STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT
OF
A NEW HAMPSHIRE NONPROFIT CORPORATION

THE UNDERSIGNED, BEING PERSONS OF LAWFUL AGE, ASSOCIATE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE REVISED STATUTES ANNOTATED, CHAPTER 292, BY THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES:

 FIRST: The name of the corporation shall be Murder Victims’ Families for Human Rights.

 SECOND: The objects for which this corporation is established are to promote international support and respect for human rights in harmony with the rights of victims, to provide information and education about the needs of family members of murder victims who oppose capital punishment and advocate for those victims, and consistent with the promotion of human rights laws and concern for victims, to promote the global abolition of the death penalty. In furtherance of these charitable and educational purposes, the corporation shall:

a)      Promote the universal recognition and understanding that capital punishment violates the right to life in Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the prohibition against torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment in Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as other national and international human rights treaties, laws and instruments.                                                                                                                            

b)      Engage in educational dialogue with government, civil institutions and policy makers at the community, state (or similar political subdivision), national, regional and international levels on matters relating to victims, human rights, and the death penalty.                                                                                                           

c)      Conduct research and disseminate information on issues relating to human rights, the criminal justice system, victims of crime, and victim opposition to the death penalty.                       

d)      Provide information about criminal justice systems, human rights and victims rights to family members of murder victims in order to support those families, and advocate on behalf of family members of murder victims who face discrimination because of their opposition to the death penalty. 

e)      Educate the public about the need to support programs that seek to reduce homicide and other violations of human rights and which promote crime prevention and alternative to violence.  

f)        Promote programs and policies that address the needs of victims, including the adoption and implementation of the Declaration of the Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power. 

g)      Promote international understanding and cooperation amongst family members of murder victims who oppose the death penalty, and facilitate interaction with members through networking, conferences and other means to foster a sense of community of all those who are survivors of homicide victims and who oppose capital punishment.   

h)      Provide a clearinghouse for information related to the non profit mission of the organization. 

i)        Network with and participate in the activities of other human rights, victims and death penalty abolition non governmental organizations to promote and further the work of Murder Victims’ Families for Human Rights. 

j)        Develop an international network of family members of murder victims opposed to capital punishment and serve as a vehicle to help unify and amplify these key voices of victims in the global human rights effort to abolish the death penalty. 

k)      Conduct all lawful activities that may be useful in accomplishing the foregoing purposes and/or to promote human rights in general. 

THIRD:  The provisions for establishing membership and participation in the corporation are that any surviving family member of a homicide victim, including victims of criminal murders, terrorist killings, state executions, extrajudicial assassinations and disappearings where homicidal death is presumed, who opposes capital punishment may be a member.  In addition, the corporation may, in its by-laws, provide for membership and participation for others who support the purposes of the organization.

FOURTH:  The provisions for disposition of the corporate assets in the event of dissolution of the corporation including the prioritization of rights of shareholders and members to corporate assets are: the assets and property for the corporation remaining after payment of expenses and for the satisfaction of all liabilities shall be distributed for the nonprofit purposes of the corporation and/or to such charitable and educational organizations as shall qualify under Section 501 c (3) of the Internal Revenue Code in accordance with a plan determined by the corporation.

FIFTH:  The address at which this business of this corporation is to be carried on is 395 Winnacunnet Road, Hampton, New Hampshire 03842.  

SIXTH:  The amount of capital stock, if any, or the number of shares or membership certificates, if any, and provisions for retirement, reacquisition and redemption of those shares or certificates are: NONE. 

SEVENTH: Provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director, an officer, or both to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, an officer, or both is: NONE. 

EIGHTH:  Signatures and post office address of each of the persons associating together to form the corporation: 

 

E.E. Bud Welch

Brian Roberts

Robert Renny Cushing

William R Pelke

Jennifer Bishop Jenkins

William Jenkins

Rev. Walter Everett

Bill Babbitt

Robert Meeropol

Victoria Schieber

Toshi Kazama