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Our priority campaigns are led by staff at the Amnesty UK office - but activists from across the movement contribute at every level to the delivery and success of these campaigns.
Our current strategic plan identifies 6 priority areas for staff led campaigns:
Priority Issue 1: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Access to healthcare, housing, food, work, social security, social care (especially of the elderly and people with disabilities) and education has deteriorated to such an extent that millions of people across the UK are being denied their human rights. In November 2018 the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Professor Philip Alston, visited the UK for a series of meetings with civil society and government in order to assess the state of economic and social rights in the UK. His report was a damning indictment of poverty in the UK and a powerful illustration of why socioeconomic justice is a human rights issue. Economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR) are often viewed as ‘secondary’ areas of human rights. ESCR have been tied to inequality and deprivation, with inequitable access to and enjoyment of these rights. Over the past decade in the UK, austerity has deepened ESCR challenges for many of the poorest and most vulnerable in society. Without intervention, it is likely that this overall direction will remain the same. The Covid-19 crisis has put the right to health in the global spotlight. It has also led to a period of significant economic uncertainty. This is likely to exacerbate further inequalities within the UK as well as globally and to limit spending on areas vital for securing ESCR. The crisis has also made plain the inequalities faced by marginalised communities and, at least for now, led to a more positive public discourse on these issues.
It is important that when we are exploring campaign opportunities on these rights that we are taking into consideration the different impact that they have on specific sections of society especially marginalised people. We will build the case for change and learn from others how they have approached these issues. We will focus on the specific aspects of ESCR which present the biggest human rights challenges and where Amnesty International UK can make the biggest impact. This will form a key part of how we seek to improve human rights in the UK over this period and we will work with the global movement to identify where UK campaigning can impact on positive change in other countries
Priority Issue 2: Anti-Racism
Racism is a systemic issue. Racist systems, from the immigration system to policing to healthcare and education, create and perpetuate human rights violations. Racism pervades and intersects with all other forms of discrimination. By working on anti-racism, we will ensure that our work has understanding, expertise and credibility both in the UK and globally. We want to achieve significant public support for anti-racism, with people acting to dismantle racist structures from the immigration system to employment conditions/workers’ rights. Our aim is for this to lead to greater community cohesion in the UK, with the UK public being outspoken on issues of racism domestically and around the world. We will play a role in Amnesty International’s global effort to promote anti-racism, including through influencing the movement to prioritise this work and through collaborating with Amnesty International Sections across the world. We will raise awareness and engagement, through education and campaigning. We will use our brand, human rights campaigning expertise and resources to challenge and dismantle structures of racism.
Priority Issue 3: Freedom of Expression
Freedom of expression is central to people’s ability to fight and challenge injustice and oppression. The right to freedom of expression (FOE) is enshrined in Article 19 of the UDHR and has always been a core part of Amnesty International’s work. It remains a vital way to hold the powerful to account. FOE also underpins other human rights such as the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion and is often linked to freedom of association and assembly – the right to peacefully protest. Amnesty International UK will continue to support people who speak out peacefully for themselves and for others – whether a journalist reporting on violence by security forces, a trade unionist exposing poor working conditions or an indigenous leader defending their land rights against big business. We would similarly defend the right of those who support the positions of big business, the security forces and employers to express their views peacefully. Governments have a duty to prohibit hateful, inciteful speech but many abuse their authority to silence peaceful dissent by passing laws criminalising FOE. This is often done in the name of counterterrorism, national security or religion. FOE is coming under increasing threat by authorities clamping down on activists, NGOs (including Amnesty International itself) and individuals helping refugees and migrants. This is also manifesting in the increased crackdown on peaceful protest around the world, including in the UK. We are currently witnessing increasing online and offline barriers to peaceful protest being erected by states and non-state actors. We will seek to influence those in power in the UK and globally, including the Government, corporations and tech companies, to respect freedom of expression, association and assembly across all levels of society.
Priority Issue 4: Human Rights Frameworks
Human rights frameworks are the bodies of law and standards that describe our human rights, support their respect, protection and fulfilment and offer access to remedy for abuses – in the UK and globally. These protections are under significant threat and such threats require us to be vigilant against attempts to dilute our rights through amendment or scrapping of existing laws and to the introduction of new laws that erode existing rights. More positively, the time horizon of this strategic plan allows us to identify and create opportunities to build on the existing human rights framework in the UK, particularly in the area of economic, social and cultural rights. In the next strategic period, we will actively challenge the narrative that seeks to undermine human rights protections at home and abroad.
We will work strategically to champion a robust human rights framework in the UK across devolved and central governments, addressing threats and seizing opportunities so that we defend and, where possible, expand systemic human rights protections. We will campaign for UK foreign policy and practice to have human rights at its heart, supporting and defending the international human rights framework, ensuring access to justice for those whose rights have been violated and accountability for those responsible for abuses.
Priority Issue 5: Individuals and Communities at Risk
Throughout Amnesty International’s history we have continually seen the benefits – in morale, but also in greater visibility, profile and support – for human rights defenders, individuals and their organisations that close ties to Amnesty International bring. By acting collectively to focus action on specific people who are at risk we have helped to save countless lives and improved the situation of many more. Our work will continue to deliver powerful and meaningful solidarity and change to individuals and communities. This a key part of the work that local groups, country coordinators and thematic networks do with great effect and this will continue to form a key part of our work. We will continue to evolve our approach to solidarity – listening and acting on meaningful action as defined by individuals and communities themselves. We will work to protect individuals and communities in the UK and globally who face attacks, and threats or fear of violence and other violations, including through meaningful solidarity actions.
Priority Issue 6: Human Rights Crises
We can expect to see a range of threats to human rights and specific crises up to 2030, some of which will relate directly to our priorities and some which will not. As the world’s leading human rights organisation, we should and will take a stand whenever we are aware of a serious threat to human rights. We will hold specific capacity of both staff and activists to respond quickly and decisively to raise awareness and call for effective action.