ministry of

Education, Liberia

N copies from Save the Children,

ordering as above

My rights, Part 1 (5-8 years), Part 2 (9-12 years), Part 3 (13-18 years)

The Swedish NGO Child

Convention Group,

Rädda Barnen,

107 88 Stockholm,

Sweden

Tel.: 8-698 9000

Fax: 8-698 9013


My rights in our worldChildren's Rights Office,

235 Shaftesbury Avenue,

London, WC2H 8EL,

United Kingdom

Tel.: 171 - 240 4449

Fax: 171 - 240 4514


N £1.50

Our book... of child rightsKathy Keirle Ali and Zulfiquar

Ali (English and Arabic)

Human Rights Education

Programme,

11-B Main Korangi Road,

Phase 1, DHA Karachi,

Pakistan

Tel.: 21 - 588 6273

e-mail:

[email protected]

We want our right to education,Children's Rights andResponsibilities, Women and girlshave rights too

Three booklets from Kuleana

Centre for Children's Rights, in

English and Kiswahili

Children's rights memory gameKuleana Centre for Children's

Rights,

PO Box 27,

Mwanza, Tanzania

Tel.: 68 - 500 911

Fax: 68 - 42402

email:

[email protected]

Questions Parents Ask, Voices ofYouth brochure

also available on the internet:

http://www.unicef.org/voy

Its only right: A pratical guide tolearning about the Convention onthe Rights of the Child

UNICEF New York,

3 UN Plaza, New York 10017

Fax: 212 - 755 1449

YOUTH

The Rights Kit! produced AI Canada

(E-S):

N Acts as a “handbook” for

Youth Campus groups. It

includes an overview of the

Youth Campus program plus

information on group

organization, branch

resources, letter-writing,

campaigning and

fundraising. A glossary,

record sheets and a variety of

key AI pamphlets are

included, plus an appendix of

articles on AI’s history and

recent human rights concerns,

publicity materials and sample

posters. It is also a helpful

resource for AI members

working with Youth Campus

groups or doing outreach on

this target sector.

Youth Can Change the World -Youth and Student Activism inAmnesty International: YouthCampus Program

N This is aimed at students and

youth interested in AI and AI

members doing outreach with

youth. It is a booklet with loose

enclosures and includes an

overview of individual, multi-

issue club and Youth Campus

group membership options,

advice on how to start

campaigning for human

rights, registration forms,

sample actions and letter-

writing advice.

Amnesty International NationalStudent Program AIUSA: pack

N Includes leaflets on the

following areas: What is

Amnesty International?; How

to find what you need in AI;

How to fundraise for your

group; How to plan events;

How to publicize your events;

How to run fabulous meetings;

How to recruit and retain

members; How to work with

your administration; How to

be a great faculty advisor;

How to move towards

diversity. It also has a brochure

entitled Overview for Actionwhich includes background on

AI and on techniques of letter

writing, Urgent Actions,

fundraising, campus and local

outreach, campaigns, action

opportunities and training.

SAY is the national student

magazine of AIUSA devel-

oped specifically for students

with information, actions,

updates as well as articles and

poems written by students

themselves.

RELIGION

Arguments for Human Rights fromthe World’s Religions (produced

by AI-UK)

Religions against the DeathPenalty: The Case for Abolition(AI-UK)

Vrij of Vogelvrij (produced in

1995 by Belgian Section)

N includes some of AI’s recent

campaigns/actions on

religious issues, a survey of the

relevant international

declarations and conventions

relating to the fundamental

right of religious freedom, and

issues around the

“universality” of religious

freedom. The booklet also

gives some relevant texts on

human rights from the Roman

Catholic Church and from the

World Council of Churches,

and a biblical reflection on

religious freedom.

IS campaign circulars with advice

on how to approach religious

groups include:

1989 Campaign against the

Death Penalty: Circular No. 15 –

Approaches to the

religious target sector.

N This gives a brief outline of

attitudes to human rights from

the point of view of

Christianity, Judaism, Islam,

Hinduism and Buddhism, and

suggestions on how to

Appendix 3/Useful Publications 305

approach members of these

faiths.

