1 1 2 2 LETTER FROM BOARD CHAIR

Dear Human Rights Activists,

On behalf of the Board of Directors of USA, I am honored to welcome you to the 2013 AIUSA Regional Conference. The Regionals this year come at an extremely important time, as we welcome our new Executive Director, Steven Hawkins, and embark on exciting new initiatives. Our organization has been through a period of adjustment, and I am pleased that we are on the road towards becoming a more united organization. That’s partly why the theme for this year’s Regional Conferences strikes me as particularly timely. The “Power of Us” signifies the movement as a collective whole. It reinforces the fact that regardless of our backgrounds, it takes all of “Us,” working together to maximize our impact.

Throughout the changes, our human rights work has taken and will continue to take priority. For me, the re-launch of the Urgent Action Network resonates with deep personal meaning. When I was imprisoned as a young anti-apartheid activist in South Africa many years ago, the Urgent Action that Amnesty issued on my behalf helped to secure my release. In addition, we recently watched as the United States signed the Arms Trade Treaty, representing the culmination of over 20 years of dedicated work by Amnesty. These are just two examples of great human rights progress of which we as an organization can be extraordinarily proud.

This weekend you will have the opportunity to learn more about these and other critical areas of AIUSA’s work as you participate in workshops, seminars, and trainings. We hope these sessions will plant the seeds for important initiatives, resolutions, and approaches for the coming years. They offer an opportunity to engage on a real, concrete level, with lasting impact for years to come.

My fellow Board members and I look forward to meeting many of you at the Board sessions, where we will begin a conversation about reviewing AIUSA’s governance. Your input and participation is essential for AIUSA to improve its governance processes, align with AI’s Core Standards and ensure meaningful membership participation.

I hope that you will be engaged and excited as you learn more about the incredible work by members throughout the country and the world. Please always remember that together, as a movement, we have extraordinary strength: the Power of Us.

I thank you so much for all you do.

In solidarity,

Ann Burroughs Chair, Board of Directors Amnesty International USA

1 1 LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dear Activists, Supporters and Members: I am in the early weeks of my work as executive director, and I have already witnessed the extraordinary power of this movement to save lives and protect human rights. It is my honor to add my voice to the Power of US and welcome the Power of you, our members, activists and supporters to the 2013 regional conference. I have been an activist for many years and joined Amnesty determined to strengthen the enduring promise all of U.S. make to people here in the United States and around the world whose rights are under threat – to do the most we can to protect and preserve human rights. In my first week, I joined with elated colleagues to watch as the U.S. government added its signature to the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, a life-saving effort that Amnesty originated two decades ago and campaigned ceaselessly to see adopted. Within days of this victory, Herman Wallace was released from a Louisiana prison where he had been held as one of the “Angola 3” under the abusive conditions of solitary confinement for more than 41 years – longer than any other prisoner in solitary in this country. Though we celebrated his freedom, it was a bittersweet victory, coming only days before his death from cancer. I know that these and other human rights victories are only achieved through the efforts of Amnesty’s extraordinary activists, supporters and members. I’m proud to join Amnesty USA as executive director. I have spent years leading the struggle for civil rights in the United States, including work to overturn the ultimate human rights abuse: the death penalty. At heart, I am an organizer and fellow activist and I know that only together as a movement can we bring about meaningful change. That collective power starts with the action of one person – you. Amnesty’s grassroots membership is our most unique and powerful asset. Every one of you who participates in a rally, signs a petition, lobbies an elected leader, makes a donation, has impact. Our challenge today, as we see an alarming erosion of human rights worldwide, will be to harness the full power of our grassroots constituency and reach new supporters, especially through digital platforms where we know we can have an even greater impact in terms of sharing our perspective on the world. Now more than ever, individuals facing dangers and abuses in the United States and around the globe need our voices and our commitment to justice to bring about change. This is a challenge I know you are eager to take on. The seminars and workshops you will participate in at our weekend regional conferences are designed to give you the tools you will need to maximize your impact and amplify your voices as you continue to call for human rights change. I could not be more proud to join you in that call right now, when we have such an opportunity to connect people here in the United States in the global fight for human rights. I look forward to achieving more human rights successes with you. On behalf of everyone at Amnesty, thank you for all that you do. In Solidarity, Steven W. Hawkins

2 Executive Director of Amnesty International USA 2 REGISTRATION Friday, Nov 1, 12pm-8pm · Saturday, Nov 2, 8am-8pm Sunday, Nov 3, 8am-10am Visit the registration table located in the Foyer to check-in and pick up your conference packet. On-site registration and AIUSA membership renewal is also available here. IDEAS FAIR Friday, Nov 1, 5pm-8pm · Networking hour: 5pm-6:30pm Saturday, Nov 2, 8am-8pm · Sunday, Nov 3, 8am-12pm The Ideas Fair is a forum to learn about and take action on current AIUSA priorities and a space for AIUSA groups to creatively display their ideas and accomplishments. Visit the Ideas Fair for your group and learn more about events and actions taking place across the entire Western Region!

