Colombia has suffered more than 50 years of armed conflict between paramilitary, rebel armed groups and government forces.  The two main rebel armed groups were the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP) and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN).  Both these groups were formed in the 1960s with left-wing political aims.  After more than three years of peace negotiations, FARC-EP has recently demobilised.  The ELN remains active but has commenced peace talks with the government.

The main paramilitary organisation, the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), officially demobilised in 2005 but many former members of that group joined new armed and criminal organisations which remain active today.

It is estimated that there are 8.5 million victims of the armed conflict in Colombia.  That figure includes approximately 7.5 million people who have been the victims of forced displacement.

The last fifteen years have seen a marked decrease in overall levels of violence and the peace agreement with FARC-EP is a significant step towards ending the conflict but, it is not without its challenges.  A power vacuum has been created in territories that were previously controlled by FARC-EP and, in some areas, this has led to an upturn in violence as armed groups, both old and new, fight for territorial control.  According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), it is too early to describe the situation in Colombia as ‘post-conflict’, establishing peace will take “decades not years”.  The length and complexity of the Colombian armed conflict has created a legacy of violence which will be difficult to overcome.

A relatively new issue facing Colombia is the economic and political crisis in neighbouring Venezuela which has led to an estimated one million Venezuelans immigrating to Colombia.  This influx of people, many of whom are not legally allowed to work and have therefore have no legitimate means of supporting themselves has placed an additional strain on Colombia’s resources.

In spite of recent economic growth, Colombia remains a country of huge inequality, registering as the second most unequal country in Latin America after Honduras.  A significant proportion of the population continues to suffer from a lack of access to healthcare, education and basic living standards.

There are many local and international non-governmental organisations as well as major intergovernmental organisations, such as the UN, working in Colombia.  Most of the international organisations employ a mixture of local and international (expatriate) staff.  The following organisations are active in Colombia and have a range of opportunities for those interested in working in the field of human rights.

International Committee of the Red Cross

The main aim of the ICRC is to protect the victims of armed conflict and promote adherence to international humanitarian law.  In Colombia they provide assistance to the victims of the conflict, work on violence prevention, locating those ‘disappeared’ during the conflict and to address the prison crisis (overcrowding currently stands at 46%) and ensure humane conditions for detainees.  Job opportunities with the ICRC are constantly updated on their website and range from field officers to medical staff.

United Nations

The UN, via its various branches, runs a variety of programs in Colombia.  The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) works to assist those displaced during the conflict and to prevent further forced displacement as well as improving the asylum system and provide assistance to refugees and asylum seekers.

The UN Development Program (UNDP) works to alleviate poverty and inequality and to promote sustainable development.

The UN Verification Mission in Colombia has the mandate of monitoring the Final Peace Accord with FARC-EP.

The scale of the UN presence in Colombia means that there are frequent employment opportunities which can be found on the UN careers portal however, non-citizens can only apply for international/expatriate positions as local posts are reserved for Colombians.

Peace Brigades International

PBI works to promote nonviolence and protect human rights.  In Colombia the focus of their work is on providing accompaniment to grass-roots human rights organisations.  They have a variety of paid and volunteer positions.

Save the Children

Save the Children works to protect children by ensuring access to proper healthcare and education.  Their protection work focuses providing safe spaces in communities and educational institutions where children can be protected from the effects of the conflict.  They also work with communities and education providers to help them to understand the risks of the conflict and natural disasters and how best to reduce those risks.

Tierra de Hombres

Works to promote restorative justice for children and young people in the criminal justice system and to enable reintegration into society after conviction for a criminal offence.  One aspect of this programme is teaching young people nonviolent methods of resolving conflict.

In addition, they run health promotion programmes and provide safe spaces for children and young people affected by the conflict.

Embassies and Foreign Aid Organisations

Colombia receives aid from many different countries.  USAID partners with Colombia to run a variety of programmes aimed at promoting peace and tackling violence.  Some other countries also run human rights programmes in Colombia, so it is worth checking your embassy or foreign office job page for opportunities.

Defensoría del Pueblo

The Defensoría del Pueblo are tasked with monitoring the human rights situation in Colombia and, when there is a risk of human rights violations, issuing a report which is then considered by state authorities with a view to taking remedial action.  They have a network of analysts and representatives throughout the country which means that they are particularly well placed to understand the complex human rights situation.

Humanity and Inclusion

This organisation works to ensure the full participation in of people with disabilities in Colombian society.  Their programmes include socio-economic inclusion, mine clearance and rehabilitation support.

International Rescue Committee

The IRC provides aid to Venezuelans fleeing their country.  Recognising the extreme vulnerability of people who often have no legitimate means of supporting themselves and consequently, are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, the IRC provides healthcare and economic support.  They also run protection programmes aimed at children, young people and women.

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Slovenia welcomed a multiparty democratic political system in 1991 when it became an independent state. Today, Slovenia is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union. The civil society in the country is very vibrant and as a result of that Slovenia has undertaken a number of initiatives in recent years to address human rights issues. Slovenia recorded more than 27.000 registered non-governmental organizations in 2018. This article provides an overview of the most active non-governmental organizations in Slovenia that are concerned with human rights.

1. Society for Human Rights and Supportive Action HUMANITAS

The HUMANITAS is a voluntary, non-governmental and non-profit human rights organization. Its principal goals are to offer assistance to less privileged groups in Slovenia and around the world by representing and asserting their interests and promoting tolerance. The mission of the organization is to raise awareness of global problems such as poverty, over-consumption, and the economic gap between differently developed countries through education. The organization carries out activities in the fields of child sponsorship, fair trade, responsible tourism and global education. The HUMANITAS is very active in projects carried out in Africa, such as implementing workshops for school children and students, seminars for teachers and other public events. The organization also runs specialized library, which operates inside Ljubljana’s municipality library, and offers books related to the wider human rights area.

2. The Peace Institute (Institute for Contemporary Social and Political Studies)

The Peace Institute is a non-profit and independent research organization. It was founded in 1991 by a group of individuals who believed in equality and respect for human rights as well as peaceful conflict resolution. The Institute implements interdisciplinary research, educational and awareness-raising activities in the areas of social science, anthropology, law, and humanities. The research is based in five thematic fields: human rights and minorities, gender, cultural policies, politics and media. The organization works with vulnerable groups and acts against discrimination on national, regional and international levels. It cooperates closely with other research institutes, as well as universities and non-governmental organizations.

3. Legal Centre for the Protection of Human Rights and Environment

The Legal Centre for the Protection of Human Rights and Environment is an organization that offers legal support to individuals, vulnerable groups and non-governmental organizations in exercising and protecting their rights as well as strengthening their position in the society. The Centre actively participates in the decision-making processes, working bodies, committees, networks and forums with an aim to advance the position of non-governmental organizations in Slovenia. The organization’s goal is to strengthen the integrity in the non-governmental sector while advocating for transparent and responsible activities on all levels of the social system. The Centre provides legal support and counseling for the cases of human rights violations of vulnerable groups, foreigners, refugees, migrants, asylum seekers, persons with disabilities, as well as legal recommendations during the adoption of important laws that concern environmental protection and spatial management.

4. Amnesty International Slovenia

The Amnesty International has been combating human rights violations in this country for 23 years. It acts as an independent section of one of the largest worldwide human rights movements by following the same mission and working for the protection of human rights and full access to economic, social and cultural rights in Slovenia. The organization’s work is mainly focused on monitoring the areas of discrimination, women’s rights, and migrant and asylum seekers rights. The activities of the organization are directed towards achieving results in the human rights area including campaigning, lobbying and activism. The cases that the Amnesty International in Slovenia mostly deals with concern Roma discrimination, the case of ‘Erased in Slovenia’, the death penalty, women discrimination, child rights and poverty.

5. YHD (Association for Theory and Culture of Handicap)

The YHD is a non-governmental organization that promotes equal rights and responsibilities for the handicapped people in all spheres of social life. The goal of the organization is to train personal assistants, experts, parents and other interest members of the society to be able to help handicapped people become more independent. It also actively works on fighting against discrimination, prejudices and stereotypes often posed against handicapped people as well as raising public awareness on these issues. The YHD provides a program intended for handicapped people who wish to live outside institutionalized forms of care and manage their lives independently.

6. Centre for Information Service, Cooperation and Development of NGOs (CNSVOS)

The CNVOS is the national non-governmental umbrella network in Slovenia. It gathers around 1.100 non-governmental organizations and serves as the information, advocacy, training and project center. It acts as a promoter of transparent civil society in Slovenia. The CNSVO provides expertise and knowledge to non-governmental organizations in the areas of advocacy, law, project management, finance and communication. It directly helps its members by providing them with the current activities in the civil society sector, organizing annual trainings in the fields of management, administration, communication and advocacy and by developing project ideas and preparing project applications for tenders. The organization is also active in analyzing policies that affect the development of civil society organizations and lobbies for their adoption.

7. SONČEK (Cerebral Palsy Association of Slovenia)

SONČEK was established in 1983 as a non-profit organization for people with disabilities and their parents. The organization incorporates fifteen regional societies for cerebral palsy which unite more than 4.000 children, youth and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, including professionals, relatives and volunteers. SONČEK is active in advocating for societal conditions that will ensure equal opportunities for all citizens of Slovenia regardless of their physical or intellectual abilities and it strives to create an environment in which physical and intellectual differences will be accepted without prejudice. The goal of SONČEK is to provide full social inclusion for people with reduced capabilities.

8. Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth (SAFY)

SAFY is a non-governmental, voluntary, humanitarian and charitable organization working to represent the interests of children, young people and families in Slovenia. The organization’s mission is to maintain social security of these groups by promoting implementation of the conventions on the rights of child, raising the quality of children’s lives, reducing their social exclusion, giving them equal opportunities and helping them to create positive self-image while forming positive attitude and values to life.

