Politics Unit 3 AOS2- Other responses: Amnesty International & NATO

Question 1

Amnesty International background

Answer 1

• Largest human rights org in world
• Global movement of over 10 million supporters, members & activists
• Operates in over 150 countries
• Funded mainly by memberships + donations
• Heavy reliance on tech to spread awareness + influence actions
• Aim- end abuses of human rights through actions
• Actions- draw attention to times when human rights have been abused & use education to hold gov accountable

Question 2

Amnesty International response

Answer 2

Over course of conflict they have provided many reports identifying human rights abuses from both sides

Aims to have multifaceted impact by
- Bringing public attention to the war crimes so that gov’s will be pressured to act
-Provide evidence for people/states to be held accountable to IL e.g. published report of Russia using cluster munitions

Question 3

Amnesty International response effectiveness explanation

Answer 3

Amnesty International is a human rights organisation that has the main aim of ending human rights abuses through their actions of drawing attention to human rights abuses to hold governments accountable to international law. In terms of the Russia and Ukraine crisis they have held a neutral perspective that has not taken sides but instead has exposed both actors for their human rights violations in order to have a multifaceted impact. They have not been significantly effective in their response as they have not been able to end the human rights abuses within the war to a high extent. However, in some cases they have managed to cause change through a report published regarding Russia’s use of cluster munitions that led to action by the ICC. Despite this, through their limited ability of actually creating change due to their lack of power and resources, they are ineffective in responding to the crisis.

Question 4

NATO responses

Answer 4

• Expansion
• Political- strategic concept
• Financial support

Question 5

Expansion

Answer 5

• Allowing membership for Finland (2023) & Sweden (2024)
• Finland has border with Russia + history of occupation which influenced their action of moving to join NATO immediately after Ukraine’s invasion (protecting interest of security)

Question 6

Political- strategic concept

Answer 6

• Doc that outlines the values, principles, & aims of grouping
• The 2022 updated version was NATO’s response to the crisis
• 2022 version emphasised NATO’s commitment to also protecting the security of NATO’s allies

Question 7

Financial support

Answer 7

• In 2016 announced comprehensive assistance package to aid Ukraine’s military, security & democracy
• CAP was strengthened in 2022 & upgraded again in 2023 to show their consistent support of Ukraine
• Established Ukraine NATO council in 2023 which allowed Ukraine to sits alongside NATO members as equals to cement alliance

Question 8

NATO response effectiveness explanation

Answer 8

NATO has had a large response to the crisis with their expansion in 2023 for Finland and Sweden in 2024. Finland was especially significant as they share borders with Russia, they have a history of occupation which explained their immediate action to join NATO shortly after Ukraine’s invasion as a way of protecting their interests of national security. In the political sense, they have created a strategic concept that shares their perspective and emphasises its commitment to protecting the security of NATO’s allies as well as their members acting as a warning to Russia about their strong support for Ukraine. Referring to financial aid they announced CAP in 2016 which has provided support to Ukraine and has formed the Ukraine-NATO council as a way of including Ukraine into NATO whilst working around the restrictions of the conflict. This response has worked well to further show to Russia their commitment in maintaining alliance with Ukraine.