1. Defending Peace and the United Nations

In line with the United Nations Charter, drawn up in 1945, Liberation informs on human rights throughout the word so as to improve them.

Due to Globalisation many issues currently confront the world. The multinationals, creatures of globalisation, create dire living conditions for millions throughout the world.

In 1970 the richest 10% of the world's citizens earned 19 times as much as the poorest 10%. By 1997 this ratio had increased to 27 times! Due to the current economic order over 75% of the world's population lives in the less developed areas. In the 3rd world over 1.2 billion souls live in poverty. In 1960 the revenues of the richest nations was 37 times those of the poorest, now that ratio is 74 times! During 2001 826 million people were starving! There are 854 million illiterate adults, 325 million children do not attend school, 2 billion people lack access to low cost medication, 2.4 billion people lack basic sanitation. Each year 11 million under fives die from preventable causes, half a million people go blind through a lack of vitamin A. The life span of those in the developed world is 30 years longer than those in sub-Saharan Africa.

Slavery was a great evil, 21 million Africans were transported to the Americas to work in the sugar plantations of the West Indies and the cotton plantations of the Southern American states, 9 million died en route. The present crisis in Africa was caused then. It has been worsened by the policies of the IMF and the World Bank. The ongoing struggle for Statehood in Palestine is denied by the declared intention and actions of the Israeli Government, backed by the US administration. We must support this struggle, assisted by the role of the Israeli peace movement, hundreds of Israelis refuse to participate in military actions against the Palestinian people.

Liberation's recent visit to the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva revealed a continuing struggle to improve the lot of millions world-wide. With its international NGO status Liberation assists the campaign against human rights abuses. The violation of human rights continues in: Africa, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Latin America, Afghanistan, Assam, Burma, Cyprus, Iran, Turkey and Sindh. Kurdish Nation, native Americans, Australian aboriginals, Dalits and others are also affected. The continuing crime of child labour and the use of children as soldiers, the sexual exploitation and general oppression of women make the role of Liberation vital to the struggle to restore freedom, justice and equality to the underprivileged of the world.

Co-operation with the National Assembly Against Racism and other organisations campaigning for justice for asylum seekers is part of our work against racism and intolerance in the UK. Our support for Cuba's resistance to American interference continues, we express solidarity to those engaged in similar struggles. This Annual General Meeting reaffirms its support for the work of Liberation and calls on all members and supporters to increase their efforts to achieve its aims.

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