9. Association Cultural, Information and Counseling Service Centre LEGEBITRA

The LEGEBITRA was founded by an informal group of students of the University of Ljubljana in 1998 with a mission to improve the position of LGBTIQ persons in Slovenia by ensuring a safe space and dissemination of accurate information and raising awareness and drawing attention to inequalities in Slovenian society. The goal of the organization is to provide counseling regarding sexual orientation, gender identities and expressions. The organization works on the values of recognition and respect of fundamental cultural, social, economic and political human rights with a special emphasis on equality and freedom from discrimination. The organization activities are based on mostly standing for mutual support of discriminated groups against oppression and discrimination.

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The Macedonian political system envisages the parliamentary representative democratic republic. The country has been a candidate to become the European Union member since 2005. However, when it comes to implementation of human rights standards the country falls short in certain areas. This is especially case when it comes to the protection and implementation of human rights of vulnerable and marginalized communities in the society. For example, the status of the Roma and the LGBTIQ communities suffers from a high level of intolerance, hate speech, exclusion and discrimination. In majority of cases these communities remain largely unprotected by the state institutions.

Nevertheless, the civil society and human rights organizations in Macedonia work actively in combating these issues by providing their expertise and knowledge. The civil society in Macedonia usually acts as a watchdog over the state institutions and oversees and monitors the implementation of policies and laws that directly affect vulnerable groups in the society and provides solutions to these policies. This article, therefore, outlines the most active think tanks and active human rights organizations across Macedonia.

1. Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of the Republic of Macedonia

The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of the Republic of Macedonia is a non-governmental organization that serves to promote and protect human rights, without any political or religious connotation. The goal of the organization is to increase the awareness about human rights and basic freedoms as set out in the Universal Declarations for Human Rights as well as other international covenants on civil, political, social and cultural rights. It aims to build democratic conditions in which these rights and freedoms can be exercised. The Committee actively monitors the implementation of human rights mechanisms in the country, provides legal assistance to citizens who have been victims of the human rights and freedoms violations and cooperates with state auhorities in order to increase the respect of human rights. The organization’s vision is that all people should have a possibility to exercise their basic human rights and freedoms as well as to be given an opportunity to protect them in cases of violation.

2. EGAL

The EGAL (Equality for Gays and Lesbians) was founded in 2003 by a group of enthusiasts who recognized a need for undertaking actions in order to the tackle the situation of expanding gay community in Macedonia. The organization was formed to work solely on gay and lesbian related issues while focusing on health related LGBTIQ issues. The mission of EGAL is to improve sexual health and quality of living of the LGBTIQ population in Macedonia while overcoming homophobia in Macedonian society through promotion of LGBTIQ culture and development of their sexual and psycho-social health.

3. Health Education and Research Association (HERA)

The HERA was established in 2000 by a group of students in order to promote the inclusion of sexual and reproductive health and rights in national legislation and strategies of Macedonia. Ever since its establishment the HERA recognized the need to integrate HIV activities and services into sexual and reproductive health provisions. Today the HERA is a leading non-governmental organization working in the field of HIV and sexual and reproductive health and rights by providing around 2.600 women (mostly Roma women) with health, social and legal services on annual basis. The organization also focuses on national and international advocacy related to right-based policies and programs on HIV and sexual and reproductive health. It particularly advocates for sexuality education and women’s right to choose and access safe abortion services.

4. Reactor-Research in Action

The Reactor is a think tank organization based in Macedonia’s capital Skopje. This think tank is committed to facilitating Macedonia’s EU integration process by providing relevant research and proposing evidence-based policy alternatives. Since it is envisaged as a policy-oriented research organization, the core of the Reactor’s activities is conducting research. The organization’s goal is to provide relevant, up to date data with a purpose on informing on the policy process in the country. The main areas of research are the gender equality, youth and the urban development.

5. The National Roma Centrum (NRC)

The NRC advocates for the promotion and protection of the human rights with a particular focus on representing the interests of the members of the Roma community in Macedonia.  The organization’s vision is tolerant and participatory society that offers equal access to the rights for all and improvement of the quality of life. The NRC advocates for the creation of public policies, acts an agent in providing equal access to the rights and as a promoter in the application of European values through field work, research, initiatives and public debates for changes in legislation and policies. The strategic goals of the NRC include promotion of human rights, advocacy for equal representation of members of the Roma community in all state structures, promotion of effective anti-discrimination legislations as well as campaigning against discrimination, racism, xenophobia and segregation. The organization also provides free legal assistance to socially vulnerable citizens, victims of domestic violence and single parents regardless of their ethnicity.

6. Open Gate-La Strada Macedonia

The Open Gate is an organization for action against violence and human trafficking. The organization has been active for the past 14 years and it was established when a group of women enthusiasts expressed their concern for the growing crime of human trafficking in Macedonia and decided they want to help prevent this crime by establishing the organization. The Open Gate is dedicated in combating human trafficking on national and international level through La Strada network (a network of European non-governmental organizations that combat human trafficking) and it is active in conducting lobbying activities and advocacy as well as providing assistance and support to the victims of human trafficking. Since 2005 the organization provided accommodation, medical, legal and psycho-social support and assistance for 102 victims of human trafficking. The organization manages the only SOS telephone line in the country, which is designed to inform, prevent and intervene in cases of human trafficking. The SOS telephone line registered 4.086 callers until today, who provided the organization with valuable information and advice.

7. Center for Investigative Journalism SCOOP

The SCOOP is a non-governmental organization aimed to promote, stimulate and support investigative journalism. The goal of the organization is to support journalists in their work by providing professional and financial help. The SCOOP promotes and stimulates the development of investigative journalism in Macedonia and wider. The organization sees the investigative journalism as a tool that can be used to fight organized crime and corruption, strengthen the democratic capacities and improve the professional traits of journalism. The organization is composed of a group of experienced and professional journalists whose mission is to use investigative journalism in order to decrease corruption and improve lives of citizens of Macedonia by ensuring good governance, transparent institutions and protection of human rights. Alongside the investigative journalism, the organization also organizes variety of seminars, conferences and lectures for journalists across the country.

8. The Coalition Sexual and Health Rights of Marginalized Communities

The Coalition was founded in 2007 as an independent non-governmental organization by several Macedonian organizations (Healthy Options Project Skopje, HERA, Strumica and EGAL).  The Coalition promotes protection and respect of the rights of marginalized communities, with a special focus on LBTIQ persons, drug users, persons affected with HIV, sex workers and marginalized women. The core of the Coalition’s activities are advocacy, research, analysis and inclusion of these marginalized communities in the creation and implementation of the policies that affect them. The Coalition advocates for the stronger participation of marginalized communities in the struggle for implementation of their rights and freedoms by establishing and providing supportive environment in which equality, freedom and respect of sexual differences are seen as core values.

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Montenegro declared its independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in June 2006. The state of human rights in Montenegro seems to be better compared to other countries in the region. However, at the present the country is still facing the serious violations of human rights, especially in the areas of freedom of expression, media freedom, and lack of accountability for the committed war crimes, torture and ill-treatment as well as other economic, social and cultural rights. These issues triggered the civil society organizations in Montenegro to become active on the scene and advocate for the protection of human rights of citizens and marginalized groups in Montenegrin society. This article, therefore, offers a brief overview of the most active civil society and human rights organizations in Montenegro.

1. Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Montenegro (YIHR)

The Youth Initiative is a regional network of non-governmental organizations on the territories of Kosovo, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. The work of the YIHR is based on the conviction that civil liberties and human rights serve as a basis for an open and advanced society. The mission of YIHR active in Montenegro is to actively and qualitatively contribute to development of society in the country. The organization is dedicated to the protection of victims of human rights violations, promotion of the rule of law and democratic political culture. The activities that the YIHR often implements are research, monitoring and documenting of human rights violations as well as providing free legal assistance to the victims of human rights violations and public representation aimed at improving their position.

2. Infomont

The Infomont is a non-governmental and non-profit youth organizations founded in 2004. The organization works as an Internet-based network and it is active in using the Internet as a tool to connect people and promote its goals. The members of Infomont are young professionals, civil society activists and contributors located in different parts of Montenegro, Europe and the world. The Infomont’s work is focused on areas of culture, fostering European values, civic engagement, open democratic society, sustainable development, tourism and education. The goal of the organization is to help Montenegro to become progressive, developed and open society through educating and engaging the citizens.

3. Centre for Civil Education (CCE)

The CCE was established in 2002 with a vision of Montenegro becoming a democratic society of responsible citizens. The mission of the organization is to contribute to the development of civil society and participation of citizens in policy shaping and decision-making through education in the field of human rights, democracy and European integrations. The CCE is active in encouraging the citizens of Montenegro to be active in building an open society based on the rule of law and equal opportunities. The organization’s projects revolve around monitoring and promotion of anti-corruption policies, research and analysis of policies related to democratization, advocating for fact-finding on human rights violations during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, affirmation of freedom of expression and media freedoms and improvement of the status of minorities and marginalized groups.

4. MANS

The MANS is a non-governmental organization active in fighting against corruption and organized crime that affect the society in Montenegro. The MANS sees Montenegro as a fair, open and free society of active citizens and the government that serves the public interest. The organization is active in investigating concrete cases of corruption and organized crime, monitoring the implementation of legislation and government policy, providing free legal assistance to citizens, civil society organizations, media and businesses and conducting advocacy campaigns.

5. Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro (AYDM)

The AYDM was founded in 2001 in Podgorica with a goal to stimulate and involve the persons with disabilities in all segments of social and economic life with a focus on education and employment. The organization is actively working in providing basic conditions in all educational institutions in Montenegro for all young people with disabilities and preparing them to obtain higher education. The organization educates young people with disabilities about their rights, possibilities and needs and implements the activities which aim at improving their skills and strengthen their personality.

6. Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM)

The CEDEM is a think tank organization and association of citizens that was established in to advance and spread conscience on importance of proper and successful democratic transition as well as to research, analyze and follow this process and contribute to the strengthening of civil society and democratization in general. The CEDEM organizes various conferences, roundtables, meetings, workshops and trainings in order to encourage the process of democratic transition and influence the legislative processes in Montenegro. It closely operates with other non-governmental organizations with a similar areas of interest from Montenegro, the region and abroad.

