UN General Assembly
The UN General Assembly (GA) is the main deliberative organ of the UN, comprising all 192 UN member states. Each state has one vote. GA decisions are not considered legally binding, but represent the moral authority of the world community. The GA meets in regular session intensively from September to December each year, and thereafter as needed. Much of the UN’s work derives from thematic or country-specific GA resolutions. Amnesty International therefore advocates for GA member states to adopt the strongest standards and resolutions to ensure full respect, protection and fulfilment of all human rights.
Human rights action against poverty. Poverty is the denial of access to the resources, capability, security and power needed to realize the right to live in dignity. Amnesty International advocates for member states to ensure that action plans to achieve the Millennium Development Goals also address the human rights violations at the root of poverty including violence against women, and racial and other discrimination. Amnesty International also works for early ratifications of the new Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights so it will come into force, and enable those who suffer violations of these rights to claim justice denied them at the national level. Amnesty International Demand Dignity Campaign.
Responding to serious country situations. Amnesty International supports country-specific resolutions adopted by the GA as an important means to address serious or chronic human rights violations requiring the attention of all UN member states. Amnesty International opposes in principle procedural devices such as ‘No Action Motions’ used by some UN Member States to prevent such situations from being considered on their merit.
An arms trade treaty. Amnesty International and its Control Arms Campaign partners Oxfam and IANSA have advocated for an international, legally binding and effective treaty to hold irresponsible arms dealers to account. GA Resolution 61/89 (2006), adopted by an overwhelming majority, started the UN process of consultation to develop an arms trade treaty. Amnesty International works to ensure that the treaty includes a “golden rule” to prevent international transfers of arms or ammunition where there is substantial risk of the arms being used to facilitate serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. More.
Ending enforced disappearances, torture and other ill-treatment. The absolute prohibition on torture and other ill-treatment has been questioned in the context of the "war on terror.” Amnesty International works to strengthen the annual GA resolutions on torture and other ill-treatment, and on the protection of human rights while countering terrorism. Amnesty International also works for states to ratify the Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol, as well as the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.Amnesty International work against enforced disappearances.
Ending violence against women. Amnesty International urges the GA to ensure implementation of existing obligations and commitments to protect women and girls from violence by states and throughout the UN system. Amnesty International works closely with non-governmental partners for the GA to urgently establish a new, strong UN agency for women with greater capacity at the country level, to better protect and promote women’s human rights, including protection from violence. Amnesty International campaign to stop violence against women.
Amnesty International priorities at the GA include:
Abolition of the death penalty. Amnesty International opposes the death penalty worldwide because it violates the right to life and other human rights. In line with the world-wide trend to abolish the death penalty the GA adopted a land-mark resolution in 2007 calling on all states to “establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.” Amnesty International works for the full implementation and strengthening of the resolution in order to bring about abolition of the death penalty in all countries of the world. More.Human rights action against poverty. Poverty is the denial of access to the resources, capability, security and power needed to realize the right to live in dignity. Amnesty International advocates for member states to ensure that action plans to achieve the Millennium Development Goals also address the human rights violations at the root of poverty including violence against women, and racial and other discrimination. Amnesty International also works for early ratifications of the new Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights so it will come into force, and enable those who suffer violations of these rights to claim justice denied them at the national level. Amnesty International Demand Dignity Campaign.
Responding to serious country situations. Amnesty International supports country-specific resolutions adopted by the GA as an important means to address serious or chronic human rights violations requiring the attention of all UN member states. Amnesty International opposes in principle procedural devices such as ‘No Action Motions’ used by some UN Member States to prevent such situations from being considered on their merit.
An arms trade treaty. Amnesty International and its Control Arms Campaign partners Oxfam and IANSA have advocated for an international, legally binding and effective treaty to hold irresponsible arms dealers to account. GA Resolution 61/89 (2006), adopted by an overwhelming majority, started the UN process of consultation to develop an arms trade treaty. Amnesty International works to ensure that the treaty includes a “golden rule” to prevent international transfers of arms or ammunition where there is substantial risk of the arms being used to facilitate serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. More.
Ending enforced disappearances, torture and other ill-treatment. The absolute prohibition on torture and other ill-treatment has been questioned in the context of the "war on terror.” Amnesty International works to strengthen the annual GA resolutions on torture and other ill-treatment, and on the protection of human rights while countering terrorism. Amnesty International also works for states to ratify the Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol, as well as the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.Amnesty International work against enforced disappearances.
Ending violence against women. Amnesty International urges the GA to ensure implementation of existing obligations and commitments to protect women and girls from violence by states and throughout the UN system. Amnesty International works closely with non-governmental partners for the GA to urgently establish a new, strong UN agency for women with greater capacity at the country level, to better protect and promote women’s human rights, including protection from violence. Amnesty International campaign to stop violence against women.
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