Religious Action 1993 (AI Index:

ACT 79/01/92):

N cases of violations of human

rights of religious people from

13 countries, and suggestions

for action.

BUSINESS

Business and Society ReviewWarren

Gorham and Lamont Inc,

One Penn Plaza, 42nd Fl,


Tel.: 800 950 1210/212-971

5000

N quarterly

Codes of ProfessionalResponsibility

Bureau of National Affairs, Inc,

1250 23rd St, NW,

Washington DC 20037, USA

Tel.: 800 372 1033/202- 452

5742

Fax: 202 - 822 8092

N contains full text or substantial

excerpts of the official codes of

ethics of major professional

groups in the fields of law,

business and health care.

Corporate Responsibility MonitorDatacenter, 464 19th St,

Oakland, CA 94612, USA

Tel.: 510-835 4692

Fax: 510-835 3017

N bimonthly

Domini Social Index (DSI)

Kinder, Lydenberg, Domini

and Co Inc

129 Mt Auburn St,

Cambridge, MA

Tel.: 617-731 9228

N diversified portfolio of 400

publicly traded US companies,

screened on multiple social

criteria, maintained by Kinder,

Lydenberg, Domini and Co,

Inc since 1990. Publishes

detailed information on the

social records of over 750

public US corporations and

consults with institutional

investors on the integration of

social screens with financial

investments.

Journal of Business EthicsKluwer Academic Publishers

PO Box 358, Accord Station,

Hingham, MA 02018, USA

Tel.: 617-871 6600

Rating America's CorporateConscience

Addison-Wesley Publishing

Co, Inc,

One Jacob Way, Reading,

MA 01867, USA

Tel.: 800-447 2226/617-944

3700

N discusses the corporate social

responsibility of individual US

corporations. Compiled by the

Council on Economic

Priorities.

FUNDRAISING

The Complete FundraisingHandbook,

Sam Clark, 1992

(ISBN 0-907164-65-X)


1

APPENDIX 4MOBILIZING THE IS FOR ACTIONDURING CRISES

This appendix looks at how the International Secretariat (IS)responds when a human rights crisis emerges in the world andthe organization decides to go into crisis response mode.

Mobilizing the IS

Regular work:

At the time of writing there is a

two-person permanent crisis

response team based at the IS

who are part of the

Campaigning and Crisis

Response Program. The team

comprises a crisis response

project manager and a crisis

response campaign organizer.

The team's job is to:

N ensure the development of

an international movement

capacity to respond to crises;

N undertake periodic

evaluation of AI's crisis

response to improve its

effectiveness;

N contribute to the

development of policies in

relation to crisis response;

N facilitate the development

of communication systems,

membership structures and

techniques to help mobilize

effective action in response to

crises.

Crisis mode:

The decision from the Secretary

General to go into crisis mode

signals to everyone in the

movement that they should

consider how they will

contribute to tackling the crisis.

In the IS, the crisis response

project manager immediately

forms a crisis team for the

affected country, made up of

key IS staff and is responsible

for the project management and

smooth running of the team.

The role of this IS crisis

team is to:

N contribute to the

development of strategies and

plans and to the decision-

making within the crisis team;

N undertake tasks agreed

within the crisis team;

N ensure fast communication

and coordination with their

own programs (and others as

designated), follow

implementation of tasks within

their program and report back

to the crisis team;

N keep other relevant staff

informed of the knock-on

effects of their crisis tasks;

N be the first point of contact

for Sections (normally assigned

to one member of the team – the

crisis response campaign

organizer) and for media

(normally the IS press officer

responsible).

Other crisis response

team members might include one

or more of the following as

circumstances dictate: a logistics

officer, an information officer, a

language editor, someone from

the relevant region's membership

development team, a

representative from the Research

and Mandate Program.

One Deputy Secretary

General is responsible overall

for the crisis project. The day-to-

day management of the crisis

team is performed by the crisis

response project manager.