7. Center for Democratic Transition (CDT)

The CDT is a non-governmental organization that envisages Montenegro as civic society, society of knowledge and equal opportunities based on democratic values and achievements. It strives to promote democratic values in Montenegro and assist in accomplishing honest and accountable government, active and informed citizens as well as dynamic civil society. The activities of the organizations are fostering of public dialogue, education of political actors and advocacy and monitoring of institutions, processes and policies.

8. Green Home

The Green Home was established by a group of graduated students of biology science in 2000. The organization appeared from the need for participation of great number of citizens in protection and conservation of environment and taking an active role in civil society development through respect for biodiversity and efforts in sustainable development. The Green home operates in the programs of environmental protection and energy. It is dedicated to improving environment and foster a sustainable future by working in local communities as well as on the national level. In order to achieve its goals, the organization works with different stakeholders in order to foster partnerships to achieve healthy environment.

9. New Horizon

The New Horizon was founded in 1999 in Ulcinj with a mission to increase the participation of citizens in local processes by contributing to development of democracy and promoting good governance. The New Horizon works on articulating local communities’ needs and mobilizing groups of citizens, other non-governmental organizations and governmental bodies in order to increase awareness on the necessity of participation of citizens in decision-making processes at all levels of governance. The three main areas on which the organization focuses are women and youth program, good governance and inter-ethnic dialogue program.

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The civil society in Kosovo has been on the scene since the early 1990s. The civil society organizations emerged mainly as a response to the policies imposed by the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during this period. After the bloody conflict that took place from 1998 to 1999 and the adoption of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in February 2008, the civil society in Kosovo became more vibrant and visible. Today, the civil society in Kosovo is comprised of the local non-governmental organizations and the international non-governmental organizations that have opened local branches in the country.

After the NATO bombing in 1999, there was an influx of international non-governmental organizations in Kosovo. This significantly influenced the overall picture of the civil society in the country. Today, the civil society and human rights organizations in Kosovo are mainly focused on education, health care, women’s rights, civil war victims, the rule of law, local community development and good governance. Therefore, this article provides an overview of the ten very active and visible human rights and think thank organizations in Kosovo.

1. Institute for Development Policy (INDEP)

The INDEP was established in 2011 as an association that gathers researchers, policy analysts and civil society activists. It is a think thank and an advocacy organization with a mission to strengthen and guide sustainable socio-political and economic development based on the principles of democracy and democratic values. INDEP’s work is guided by the principles of accountability and transparency. Vision of this organization is for Kosovo to become a fully integrated democratic society and a functional state.

2. Forum for Civic Initiatives (FIQ)

The FIQ was founded in 2000 by a small group of activists that saw the need to mobilize citizens in decision-making processes as a consequence of the war in Kosovo that took place in 1998 and 1999. Since then, the FIQ has grown from being a small organization to a national foundation that works closely on strengthening the civic role of citizens with a mission to empower citizens through philanthropy. The FIQ believes that local communities are the best place for civic activism to be developed while achieving social justice and safety.

3. Youth Initiative for Human Rights Kosovo

The Youth Initiative is a regional network of non-governmental organizations on the territories of Kosovo, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Initiative was established in order to tackle and strengthen the youth participation in democratic processes through the process of facing with the past. The branch of the Youth Initiative in Kosovo actively works on the programs of human rights protection and transitional justice by including young human rights activists tasked with promoting the truth, justice, responsibility and equality as the basic values.

4. Humanitarian Law Center Kosovo (HLC)

The HLC was originally founded in 1992 in Belgrade, Serbia, by human rights activist Nataša Kandić. The organization emerged as there was a need for a human rights based non-governmental organization that would document massive human rights violations and war crimes that took place during the conflicts across the former Yugoslavia. The branch of the HLC in Kosovo was established in 1997. Today, the organization is mainly concerned with documenting war crimes and human rights violations that occurred during the conflict in Kosovo. The organization mostly focuses on killings and disappearances of Albanians, Roma, Serbs, Bosniaks and other minority groups during the conflict in 1998 and 1999.

5. Levizja Fol (The Speak Up! Movement)

The Levizja Fol is an independent non-governmental organization based in Pristina. It actively works on contributing to good governance as well as fighting corruption through promoting active citizenry and enhancing accountability of public institutions. The organization is active in fighting against various forms of corruption by doing public policy research, advocacy, providing institutional support, monitoring of public institutions and by organizing various conferences, roundtables and seminars. By organizing various debates and debate training programs, Fol’s goal is to increase the levels of public pressure on decision-makers to reduce abuse of public power and open new channels of communication between citizens and the government.

6. Democracy for Development (D4D)

The mission of the D4D is to influence the development of public policy in order to accelerate socio-economic development, strengthen democratic culture and improve governance in Kosovo. The organization works actively on promoting an educated citizenry that participates in the public space and uses the public arena and decision-making mechanisms in order to build consensus over smart, efficient and sustainable resource allocation as well as equitable development.

7. Kosovar Institute for Policy Research (KIPRED)

The KIPRED works on the promotion and consolidation of democracy and democratic values in Kosovo and in the region. The organization is active in conducting an independent research of public policies in the field of democratic governance, the regional and international issues and security in order to influence the processes of public policy making and build accountable public institutions. One of the activities of the organization is providing lessons in peacekeeping, peace-building, institution-building, development, post-conflict transition as well as providing resources for development of professional research and qualitative analysis of public policies and social sciences.

8. The European Center for Minority Issues Kosovo (ECMI)

The ECMI is a non-government organization tasked with the protection and promotion of the rights and interests of all minority groups in Kosovo. The ECMI’s goals is to contribute to development of an inclusive, stable and democratic ethnic society in Kosovo in which minority and human rights of members are of all communities are respected and in line with domestic and international requirements. In order to achieve this, the ECMI in Kosovo implements a wide range of activities that aim to stabilize inter-ethnic relations and ensure effective functioning of the legal, policy and institutional framework for the promotion and protection of minority rights.

9. Kosovar Center for Gender Studies

The Kosovar Center for Gender Studies was founded in 2002 and was the first organization of this kind in Kosovo. Since then, the organization has become a leader in conducting research on gender issues and developing gender studies in the country with a mission to integrate gender-sensitive programs and policies in all sectors of Kosovar society. The organization works on achieving a society which is based on individual and group rights where gender equality is included in all spheres of life and in which women are able to achieve personal and professional development.

10. The Civil Rights Program in Kosovo (CRP/K)

The CRP/K was founded in 1999 by the Norwegian Refugee Council. It started functioning as an independent human rights non-governmental organization in 2004 with a mandate to provide free legal assistance, counseling and representation before the courts for returnees, asylum seekers, displaced persons in Kosovo, persons at risk of statelessness and persons who are considered to be vulnerable in realization of their civil rights. The CRP/K’s goal is to address legal obstacles in order to enhance the protection of human rights and freedoms of the affected groups mentioned above.

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Australia was one of the founding members of the United Nations (UN) and an initial signatory to its Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The country is also a signatory to a host of other international treaties and conventions which require a commitment to the protection of human rights. While Australia is the only democratic country that does not have its own ‘Bill of Rights’, other legislative sources exist which distinctly set out the protection of specific rights.

The current human rights context in Australia however, has reflected the less than desirable treatment of a few specific groups of people. The Human Rights Watch report for 2016 has highlighted concerns around the treatment of refugee and asylum seekers attempting to gain entry into the country. Since 2013 there have been reports of the interception of passenger-bearing vessels where refugee and asylum seeking individuals found on board have been sent to detention centres on offshore islands where they are to undergo the processes of asylum application and await the government’s decision.  While this detention process in itself is problematic, further reports have revealed that conditions in these detention centres are poor, including insufficient access to medical treatment as well as reports of harassment and violence against detained individuals.

Another major and longstanding human rights concern in Australia is the treatment and protection of indigenous communities. Human Rights Watch signals the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system as a significant problem that needs to be addressed by government.

This article will provide an overview of a number of prominent human rights organisations that are working within Australia to advance the protection of all human rights. It will also identify the possibilities for involvement in said organisations whether it is in a volunteer, intern or full employment capacity.

Action Aid Australia

Established in Australia in 1967, Austcare was originally the national organisation associated with the global ActionAid network. The organisation started out with a focus on refugee rights and awareness campaigns which aimed to educate Australian communities about the plight of refugees and other displaced people worldwide. After formally joining the ActionAid family in 2009, ActionAid Australia now has a far greater mandate for promoting and protecting the human rights of poor people throughout the world. Their mission is to work towards a world without poverty and to combat injustice. The organisation has career opportunities for a range of expertise and also offers volunteer positions – both of which are advertised on the website on a rolling basis.

Endeavour Foundation

The Endeavour Foundation is an independent ‘for purpose’ organisation with a specific focus on disability rights. Advocacy and research around disability rights forms a core part of the functioning of the organisation. However, the Endeavour Foundation primarily works to provide a host of services ranging from In-home support, to specialist behaviour support, to mentoring programmes. With this diverse range of services, the organisation has many different career options and offers fully supported employment opportunities. Flexible volunteering opportunities are also available and provide on-the-job training.

Refugee Council of Australia

As an umbrella body, the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) supports over 200 refugee related organisations throughout Australia. The three key functions of the organisation include: research and policy analysis; advocacy and representation and; community education and awareness-raising. The organisation has played an important role in raising awareness and campaigning against the poor treatment of refugees and asylum seekers by the Australian government. The Refugee Council posts job positions on their website when available as well as advertising employment opportunities at linked member organisations. There are also plenty of opportunities for volunteering both with the Council and member organisations.

Australian Council for Human Rights Education (ACHRE)

As the name suggests, the ACHRE is primarily focused on actively pursuing human rights education throughout Australia. The organisation is committed to promoting and supporting Australian and international human rights initiatives. It hosts advice and training sessions and provides educational resources to human rights practitioners. The organisation relies heavily on its volunteer base and thus offers plenty of opportunities for individuals to get involved in supporting human rights education.