NEW TO AIUSA? Need help figuring out how to choose workshops? Visit the registration table to talk to staff and volunteers who can help you navigate the conference and make sure you get the most out of your conference experience!

FIND YOUR FO Field Organizers are your key to all the resources Amnesty International has to offer, including the Volunteer Leaders in your state! Find your Field Organizer while you’re at the conference to connect you to leaders in your area and make sure you are well prepared when you head back home. If you live in… AZ, NM, OR, UT & WA: Sara Schmidt AK, HI, MT, NV & Northern CA: Will Butkus CO, ID, Southern CA & WY: James Clark

CONNECT WITH THE WEST’S ONLINE COMMUNITY Are you friends with us on Facebook? Are you following us on Twitter? Do you receive our online newsletter with urgent calls for action and important announcements? Connect with us online today!

AmnestyWest.tumblr.com .com/AmnestyWest

facebook.com/AmnestyWest @AmnestyWest

3 3 AGENDA Friday, November 1st Time: 5:00pm-6:30pm Session: Ideas Fair, Action Booths and Networking Location: California Foyer Time: 6:30pm-7:00pm Session: Best of the West: Opening Night at the 2013 Western Regional Conference Location: California Ballroom Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm Session: #GameofDrones: Dirty Wars Screening and Discussion Location: California Ballroom Saturday, November 2nd Time: 9:00am-10:30am Session: The Power of Us Opening Plenary Location: California Ballroom Time: 10:45am-12:15pm Session: Morning Program Session One (choose one from pages 6-8) Time: 12:15pm-1:00pm Session: Lunch Break (box lunches provided; no programming but visit the Board in office hours) Location: California Ballroom Time: 1:00pm-2:15pm Session: Caucuses (choose one from page 9)

Time: 2:30pm-4:00pm Session: Afternoon Program Session (choose one from pages 10-12)

Time: 4:15pm-5:45pm Session: Plenary: Is This Security? Guantanamo, Drones & Torture Location: California Ballroom Time: 5:45pm-7:30pm Session: Dinner (On Your Own)

Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm Session: The Lab: Projection Banners, Stencil T-Shirts and Masks for your Creative Actions Location: California Ballroom Time: 8:00pm-10:00pm Session: All Ages Social and Dance Party with Live DJ Location: California Ballroom Sunday, November 3 Time: 8:30am-10:00am Session: Resolutions Voting Plenary Location: California Ballroom Time: 10:15am-12:00pm Session: The Power of Us: Using Our Voices for Individuals and Communities at Risk Location: California Ballroom

4 4 Best of the West: Opening Night Friday Programming Session Friday, November 1st · 6:30pm – 9:00pm · California Ballroom

Join hundreds of fellow Amnesty International members, supporters and human rights activists from across the thirteen Western states as we kick off the 2013 Western Regional Conference! Hear from our opening speaker Tavis Smiley and celebrate this year’s winners of the Amnesty West Activist Awards for creative and effective action for human rights! Tavis Smiley Dynamic. Empowering. Innovative. Three words that best describe Tavis Smiley. As a 20-year veteran of the broadcast business, the dynamic television and radio broadcaster has given voice to the voiceless and never hesitates to expand our inventory of ideas. As a small business owner, he has given back to the community where it matters most: empowering them with jobs and mentoring today’s youth. Smiley is an innovator: the State of the Black Union symposia; the award-winning traveling museum exhibition AMERICA I AM; “The Poverty Tour: A Call to Conscience”; High Quality Speakers Bureau (HQSB) representing new voices and visions on the contemporary lecture circuit; and publishing today’s contemporary thought leaders through his own independent publishing imprint, SmileyBooks — these are just a few of his accomplishments. Smiley is a visionary who understands how to thrive in today’s global marketplace — traveling to Beijing, Istanbul, Paris, Berlin, Mexico City, Johannesburg and beyond to collaborate on myriad media projects. And there is no stopping this four-time New York Times best-selling author as he takes on the “p” word — poverty — in his latest book, The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto, co-written with Dr. Cornel West. In 2009, TIME magazine named Smiley to its list of “The World’s 100 Most Influential People.” This year, 2013, marks his tenth year on PBS. The Chamber of Commerce recently announced that Smiley will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2014.

