Difference between revisions of "Human Rights NGOs"
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An extremely significant aspect of this final wave of activism is the great upsurge of NGOs outside of Western society. For example, the number of NGOs on the African continent exploded during this decade. The number continues to increase today with human rights NGOs with diverse agendas and often very little budget (Cmiel 2004). | An extremely significant aspect of this final wave of activism is the great upsurge of NGOs outside of Western society. For example, the number of NGOs on the African continent exploded during this decade. The number continues to increase today with human rights NGOs with diverse agendas and often very little budget (Cmiel 2004). | ||
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| + | == Methods and Approaches == | ||
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| + | In their quest to advance rights internationally, human rights NGOs tend to use three primary methods. Firstly, they are influential in setting standards, in that they establish a set of international norms “by which the conduct of states can be measured or judged” (Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights 2003:2). For example, they were successful in passing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and have also convinced many governments to sign treaties that state and declare human rights norms. Human rights NGOs have also continuously encouraged the UN to advance the human rights discussion at their conferences (Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights 2003). | ||
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| + | The second approach that NGOs take is to cite violations of these human rights standards. They do so in order to make sure that the United Nations and international public communities are aware of these abuses so action can be taken to promote change. In reporting these violations, NGOs often look at individual cases through “interviews with victims and witnesses, supported by information about the abuse from other credible sources” (Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights 2003:3). The negative media exposure that sometimes accompanies these abuses often works to shame governments, which is helpful in gaining their support of the international human rights norms (Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights 2003). | ||
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| + | Thirdly, human rights NGOs lobby in order to effectively enforce international human rights standards. The UN has responded to this lobbying by creating mechanisms such as “thematic and country mandates” and “Working Groups” that deal with issues relating to torture, killing, violence, and racism (Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights 2003:3). | ||
Revision as of 07:30, 4 August 2008
Contents
What is a Human Rights NGO?
Human rights NGOs devote their resources to the “promotion and protection” of universal human rights (Wiseberg 1991:529). Unlike governments, who tend to seek human rights for their own citizens, human rights NGOs fight for the security of human rights to all people. The human rights movement, which began after World War II, is a diverse movement comprised of thousands of NGOs that has spread throughout the world today (Wiseberg 1991).
History of Human Rights NGOs
In looking at the human rights movement and the role of NGOs, historians have primarily studied three periods that they see as three “waves” of activism (Cmiel 2004:12).
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