Brevförslag till den nya grupperingen Underlag till styrelsemöte 1-2 januari 1996

Till: styrelsen
Från: sekretariatet
Datum: 21 januari 1996



Nedan är ett brevförslag till medlemmarna i vår nya sektionsgruppering, som AU uppdrog år sekretariatet att skriva.



Stockholm xx January 1996





To Sections and Coordination Structures in Grouping 2



Dear Friends,

The IEC has decided on a new grouping composition and this letter is directed to those belonging to the new grouping 2. From the Swedish Section we look forward to contact and cooperation with all of you.

The 1995 ICM decided on the role of the grouping which is twofold, i.e. work on development issues and international decision-making. The Swedish Section decided some years ago on guidelines for development-cooperation with other sections. We see the contacts with other sections and Amnesty-structures as very important and of big value to our work as part of an international democratic organization. The consultative role of the grouping is in our opinion of importance. On one hand it is necessary to find consensus e.g. in the area of the mandate and on the other hand it is important with exchange of experience and knowledge about how other sections work and how they have solved different kinds of problems. The overall goal regarding development is of course to strenghten AIs work for human rights in all parts of the world. Development is not as we see it a mere question of relief but rather of mutual sharing of experiences.

On the agenda to deal with for grouping 2 are a number of issues for discussion in preparation for the 1997 ICM. The most urgent issue though is a discussion on criteria for development priorities and a paper on that will be circulated to sections in late January for comments by 1 of April. The IEC has recommended the groupings to meet during Febrary-March in order to discuss that and come up with good recommendations.

A good idea would be to have the first meeting with the grouping very soon, perhaps already in March. It would give us all an opportunity to meet and discuss how we want to work in the grouping, to share what expectations each Section/structure has on the grouping etc.What do you say of a two-days meeting on 11-12 March? At our first meeting we could elect a steering committee and of course discuss the consultation paper on development. We would be willing to coordinate this first meeting in collaboration with some other section. Maybe London would be a good place to meet in? Maybe the Brittish and the Swedish Sections could share the burden of arranging such a meeting. What do you think?

As March is very close and it takes some time to arrange a meeting, please let us know your opinion as soon as possible.

In the meantime we are open for any contacts and suggestions regarding the tasks of the grouping. You are welcome to contact me with your ideas, but you could also contact our secretariat. Our contactperson for these matters is Kerstin Höijer, the assistent to the Secretary General.
I look forward to hear from you.


Best regards



Christine Pamp
Chair of the Board
Swedish Section