Game of Drones Dirty Wars Screening and Discussion Dirty Wars follows investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill, author of the international bestseller Blackwater, into the heart of America’s covert wars, from Afghanistan to Yemen, Somalia and beyond. Part political thriller and part detective story, the film is a gripping journey into one of the most important and under reported stories - and human rights crises - of our time.The film screening is part of a national film and action tour, Game of Drones, which includes screenings, nonviolent direct action trainings, and action across the United States this fall. The film will be followed by a discussion Friday evening, and a workshop and action Saturday. OPENING PLENARY: The Power of Us Saturday, November 2nd · 9:00am – 10:30am · California Ballroom

Steven W. Hawkins, Executive Director of AIUSA Before joining Amnesty International USA as its Executive Director, Steven W. Hawkins was the executive vice president and chief program officer of the NAACP. He is a nationally renowned attorney and grassroots advocacy leader at the forefront of social justice issues, including death penalty abolition, criminal justice reform and defending civil liberties. As an attorney, he brought litigation that led to the release of three teenagers wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death row in Tennessee. He was also a law professor in South Africa during apartheid, teaching black lawyers who faced discriminatory treatment in the courts. Steven obtained his undergraduate degree from Harvard College and New York University.

Ann Burroughs Ann Burroughs is the Executive Director of the Taproot Foundation in . She has first-hand knowledge of the emerging trends in the service and corporate citizenship landscapes and a deep understanding of social justice and social change initiatives and the capacity-building needs of nonprofits. She has also worked as a consultant to the government in South Africa, where she provided strategic communications support for presidential visits to the U.S, including the Farewell State Visit of President Nelson Mandela. She was Adjunct Faculty at USC’s Annenberg School for Communications where she taught graduate classes in social change movements. She is the Chair of the Board of Amnesty International USA, and serves on the Mayor’s Advisory Cabinet for Volunteering and Service for the City of Los Angeles. In 1986, she was jailed in her native South Africa for her opposition to apartheid and was the subject of an Amnesty International Special Action. 5 55 Morning Program Session Saturday, November 2nd · 10:45am – 12:15pm

Panel: Abolishing the Death penalty: Where we stand Room: California Ballroom

The United States continues to be among the world’s top five executors, risking innocent lives and wasting hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars. Robust grassroots organizing campaigns in states throughout the Western Region are working to ensure that state by state, the US ends the practice of capital punishment. Since the execution of Troy Davis amid overwhelming doubt, the movement to abolish the death penalty has steadily gained strength. Hear firsthand about the risk of wrongful conviction and the importance of working with exonerees in organizing campaigns, and learn from the nation’s top anti-death penalty campaigners about the state of the movement and what’s next.

Mike Farrell Mike Farrell is an actor and activist best known for his portrayal of Army Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt in the TV-series “M*A*S*H.” He is also the president of Death Penalty Focus and has been actively involved in a host of human rights and social justice organizations, including Amnesty International. He served on the board of directors of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and is the former co-chair of the California Committee of Human Rights Watch.

Gloria Killian Gloria Killian spent 17 years behind bars for a murder she did not commit, and narrowly escaped death row. She was convicted of first degree felony murder in 1986 and received a sentence of 32 years to life. In 2002 her case was overturned and she was freed, and in 2008 the prosecutor was found guilty of unethical conduct in her case. She is now the Executive Director of the Action Committee for Women in Prison, and recently published her biography “Full Circle: A True Story of Murder, Lies, and Vindication.”

Thenjiwe McHarris Thenjiwe McHarris is the Senior Campaigner for the Death Penalty Abolition Program at Amnesty International USA. With over a decade or organizing and campaigning experience, she has devoted her professional and political career to the restoration of historically marginalized people and places. Thenjiwe has worked for and helped lead human rights and social justice organizations committed to addressing policies and practices that perpetuate structural violence and institutional discrimination. Her professional experience includes but is not limited to, campaigning on capital punishment; economic, social and cultural rights violations; political repression and criminal justice reform.

Moderator: Jessica Farley Jessica Farley is the Amnesty International State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator for Southern California, and Coordinator and Co-Founder of Young Professionals of Amnesty International - LA (YPAI-LA). She has worked with local, national, and international non-profit organizations for ten years. As SDPAC for Southern California, Jessica was a leader in the Proposition 34 Campaign to abolish California’s death penalty and has extensive experience educating the public about the systemic problems and risk of error in capital punishment.

