Moving Closer to the Ground is one of the most radical changes to how Amnesty International works that has ever been agreed by our movement.
It is based upon the clear view of our movement that it is not good enough anymore for Amnesty International to have so much of its strength in Western Europe and North America and a very much under-developed presence in the Global South and East.
Since members voted for an ambitious plan in 2009 to grow in the Global South and East to better integrate rights-holders into our work, we have been planning for this moment.
We need to grow in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, creating regional hubs that can ensure a faster response to human rights abuses in some of the world’s most troubled regions.
Already, we have opened new offices in India and Brazil, two countries whose influence in the world is rapidly expanding, but who face many human rights challenges.
In 2013, we will open new offices in Johannesburg, Dakar, Nairobi and Hong Kong, with more expansion planned for Mexico City and Bangkok.
All of this means the transfer of resources and personnel from our headquarters in London to these regional hubs, bringing the skills and experience of the International Secretariat closer to those rights-holders for and with whom we work and to our growing membership in the Global South and East.
This letter to members from Pietro Antonioli, the Chair of the International Executive Committee, gives more detail of what is planned. Please read it to find out more about the next stage in Amnesty International’s growth as the world’s largest human rights movement.
Image caption: Amnesty International supporters campaign for a right to housing in Zimbabwe.