Human Rights Commission - Objective, Means and Organisation

Adopted by the General Meeting, Stockholm, Sweden 24-26 July 1988

Objective

Believing that every person has the right to hold and express their convictions, the IFSW resolves to work towards the observance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by

working towards the release of those social workers imprisoned, detained or otherwise restricted by virtue of their beliefs, ethnic origin, sex, colour or language (provided they have not been involved in the use of violence) opposing torture or cruel and inhuman punishment of any social workers detained.

Means

In order to achieve this objective, the General Meeting agrees to establish a Human Rights Commission

to co-ordinate the work of member organisations in relation to human rights issues to work in conjunction with Amnesty International and other human rights organisations to secure the release of social workers detained by virtue of their beliefs to provide support to individual social workers suffering a denial of their human rights to make representations to Governments where the rights of individuals or groups of social workers have been violated or are threatened to publicise with member organisations cases of social workers whose rights have been violated or are threatened.

Organisation

The IFSW Human Rights Commission shall be composed of not less than five representatives (with the President and IFSW Representative to Amnesty International serving as ex-officio members of the Commission).

The Commission shall appoint its Secretary. Members of the Commission (shall be appointed by the General Meeting) and shall serve for a two year period. No member shall serve for more than eight consecutive years.

Each Region of IFSW shall elect a representative to serve on the Commission.

The business of the Commission shall be conducted by post. In view of the urgency of the business, the Secretary shall be authorised to act on behalf of the Federation unless members indicate to the contrary within 30 days of the despatch of letters by the Secretary.

The Commission will be required to furnish a report to each General Meeting.