66 6 Morning Program Session Saturday, November 2nd · 10:45am – 12:15pm

Panel: Reclaiming Rights: Ending the Cycle of Violence Room: San Diego 2 Living free from violence is a human right. Yet millions of women and girls suffer disproportionately from violence both in peace and in war, at the hands of the state, in the home and community. Across the globe, women are beaten, raped, mutilated, and killed with impunity. This panel will explore women’s struggle for human rights domestically and internationally and how women all over the world are reclaiming their rights, through grassroots organizing.

Shreen Abdul Saroor Shreen Abdul Saroor is one of the founders of Mannar Women’s Development Federation (MWDF) and Mannar Women for Human Rights and Democracy (MWfHRD) in Sri Lanka. Saroor’s work grew out of her experience of being forcibly displaced, along with all of her family, in 1990 by the militant group fighting for a separate Tamil state. She assisted in the implementation of the Shakti gender equality program sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency. In 2004, Shreen was elected as one of the Women Peacemaker by the John B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice and later that year she was awarded a two-year Echoing Green Fellowship. Shreen’s first degree was in Business Administration and her post graduate area of specialty was in Feminist Studies. In 2008 Shreen was awarded the Voices of Courage award by the International Rescue Committee’s Women and Refugees’ Commission for her international and regional work on highlighting the plight of the internally displaced women of north and east Sri Lanka. In 2011 Shreen was awarded the 5th International Bremen Peace Award under the category of public engagement for peace and justice in Germany. She is one of the recipients of the first N-Peace Award by United Nations Development Program in 2011. She serves as a board member of Centre for Human Rights and Development and a representative of Ashoka Innovators for the Public.

Krishanti Dharmaraj Krishanti Dharmaraj is Human Rights advocate and a practitioner. She is currently the Executive Director of IANGEL (International Action Network for Gender Equity and Law) and founder of Dignity Index, a human rights measurement tool and methodology utilized to reduce discrimination and violence. Previously, Krishanti was the Western Regional Spokesperson for Amnesty International USA. With Krishanti’s leadership, San Francisco became the first city in the U.S. to pass legislation implementing an international human rights treaty (the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women [CEDAW]) to eliminate discrimination against women. Krishanti has a MBA from University of California at Berkeley.

Moderator: Tarah Demant Tarah Demant, co-chair of AIUSA’s Women’s Human Rights Coordination Group, began her work with Amnesty International as a Stop Violence Against Women Campaign coordinator. She is a former Area Coordinator and former chair of the Membership Engagement Team and has served on a number of committees and groups in AIUSA. She holds a Ph.D. in English and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Washington University in St. Louis and is an Assistant Professor of English and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Mills College in Oakland, CA where she is also the Faculty Advisor for the revived student Amnesty chapter.

7 77 Morning Program Session Saturday, November 2nd WORKSHOP BLOCK 1 10:45am – 12:15pm

Creative Nonviolent Direct Action to Fight the #GameofDrones Room: Brentwood Kalaya’an Mendoza, AIUSA National Youth Program Coordinator Following the Friday night screening of Dirty Wars, this workshop will focus on creative activism (i.e. guerilla theatre), media and messaging, and grassroots outreach. The session will prepare a team of activists to plan and carry out an action directly following the workshop. It is specifically built for new activists who are relatively inexperienced with nonviolent direct action. Participants will develop an elementary skillset and framework for organizing creative direct action that they can implement in their own community.

Is this Security? Surveillance, Drones, Guantanamo & Islamaphobia Room: La Jolla William Butkus, AIUSA Field Organizer In this workshop we will connect the dots between the US government’s mass surveillance program, drones, Guantanamo and Islamophobia--and we’ll empower ourselves to end human rights violations in the name of national security. In addition to learning the human rights substance, participants will focus on a key skill to educate the public and achieve change: media activism. You will learn how to write effective, strategic op-eds and letters to the editor and get them placed!

Write for Rights: Your Voice has Power Room: Hollywood Anupriya Ghate, AIUSA Campaigner for Individuals and Communities at Risk Write for Rights is the world’s largest letter-writing event and one of the best ways to bring human rights activism to your campus or community! This workshop will help prepare you for Write for Rights. Participants will learn about this year’s cases, as well as the politics and context of human rights in the countries represented. We will develop tactics and strategies to mobilize around specific cases and learn how to use your own narrative to inspire others to join.

Telling Your Story: Public Narrative Room: Westwood Megan Scott-Busenbark, Student Activist Coordinator for Oregon and Sara Schmidt, AIUSA Field Organizer Why do you fight for human rights? As a leader in the Amnesty International movement, your voice and your story matters, and when you tell your story you can motivate others to take action. Come learn about the many reasons your fellow activists are called to be a part of something bigger than themselves, craft your own story, and develop your ability to recruit new leaders who can help our movement grow stronger than ever.

