Guidelines for groups

NORSK

1) Definition of a group

A coalition of Amnesty members working on outward-facing activities within Amnesty's priority areas in Norway over time

2) Criteria for Amnesty groups

To be recognized as an Amnesty group, the following criteria must be met:

• The group aligns itself with Amnesty in Norway and Amnesty International's statutes, vision, and guidelines.

• The members of the group are members of Amnesty in Norway.

• The group works on Amnesty in Norway's priority areas.

• The group selects a group contact or group leader who serves as the point of contact with the secretariat.

• The group is open to new members.

3) Mandate for Amnesty groups

The mandate of the groups is to contribute to Amnesty International's human rights goals. In this work, they can represent Amnesty in Norway in their local communities, educational institutions, and professional environments. The groups are authorized to speak on behalf of the organization, including to local media. Where Amnesty in Norway's interests overlap with other organizations and entities, the groups are encouraged to establish local collaborations for activities. However, such collaborations must not compromise Amnesty's integrity and reputation. The tasks of the groups include:

• Contributing to increasing Amnesty in Norway's visibility through stands, media, and open activities.

• Contributing to influencing those in power at the international, national, and local levels.

• Contributing to increased engagement, community, and belonging within the organization.

• Contributing to human rights education.

• Representing Amnesty in Norway at local events and debates.

• Informing and creating engagement.

• Building local networks.

• Recruiting members.

4) Groups

AiN groups can be devided into the following categories:

Youth groups: Groups where the members are youth (aged 13-19) and can hold youth membership in the organization. Many of these groups are affiliated with schools. All youth groups are represented in the youth council, usually by their leader.

Student groups: Groups where the members are students. These groups are affiliated with various colleges and universities across the country. All student groups are represented in the Student Council, usually by their leader.

Themed groups: Groups that primarily work on one specific issue or topic, such as the legal group, or groups that focus on a specific geographical area etc.

Local groups: Groups that do not limit their activities to a specific issue or age group but primarily recruit members from the local community. These groups coordinate their work with the secretariat.

5) Student council

The Student Council is a collaborative body for student groups. The Student Council works to promote interest in and knowledge of human rights among students at Norwegian educational institutions. Through sharing experiences and coordination, the Student Council aims to strengthen the activities of individual student groups. The Student Council operates independently and coordinates its work with the secretariat.

6) Youth council

The Youth Council is a collaborative body for youth groups. The Youth Council works to promote interest in and knowledge of human rights among youth. Through sharing experiences and coordination, the Youth Council aims to strengthen the activities of individual youth groups. The Youth Council operates independently and coordinates its work with the secretariat.

7) Requirements and expectations for the groups

Registration: Newly established groups should register by sending the name and contact information of the group, the group contact person, and group members to the secretariat. Any changes in roles or if the group decides to discontinue its work should be notified to the secretariat, ensuring that the organization has an updated overview of active groups at all times. The secretariat approves new groups and provides regular reports to the board.

Communication: Amnesty groups are crucial for the organization to achieve its human rights goals. To ensure optimal functioning of AiN's work, effective communication between all levels is essential. Members, groups, the secretariat, and the board should coordinate their efforts. The groups coordinate their work with the secretariat. The groups should select a group contact or group leader who is responsible for keeping the secretariat informed about completed and planned activities on a quarterly basis. This way, the secretariat can provide the necessary support and follow-up to the groups.

Outward-facing activities: In order for as many people as possible to personally engage with human rights violations, Amnesty relies on spreading information about our work. Therefore, it is expected that the groups organize outward-facing activities to promote our campaigns and actions. By outward-facing activities, we mean activities that have a target audience outside of the group. Examples of such activities include writing opinion pieces, setting up information stands, organizing panel discussions or other public events, collecting signatures, sharing actions online, writing letters to authorities involved in human rights violations, engaging in advocacy work, etc.

Roles in the group: All groups should have a group contact or group leader. This position should be a role elected through democratic elections within the group on an annual basis. The same person can run for re-election, but it should be open for all interested members of the group to have the opportunity to stand for election. This is because Amnesty is a democratic organization, and it is important that groups also adhere to democratic principles. To ensure that groups are dynamic and not reliant on one person, it is crucial to distribute responsibilities among group members. Therefore, it is recommended that groups also have members in other elected positions. Proposed positions can be found in the group structure template. If the group uses social media, they should have a Social Media Manager, and if the group has its own finances, they should have a Treasurer. All positions should be elected annually, but the same person can run for re-election.

Staying informed: It is expected that the groups stay updated on the organization's positions and guidelines. Furthermore, it is expected that the groups are represented at regional and/or national meetings or other training and/or inspirational events.

Training new members: A group serves multiple functions; it should plan and carry out activities, but also welcome and train new group members..

Coordination between groups: In local communities where multiple groups exist, the groups are encouraged to coordinate their work with the secretariat and collaborate with other groups. The secretariat is responsible for facilitating this cooperation.

Finances: Funds given or collected for AiN, whether locally or centrally, belong to Amnesty. Money collected in Amnesty's name should be used exclusively for purposes within Amnesty's scope of work. Please refer to specific guidelines for group finances for further information.

8) Requirements and expectations for Amnesty's secretariat and board

The members are the owners of the organization. On a day-to-day basis, it is the responsibility of the secretariat to provide support and follow-up to the groups and to take the initiative in ensuring that the groups receive the necessary support they require.

Follow-up: The secretariat should be in contact with the groups in their region at least once per quarter. This can be done via email, phone, meetings, or other forms of communication. Contact can be made in conjunction with the collection of quarterly reporting forms. The secretariat is also responsible for involving groups and active members in campaigns and relevant issues they can work on, as well as facilitating training opportunities. Inquiries from groups and members should be answered as promptly as possible. Groups should be offered visits on a regular basis. New groups should be contacted by the secretariat.

Training: The secretariat is responsible for ensuring that members receive sufficient training to fulfill their roles and be confident representatives of AiN. This includes training in human rights and the topics Amnesty works on, as well as training in activism, project management, recruitment, and other relevant subjects.

Meeting arenas: The region organizes regional meetings at least once a year. The board is represented at these regional meetings. The purpose of the regional meetings is to inspire activism, provide members with professional development opportunities, allow them to meet other active members in AiN, and serve as a platform for influencing Amnesty International's strategies and priorities. In addition to regional gatherings, an annual national meeting is also organized, where group leaders and other active members come together for training and networking.

Materials: The secretariat is responsible for ensuring that relevant materials and resources are available for groups and active members to use at all times. This includes updated campaign materials, standard materials for stands and similar activities, information on the website, recruitment brochures, an activist handbook, and other relevant information. Newly established groups should receive a welcome package.

9) Termination of Positions and Dissolution of Groups

If a member holding a position in a group (group contact, group leader, or other) fails to maintain their membership by not paying their dues, they will also lose their position. Upon recommendation from the secretariat, the board has the authority to dissolve groups that do not meet the criteria described in these guidelines.