Where necessary and

possible, extra staff are

deployed to the IS crisis team

(this may include recruiting

from Section staff, other non-

governmental organizations,

etc). For example, a Section

campaign coordinator might

come to the IS in the role of

regional campaign

coordinator, just working on

the crisis team. This would

enable the permanent regional

campaign coordinator to

remain in post dealing with the

rest of their region. Sections’

help in identifying people for

crisis team work is invaluable;

the more we can be prepared

in advance for rapid

deployment of extra resources

the better.

What happensnext?When crisis mode is declared

the decision is also immediately

communicated to the

movement. Within the next 48

hours the IS has a checklist of

things which need to be done,

examples of which are:

N hold a crisis team meeting to

decide on immediate activities;

N react immediately, perhaps

with an Urgent Action and a

media statement;

N consider security and, if

possible, organize deployment to

the field;

N approve initial budget,

identify extra resources needed.

Examples from the IS

checklist with particular relevance

to Sections are:

N Consider the security of AI

membership in country "x" and

take appropriate measures,

including consultation with the

Section secretariat where possible.

N Establish communications

systems for IS staff and Section

crisis response coordinators for

sharing of ideas on how to

address the crisis.

N Consider specific tasks

Sections can perform or help with.

N Consult Sections on crisis

strategy (either in writing, through

a conference call or at a meeting).

N Keep all Sections informed of

key developments (at least

weekly); this is normally

communicated by fax to all

Sections in the form of a weekly

crisis response bulletin.

N Select four or more key

Sections for the crisis which would

have particular input on strategy

and support for the international

effort.

IS crisis team composition (example)


Regional Program Director

Regional campaigncoordinator

Sub-regional teamMresearcherMcampaigner

Mresearch and campaignassistant

Crisis response campaignorganizer

Media officer

Legal adviser

Crisis team administrator

Other

Deputy Secretary General– International Programs

Crisis response projectmanager

1

INDEX

Academic institutions, 37Accession, definition of, 98Action Files, 58, 61, 221, 249Action forms, 24, 58Action, level of, 61Action Planning Bulletin, 59Action Planning Process, 58Action, upgrading of, 61Active listening, 262Addresses, 297-302Advertising, 18, 90, 92, 169, 174, 180Advisory groups, 188African Commission on Human and Peoples'

Rights, 105Agence France Presse, 53AI Children's Week, 244-245AI groups, 63, 78, 155c, 157c, 240cAI Guide for Letter-writers, 114AI members, 64, 78AI Statute, 136AI Visa card, 95AI Week, 68, 145cAI's facts and figures, 179AI’s Guidelines for Religious Activities and

Outreach, 227AI’s Guidelines on Company Approaches, 193, 200AI's Human Rights Education Policy, 270AI's Human Rights Education Strategy, 270AI's impartiality, 28, 47, 139, 227, 250AI's mandate, 14, 15, 16, 45, 46, 50, 206AI's membership, 28AI's NGO Policy and Guidelines, 47, 248, 249, 250AI's web developer, 52Aid, 35Aid consortiums, 33, 266AIDA formula, 148AIUK Press Awards, 177Albania, 40Alternative summits, 134American Association for the Advancement of

Science, 54American Convention on Human Rights, 98American Freedom Writer, 55Amnesty Interactive, 55cAmnesty International Arabic Publishing, 158Amnesty International Handbook, 114, 138, 139Amnesty International News, 138, 142, 158Amnesty International Report, 138, 139, 142, 158,

179, 256Anderson, Tim, 21, 174Angola, 106Anniversaries, 18Annuities, 94Anti-Slavery International, 248ANZ bank, 199Argentina, 195Argentine Section, 55Arias, Dr Oscar, 39c, 50Armed opposition groups, 140Arms, 44-45

Articles for print media, 173-174Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation, 106Asia Pacific Economic Summit, 50Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Links, 244Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and

Rural Development, 248Association for Progressive Communicating, 53Association of Higher Police Officials, 204Asylum-seekers, 104AT&T, 199Audio features, 157Audio News Access Tape, 157Audio News Releases, 157Audio tapes, 157Audiovisual Resources, 157Australia, 35, 174, 225, 239, 260Australian Section, 20, 34, 56, 91, 93, 134, 154,