Why the Core Standards, and Why they Matter Room: Comfort Jan Black, AIUSA Board of Directors and Cheryl Barth, AIUSA Chief Financial Officer The 2013 International Council Meeting recently passed a resolution defining Core Standards for the movement. Amnesty International USA, in conjunction with the International Secretariat, has committed to a governance review process which will also include aligning ourselves with these standards. Please join us for an initial discussion about the Core Standards, the governance review process, and why both are important. 8 8 Saturday, November 2nd CAUCUSES 1:00pm – 2:15pm Caucuses are member- and staff-led breakout sessions with leaders and activists from Local Groups, Student Groups and other constituencies within AIUSA. 1:00pm They provide– 2:15pm an opportunity to share best practices, explore new ideas and tools for activism, and connect people from across the region. Please select the caucus that best describes you! Local Groups Room: Westwood Facilitators: Carrol Pearson, Area Coordinator for NM and Coordinator of Local Group 463 For those actively involved in an AIUSA Local Group or those wanting to join or start a Local Group in their community.

High School Groups Room: San Diego 1 Facilitators: Student Activist Coordinators For those actively involved in a high school AIUSA Student Group or those wanting to join or start a group at their high school.

College Groups Room: San Diego 2 Facilitators: Student Activist Coordinators For those actively involved in a college AIUSA Student Group or those wanting to join or start a group at their college.

Student Group Coordinators Room: La Jolla Facilitators: Student Activist Coordinators For those actively leading an AIUSA Student Group.

Faculty Advisors & Educators Room: Los Angeles Facilitators: Sara Schmidt, AIUSA Field Organizer For those working with and supporting students and young people through activism and education.

New to Amnesty! Room: Hollywood Facilitators: Student Activist Coordinators For those who don’t yet have an Amnesty group but would like to get involved as individuals in their community.

Transitions: Finding Your “Famnesty” After You Graduate Room: Comfort Facilitators: Alanna Offield, Local Group Coordinator, Milagros Villalobos, Student Activist Coordinator and Area Coordinator, and Stacy Suh, AIUSA Women’s Co-Group For those who have graduated and would like to explore new ways of being involved with AIUSA.

9 9 Afternoon Program Session Saturday, November 2nd · 2:30pm – 4:00pm

Panel: Having a Ball for Amnesty! Room: San Diego 1

Martin Lewis started working with Amnesty when he was 23 - about 4 million years ago... In this free-ranging, organic presentation, he will draw on his experiences bringing Amnesty’s International’s message to the public through stage shows, concerts, movies, albums, CDs, DVDs and TV specials, including the Secret Policeman’s Ball. He will share his experience and provide insights into how we can use art, music and comedy in our grassroots activities to win human rights victories – and have fun at the same time!

Martin Lewis Described by L.A. Weekly as “a true renaissance man”, Martin Lewis is a British-born, Hollywood-based humorist, writer, producer, marketing strategist & progressive activist. He was co-creator/producer of Amnesty’s “Secret Policeman’s Ball” series of benefit shows, movies & albums in the 1970s & 1980s that starred the Monty Pythons & . In 1979, he instigated Amnesty’s outreach to rock musicians recruiting & producing , , , & for the cause. He was Contributing Producer of Amnesty’s 2012 album of Bob Dylan songs and Producer Emeritus of Amnesty’s 2012 “Secret Policeman’s Ball” - for which he recruited, produced and co-wrote filmed segments with , Whoopi Goldberg, Kyra Sedgwick & members of . He is Producer of Amnesty’s latest DVD project ¡RELEASED! - starring U2, Radiohead & .

After the conference, Amnesty International invites you to the World Premiere of RELEASED! HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERTS (1986-1998)

A new film of highlights from Amnesty’s legendary concerts featuring U2, Bruce Spring- steen, The Police, Radiohead, , Sting, Jimmy Page and & Robert Plant, Lou Reed, Jackson Browne, Joan Baez and many more.

Special Guests: Steven Hawkins, Executive Director, Amnesty International USA Andy Summer & Stewart Copeland of The Police

The Aero Theatre 1328 Montana Ave (at 14th Street) Santa Monica, CA 90403 Sunday, November 3rd 3:00pm – 5:30pm www.HumanRightsConcerts.com Tickets for Amnesty members are $8

10 10 Afternoon Program Session Saturday, November 2nd · 2:30pm – 4:00pm

Panel: Russia’s Crackdown on Freedom of Expression and the Olympics Room: San Diego 2

The Olympic Games brings the world together to celebrate diversity and freedom of expression under the umbrella of sports. It is ironic that Russia and Vladimir Putin will be hosting the Winter Olympics when, over the past year, Russian authorities have passed a series of laws that restrict the right to freedom of expression, association and assembly. Authorities have used these policies to specifically target the LGBT community. These laws also obstruct the legitimate role of civil society in Russia and suppress initiative, creativity and development of non-governmental organizations. This panel will discuss the discriminatory policies in Russian and look at this through the lens of LGBT athletes.

