News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International
AI-index: ACT 79/002/2003 23/01/2003

World Social and Economic Fora: All human rights for all, everyone's
responsibility

Davos/Porto Alegre -- As representatives of the world's civil society
gather in Porto Alegre and political and business leaders meet in Davos,
Amnesty International delivered today its own, alternative, globalisation
message: Globalise respect for human rights, globalise justice and
globalise accountability for those who abuse rights.

While Paul Hoffman, Chair of the Organization's International Executive
Committee, will be joining social movements at the World Social Forum in
Porto Alegre to bring human rights into the globalization debate, in Davos
the organization's Secretary General, Irene Khan, will be debating how to
strengthen corporate responsibility for human rights.

"Civil society and its organizations have a great stake in the process of
globalization and its effects on the lives, livelihood's and human rights
of hundreds of millions of people the world over," Paul Hoffman said.

"Their voice -- the voice of all the women, men and children reclaiming
their fundamental rights -- must be heard if we are to build a global
society based on justice and human rights, rather than the self-interest of
states or companies."

Speaking from Davos where Amnesty International will be addressing
political and economic leaders, Irene Khan said: "Human rights are not a
luxury in good times -- they are fundamental for stable, open societies
that businesses need to operate."

Human rights standards can provide a much-needed instrument to ensure that
those in power -- be it political or economic -- be held legally
accountable for the impact of their actions on human rights.

"With power comes responsibility, and as companies play increasingly
important roles, binding legal mechanisms should be strengthened to ensure
they can be brought to book for their direct or indirect participation in
human rights abuses," added Amnesty International's Secretary General.

"It is time to go beyond voluntary codes of conduct with regard to
companies' responsibility for human rights -- just as states have legal
obligations to respect these rights, so should businesses."

As well as attending the World Social Forum, Amnesty International's
Secretary General will take part in civil society events around the World
Economic Forum, including the "Public Eye on Davos".

"This gathering acts as a reminder that international civil society is
watching. We want real actions, not empty words; progress, not
pronouncements; deeds, not assertions," Irene Khan said.

"Human rights can be a powerful tool to empower those left at the margins
of economic globalization," added Irene Khan, stressing the universal
character of these rights, based on the notion of our common humanity.

"Porto Alegre and Davos may be miles apart and on a different continent,
but they share a common world, a world in which people aspire to live with
the freedom from fear and the freedom from want," Paul Hoffman concluded.

Take action!!

Bananas, cattle and killings: Stop turning a blind eye to intimidation and
murder in Guatemala, visit
http://click.topica.com/maaaNh7aaVxuqbb0imPb/ [2]

STOP! diamond company guards killing and wounding illicit miners in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, visit
http://click.topica.com/maaaNh7aaVxurbb0imPb/ [3]

For regular information updates and other materials from the World Economic
and Social Fora please visit http://click.topica.com/maaaNh7aaVxusbb0imPb/ [4]

Further information about Amnesty International's work on the economic
relations is available from: http://click.topica.com/maaaNh7aaVxutbb0imPb/ [5]

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