Amnesty International Australia

Amnesty International is one of the largest global human rights organisations and therefore performs important work around monitoring, exposing and protecting against human rights violations throughout the world. The organisation’s work in Australia seeks to address current human rights abuses identified in the country and has campaigns focusing on indigenous rights, refugee rights, gender and sexuality and marriage equality. There are opportunities for internships and volunteering positions within the Australian division of the organisation and job openings are listed on the website on a rolling basis.

Human Rights Law Centre

Through a combination of legal action, advocacy and research, the Human Rights Law Centre aims to protect and promote human rights within Australia as well as internationally. Working alongside its partners, the Centre strives to improve the access to basic human rights of all citizens and advocates on behalf of those who do not have sufficient access. While the organisation does not currently have any open employment opportunities, these – as well as volunteer and intern positions – are advertised on their website when available.

Asylum Seekers Resource Centre (ASRC)

The ASRC envisions an Australia that is welcoming and compassionate to people seeking asylum in the country. The organisation is therefore committed to obtaining fair and humane treatment of asylum seekers and making sure that their human rights are protected and respected according to the international human rights laws. The ASRC works to achieve these goals through a variety of activities including through legal, advocacy and education campaigns as well as through more practical activities such as food and health support. There are multiple opportunities to get involved with this organisation from volunteering for the different programmes to becoming an active advocate. The organisation advertises current employment and intern opportunities on their website as they become available.

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Canada has played an active role in the promotion and development of human rights norms since the 20^th century. As an original member of the United Nations (UN), founded in 1945 as a response to the end of the Second World War, Canada asserted its commitment to recognising and combating human rights violations from early on. Since signing the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, a series of legislative enactments have demonstrated this continued commitment to progressing the rights of previously discriminated groups. Such legislation addresses concerns such as political rights, rights in the workplace and rights protecting against discrimination for various groups including women, aboriginal or indigenous people, people of colour, homosexuals, foreign nationals and people with disabilities.

Current Canadian human rights concerns highlighted by ‘Human Rights Watch’ for 2016 include issues around the rights of indigenous people in Canada and more specifically, violence against indigenous women and children. Reports note high levels of female homicide in indigenous groups and critique the inadequate institutional responses to these figures, including allegations of neglecting to conduct appropriate police investigations into these cases. The report also reveals that indigenous groups, particularly in rural parts of the country, have poor access to basic resources such as clean drinking water. This has resulted in a threat to the public health of these communities.

Another concern highlighted by the Human Rights Watch report is the detention of immigrant children in facilities “that resemble medium-security prisons”. While this type of detention is not prohibited in Canadian law, there are serious human rights concerns given that there is no limit set on how long these children can be held in these centres. Human rights groups have therefore called for review of these practices and alternatives to detention to be explored.

In what follows, this article will provide a brief overview of the most prominent human rights organisations acting within Canada.

Canadian Human Rights International Organisation (CHRIO)

Founded by a variety of inter-disciplinary professionals, this not-for-profit organisation works alongside civil society to promote the defence of human rights. Monitoring human rights abuses forms one of its major activities as well as promoting aims to eliminate human rights violations by targeting individuals and groups through education programmes. The general objectives of the CHRIO, as stipulated by the organisation, are to “contribute to the defence, promotion, education, protection and realisation of human rights, including civil and political rights.” The organisation has both volunteering and student placement opportunities.

Equitas – International Centre for Human Rights Education

Equitas, formerly known as the Canadian Human Rights Foundation, is Canada’s oldest human rights education organisation. The vision of Equitas therefore, refers explicitly to the use of participatory education activities as a means to addressing concerns around human rights. Another key mission of the organisation is to establish and maintain global networks of human rights workers in order to facilitate mutual education around human rights issues. The organisation believes that through education, greater global social justice can be achieved. Equitas works across the globe and thus offers placements in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East as well as in Canada itself.

Amnesty International Canada

Amnesty International is one of the largest global human rights organisations and therefore performs important work around monitoring, exposing and protecting against human rights violations throughout the world. The organisation’s work in Canada therefore, looks specifically at where actions from the Canadian government and people can have the greatest impact. Amnesty International in Canada has highlighted a host of ‘priority countries’ within which a huge spectrum of human rights issues are being addressed. There are opportunities for internships and volunteering positions within the Canadian division of the organisation and job openings, whilst rare, are listed on the website on a rolling basis.

Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)

The OHRC is an organisation which seeks to address the “roots of discrimination” through policy development, litigation and raising awareness through education campaigns. Primarily working through legal interventions, the OHRC works on human rights issues at all levels of the court. The organisation therefore actively assists and supports individuals who have experienced discrimination or violations of their human rights by providing legal advice and assistance. It also plays a role in lobbying government and different sector and groups in order to promote organisational change and further progress towards equality.

Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS)

Based at Concordia University in Montreal, MIGS is the leading research and advocacy institute for genocide and mass atrocity crimes prevention. The work of the institute ranges from monitoring activity to memorialising human rights abuses and it is currently engaged in a number of different projects with these aims. Apart from research fellowships, the institute also offers internships and volunteer opportunities.

Journalists for Human Rights (JHR)

The title claim of this organisation is “Help put human rights on the front page.” Through the use of media, JHR aims to put a spotlight on human rights and related abuses that take place. The organisation further aims to create government accountability by initiating and maintaining debate across human rights issues. JHR works primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Middle East, North Africa, South Sudan, Syria and Canada. The organisation offers volunteer and internship opportunities, as well as jobs in a variety of media-oriented and other positions. The Student Chapter initiative of JHR runs awareness and education campaigns across campuses in North America.

The above organisations represent some of the most prominent and active human rights organisations from a variety of different fields, operating at a national level within Canada. There are however, many regional and local initiatives which strive to promote the progression of a culture of human rights and defend against discrimination in the country and in the broader global community.

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Croatia has a two decades long history of civil society, which began to develop slowly from the early 1990s when citizens became aware of the opportunities and ways in which human rights organizations might function. However, the development of the civil society in the country was not encouraged until the late 1990s and the early 2000s when the government passed the Associations Act and established the National Foundation for Civil Society Development.

The human rights organizations and other civil society initiatives in Croatia have greatly contributed to the country’s transition to democracy by putting pressure on the government to adopt democratic values and policies. This led for the country to successfully become the European Union member in 2004. Today, Croatia has around 20.000 registered civil society organizations that are mostly concerned with human rights violations of vulnerable groups, health, humanitarian aid, child protection, youth policies and civil war victims. Therefore, this article offers an overview of the ten most active and publicly recognized human rights organizations in Croatia that are open to share their expertise and knowledge in the fields they are mostly concerned about.

1. B.a.B.e

The human rights organization B.a.B.e was founded in 1994 with the purpose of promoting and protecting women’s human rights. During the years of active work, B.a.B.e has been recognized publicly for the uncompromising struggle for the respect of human rights of all citizens in the country as well as for its commitment in advocating gender equality. The focus of the organization is put on ensuring equal opportunities for all genders in all areas of social life by acting as an expert center for gender equality issues.

2. Documenta-Center for Dealing with the Past

Documenta was founded with a goal to encourage the process of dealing with the past and establishing truth and objective facts about massive violations of human rights on the territory of Croatia during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. Documenta actively contributes to the development of individual and social processes of dealing with the past. The goal of the organization is to build sustainable peace in Croatia and the Western Balkans region by deepening dialogue, initiating public debates, collecting data, publishing research on war events and crimes and monitoring war crimes trials at the local and regional levels. The organization is also active in advocating the establishment of Regional Commission for establishing the facts about war crimes in the territory of the former Yugoslavia (RECOM) and in order to achieve this goal it cooperates closely with associations of families of the missing persons, civic initiatives, governmental institutions, the media and international organizations.

3. Civic Committee for Human Rights (CCHR)

The CCHR was established in 1992 as a response to massive human rights violations in Croatia. Since then, it has grown into respectable and internationally recognizable non-governmental organization for the protection of human rights as well as for delivering humanitarian aid. The organization has been very active in organizing searches for missing and displaced persons in Croatia. The organization also established SOS telephone line in its office in Zagreb, which is opened for anyone whose human rights have been violated. The goals of the CCHR are promotion of human rights standards and civic freedoms in Croatia and the region while building and sustaining an open and democratic society.

4. Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (CHCH)

The CHCH was founded in March 1993, first as a branch of the International Helsinki Federation. Since April 2003, the CHCH acts as local non-governmental organization run by independent intellectuals, artists, lawyers and journalists committed to the protection and promotion of human rights. The organizations is committed to promoting and implementing the principles of the Final Act of Conference of Security and Cooperation in Europe since 1975, which encompasses development of democratic institutions, promotion of the rule of law, detection of human rights violations and assistance to victims of violations of human rights and those whose rights are threatened.

5. The Human Rights House Zagreb (HRH)

The HRH is a network of civil society organizations that was founded with an aim to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. During the seven years of active work, the HRH has become the center of expertise on human rights and it has been recognized as a central organization for the protection of human rights by the public. The HRH participates in the protection, promotion, development and advancement of human rights through research, monitoring, advocacy and education while paying special attention to implementation of the regional and international declarations, covenants and conventions on human rights.

6. Women’s Network Croatia

The Women’s Network Croatia gathers organizations, groups and initiatives that recognize women as socially discriminated and politically marginalized group. The Network opposes the patriarchal system and all forms of gender discriminations. It works on the basis of the already agreed feminist principles which include the recognition of the fundamental rights of women, women’s solidarity, antimilitarism, non-discrimination on the grounds of sex, gender, race, religion or national origin, age, sexual orientation and mental or physical differences. The network also actively advocates for recognition of the right of women to decide about their bodies and reproduction, abortion rights as well as ensuring the availability of contraception.

7. Croatian Youth Network

The Croatian Youth Network was established since there was a need for cooperation and improved communication among youth non-governmental organizations in Croatia, regardless of their political, national, sexual, religious and cultural identities as well as identities of young people they represent. The Network advocates for the interests and needs of young people in Croatia and builds partnerships with governmental institutions in order to reach correct implementation of youth policies.