Heather Hargreaves Heather works for GO! (Generation Out) Athletes which is a national network of current and former LGBTQA student-athletes and allies at high school, collegiate, and post-graduate levels that serves to educate and empower. She graduated from UC Berkeley in 2013 and rowed for four years. She is a 4-time PAC-12 champion and earned a 3rd place finish at NCAAs 2012, and 2nd place finish at NCAAs 2013 both in the second varsity eight. Heather and teammate co-founded Cal’s first student-athlete GSA and they continue to be advocates for LGBT inclusion within Cal athlet- ics and other colleges across the country. Heather was awarded the Bettina Bents award for loyalty, proficiency, and spirit by her coaches. She is a Legal Studies major and hopes to continue her career as a community activist for social justice.

Kim Shayo Buchanan Kim Shayo Buchanan specializes in constitutional law, international and comparative human rights law, prisoners’ rights, reproductive rights, race, gender and sexuality. Her current research addresses race, gender and prisoners’ rights against sexual abuse, and the sexual dimensions of gender equality. She teaches constitutional law, reproductive rights, and international human rights law. Prof Buchanan earned her bachelor’s degree at Queen’s University and her law degree at the University of Toronto. She clerked for Chief Justice Isaac of the Federal Court of Canada (Appeal Division). She holds an LL.M. and J.S.D. from Columbia University.

Anupriya Ghate Anupriya Ghate is the Campaigns Assistant with Amnesty International USA’s Individuals and Communities at Risk program. She advocates on behalf of prisoners of conscience, human rights defenders, and individuals and communities at risk and supports campaigning for those whose human rights are being violated. Anupriya also manages the Amnesty International’s Urgent Action Network, which mobilizes activists to take quick effective action on pressing human rights abuses around the world. Prior to joining Amnesty International USA Anupriya worked for Genocide Watch, a genocide prevention non-profit. Anupriya has been been a member and supporter of Amnesty International as a student activist and as president of the Amnesty Chapter at Virginia Commonwealth University.

11 11 Afternoon Program Session Saturday, November 2nd WORKSHOP BLOCK 2 2:30pm – 4:00pm Organizing to Win: Building Power to End the Death Penalty Room: Brentwood Thenjiwe McHarris, Campaigner, Death Penalty Abolition Program, Jessica Farley, State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator, and Terry McCaffrey, State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator Death penalty repeal happens at the state level. In order to win we need to build power – the fundamental component of organizing. This Organizing 101 workshop is designed to provide an in depth understand of the relationship between power and organizing. Participants will learn how to effectively organize at both the grassroots and grasstops to build momentum for state abolition campaigns. The session will explore and build upon important leadership qualities that allow for organizers to be effective in the field. We will also talk about messaging abolition and the myths and facts about the death penalty.

Lobbying for Human Rights Room: La Jolla Robert Pearson, Legislative Coordinator for New Mexico, Leanne Smith, Legislative Coordinator for Washington, and Sonya Berg, State Public Policy Co-Chair for AAUW, New Mexico Lobbying is one way we can use our voices to call for human rights! In this workshop we will discuss the what, why, and how of lobbying and its importance to the work of AIUSA. We will consider how federal and state legislative offices operate and the legislative process. We will learn how to set up and conduct lobbying meetings, and consider what resources are available for necessary information. Participants will practice a lobby meeting on a current issue and leave prepared to lobby for human rights in their own communities!activism. You will learn how to write effective, strategic op-eds and letters to the editor and get them placed!

Winter is Coming. Are you Ready? Room: Westwood Molly Goldberg, Student Activist Coordinator for Colorado and Kalaya’an Mendoza, AIUSA National Youth Program Coordinator The 2014 Sochi Olympics will begin this February. With the world watching, human rights activists have a perfect opportunity to take the torch and shine a light on human rights in Russia! This workshop will give a brief overview of the gross human rights abuses taking place in Russia, including crippling restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly targeted at the LGBTI community. Participants will develop an action plan to use the upcoming winter Olympic games as a mobilizing and organizing opportunity, including awareness-raising strategies and creative, effective actions and events.

