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The Amnesty International Regional Conference was held in Cincinnati. A resolution titled “The War on Drugs and Human Rights” was introduced, debated, and voted in unanimously. I have included the text of the resolution at the end of this article. So what is next you ask?
It is time to make some noise and buzz into the ears of our friends in Amnesty International. If you are an AI member please take a few minutes and send a message to our leadership. If you are not please send a copy of this to your friends who are; or simply just Join Us. It is only by working with an ever larger circle of friends will we finally end this War on Americans. Scheduled for late April 2006, the Annual General Meeting of Amnesty International is meeting in Portland. Mikki Norris has agreed to lend their Drug War & Human Rights display for that meeting. The Amnesty International leadership and general members needs to hear from you. The drug war is a huge source of human rights violations at many different levels. Resolutions like this one needs to be passed, but also acted vigorously upon. At the bottom of this message you will find additional contact info for you to make some NOISE. The contact email for the Amnesty International board is Aiboard@aiusa.org. I would appreciate to be Cced or BCCed on your email letters. Thank you and let’s make not only some noise this year, but true progress. Robert Ryan rrr@robryan.org The text of the resolution is as follows:
Resolution 7: The War on Drugs and Human Rights Sponsor: Robert Ryan Region: Mid West
Resolution: WHEREAS, the United States has the worlds largest prison population fueled by the endless War on Drugs; WHEREAS, the Federal Bureau of Investigation annual crime report states that drug arrests have reached an all time record with marijuana alone accounting for 771,608 arrests; WHEREAS, the incarceration of women convicted of low-level drug-related offenses has increased dramatically in the past decade due to our nation's War on Drugs WHEREAS, the War on Drugs effects minorities hardest is evidenced by the fact that 72% of drug users are white and 15% are African-Americans, but African-Americans make up 37% of those arrested and 57% incarcerated for drug felonies; WHEREAS, a growing number of organizations such as National Black Caucus of State Legislators, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Human Rights Watch, National Organization of Women, Unitarians Universalist, New England Journal of Medicine, the American Public Health Association and more have taken positions against Drug War policies; WHEREAS, Amnesty International overwhelmingly passed a resolution titled "The waging of a war on illegal drugs, known as the War on Drugs, and its effect on human rights and environmental integrity" at April 2002 Annual General Meeting; WHEREAS, the Amnesty International Board of Directors USA recognizes that the “War on Drugs has had a negative impact on human rights around the world” and called for “taking a movement wide position on this matter”. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Amnesty International takes steps to educate its leaders and membership on the War on Drugs impact on human rights; BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that Amnesty International take a public position against the human rights abuses carried out in the name of the War on Drugs.
Voting Results: Aye - 24, Nay - 0, Abstain – 1 Additional Amnesty International contact info is as follows USA Web Site http://www.amnestyusa.org/ |