199, 208q, 225

Baha'i community, 227Banners, 133, 155Belgian Section, 55, 77c, 120c, 137cBenenson, Peter, 209cBequests, 93Bilateral action on human rights by governments, 265Bilateral relationships, reviews of, 260Billboards, 153Body Shop, 189cBookmarks, 96Bosnia, 106Bourequat brothers, 65cBoycotts, 35, 37Brahim, Mr, 82cBrainstorming, 71Brazil, 67c, 123c, 162, 205Brazilian Section, 205Brief for publication, 150Briefing papers, 152-153Broadcast media, 174Brochures, 154Bull, David, 82cBunch, Charlotte, 238qBurundi, 77c, 102Business community, outreach, 190-196Business for Social Responsibility, 199Businesses, 32, 34Businesses, researching information on, 198

Calls for cessation, 43, 45Campaign and Crisis Response program, 59, 264Campaign against Racism, Xenophobia, Anti-

semitism and Intolerance, (Council of Europe), 220Campaign coordinator's fax, 59Campaign materials, 59, 63Campaign materials, preparing, 147-158Campaigning and organizational health, 68-72Campaigning kits, 63Campaigning principles, 8, 15-24Campaigning techniques, 81Canada, 220

c = captionq = quote

Canadian Section, 55, 56, 205, 218, 221Candles, 133, 225Castro, Emilio, 223cCelebrities, 156Celebrity auctions, 144Celebrity support, 143-145Censorship, 53Chad, 46c, 48Chairing, 132, 169Chandler, Sir Geoffrey ,193qCharities, 96Checklist: what others can be asked to do, 187Checklist: what you can ask companies to do, 200Checklist: what you can ask health professionals to do, 233Checklist: what you can ask lawyers to do, 211-212Checklist: what you can ask religious community to do, 228Checklist: what you can ask trade unionists to do, 216Checklist, what you can ask women's organizations to

do, 240Checklist: what you can ask youth and students to do, 222Chekhov, Anton, 57qChemjong, Rakam, 245Children's Human Rights Network, 246cChildren's human rights, outreach, 242-264Chile, 153, 155c, 199China, 15c, 26, 36, 46c, 48, 53, 66, 67c, 133c, 135c,

136c, 154, 155c, 197, 217c, 250Chirwa, Vera, 209qChoices, 14Chomsky, Noam, 146cChristensen, Jan, 243qChristian World Service, 244Clarity, 17-19Clarke, Sam, 86qClauswitz, Carl von, 14qClinton, Bill, 229cClub Med, 192Coalition on Housing Rights and Evictions, 248Coe, David, 56Collins, Phil, 93Colombia, 41, 49c, 65c, 102, 146c, 175, 225Colombian Section, 268cCommitment, 22Commonwealth, 105Communication, 70Communications, 35, 79Company approaches, 32, 46, 191, 195Concerts, 92, 93Conditionality, 35Conscientious Objectors Support Network, 56Consolidating support, 92Consultative status of AI, 107, 139Continuity, 71Convention, definition of, 98Cook, Helena, 258qCooperative Bank, 95Coopers and Lybrand ,199Council of Europe, 98, 105, 138, 220Country campaigns, criteria for, 60Country coordinators, 80Country strategies, 24, 26,Coupons, 89, 91Covenant, definition of, 98Crawshaw, Ralph, 205qCrime control equipment, 44Crises, human rights, 7, 59Crisis response, 73-84

Crisis response, mobilizing the IS for, 307-308Crisis response network, 79Cultural links, 24, 32, 37, 250Current events, responding to, 134

Danish Refugee Aid, 243qDanish Section, 175, 243q, 245cDanish Working Group for Children, 245cDatabase fundraising, 94Death and the Maiden, 153Death penalty, 23, 26-28, 137, 259Death penalty coordinators, 60Decision-making, 62, 70Declaration, definition of, 98Dedication ceremonies, 174Delegations, 137, 140Demonstrations, 132-133Denmark, 65c, 202c, 243q, 244Developing a strategy, 25Developing skills, 70Difficult questions, 139, 262Diplomats, 265Direct Communication, 96Direct mail, 89, 92-92Direct mail appeals, 64, 127, 144Display sites, 154, 156Dorfman, Ariel 153Du Bois, William Edward Burghardt, 85cDuplicating, 150Dutch Police Union, 204Dutch Section, 55, 87, 93, 129c, 149c, 185, 194, 197,