8. Association for Promotion of Equal Opportunities(APEO)

The APEO is concerned with meeting the needs and protecting human rights of people with disabilities by providing educational activities and technical support. The organization works on improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities while being involved in social and humanitarian activities and generating of systematic solutions for attainment of human rights of this vulnerable group of people.

9. GONG

GONG was established back in 1997 with a goal to encourage citizens in Croatia to actively participate in the political processes. The goal of the organization is to elevate and promote civil and other human rights by celebrating and encouraging culture of dialogue, responsibility and transparency in the public areas through research, advocacy and education while collaborating with individuals and other organizations that share the same or similar values.

10. Domino

Domino is a non-profit organization based in Zagreb. Its mission is to question the traditional and opressive norms in transitional societies by examining cultural values, media and public policies through cooperation with local and international organizations. The organization’s task is to detect norms that disable the freedom of art and queer expression while providing an adequate social environment that enables individuals to freely express themselves. The four major programs through which the organization realizes its mission are arts and culture, media, education and politics.

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The majority of civil society and human rights organizations in Serbia were formed as a part of anti-war movement during the civil wars in the territory of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. During that period, the human rights activists were often and systematically targeted by Slobodan Milošević’s regime.

Even though Milošević’s restrictive regime was overthrown in October 2000, the implementation of legislative framework regarding protection of human rights and freedoms has not significantly improved. Today, the country stands as candidate for European Union membership. Nevertheless, opening of negotiations for membership has not significantly improved in regards to protection of human rights. Human rights defenders and organizations fighting for human rights have been continuously subjected to a number of human rights violations. They have often been the targets of physical violence, hate speech and death threats.

Luckily, Serbia has very vibrant and active civil society, which plays a crucial role in democratic transition. The most active and present human rights organizations presented in this article work on a wide range of civil and political, economic, social and cultural rights, including free legal aid, anti-discrimination, women’s rights, LQBTIQ rights, minority rights, disabilities, anti-trafficking and human rights education.

1. Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia

The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights is one of the leading non-governmental organizations in Serbia. The organization’s approach to human rights issues in the country is connected to examining the country’s overall socioeconomic and political context. Each year the Committee publishes annual reports on human rights violations in Serbia in which it detects policies and trends that are affecting the exercise of human rights and provides relevant recommendations. The organization’s priority is to continue observing and analyze the factors that influence Serbia’s democratic transition, response to transitional justice, monitoring human rights violations and alerting the key stakeholders (governmental agencies, international organizations, and general public) of impermissible policies that concern human rights.

2. Humanitarian Law Center (HLC)

The HLC was established in 1992 by human rights activist Nataša Kandić. The HLC emerged as there was a need for human rights based non-governmental organization that would document massive human rights violations that were then being perpetrated on a massive scale across the former Yugoslavia, during the armed conflicts in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and later on in Kosovo.  Today, the HLC supports post-Yugoslav societies in the promotion of the rule of law and acceptance of the legacy of mass human rights violations. The organization’s main concern is linked to establishing the criminal responsibility of the perpetrators, serving justice and preventing recurrence.

3. YUCOM-Lawyer’s Committee for Human Rights

YUCOM was founded in 1997 as a non-governmental organization whose members are legal experts engaged and advocating the idea of the rule of law to uphold human rights. YUCOM actively works on designing and leading civic initiatives, raising public awareness, providing legal assistance to victims of human rights violation and developing cooperation with national and international institutions that are concerned with human rights protection and promotion. The organization has been recognized as human rights defenders organization for a long time since it is one of the most active ones advocating for human rights and active participation of citizens in legal initiatives.

4. Belgrade Centre for Human Rights

Established in 1995, the Belgrade Center for Human Rights has been recognized as one of the most influential non-governmental organization in Serbia. Its main activities relate to the advancement of theory and practice of human rights. The organization is comprised of persons from various professions and backgrounds whose goal is to advance knowledge of human rights and humanitarian law, develop democratic principles, and strengthen the rule of law and the civil society in Serbia and other countries in democratic transition. During the twenty years of its existence, the organization has been actively working in raising consciousness of the citizens in the areas of human rights and individual freedoms while establishing favorable setting for their full respect and enjoyment.

5. Women in Black

The Women in Black have been active and visible in their activist campaigns, protests and performances against militarism, war, sexism and nationalism since 1991. The organization was established in order to fight against patriarchic control over women and all types of ethnic homogenization independent of all state and ethnic borders and divisions. The ultimate goal of the organization is to prevent and resolve conflicts through dialogue and instigate participation of women in building of peace.

6. House for Human Rights and Democracy

The House for Human Rights and Democracy is located in the capital of Serbia, Belgrade and it is comprised of network of human rights organizations that through mutual cooperation and joint activities affect the radical social changes in the areas of human rights, monitor daily social solutions, react to violations of human rights and contribute to further democratization of Society. The network is committed to building democratic and open society based on the respect of human rights as well as education of citizens on how to exercise these rights.

7. Open Society Foundation Serbia

The Open Society Foundation Serbia supports a broad range of activities that contribute to the development of a functioning state and human rights values in the country. The Foundation mainly supports and works with Roma organizations in order to help foster Roma equality and integration as well as to push the government to implement laws concerning Roma protection and human rights. The Foundation’s focus is put on improving Roma education and developing recommendations to increase Roma access to quality schooling.

8. Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Serbia

The Youth Initiative is a regional network of non-governmental organizations on the territories of Serbia, Kosovo, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Initiative was formed by young people from these countries in order to strengthen the youth participation in the democratization processes through the process of facing with a past. The Initiative operating in Serbia works on the programs of transitional justice and human rights and it includes several hundred activists whose mission is to protect the victims of human rights violations and promote the truth, justice, responsibility and equality as the basic values.

9. Amnesty International in Serbia

Amnesty International in Serbia has been most active in combating the recent issues related to refugees and migrants from the Middle East. The organization is mainly focused on monitoring, researching and publishing annual reports on human rights violations in Serbia while paying special attention to human rights defenders at risk, independency of judicial processes as well as the level of media independence.

10. Gay-Lesbian Info Centre (GLIC)

GLIC was founded in Belgrade in 2009 with a mission to monitor and record human rights violations of the LGBITQ population in Serbia. The organization gathers gays, lesbians, bisexual, transgender, queer as well as heterosexuals who with their political and social engagements contribute to the better understanding of LGBTIQ issues, human rights and culture.

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Even 20 years after the arms have been silent and the conflict that took around 100.000 lives away, Bosnia and Herzegovina still remains highly decentralized and affected by the internal inter-ethnic clashes. Namely, in February 2016, the country has formally applied for European Union membership; however, the progress regarding the respect on human rights remains largely stalled.

According to the Dayton Accords, which ended the war from 1992 to 1995, the country is a democratic republic with a bicameral parliament. It is divided in two entities (Federation and Republic of Srpska) and one district (Brčko). With a highly complex institutional and bureaucratic systems installed in every pore of political and social life, the authorities are constantly failing to implement democratic values and respect for human rights.  The most affected and discriminated are civil war victims, refugees, internally displaced people,  national minorities (Roma, Jews and other), and members of the LGBITQ communities,  who constantly are striving to fight the stigma and ensure the respect of human rights.

In order to tackle the issues mentioned above, the local, regional and international civil society organizations throughout the country are recognized as a crucial component in the fight against discrimination and all other forms of human rights violations. This article offers a brief overview of the most active and visible human rights organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina which are always open to new types of cooperation.

1. Sarajevo Open Centre (SOC)

SOC is a non-profit human rights organization that advocates for the full respect of human rights and insclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual transgender and intersex people in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The mission of the organization is to act as an independent civil society organization that strives to empower vulnerable LGBITQ communities through community integration and activism. The organization is actively working on advocating for improved legislation and policies in the country as well as improving the state of human rights of the affected groups.

2. The Human Rights Centre of the University of Sarajevo (HRC)

The HRC is an organizational unit of the University of Sarajevo. The organization was founded with a goal to provide the University with necessary education tools for a successful implementation of international human rights. Placed at the hearth of the University campus, the HRC’s mission is to contribute to the implementation of international human rights by providing necessary documentation, lectures, expert advice, research and other relevant materials. The HRC actively cooperates with other non-governmental organizations and national and international bodies that deal with human rights issues.

3. Amnesty International in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Amnesty International has been active in Bosnia and Herzegovina for many years. The organization’s focus is mainly put on combating political corruption and injustice towards former war victims. Amnesty International is the most active in monitoring, researching and publishing annual reports on human rights violations in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as providing support to vulnerable groups in the society through educational activities.

4. Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC)

The PCRC is a human rights organization dedicated to restoring a culture of peace and preventing violent conflict and radicalization in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans by creating, implementing and supporting innovative approaches to post-conflict research, peace eduaction, transitional justice and human rights. The organization strives for a society in which people no longer perceive diversity as a source of conflict. The PCRC is commited to establishing environment in which human rights are respected and the principles of democracy are valued.

5. Association for Democratic Initiatives (ADI)

ADI is a non-governmental organization based in Sarajevo. The organization is active in the fields of the rule of law, European Union integrations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and protection of human rights. The main activities of the organization are related to fostering participatory democracy and improving partnerships between civil society, governmental institutions and the private sector.

6. Association Transitional Justice, Accountability and Remembrance in Bosnia and Herzegovina (TJAR)

The mission of TJAR is to contribute to the establishment of transitional justice, the establishment of the Regional Commission for the Facts about War Crimes and Other Serious Violations of Human Rights Committed in the Former Yugoslavia, from January 1991 to December 2001 (RECOM), as well as reconciliation, culture of remembrance and peace-building in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the region of the former of Yugoslavia. TJAR is currently implementing project ‘’Mapping of Detention Camps and Other Places of Detention in BiH 1992-1995’’. The aim of the project is to  document and produce profiles of all detention camps that existed on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) during the last war in order to contribute to reconciliation and the process of ‘’never forgetting’’ sufferings of the victims of the war.

