Difference between revisions of "Human Rights NGOs"
From NGO Handbook
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Human Rights Watch (HRW) was started in 1978 as Helsinki Watch, an organization focusing on the Soviet and human rights provisions. In the 1980s, Americas Watch, an organization dealing with conflict in Central America, was established. The two NGOs combined in 1988 to form HRW, an organization based in New York with offices throughout the world (Human Rights Watch 2006). HRW is dedicated to citing and investigating human rights violations internationally and “[enlisting] the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all” (Human Rights Watch 2006). | Human Rights Watch (HRW) was started in 1978 as Helsinki Watch, an organization focusing on the Soviet and human rights provisions. In the 1980s, Americas Watch, an organization dealing with conflict in Central America, was established. The two NGOs combined in 1988 to form HRW, an organization based in New York with offices throughout the world (Human Rights Watch 2006). HRW is dedicated to citing and investigating human rights violations internationally and “[enlisting] the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all” (Human Rights Watch 2006). | ||
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| + | The final wave of activism started in the late 1980s, but really gained momentum in the 1990s. Human rights NGOs and activists began to expand and delve into health and women’s rights, as well as issues surrounding economic justice. International law is becoming a priority again and since the end of the Cold War the UN has worked very closely with some human rights NGOs (Cmiel 2004). | ||
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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). | ||
Revision as of 07:29, 4 August 2008
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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