204, 220, 252

e-mail, 34, 35, 56, 59Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), 107, 138, 139Economic links, 32Editions francophones d'Amnesty International, 158Editorial Amnistia Internacional, 158Educators Network, 56Electro-shock stun guns, 41Electronic communications, 52Embargoes, 158, 166Embassies, 33, 62, 133c, 161, 244, 246cEmbassy protests, 142-143Embassy visits, 136-142End-user certificates, 45Ethical codes, 195, 197European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights

and Fundamental Freedoms, 98, 226European Court of Human Rights website, 101European Union, 49, 50, 77c, 107European Union Code, 50Evaluation, 14, 50, 59, 71, 84, 258, 271-276Evaluation, media work, 180Evans, Derek, 39cEvents, 66Expatriate community, 35

Faxes, 38, 154Feature articles, 173Feature tapes, 157Feedback, 63, 64Female genital mutilation, 245Female genital mutilation, conference on, 125c, 143c,240c

Filing, 72(first) Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, 98, 103


Fisher, Hilary, 121c"Five Ws", 166Focus, 16-17Food First International Action Network, 248Forced labour, 197France, 48, 218Francophonie, 105French Government, 46cFrench Section, 93, 195Fundraising, 18, 85-96, 246Fundraising dinners, 127, 195Fundraising Working Group , 96Furniture Timber and Allied Trades Union, 214

G7, 105Gabriel, Guido, 54Gandhi, Mahatma, 5qGathogo, Munga, 121cGeneral Christian Police, 204German Government, 41German Section, 56, 215Ghanaian Section, 145c, 238Ghezali, Salima, 126cGifts, 144Government Action Network, 56Government sources, 199Greak Lakes crisis, 77c, 82c, 83cGreenpeace, 42, 248Guatemala, 19, 221, 226c

Hak-sop, Ahn, 118cHammerberg, Thomas, 103cHarrison, Scott, 54Hasan, Dr Habiba, 235cHealth professionals, 230-231Hess, Becky, 122cHome government lobbying, 50, 209, 253-266Honeywell, 199Hua Huang, 115qHuman rights awareness, 268-269Human Rights Council of Australia, 193Human rights defenders conference, 146cHuman rights education, 267-270Human Rights Internet, 248Human rights law, 209Human rights movement, 247-252Human rights review, 38Human rights training programs, 206Human rights units, 260Human Rights Watch, 53, 248Humanitarian appeals, 100Humanitarian law, 203

Iceland 90Identity, 66IG Metall, 87, 215Imprisonment, 99Indermon, 42India, 34Indonesia, 26, 41, 163, 192, 216Indonesia and East Timor, 35, 48, 122cInformation from the IS, 179Information stalls, 156, 268cInformation technology, 51-56, 250Information Technology Program, 52Institute for Training in Human Rights, 212cIntegrated fundraising and campaigning, 86

Integrated campaigning, 6Integration, 69Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, 105Intergovernmental organization (IGO) bodies, 256IGO coordinators, 60IGO instruments, 52IGO lobbying, 50IGOs, 49, 53, 209, 243, 254, 269IGOs, AI's work with ,101 Inter-Parliamentary Union, 34International action planning, 58International Bill of Human Rights, 248International Children's Day, 68, 218, 246International Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers, 39cInternational Commission of Inquiry, 40International Commission of Jurists, 248International Committee of the Red Cross, 23, 203, 204,

232, 248International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms

of Racial Discrimination, 103International Council Meetings, 32, 37, 59, 68, 76, 236International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 98,

139, 140, 226, 248, 249International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural

Rights, 98, 103, 248, 249International Development Unit, 70International Executive Committee, 59, 96International Freedom Network, 250International Herald Tribune, 53International human rights framework, 7-8International human rights law, 98International human rights organizations, 97-108International human rights standards, 60, 97-108International Labour Conference, 216International Labour Day, 215International Labour Organisation, 34, 53, 214International legal network, 208-210International Military Education and Training, 48International Organization of Consumers Unions, 248International Pen, 248International solidarity, 7International strategies, 62International Women's Day, 68, 239, 240International Working Group for Children, 242Internet, 42, 53-55, 81, 240Internet campaigning, 158Interviews, 171-173Investor groupings, 198Iran, 227Iraq, 106, 227Ireland, 18, 239, 244Irish Council of Civil Liberties, 239Irish Section, 76, 93, 116c, 229c, 239IS campaigners, 179IS crisis response team, 80IS materials, 62IS news releases, 62IS researchers, 179IS strategies, 62Israel, 40, 48Italian Section, 56, 246

Janes Defence Weekly, 42Joint press conference, 168Joint publications, 250Jung, Kim Dae, 109qJuvenal, 271q

Index 311

Kamau, Judy Muthoni, 121cKatz-Lacabe, Mike 55Kennedy, John F. , 73qKenya, 250Kenyan Release Political Prisoners Group, 121cKing, Martin Luther, 181qKompass Directories, 42Koroma, Hannah, 125cKyi, Daw Aung San Suu, 129c

Lake, Howard, 55, 56Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, 53Leaflets, 152, 153Lebanon, 48Legacies, 93Legal and International Organizations Program, 264Legal associations, 35Legal Support Network, 56Letter-writing networks, 64Letter-writing, 84, 113-117, 204Letters pages, 165, 175Levi-Strauss, 190Liberia, 106Libraries, 199Links with the target country, 33-38listservs, 53, 56Lobbying, 126Lobbying working groups, 265Local groups with a sector brief, 188Long-term campaigning, 6, 24

Maastricht Treaty, 50Mabitje, Maris-Stella, 23cMacBride Principles, 198MacKenzie, W.J.M., 160qMalawi, 38Mandela, Nelson, 26Manji, Firoze, 82cMartin, Ian, 105c, 223cMasari, Mohammad al, 154Masih, Iqbal, 244Masks, 129c, 133, 135cMaterials, 71, 126Materials from the IS, 158Mbuye, Everest, 82cMcAteer, Lyndsay, 247cMcKim, Marilyn, 54Médecins sans Frontiéres, 42, 248Media, 21, 34, 50, 59, 81, 266Media briefing pack, 123, 124, 165, 169Media briefings, 108, 170-171Media conferences ,165, 168Media releases, 165, 167c, 168Media training, 123Media work, 159-180Medical office, 231Medical research, 45Medical sector, outreach, 230-231Meeting local human rights NGOs, 265Menu of Actions, 58Merchandising, 90, 93Mexican Section, 119cMilitary and law enforcement officers, outreach, 202-206Military links, 24, 32Military, security and police (MSP) transfers, 32, 33,

39-50, 160, 198, 250MSP transfers, legislation on, 43, 266

MSP transfers, of expertise, knowledge and skill, 45MSP transfers, of training and experience, 48-49Mitchell, Ray, 54Mobilizing for action, 76Mohammed, Nalyni, 239Money, 78Mongolia youth group, 243cMorocco, 65cMotivating members, 127Mozambique, 201Multinational companies, 196Music, 35, 62, 133, 144Myanmar, 224, 235c

National Council of Churches, 252Ndiaye, Bacre Waly, 107, 134Nepal, 244Nepalese Section, 239Netherlands, 48Networks, 186New Zealand, 65cNew Zealand Employers' Federation, 244New Zealand Section, 92, 244, 247cNews Access Tape, 157News releases, adapting, 178News Service, 59Newsletters, 64, 77, 154, 155, 231Nigeria, 40, 46, 144c, 208qNobel Peace Prize Laureates, 50Non-Aligned Movement, 33, 105Non-governmental organizations, meetings, 265North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), 49North Korea, 116c, 219cNorthern Ireland, 210, 239Norwegian Section, 90, 157c

O'Neill, Sadth, 116cObserver, 5, 106Olympic Games, 32, 66Operation Grapes of Wrath, 48Organization of African States, 53, 105, 138Organization of American Unity, 50, 98, 104, 105, 138Organization of Islamic Conference, 105Organizing for action, 57-72Organization for Security and Co-operation in

