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2011 Annual Report CONTENTS 2 011 ANNUAL REPORT 1 AIUSA 2011 ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS 5 7 15 20 MESSAGE FROM THE THE MIDDLE EAST AND DEATH PENALTY COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NORTH AFRICA: ABOLITION CAMPAIGN A YEAR OF UNPRECEDENTED REBELLION 21 6 17 MEMBERSHIP MESSAGE FROM THE SECURITY WITH BOARD CHAIR 11 HUMAN RIGHTS FACES OF FREEDOM CAMPAIGN 22 FINANCIAL DATA 18 SCIENCE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS 24 CAMPAIGN SPECIAL THANKS 19 30 DEMAND DIGNITY 2011 SENIOR STAFF, BOARD OF CAMPAIGN DIRECTORS, AND AIUSA OFFICES 2 AIUSA 2011 ANNUAL REPORT THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT under President Bashar al-Assad responded to the initial eruption of peaceful protests in March 2011 with brutal violence. In response to being ordered to shoot unarmed Schoolgirls demonstrate civilians, large numbers of men deserted the army and formed the Free Syrian Army. The protest against the Syrian regime in movement has now turned into an armed uprising, with clashes between the regular army and the Free Zabadani, the only town in Syrian Army taking place in early 2012. Syria officially held by the Throughout the later months of 2011, the Syrian government tortured those caught up in the massive rebels. The girls shout “We support the Free Syrian wave of arrests on a scale not seen in the country for decades, according to Amnesty International’s Army”, “Assad, go to hell” report, Deadly Detention: Deaths in custody amid popular protest in Syria—yet Syrians have continued and “The people want the to risk their lives to demand reforms. end of the regime.” 3 AIUSA 2011 ANNUAL REPORT M E “I think my strength comes from people SS A like you. It’s the support that we have G E O received from friends and sympathizers F T all over the world that has helped to keep H ANK our courage up over the years. People who do a little for Amnesty International, S they do much more than they think they are doing. They think they are doing very little, but it all adds up to a lot. And that is what has kept us going.” Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained by Myanmar’s military junta © A for more than 15 years for her leadership of DAM the National League for Democracy. Amnesty Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the DE International began advocating for her release National League for Democracy, the A N/ when she was first arrested in 1989 and country’s main opposition party and P A democracy movement, during an April NO honored her with its 2009 Ambassador of 2012 campaign stop in Kalaw. S Conscience award. 4 AIUSA 2011 ANNUAL REPORT LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GREETINgs AND GRATITUDE organizations; multilateral institutions; and AI’s years of skillful campaigning brought volunteer leaders, funders, and supporters. the case of death-row prisoner Troy Davis to ALTHOUGH I BECAME THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The more I learn about Amnesty the attention of millions of people across the of Amnesty International USA in January International, the more I am convinced that country and catalyzed a national moment 2012, after the end of the fiscal period we are a powerful force for change. In the of reckoning regarding the continued use of covered in this report, I would like to following pages, you will read about the the death penalty. share some reflections on the tremendous human rights victories that demonstrate the This is only a partial list of AI’s key strengths and opportunities we have as an influence of our signature combination of accomplishments—and a testament to organization. independent reporting, high-level advocacy what we can accomplish when we direct During my first quarter here, I’ve met and grassroots tactics. Throughout the our considerable intellectual, legislative with staff, donors, activists, supporters and early months of 2011, as massive popular and campaigning resources toward clearly the leaders of 80 AI sections. I attended revolts against tyranny swept across the defined human rights goals. I am happy to our Annual General Meeting in Denver and Middle East and North Africa, our research be able to share these successes with you encountered energetic, creative activists teams fanned out across the region to and thank you, our supporters, for making document human rights violations in real it all possible. I look forward to working Suzanne Nossel, Executive Director of all ages who are brimming with ideas on how to raise the profile of human rights time, building upon decades of research together to make 2012 an even more across the country. My conversations with and longstanding partnerships with local successful year. AI’s various constituencies sharpened human rights groups. At the March 2011 my understanding of AI’s distinctive annual general meeting in San Francisco, advantages as we navigate the challenges AI activists