7. Women for Women International Association in Sarajevo

This international organization has been active since 1993 and is actively combating against violence and systemic rape during the conflict around the word. Today, Women for Women International is based in Sarajevo as an independent organization in affiliation with its international super. The organization strives to help women create economic opportunities and strengthen their civic engagement. So far, Women for Women International have reached and helped over 62.000 women across 50 communities of various ethnicities in Bosnia and Herzegovina

8. Institute for Youth Development KULT

KULT is a non-governmental organization concentrated on resolving issues around human rights violations of young population in Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to KULT, young people in the country should be seen as key component of the population that should steer democratic process. Therefore, KULT is active in providing youth with legal solutions and capacities that will enable them to take actions.

9. Center for Social Research Global Analitika

Global Analitika is a non-governmental and non-profit organization with a mission to protect human rights of sensitive and marginalized groups such as youth and women. However, the special attention is given to protection of human rights of people with disabilities. The focus of the organization is put on countering all forms of violence and contributing to creation of secure environment. The organization gathers experts from all fields and has established cooperation with institutions on local, national and regional levels.

10. Foundation CURE

The Foundation CURE is a feminist organization that promotes sex and gender equality. The organization’s activities revolve around educational, cultural and research programs in order to achieve positive social change.  CURE’s mission is to empower women so that they can become initiators of social change in the country and the world. The team of CURE is comprised of professionals and volunteers who are often engaged in protesting against violence, discrimination and violations of human rights.

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The Philippines has long been a hotbed for human rights advocacy – from the dictatorial “constitutional autocracy” of former President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos, to the decidedly oligarchic tendencies of former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, the blatant corruption rife during the era of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the present-day strongman rule of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his drug war.

The present conditions of widespread and gross inequality and the consolidation of social, political, and economic power among the hands of a very small, yet very extremely powerful elite – and the seeming backwardness and chaos that ensues throughout Philippine society is a symptom of ongoing structural injustice.

Fortunately, the Philippines’ tradition of resistance in the form of advocacy has always been one of its strong suits – we have compiled a thorough list of human rights organizations in the Philippines that seek to change things, one at a time,  and discuss what it is they actually do, as well as their advocacies, and most importantly, what YOU can do to help them: whether through volunteering, employment, or anything else in between.

Amnesty International Philippines (AI)
Amnesty International has a very strong presence operating in the Philippines out of its seat in the capital, Manila. Its flagship role in the world, and not least in the Philippines, partnered with its aggressive recruitment strategies in colleges and universities throughout the nation make it a formidable force in Philippine society – and has been forthcoming in its condemnation of President Duterte’s drive against illegal drugs as well as extrajudicial killings.

Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)
PAHRA has been one of the long-standing organizations protecting and defending human rights in the Philippines – in fact, PAHRA was founded in 1986 as a direct front against former President Marcos’s alleged human rights violations and corruption during the Martial Law administration, and maintains a strong following in the country as well as its network throughout Asia.

Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG)
FLAG was founded in 1974 by prominent lawyers and legislators Jose Diokno, Lorenzo Tanada, and Joker Arroyo during the autocratic days of Marcos’ Martial Law administration – 43 years after its foundation as an organization offering quality legal assistance to those who cannot afford to do so, it continues to play a prominent role in promoting and defending human rights; especially for those who need it the most.

Philippine Human Rights Information Center (PhilRights)
PhilRights is the research and development agency of the Philippine alliance of Human Rights (PAHRA) established in 1991. Its main focus is on the development of institutional programs related to human rights policy research, education, and training.

Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFIDP)
TFIDP is yet another organization founded in 1974 by Jesuit Fr. Mel Brady as a direct response to the worsening human rights conditions during the Martial Law era. Since then and until now, TFIDP has involved itself with the documentation of human rights violations and providing human rights educational training, as well as assisting political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.

KARAPATAN: Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
KARAPATAN made its mark during the brutally repressive policies of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s regime towards leftists and communists, as well as their sympathizers. Their work on human rights research and documentation has been vital in safeguarding political freedoms – their founder and General Secretary Marie Hilao-Enriquez has represented the organization in important human rights functions all over the world.

International Peace Observers Network Philippines (IPON)
Hamburg-based IPON provides trained human rights observers from all over the world to monitor human rights situations in various countries – their most important role is to document any human rights violations that occur and to prevent any further abuses to occur simply through their presence. They play an important role in monitoring the situation in far-flung areas in the islands of Visayas and Mindanao.

Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines (CHRP)
This watchdog may be rather small, but it makes up for its size with its very active role in protecting and safeguarding human rights, particularly for the many cases of assassinations of journalists, politically motivated or otherwise. Furthermore, its role in investigating and exposing activities that endanger human rights has been outstanding – and works hand in hand with Amnesty International with its research.

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP)
NP seeks to protect individuals and civilians that are stuck in areas of armed conflict – their ongoing work in overseeing ceasfire agreements in the chaotic province of Mindanao, with its continuing disorder due to continued fighting between government forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is very laudable – keeping the most vulnerable populations safe from harm.

Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD)
Founded in 1998, this organization focuses on the plight of the desaparecidos, directly tackling the problem of forced, arbitrary, involuntary, and unexplained disappearances in many Asian countries, empowering and providing assistance to families affected by such.

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Civil rights defenders

Civil Rights Defenders is a non-profit organization which is committed to human rights, especially civil and political rights. The organization is active in Sweden and has its headquarters in Stockholm. They are however also active in Asia, the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe. The activities of Civil Rights Defenders include the monitoring of states and demanding justice and reparations in case of human rights violations by the government. The organisation furthermore raises awareness for human rights and advocates for the improvement of human rights issues. Lastly, the organisation regularly empowers people who defend human rights by giving them access to training, expertise and support. Working for this organisation requires a degree in among others law, human rights, political science and journalism, as well as a sincere interest in human rights. Most vacancies require fluent knowledge of Swedish, but occasionally there are also jobs advertised which require fluency in English. Currently the organisation is looking for a Swedish speaking Relations Director.

Amnesty International

Amnesty International is a non-governmental organization which was founded in 1961 with the aim to create awareness for human rights violations and fight for justice and reparations for those who have suffered human rights violations. The organization has more than 7 million members worldwide and is therefore a popular employer for people who are interested in working with human rights. Usually the job positions within Amnesty International Sweden require fluent knowledge in both the Swedish and the English language. Amnesty International Sweden is almost always looking for employees to recruit new members and raise money, and occasionally they also post vacancies for job positions such as project leader or legal researcher. The organization furthermore regularly offers internships positions and is always looking for new volunteers.

Sveriges Stadsmissioner

Sveriges Stadsmissioner is the umbrella name for local Stadsmission organisations which operate in many of the Swedish cities. The organization has existed for a long time, and the first Stadsmission organization was created in Stockholm in 1853. Other cities in which Stadsmission is active are Malmö, Göteborg, Linköping, Kalmar, Västerås, Uppsala and Örebro. The organizations focus on people in need who could benefit from immediate help to improve their situation. Most organizations are active with the integration of newly-arrived migrants and refugees, but they also help to improve the situation of local homeless people, kids, youth and elderly people. Stadsmission furthermore raises awareness for the environment, for example via their second-hand stores and their food banks to reduce food waste. Vacancies for Stadsmission can be found on every local Stadsmission website, and most local organizations are often looking for new people to join them.

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)

SIDA is a Swedish government agency which falls under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. SIDA is responsible for most of the official development assistance that Sweden gives to developing countries around the world. The organization aims to create awareness and respect for human rights, gender equality and democracy. Working for SIDA in the human rights and development field requires an academic degree as well as previous relevant work experience. Fluent knowledge of Swedish is required, as well as Swedish citizenship or a permanent residence permit.

UNICEF

UNICEF is a UN programme created by the United Nations General Assembly and provides humanitarian and developmental assistance to both children and their mothers in developing countries all over the world. UNICEF is active in more than 190 countries and most of their work is done in the field. However employees are also regularly needed to support the local organizations. UNICEF Sweden regularly publishes vacancies. Most of the job positions require fluent knowledge of the Swedish language. The organization also offers internships at the Swedish headquarters in Stockholm.

Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI)

The Raoul Wallenberg Institute is an academic institution established by Lund University in 1968. The institute operates independently from Lund University and its main goal is to promote respect for international human rights law as well as international humanitarian law. The RWI performs research, offers academic education and works globally with international development programs. The institute regularly publishes vacancies, both for its headquarters in Lund but also for its regional offices in Asia. Usually these vacancies are for positions as legal researchers or project managers and they require both academic qualifications as well as previous work experience. The RWI furthermore offers internships and scholarships, as well as a fellowship programme.

Doctors Without Borders / Läkare Utan Gränser

Doctors Without Borders is a non-governmental organization which offers humanitarian and medical help in developing countries where war is on-going or where medical assistance is needed to prevent or fight endemic diseases. Although most of the work of this organization is done in the field, usually by nurses, doctors and other medical professionals, there are also people needed to support the local offices worldwide. The Swedish office of Doctors without Borders is for example currently looking for a non-medical development advisor as well as a para-medical development advisor. The job positions usually require academic qualifications and previous work experience in the field of humanitarian assistance and development.

Red Cross / Rode Korset

The organization of the Red Cross consists of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) which is a private institution which works in the field to enforce humanitarian law and assists people who live in warzones. In addition, the Red Cross movement has National Red Cross Societies in almost every country in the world. Roda Korset is the national organization active in Sweden and they offer assistance to people in need within Sweden. The organization gives out food to those who need it and assists migrants and refugees with their asylum process and integration. Currently the organization is looking for a lawyer familiar with migration law, a course leader for first-aid projects, a water engineer and social workers.

Plan Sverige

Plan Sverige is a part of Plan International, an international non-governmental organization with the mission to address the needs of children worldwide. The organization offers education, economic security, health services and clean water and sanitation in developing countries. It furthermore provides trainings to prepare locals for disasters and assists countries where disasters have taken place. The job positions at Plan Sverige require fluent knowledge of the Swedish language. Currently the Swedish organization is looking for an advisor affiliated with children’s rights and a project leader for its fundraising department.