Europe, 49, 104, 105Outreach, 20, 40, 50, 60, 84, 121-252Outreach, activating society, 181-188Outreach, cooperation with the human rights

movement, 247-252Outreach, international legal network, 207-212Outreach, medical sector, 229-233Outreach, military and law enforcement officers, 201-206Outreach papers, 152-153Outreach, religious groups, 223-228Outreach, the business community, 189-200Outreach, working on children's human rights, 241Outreach, working on women's human rights, 235-240Overseas Development Assistance, 33Oxfam, 11, 86q, 248

Pakistan, 67c, 237, 244Pakistan Section, 230Pakpahan, Muchtar, 216Pareto principle, 87-88Parliamentary AI groups, 260Parliamentary reviews of human rights action, 260


Peace-keeping missions, 47People's Forum, 134Pérez de Cuéllar, Javier, 103cPeru, 65c, 136c, 237Petitions, 119-120Philippines, 213cPhilippines Section, 217c, 250Phone-ins 175Photo exhibitions, 155-156, 194Photo opportunities, 165Photocopying, 150Physicians for Human Rights, 53Pictures, 175, 177Placards, 154Poland, 133c, 135c, 242Political parties, 34Postcards, 64, 118-119, 156, 189cPostcards, campaign, 119Poster exhibitions, 133Posters, 153-155, 270Prasai, Charan, 245Print media, 164Printers, 151Printing, 150Prison conditions, 27Prisoners of conscience, 26Problem-solving, 69Professional associations, 35Professional coordination groups, 185Proofreading, 151Protests, 132-133Protests, legal requirements for, 132Protests, organizing, 133Protocol, 98Public appeals, 128Public meetings, 127, 130-132Publications, 303-306Publications list, 168Publicity, 156

Question and Answer sheets, 63Quotations, 23, 277-296

Radio, 165Raffles, 90c, 92Rapid Action Network (RAN) coordinators, 41, 80Rapid Action Networks (RANs), 62, 76Rana, Mukhtar, 159qRape Crisis National Collective, 247cRatification, definition of, 98Red Crescent societies, 248Red Cross societies, 248Reebok Human Rights Award, 195Refugees, 104Regional human rights standards, 60, 98Regional IGOs, 50, 104-105, 256Regional Development Team, 59Regular giving schemes, 93Relations between countries, 32-38Religion, 34, 226-227Religious groups, outreach, 223-228Reports, AI’s, 153Research and Mandate Program, 264Resources, 70Richards, Viv, 145cRichardson, Carole, 19Robinson, Mary ,101

Roddick, Anita, 199cRoman Catholic Church, 13, 224Roosevelt, Eleanor, 103cRossi, Professor Luiz, 127qRussian Federation, 49Rwanda, 40, 81, 102, 104, 106, 250

Sakharov, Andrei, 26Sanctions, 35, 37Sané, Pierre, 67c, 144c, 199cSaudi Arabia, 154Save the Children, 243qSchoolchildren, 244Scouting World Jamboree, 220, 243cSearching questions, 43, 44, 46, 47Seck, Moustapha, 212cSecond Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, 66, 98, 107Section objectives, 76Shareholder meetings, 198Shell, 46Sierra Leone, 90Sierra Leonean Section, 125cSignature, definition of, 98Silhouettes, 133Siswowihardjo, Tri Argus Susanto, 122cSomalia, 232, 242South Korean Section, 155, 195South Africa, 26, 37South Korea, 118cSouza, Diolinda Alves de, 123cSpain, 42, 48Spanish Section, 42Speaking tours, 38, 121-128Special events, 91Special visitors programs, 266Specialist coordination groups, 185Sport, 35, 37Sri Lanka, 32cSri Lanka, AI IGO strategy on, 104State Party, definition of, 98Stickers, 156-157, 245cStrategic campaigning, 12-26Strategic campaigning cycle, 24Strategic Thinking in Amnesty International, 62Successes, 22Sullivan Principles, 198Sun-Myung, Kim, 118cSun Tzu, 17qSurvival International, 248Sweden, 65cSwedish Section, 55, 215Switzerland, 65cSWOT, 12-13, 72, 95Symbolic representations, 133Symbolic actions, 78SYSTEC, 58

