Resolutioner till ICM 2007 Underlag till styrelsemöte 1-2 januari 2007

Resolutioner till ICM 2007


Resolution on a woman's right to decide whether to continue or terminate her pregnancy

The International Council
DECIDES that the woman's right to physical and mental integrity includes her right to terminate her pregnancy, and that abortion should therefore be legal, safe and accessible to all women free from coercion, discrimination and violence.
DECIDES to instruct the IEC to develop a policy consistent with such an approach in consultation with all the sections and structures
Further DECIDES that IEC in such a policy underscores the states obligation to provide legal, safe and accessible health services to all women.

Explanatory note
The Draft Policy Statement on Selected Aspects of Abortion (POL 39/007/2006) is an important step towards a comprehensive position on women's sexual and reproductive rights.

According to such a policy AI would call on States to take all necessary measures to ensure that safe and legal abortion services are available, accessible, acceptable and of good quality for women who require them in cases of unwanted pregnancy as a result of rape, sexual assault or
incest, and pregnancy which endangers the life of the woman.

Although the policy is a very essential move in the right direction to ensure women’s sexual and reproductive rights, we believe there is a need for a more inclusive approach.

Some of the limitation of the present policy are that it can not take into account the difficulties to have the sexual abuse proved timely or even legally recognized, as often in the case of domestic violence. In case of an unwanted pregnancy, when there is no proof of sexual abuse and when the life of the pregnant woman is not in danger, denying her the right to abortion puts woman's fundamental rights at risk. As the Decision 3 of ICM 2005 states: "the need for abortion in a large number of cases is a consequence of a lack of empowerment of women as well as a lack of access to education and health services like contraception".
We believe that a coherent Human Rights approach must recognise a woman's right to freely decide whether to continue or terminate her pregnancy, free from coercion, discrimination and violence. AI should in consultation with all the sections and structures in the movement complement the current draft policy to provide sufficient protection of all women's right to health, to physical and mental integrity.
Resolution on making AI a more democratic organisation

The international council
DECIDES that the ICM preparatory Committee improves the process of the preparation of the ICM by ensuring the dispatch of all relevant ICM documents in relevant language to all sections and structures at least three months previous to the ICM and verifies the receipt of all documents.

Further DECIDES that the ICM preparatory committee makes sure that all longer documents are complemented by a eloquent executive summary.

Explanatory note
Amnesty International is a unique activist organisation due to sections and structures with tremendous different conditions. The credibility and accountability of the democratic process within the movement is fundamental; all members should be given the equal opportunities and possibilities to participate in the movements democratic processes.

The democracy for AI is not only a matter of assisting each other financially but also to improve the language use and the culture within AI to make it easily available for more persons to participate in the decision making processes.

The International movement is committed to holding an effective and productive ICM, the spirit of the ICM is a global participation of all sections and structures in the interest of action and activism.

For efficient and representative participation at the ICM, it is required that the relevant materials are distributed to all participating sections and structures in due time for the timely preparation ICM requires. The adequate preparations for ICM is vital for the global growth and activism of the movement.

ICM preparations and participation have been challenging for many sections and structures especially due to technological standards and late arrival of documents. The challenges to prepare for the ICM also arises due to difficulties in reading the often long and complicated ICM documents.

By improving the delivery and distribution of all materials in applicable language and in time improves the chances for smaller sections and structures with limited resources to be able to organize their resources for the optimal preparation for ICM, hence increasing their chances to influence and have an impact at ICM.
IMT Preparation Resolution

The International Council
DECIDES that a special training package on grant application from the International Mobilization Trust (IMT) and on the subsequent follow up and evaluation procedure should be provided to all sections and structures.
Further DECIDES that such training should be part of the Chairs’ and Directors’ forum.

Explanatory note
The International Mobilization Trust (IMT) is a new unit within the organization, with the focus on funding and support toward the mobilization and growth of the Amnesty International movement worldwide. The IMT’s mission is to provide resources for growth and enable AI sections and structures and related bodies to increase their impact on human rights worldwide.

The new way of making applications to the IMT is perceived as a complicated process. In order for an application to be approved by the IMT, a number of technical and professional standards must be fulfilled. In addition to the grant application, those who receive grants also have a responsibility to illustrate that the money has been spent properly and well. Hence the grantees´ have to evaluate their own work, through regular reviews and through financial accounts. Although eller Even though such procedures may seem complex and time consuming, they are necessary to ensure accountability and transparency.

However, the complexity of the process render some sections and structures not qualified for major funding and thus reduce their local impact and relevance. An in-depth training in IMT application and follow up procedures as well as in the evaluation process would facilitate the application procedure for those sections and structures in development, and improve their chances of receiving grants from the IMT.
Improved Strategic Plan

The International Council
DECIDES that the next Strategic Plan shall provide clear prioritisation of the movement’s activities, either by omitting certain parts of the mission or by giving expressed priorities to the different areas of the mission;
FURTHER DECIDES that the goals stated in the next Strategic Plan shall be expressed so that non-arbitrary evaluation is made possible.

Explanatory Note
In 2001, the mandate was replaced by our mission, as the limit of our activities. Throughout the existence of Amnesty International, our mission has been expanded. In the 1990’s it was obvious that the mandate had grown so large that AI no longer had the capacity to cover it in its entirety. An instrument for prioritisation was needed. The need is no less today, considering that the mandate/mission has expanded far more than our resources have grown. The International Strategic Plan (ISP) is intended to be this prioritisation instrument. The process of bringing about a strategic plan for an international movement requires tremendous efforts, time and resources. Hence it is an absolute requisite that the result be useful.

The present ISP covers more or less the entire mission. Useful as it may be for categorising our areas of work, it does not function as a prioritisation instrument. The very wide frame of the ISP gives very little guidance to the International secretariat (IS) and the international executive committee (IEC) as to what priorities to make when forming the International Secretariat’s Operational plans (ISOP). In addition the ISP is of modest use for the sections’ planning processes. The priorities that are made at section level are instead determined by the ISOP.
Moreover, the absence of measurable goals in the ISP makes it challenging to evaluate our work.

Therefore, an ISP with a limited scope and clear, well-defined goals would have several important advantages. It would:

• give increased transparency to both the prioritisation process and to the accountability process;
• create an improved democratic influence over the movement’s actions.
• enable synchronised planning throughout the movement and thereby improve utilisation of our resources.
• facilitate follow-up, paving the way for a learning organisation.