#winning: Building Our Movement and Winning Human Rights Victories Room: Los Angeles Saira Rahman, Student Activist Coordinator for California and Rachel O’Leary, Deputy Director of Membership Mobilization Building a movement for human rights requires relationships, recruitment and leadership development. In this workshop, participants will learn the strength of a distributed leadership model of organizing and explore how this model enables human rights victories. Participants can expect an active session where we explore the connections among and between members, groups, member leaders and staff, and share strategies for building a strong team in your group, your state, and your organization.

Power of Us: For Women’s Rights Worldwide Room: Comfort Tarah Demant, AIUSA Women’s Human Rights Coordination Group and Stacy Suh, AIUSA Women’s Human Rights Coordination Group As sexual violence against women in India makes headlines, reproductive rights under siege in the Americas gain global attention, and the women of Afghanistan sound the alarm for the future of their human rights, the AIUSA Women’s Co-Group and Women’s Human Rights Program are speaking out and taking action against women’s human rights violations in the US and around the globe. Learn how your activism can harness the power of us - to make an impact for women’s human rights worldwide.

Seeing an Occuption: Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories Room: Hollywood Sunjeev Bery, AIUSA Advocacy Director, Middle East North Africa Join this briefing and strategy session with Sunjeev Bery, Middle East and North Africa Advocacy Director with Amnesty International USA. In March of this year, Sunjeev traveled to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, where he met with local human rights defenders in the occupied West Bank and Israel. Participants will get an update on the Gaza Students campaign, learn about Nabi Saleh, the Palestinian village featured for Write for Rights 2013, and help write the 12 strategy that will advance the human rights of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. 12 EVENING PLENARY: Is This Security? Guantanamo, Drones & Torture Saturday, November 2nd · 4:15pm – 5:45pm · California Ballroom Join three experts on national security and human rights for a discussion about three critical issues of our time: the US government’s use of indefinite detention at Guantanamo, drones to kill and spy, and torture. Where do these issues stand now? What can we do to end human rights violations? How do we ensure security? With: Anne Richardson of Hadsell, Stormer, Richardson & Renick LLP, who represents Guantanamo detainee Obaidullah; Colonel Steven Kleinman (USAF Ret.), an expert on interrogation; and Professor David Glazier of Loyola University, a former Navy officer and expert on lethal force and the use of drones. Moderated by William Butkus, Amnesty International Field Organizer.

Anne Richardson Anne Richardson is a partner at Hadsell Stormer Richardson & Renick, a civil rights law firm located in Pasadena. Since 2008, she has represented pro a detainee in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in his habeas petition. She has been repeatedly named one of the Top 50 Women Litigators in Southern California and has been named a SuperLawyer every year since 2004. She was honored as a California Attorney Lawyer of the Year for her work on the Doe v. Unocal case involving international human rights, and received the Pro Bono Award from the ACLU of Southern California, both in 2006. Ms. Richardson attended Stanford Law School and received her B.A. from Swarthmore College. Richardson is currently a Board Member of the ACLU of Southern California and of the California Employment Lawyers Association.

Steven M. Kleinman Steven M. Kleinman has 30 years of operational and leadership experience as an intelligence officer with assignments worldwide. Mr. Kleinman was a senior advisor to the U.S. Intelligence Science Board’s groundbreaking study on strategic interrogation and continues to consult on national-level research into interrogation, intelligence interviewing, and the detection of deception. He has testified as an expert witness on intelligence, interrogation, and detainee policy before the Senate and House Select Intelligence Committees, the Senate Armed Services Committee, and the Senate and House Judiciary Committees. Mr. Kleinman holds a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University, a Master of Science in Forensic Sciences (Graduate with Distinction) from the National University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Davis.

David Glazier Before attending law school, David Glazier served 21 years as a US Navy surface warfare officer. In that capacity, he commanded the USS George Philip, served as the Seventh Fleet staff officer responsible for the US Navy-Japan relationship, the Pacific Fleet officer responsible for the US Navy-PRC relationship, and participated in UN sanctions enforcement against Yugoslavia and Haiti. Glazier has a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law where he served on the editorial boards of the Virginia Law Review and the Virginia Journal of International Law. Glazier also earned an MA from Georgetown University in government/national security studies and holds a BA in history from Amherst College.

Moderator: William Butkus William Butkus has 14 years of progressive political organizing and grassroots advocacy experience. Prior to Amnesty International, William served as Campaign Manager for Jerry Hill for State Assembly, Program Coordinator for the Alliance for Justice, National Campaign Coordinator at the National Parks Conservation Association, Field Organizer for Al Gore’s Presidential Campaign and Staff Assistant to Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9). 13 13 CLOSING PLENARY: The Power of Us: Using Our Voices for Individuals and Communities at Risk Sunday, November 3rd · 10:15am – 12:00pm · California Ballroom Ann Burroughs, Chairperson of the AIUSA Board of Directors and former Prisoner of Conscience in South Africa, Lhamo Tso, wife of imprisoned Tibetan film-maker Dhondup Wangchen, Moderated by Sunjeev Bery, AIUSA Advocacy Director, Middle East North Africa.