Taiwan, 115cTalkbacks, 175Tanzania, 82cTape recorders, 138Target audiences, 160, 162Targeting, 91Teachers, 244Telemarketing, 90, 93Telephone contacts, 262Telephone hotline, 81

Index 313

Telephone tree, 81Television, 165Television soaps, 175Thailand, 67cThematic experts, 100Theme campaigning, 66, 103Thida, Ma, 235cTibet Autonomous Region, 135cTiming, 21Tools of campaigning, 8, 24Top supporters' clubs, 93Tourism, 37, 38Trade Aid Office, 244Trade associations, 33Trade links, 34Trade Unionists Action, 68Trade unions, 34, 198, 213-216Training, 70-72, 79Treaty-monitoring bodies,102-105Trusts, 94Turkey, 32c, 244Tutu, Archbishop Desmond, 144cTwinning, 37, 38

United Arab Emirates, 214United Kingdom, 18, 40, 41, 48, 191UK Section, 32c, 36, 56, 67c, 89, 90c, 93, 122, 126c,

180, 244, 246cUnited Nations (UN), 7, 22, 31, 33, 40, 42, 49, 53, 77,

82, 101-103, 105c, 138, 243UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by

Law Enforcement Officials, 99UN Beijing Platform for Action, 236, 237, 239UN Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons

under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, 99UN Centre for Human Rights, 201UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), 104, 243q, 244UN Commission on Human Rights, 33, 99, 101, 102,

108, 256, 260-261UN Commission on the Status of Women, 238UN Committee against Torture, 103UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural

Rights, 103UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination

against Women, 103UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial

Discrimination, 103UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, 103, 242UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman

or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 98-99, 102-103UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of

Discrimination against Women, 99, 103, 236UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 99, 103, 104,

218, 242,-244,UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, 99UN Decade for Women 236UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of

Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, 226

UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, 99

UN Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, 99

UN Declaration on the Right to Development, 99UN Development Programme (UNDP), 104UN Division for the Advancement of Women, 240UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 138

UN General Assembly, 99, 102, 103, 107, 108, 254UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 68, 101-103,

107UN High Commissioner for Refugees, 104UN Human Rights Committee, 103UN human rights reports, 108UN Information Office, 108UN institutions, 99UN Register of Conventional Arms, 45UN Safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of

those facing the death penalty, 99UN Security Council, 33, 104, 106, 108, 256UN special rapporteurs, 99, 108UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of

Prisoners, 140UN structure, 100UN Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination

and Protection of Minorities, 101UN website, 101UN working groups, 100UN World Conference on Human Rights, 66, 68, 87, 98,

102, 139, 214, 242qUN World Conference on Population, 224UN World Conference on Women, 15c, 68, 189c, 224,

235c, 236Universal Declaration on Human Rights, 66, 98, 103c,

106, 140, 190, 224, 226, 239, 241c, 248, 249, 268Urgent Action coordinators, 54, 79Urgent Actions, 21, 24, 54-55, 58, 60-61, 79, 127,

142, 179, 215, 220, 265US Government, 41, 46c, 48US Section, 32c, 48, 49c, 55, 56, 195, 197, 221-222 US training manuals, 203USA, 26, 48, 66, 191, 242

Venues, 156, 169Video News Releases, 157, 174Videos, 157Vigils, 132-133, 144, 244Volunteers, 60, 76

Walker, Alice, 143cWard, Sue, 17q, 160Wassenaar Arrangement, 49Websites, 52-54, 56, 240Weekly Mailing, 60Wickremasinghe, Suriya, 103cWiesel, Elie, 29qWilde, Mayor Fran, 247cWomen, 34Women, violence against, 236Women's Aid, 189cWomen's human rights, outreach, 235-240Women's NGOs, 236Wools of New Zealand, 244World Bank, 256World Council of Churches, 248World Festival of Youth and Students, 219cWorldwide Appeals, 55

Youth, 34Youth activists, outreach, 218-222Yugoslavia, former, 104

Zaire, former, 40, 83cZeebroeck, Xavier, 54


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