Rädda barnen / Save the Children

Rädda Barnen is the Swedish section of Save the Children International and was founded in 1919. Save the Children is an international non-governmental organization with the mission to promote the rights of children and to provide relief and support to children in developing countries. The organization advocates for policies that promote the rights of young people and are in line with the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child. The Swedish section is regularly looking for new employees such as lawyers, project managers, social workers and consultants. Currently the organization is looking for a social workers, a psychologist and two project leaders with fluency in Swedish.

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International Criminal Court (ICC)

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an intergovernmental organization which plays an important role pursuing international justice and accountability for crimes. The ICC is responsible for the prosecution of individuals who are deemed to have committed international crimes against humanity, as well as genocide and war crimes. The ICC is located in The Hague in the Netherlands. and frequently publishes new vacancies, as well as internships and visiting professional opportunities.

International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (UN-ICTY)

The ICTY is a court of law created by the United Nations to deal with the war crimes committed during the Balkan War in the 1990’s. The main mission of the ICTY is to hold individuals that committed war crimes, genocide, rape and torture accountable for their actions and it has found more than 160 people guilty of these kinds of crimes against humanity. The ICTY frequently publishes vacancies, both for professional level job positions as well as internships and is particularly interesting for individuals, who want to work in international criminal law, humanitarian law and social sciences.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

The International Court of Justice is the primary court of the UN with its headquarters in The Hague in the Netherlands. The ICJ publishes new vacancies all year round, many of which are for legal assistants or translators. Knowledge of Dutch is not necessary, but fluency in either English or French and working knowledge of the other language is often required.

Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon is located in Leidschendam in the Netherlands and it was created to hold trials for the attack in Lebanon in 2005 where 22 people were murdered. There are many career opportunities at the STL, mainly in the field of international criminal law, humanitarian law, and social sciences. The working languages of this tribunal are French, English and Arabic, but in some cases working knowledge of Dutch is required.

Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE)

CARE is an international humanitarian agency committed to the delivery of emergency relief as well as long-term development projects. Its main goal is to eradicate global poverty, not only by offering immediate assistance in the way of money, but also by improving the social status and capacities of vulnerable minority groups around the world. CARE Netherlands currently consists of 35 full-time staff members and it occasionally publishes vacancies for its Dutch office.

PAX

PAX is one of the bigger civil society organization in the Netherlands and is dedicated to global peace, justice and reconciliation. PAX believes that they can build bridges between groups in conflict, and they do this by supporting local peace initiatives and activists aiming for peace. In addition, they campaign for worldwide peace. Some examples of past campaigns are the campaign for a national and global ban on nuclear weapons and the campaign against cluster munitions. PAX vacancies are mainly open for people who are fluent in Dutch, but there are occasionally English speaking job positions as well.

Rutgers

Rutgers is an international center of Expertise in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights with its headquarters in the Netherlands. The mission of Rutgers is to improve the sexual and reproductive health world-wide. Additionally, it is also dedicated to the acceptance of gender equality and sexual rights. The staff members of Rutgers, of which there are around 90 currently, work as technical advisors, researchers and advocates.

VluchtelingenWerk

VluchtelingenWerk is the main non-governmental organization protecting the rights of asylum seekers and refugees, by assisting them during the asylum procedure and helping them to find their place in Dutch society. In addition, the organization campaigns for the acceptance of refugees and for a more humane refugee policy. The organization has more than 13.000 volunteers, as well as around 600 employees in all regions of the Netherlands. VluchtelingenWerk often publishes new vacancies, and almost all job positions require knowledge of the Dutch language.

The Hague Process on Refugees and Migration (THP)

The Hague Process of Refugees and Migration is a non-profit organization dedicated to bring the different Dutch stakeholders together to improve the migration and integration of refugees and other migrants. The organization performs research, gives policy recommendations and advocates for the rights of refugees and migrants. THP is always interested in talented interns, which they take on a rolling basis.

UNICEF

UNICEF is a UN programme implemented by the United Nations Economic and Social Council dedicated to the rights of children worldwide. UNICEF provides humanitarian assistance and emergency relief, assists children and mothers in developing countries and reports on the human rights violations of children.

If you want to work for the international programme UNICEF, you have to apply via the UN system. UNICEF however also has national branches in almost every country, and vacancies for these offices are often published on the national UNICEF website.

Prakken d’Oliveira Human Rights Lawyers

Prakken d’Oliveira Human Rights Lawyers is a Dutch law firm situated in Amsterdam and its main fields of interests are human rights law, migration law and criminal law. The firm is known for the court cases that it takes on, it was Prakken d’Oliveira lawyers who represented the victims of the genocide in Srebenica against the Dutch state and it was also involved in the case against Geert Wilders, who had to come before court for discriminatory statements he had made during one of his rallies. In order to work for this lawyer firm you must be fluent in the Dutch language and have knowledge of Dutch procedural law. The firm occasionally posts job vacancies, and is currently looking for a legal secretary for its section that specializes in international law. It is also possible to follow an internship or traineeship.

Terre des Hommes

Terre des Hommes is an organization with the mission to prevent child exploitation. The organization offers education to children to improve their future and it furthermore protects and removes children from exploitative situations. Terre des Hommes Netherlands is mainly active in Asia and has a regional office in Cambodia. Knowledge of Dutch is not required in order to work for Terre des Hommes.

Amnesty International

Amnesty International is a non-governmental organization which focuses on human rights and creates awareness for human rights violations in almost every country. It is one of the oldest human rights organizations and has over 7 million members world-wide. Amnesty International has a Dutch office located in Amsterdam, which counts around 90 salaried employees and 70 volunteers. In addition, it has countless of regional groups which are often maintained by volunteers. Amnesty International publishes vacancies quite frequently, both for its headquarters and for its regional and local offices.

War Child

War Child is a non-governmental organization comprised of regional War Child organizations, and the Dutch organization is currently the largest War Child Office. The mission of War Child is to help children who have suffered through war, and to empower them so that they can improve their future and those of people around them. Working at War Child can be both in the field, and in the Dutch office. War Child is also regularly in need of interns and volunteers.

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Survival

Survival is a human rights group that is committed to protect native populations around the world. Particularly, the group works with indigenous populations in the UK as well as in the U.S., Germany, France, Spain and Italy to help preserve cultures and fight for equal rights. The organization also provides support for overseas projects in Africa, Central and South America, Australia and Asia, providing financial aid and administrative support to tribal-led humanitarian projects.

The British Institute of Human Rights

The British Institute of Human Rights is an organization that serves British citizens, permanent residents and immigrants, championing human rights. Through legal representation and lobbying, the group defends human rights and stands up against all types of human rights abuses in the UK and abroad. The group also provides training sessions for individuals in the nonprofit, public and private sectors whose work relates to human rights and maintains a blog about human rights law.

Privacy International

Privacy International is a registered UK charity that is dedicated to protecting the privacy of people around the world and defending the right of privacy against all levels of government encroachment. The group investigates government surveillance techniques and sheds light on practices that infringe on human rights. Findings are made available to the public and used to prepare briefings for government agencies. Their work has brought to light attempts to illegally monitor citizens of the UK and people around the world.

CCJO René Cassin

CCJO René Cassin is an organization that was established to fight for human rights as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Steeped in the Jewish faith, the group champions human rights in the UK and abroad in a variety of ways. They analyze policy, engage in advocacy and launch campaigns to educate the public about important human rights topics. The group is named for a French-Jewish jurist who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1968 for his work in human rights.

Fair Trials International

The Fair Trials International is a nonprofit founded to defend the universal human right of being entitled to a fair trial when convicted of a crime. Individuals who believe they are being unjustly imprisoned or otherwise being denied the opportunity for a fair trial can seek help from the group’s team of lawyers and advocates to fight for their rights. Their work has spanned the globe and helped thousands receive fair trials in accordance with international law.

REDRESS

REDRESS is a human rights organization that is fighting to end the practice of torture around the world. Through casework, advocacy and partnering with other organizations, the group works to get justice for individuals who have been tortured by governments around the world. In addition, the group exposes instances of torture perpetuated by governments in an effort to put a stop to these methods of interrogation and intimidation.

Amnesty International (International Secretariat)

Amnesty International is a global organization that has offices all around the world. The Office of the Secretariat is based in London, UK, and more than 7 million people actively volunteer or work for the group worldwide. Amnesty International began by fighting the death penalty and has gone on to expand their mission to include fighting for all types of human rights through advocacy, public awareness campaigns, legal representation and peaceful protests.

Women Aid International

Women Aid International is a humanitarian group and development organization that has been fighting to benefit women since 1987. The purpose of the group is to improve the lives of women living all over the world. Humanitarian aid is provided to women living in poverty, and the group supplies development grants to programs that are seeking to lift women out of poverty. In addition, the group conducts research into women’s issues, spreads awareness about human rights issues and provides assistance for health promotion and disease prevention.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is dedicated to fighting corporate infringements on human rights around the world. Every day, the organization busily monitors the performance and policies of more than 6000 large companies based in more than 180 countries. Instances of human rights abuses are reported to the public and addressed directly with companies. The center also advocates and lobbies governments around the world to strengthen laws that protect people from rights abuses from corporations.

Anti-Slavery International

Anti-Slavery International is a human rights group that has been fighting to put an end to slavery since 1839, making it the oldest human rights group in the world still in existence today. Originally, the group was founded by a team of British abolitionists to bring an end to the slave trade in England and the U.S. Now, the group focuses on ending forced labor, bonded labor, human trafficking, child labor, descent-based slavery, slavery in supply chains, the exploitation of migrant workers and forced and early marriages.

Article 19

Article 19 is a group dedicated to fighting for the universal right of freedom of expression in all of its forms. Through a variety of endeavors, the group seeks to promote the right for people around the world to speak out about their social, cultural, political and economic views and for the press to be able to freely report on world events without censorship. The group also fights for the right to know or the free flow of information to the public via art, Internet, media, academic writings and government data sharing.

