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Today I have written to the Board of @AmnestyUK requesting the suspension of the Senior Management Team pending investigation.
Why? Because of stories like @ZayZee00 (below), @thekieranaldred, @Jon_Cornejo of racism and a toxic culture there, amongst many others [THREAD] 1/12 https://twitter.com/ZayZee00/status/1384430061915357186">https://twitter.com/ZayZee00/...
Why? Because of stories like @ZayZee00 (below), @thekieranaldred, @Jon_Cornejo of racism and a toxic culture there, amongst many others [THREAD] 1/12 https://twitter.com/ZayZee00/status/1384430061915357186">https://twitter.com/ZayZee00/...
In February 2019 whilst I was still a Board Member, I shared evidence that I had seen of a toxic culture in @AmnestyUK with @KateAllenAI, and I called for a deep dive to see if further investigating might be needed. 2/12
However I was told this was an isolated incident, despite evidence of support from multiple people indicating it might be wider and needed investigating. I also shared raw verbatim words of another former member of staff around culture but these were not treated seriously. 3/12
I’m sorry for the role I personally played in not holding us as a board then, and the senior management team, to account. I trusted senior leaders and board members to progress my findings appropriately. My term on the board came to an end at the end of May 2019. 4/12
Most importantly, I commend the bravery of all those who have had such negative lived experiences speaking out now, (in addition @nickchef88 & @FreshtaSharif too), and I& #39;m sorry to you personally for my role in not helping to get your voices heard earlier. 5/12
I& #39;m also sorry you are only receiving weak statements in reply now from senior leadership, and no response from the boards. 6/12
I also belated commend my friend and former board member @DarenNair for resigning from the Board recently after seeing a lack of progress on anti-racism work in @AmnestyUK. 7/12
It& #39;s clear that for too long, far too little has been done to address racism and the toxic culture in Amnesty UK (as well as @Amnesty globally). 8/12
This moment now can& #39;t be allowed to pass without significant action. A call for a suspension is the least I can do. An investigation needs full unrestricted access to all HR data and ability to contact previous members of staff. 9/12
If that substantiates the public evidence we& #39;ve seen, which I have no reason to doubt it will as I know and trust many of those people, then the Senior Management Team should be forced to leave. 10/12
Until then, @AmnestyUK will not be able to fully deliver the vital impact it needs to deliver sadly, despite many of those doing the work being victims of the same toxic leadership. 11/12
As @thekieranaldred says, don& #39;t cancel your membership fees as it undermines the crucial work of human rights. If you have done or feel the need to do so, remember to reinstate in due course pls. The actual work of Amnesty is still as vital as ever. 12/12 https://twitter.com/thekieranaldred/status/1384484756734291971">https://twitter.com/thekieran...