rejoiced as Burmese opposition Suzanne Nossel facing the human rights movement. They leader Aung San Suu Kyi called from Yangon Executive Director, also positioned me to see our role from to thank them for campaigning on her behalf Amnesty International USA different vantage points: our advocacy since 1989—years of dedicated casework targets in Washington, statehouses around that contributed to her release after more the country and governments around the than 15 years in detention and recent world; our partner non-governmental appointment in the government. At home, 5 AIUSA 2011 ANNUAL REPORT LETTER FROM THE BOARD CHAIR AND A FAREWELL imagination and efficiency in order to within Amnesty International—group maximize our resources during a sustained member, activist, financial supporter—I As MY OWN TERM AS CHAIR OF THE BOARD economic downturn. For me, doing more wish all of you the very best. of Amnesty International USA comes translates into more people safe from to an end, I, too, would like to share a torture and freed from unjust imprisonment; few thoughts. As you have seen in these more people able to express their peaceful Carole Nagengast pages, we achieved important human opinions without fear of reprisals; more Chair of the Board of Directors, rights victories last year. Under the able people free from the crippling burden of Amnesty International USA leadership of our new executive director, poverty and the hardship that accompanies Suzanne Nossel, we are implementing a it, such as forced evictions or the necessity bold new business and strategic plan that of seeking livelihoods in other countries, far will enable us to move forward as an even from safety and family. Women everywhere more powerful, stronger and effective voice need to be free to reach their full potential, for human rights. and we need once and for all to end the death penalty in the United States and Carole Nagengast, Chair of the Board of Directors I’ve never known Amnesty International activists to shrink from a challenge. Today, everywhere in the world. the challenge is this: to work with ingenuity, So as I move on to take different roles 6 AIUSA 2011 ANNUAL REPORT C R ISIS PRE V ENT I ON AN D RE S PON S E A YEAR OF © R E U TE UNPRECEDENTED RS/GO RA Security forces fire shotguns at N T protestors on a side street near O Tahrir Square in Cairo, November MAS REBELLION EV 2011. IC AMNEstY INTERNATIONAL USA’s Crisis Prevention fact-finding missions to local human rights defend- On February 12, Amnesty also spoke out in support and Response work mobilizes members and Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Saudi ers, and collected every International organized soli- of people’s organizations, Arabia and other hot spots manner of evidence possible darity rallies in various cities including women’s groups, supporters to take action on urgent human rights in the region to conduct in volatile settings. around the world in support that were being excluded crises around the world. independent documentation Their findings have been of Egyptian protesters. On from the reform process, and of human rights violations. published in numerous March 15 Amnesty Inter- called attention to security AI researchers bore witness reports, and they formed the national Secretary General forces that continued to use THE GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHts of the Tunisian revolution in to both heady protests and basis of scores of urgent ac- Salil Shetty met with U.N. violence against peaceful MOVEMENT has been ir- December 2010, Amnesty In- violent crackdowns. They tions on behalf of individuals Secretary-General Ban Ki- protesters in both these revocably changed by the ternational triggered its “crisis interviewed witnesses and at grave risk of harm, media moon and urged the United countries and elsewhere in extraordinary courage of the response mode,” sending survivors of violence at the briefings covering key devel- Nations to step up its efforts the region. millions of people across the regional experts to the region hands of armies, police, opments, and comprehensive to stop human rights viola- Middle East and North Africa to document rapidly unfolding security forces and rebels. country reports made avail- tions in Libya, and to push who have put their lives on events. They inspected hospital and able to the organization’s for human rights to be at the the line to fight for basic As the regional uprising prison records, spoke to worldwide network of more center of political reform in freedoms. At the beginning unfolded, AI dispatched state officials, lawyers and than 3 million members. Egypt and Tunisia. Shetty 7 AIUSA 2011 ANNUAL REPORT C R ISIS AI’S GROUND missiON ACTiviTIES PRE BAHRAIN May and August-September. AI V REPORts: Bahrain: Fair trial researchers also visited Lampe- ENT and freedom of expression must dusa island, Italy, to interview be guaranteed; Crackdown In Libyans who had fled by sea.
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