Girls Not Brides

Girls Not Brides is a group that draws on the resources of 600 different civil and nonprofit organizations around the world, pooling together people from 80 different countries to fight the practice of forcing children to marry at a young age. The group was founded in September 2011 and does work in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Minority Rights Group International

Minority Rights Group International is an organization that consists of 130 partner organizations located in 60 countries. While these organizations are spread around the world, they are all working toward a common goal–ensuring that the rights of indigenous people and those living in poverty are protected. The group provides training and education, legal representation, media awareness campaigns, cultural programs and publications related to these topics of human rights.

JUSTICE

JUSTICE is a human rights organization that crosses party lines in the United Kingdom to fight for reform of the civil, criminal and administrative justice system in the country. Their goal is to improve the fairness, accessibility and efficiency of the legal system and to ensure that the rights of everyone who appears in a UK court are equally protected under the law.

Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI)

The Media Legal Defence Initiative is an organization that provides legal representation for bloggers, journalists, reporters, photo journalists and other independent producers of media. Their assistance is designed to help those who are sued in criminal or civil courts of law for reporting information of public interest receive a chance at a fair trial with the ultimate goal of strengthening and protecting the universal human right of freedom of the press.

Freedom from Torture

Freedom from Torture is a nonprofit organization that provides support for individuals who were victims of torture abroad. Founded more than 30 years ago, the group provides free medical services, counseling and other interventions to help those whose lives have been destroyed by torture start over. The group also actively campaigns against all forms of torture.

Equal Rights Trust

The Equal Rights Trust is an organization that is dedicated to helping fight for human rights around the globe. At the present time, the trust is involved in more than 40 countries, working through advocacy, development, movement building and litigation to improve human rights conditions. Specifically, the group seeks to protect individuals who have been discriminated against on the basis of their nationality, religion, gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, socioeconomic status and social status.

European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC)

The European Human Rights Advocacy Centre is an organization that is dedicated to bringing instances of human rights abuses to light and helping those whose rights have been infringed upon get justice. Through their legal team, the group brings cases that deal with violations of the European Convention on Human Rights to the European Court. Since 2003, the center has successfully received settlements of more than €9.5 million for the individuals that they represented and have won 97 percent of all cases that they brought before judges.

Advice on Individual Rights in Europe (AIRE Centre)

The Advice on Individual Rights in Europe or AIRE Centre is a nonprofit organization based in London that believes everyone is entitled to legal representation when their basic human rights have been violated. The organization provides free legal advice to individuals, helping to interpret European rights laws and the law of the European Union, so that individuals who may have a case know what steps to take next. The organization has a team of expert lawyers available to provide advice and representation as needed.

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Carter Center

The Carter Center was founded by Rosalyn and Jimmy Carter and Emory University to help fight for human rights and ease human suffering wherever it exists. In particular, the group works to help find peaceful resolutions to conflicts, provides access to quality medical care and helps to campaign for democracy and freedom across the globe.

Amazon Watch

Amazon Watch is fighting to protect the rain forests of the Amazon and the indigenous people who call the rain forests home. Since 1966, the group has battled deforestation in the Amazon Basin through public awareness campaigns, lobbying and advocacy. The group works with a number of tribal organizations and environmental groups to safeguard areas of rain forest that are under threat.

UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund or UNICEF is a program sponsored by the United Nations that is headquartered in New York City but dedicated to improving the lives of children all over the world. Through a number of programs, the group protects human rights, fights hunger and homelessness and works to ensure that all children have access to medical care and education.

Coalition for the International Criminal Court

The Coalition for the International Criminal Court is a group of more than 2500 organizations based in more than 150 countries. Their mission is to ensure that proceedings through the International Criminal Court are fair and transparent. Of specific interest to the group are cases related to war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.

Center for Economic and Social Rights

The Center for Economic and Social Rights or CESR is an advocacy group fighting for human rights around the globe. Through a number of different endeavors, the group works to ensure that people have access to food, clean water, housing, health care, education and work and fights for economic, social and cultural equality for all people.

Public International Law & Policy Group

The Public International Law & Policy Group is a nonprofit organization that provides completely free legal assistance to individuals and governments. With offices in more than 25 countries, the PILPG has played a major role in the drafting of major peace agreements and post-conflict constitutions.

Committee to Protect Journalists

The Committee to Protect Journalists is fighting for freedom of the press around the world. Their mission is to put an end to journalists being persecuted, intimidated, imprisoned, tortured and murdered for trying to shed light on human rights abuses and other stories of international interest.

Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration (ORAM)

The Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration or ORAM is a nonprofit organization that works internationally to protect refugees and asylum seekers. Through direct advocacy, public policy advice, legal representation and public awareness campaigns, the group helps those who have been displaced due to violence, natural disaster and poverty settle in new areas and have a chance at a better life.

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

Human Rights Watch is a nonprofit with 400 workers around the globe all working together to help defend human rights and fight human rights abuses wherever they occur. Their team consists of lawyers, journalists, political and economic experts and academics. Every year, the group publishes more than 100 briefings that shed light on human rights violations.

International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ)

The International Center for Transitional Justice is a nonprofit organization involved in the fight for transitional justice on a global scale. One of the key functions of the group is to provide advise for policymakers and state institutions. In addition, the group works with victims groups, human rights groups and women’s organizations that are fighting for social justice on the ground.

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Amnesty International

The German section of Amnesty International is based in Berlin, so there are frequently open paid positions and internships available for those who wish to assist with this world-renowned nonprofit’s efforts to fight for human rights around the globe.

European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights

The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights frequently has paid positions and pro bono opportunities for lawyers and those in related fields. Its mission is to provide representation for cases that deal with violations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Heinrich-Böll Stiftung

A major nonprofit, Heinrich-Böll Stiftung is an organization with a large budget committed to furthering democracy and championing equal rights. Through numerous projects, they help to put an end to discrimination on the grounds of national origin, ethnicity, religious beliefs and sexual orientation.

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Affiliated with one of Germany’s political parties, the SPD, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is a foundation that provides consultancy work on topics related to peace-keeping, security, human rights, gender equality and social justice. Positions for those with degrees in law, social science or economics are frequently open with the organization.

Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom is affiliated with the FDP party of Germany and performs a wide variety of services to help spread liberal democracy and defend human rights. Civic education is a major focus of the organization.

Flüchtlingsrat Berlin 

Dedicated to helping to fight for and defend the rights of refugees, Flüchtlingsrat Berlin is a network of various groups and individuals. Much of the work of the organization is done by volunteers; however, some full-time and consultant positions are found within the NGO.

Global Public Policy Institute

A completely independent think tank, the Global Public Policy Institute of Berlin conducts research and then develops strategies to advise governments and companies on topics related to human rights and other issues. Individuals with international public policy experience can often find work here as an employee or consultant.

Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch conducts research to uncover human rights abuses and violations throughout the world. Although small, their satellite office in Berlin is known to hire individuals with strong backgrounds in human rights research methodology.

Institut für Menschenrechte 

The Institut für Menschenrechte is working to defend human rights in a wide variety of ways. Employees of the institute are involved in conducting research, drafting recommendations and developing policies for the German government and international governments.

Transgender Europe 

If you’re passionate about fighting for transgender rights, working with Transgender Europe is a perfect fit for you. The organization seeks to raise awareness about transgender rights and to provide policy advice on related issues. Positions are all volunteer.

TwentyFifty 

TwentyFifty is involved in consulting with foreign governments around the world to protect both human rights and the planet. While the firm is based in London, the company has satellite offices in Berlin and hires consultants to assist with projects.

Weltfriedensdienst e. V.

Also known as the WFD, the Weltfriedensdienst e. V. is focused on ensuring equal rights for men and women in developing nations and is well-known for their work to raise awareness about HIV. The organization hires field workers and has offices in Berlin for support personnel.

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The Foundation for Human Rights

The Foundation for Human Rights was founded to help defend human rights and fight discrimination in post-apartheid South Africa. Established in 1996, the foundation provides grants to fund programs that increase access to justice, defend constitutional rights and further participatory democracy in the country. Aiming to ensure that justice is equally applied to all citizens of South Africa, the foundation also provides increased access to education for vulnerable groups in South Africa through support of various programs. Funding for the foundation is provided primarily by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development of the Republic of South Africa. The offices of the Foundation for Human Rights are located in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Human Rights Institute of South Africa

The Human Rights Institute of South Africa is an NGO that seeks to strengthen human rights culture, spread peace and further democracy in South Africa and in other parts of the world. Established in 1994, the institute was born out of the work of the Institute for the Study of Public Violence, which was founded the previous year by the Goldstone Commission Inquiry. The NGO partners with civil society groups, special advocacy groups and the South African government and provides training for human rights workers stationed in the field throughout Africa.  In addition, the institute performs advocacy work with both the African Commission and the African Court. Research is another important part of the NGOs function. The institute is located in Johannesburg, South Africa, but many positions do require extensive travel.

Sonke Gender Justice

Sonke Gender Justice is a nonprofit organization that seeks to promote equality for all men, women and children living in South Africa and across the rest of the African continent. Nonpartisan and fully independent of government groups, the organization is striving to put an end to domestic and sexual violence in Africa. Another aim of the group is to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDs and to help those who are already infected receive access to medical care. Founded in 2006, the organization also defends the rights of at-risk groups, including migrants, refugees, adolescents and those in the LGBT community. The organization provides community education, partners with African governments and develops and implements community programs to achieve its mission. It operates out of offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bushbuckridge and Gugulethu.

HOPE Cape Town

HOPE Cape Town is helping to combat the HIV and AIDS epidemic, focusing on public health in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. In 2001, the nonprofit organization was founded by the Revered Father Stefan Hippler and Dr. Monica Esser to provide treatment for children in the region who were born with or infected with HIV. From there, the mission of the group grew with an expanded focus to offer care for all individuals who are HIV positive. The organization trains community health workers in areas where there is little access to medical care and provides free health care through their Delft Community Health Clinic. The main offices for the nonprofit are located in Tygerberg, South Africa, on the University of Stellenbosch campus.

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