Ann Burroughs Ann Burroughs is the Executive Director of the Taproot Foundation in Los Angeles. She has first-hand knowledge of the emerging trends in the service and corporate citizenship landscapes and a deep understanding of social justice and social change initiatives and the capacity-building needs of nonprofits. She has also worked as a consultant to the government in South Africa, where she provided strategic communications support for presidential visits to the U.S, including the Farewell State Visit of President Nelson Mandela. She was Adjunct Faculty at USC’s Annenberg School for Communications where she taught graduate classes in social change movements. She is the Chair of the Board of Amnesty International USA, and serves on the Mayor’s Advisory Cabinet for Volunteering and Service for the City of Los Angeles. In 1986, she was jailed in her native South Africa for her opposition to apartheid and was the subject of an Amnesty International Special Action.

Lhamo Tso Lhamo Tso is a mother of four and the wife of imprisoned Tibetan film-maker Dhondup Wangchen. Her husband was detained by Chinese authorities in March 2008 for his documentary “Leaving Fear Behind” that focused on how Tibetans in Tibet felt about the 2008 Olympics. Lhamo Tso campaigns tirelessly not only for her husband’s release, but the hundreds of Tibetan political prisoners who have been detained for peacefully exercising their human rights. From scraping together a meager living selling bread in the streets of Dharamsala, to traveling the world advocating for her husband’s release, Lhamo Tso will speak of her life’s journey to share not just Dhondup’s story, but the story of Tibet.

Nazanin Boniadi As an official spokesperson for Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) since 2009, British-Iranian actress and activist Nazanin Boniadi has worked at a grassroots level and has also appeared on international TV and radio programs to campaign for the rights of disenfranchised populations across the world. She has appeared on many TV series such as and .

Moderator: Sunjeev Bery Sunjeev Bery serves as Advocacy Director for Middle East North Africa issues at Amnesty International USA. He lobbies U.S. officials, diplomats, and officeholders regarding human rights concerns across the MENA region. His commentaries on US foreign policy and human rights have appeared in a range of U.S. newspapers and publications. Previously, Sunjeev served as a regional director for the American Civil Liberties Union, where his work included advocacy on post-9/11 security policies. He has also served as a public interest lobbyist on student financial aid issues in Washington DC and as a fundraiser for environmental and human rights organizations. Sunjeev holds a BA from UC Berkeley and an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School, where he was a Harvard Public Service Fellow. He is a recipient of the 2007 Asian Law Alliance Community Impact Award and has received commendations from the California State Senate and Assembly for his human rights advocacy. 14 14 RESOLUTIONS

Amnesty International is a grassroots organization. Any individual member or group of members has an opportunity to impact the mission, method, policy, organization, or allocation of resources. Resolutions are a means by which members can influence policy on a regional, national, or international level. The purpose of a resolutions is to direct a change in policy, in the method for instituting policy, or in Amnesty International’s organizational structure.

At the AIUSA Regional Conferences, resolutions may be voted on by individual voting members who have paid dues to AIUSA or submitted a valid dues waiver; and by one designated delegate from each AIUSA Student or Local Group.

Votes will be taken Voting Card during the Resolutions Voting Plenary. To verify eligibility, come by the Registration Table.

Those eligible to receive a Voting Card are:

· Individual Voters: a current, dues-paying or dues-waived national member of AIUSA. · Group Voters: Designate a group representative (one vote per AIUSA Student or Local Group) and submit a Group Voting Authorization Form, signed by the group coordinator, to the personnel distributing Voting Cards at the Registration Table.

SESSION Resolutions Voting Plenary

DATE & TIME Sunday, November 3rd · 8:30am – 10:00am

ROOM California Ballroom

US15 15 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you! This conference would not have been possible without the tireless work, dedication, and enthusiasm of Amnesty International USA volunteer leaders and activists. With your help, the South was able to once again host a dynamic, engaging, and empowering event that will advance human rights in the region.

The Southern Region would like to give a special thanks to the following: The Regional Conference Member Planning Team: Carrol Pearson, Molly Goldberg, Saira Rahman, Sana Ahmed and Tatevik Mirzakhanyan. Ann Burroughs Steven Hawkins Jan Black All volunteers and interns Speakers and facilitators Member leaders of the western region

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FITNESS CENTER

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