Non-profit organizations and charities alike often host donor events to advocate their cause in a creative and interactive manner. Although supporters of such organizations often donate on a regular basis, donor events are an innovative and proven way for supporters to engage with the community.  Moreover, donor events encourage donations with greater emotional intent and conviction. Whether an event is conducted online or in-person, organizing it can be rather daunting and requires a great amount of effort, resources and motivation. Regardless of the size and scale of the donor event, here are 10 steps on how to organize it more successfully.

#1. Define the purpose and cause of the donor event

Before starting any preparations for a donor event, it is vital for the organizing committee to define the purpose and cause of the event. By understanding what cause is being promoted to raise funds. This helps to establish cohesion and a central vision within the organizing committee. Donor events with a concrete vision of their purpose and cause hold greater impact in the long run as they help donors and supporters of the non-profit organization to connect with the cause on a more intimate level.

#2. Establish a fundraising goal

Setting a clear fundraising goal will help to establish the scope and scale of the donor event. It will also put the ambitions of the event into context. Although most fundraising goals revolve around a specific monetary value that is set as a target, non-profit organizations and charities can also set more qualitative goals to help guide their purpose. For instance, organizing committees can set a goal of retaining 50 new recurring donors or a goal to gain greater public presence, measured by increases in social media engagement. However, since the main purpose of a donor event is to raise funds for a certain cause, organizing committees should aim to collect donations that are over 30% of the upfront costs and expenses associated with hosting the donor event.

#3. Establish a budget

Hosting donor events, regardless of the size and scope, are costly endeavors that require a budget. As non-profit organizations and charities often have tight budgets to begin with, establishing a comprehensive budget is crucial for the organizing committee to ensure they do not overspend and waste unnecessary funds. One important rule of budgeting is for organizing committees to set aside unanticipated expenses within their budget in order to allocate a financial buffer in the case unexpected issues or costs arise. Afterwards, the organizing committee should take time to formulate ideas on how to keep expenses to a minimum, such as adopting a donor event volunteer program to reduce labor costs or choosing to host the event through an online medium.

#4. Define the target audience

Although some may consider inviting the maximum possible amount of people to the event, non-profit organizations and charities should instead concentrate efforts towards appealing to a specific audience. Focusing advocacy efforts on a niche audience ultimately changes the nature of the message the organizing committee wants to convey to their audience and will have a huge impact on the outreach of the event.

#5. Select an appropriate venue and date

After determining the budget, the purpose and the target audience of the donor event, the organizing committee should consider the logistical aspects of the event in order to bring the fundraiser to life. It will be integral for the organizing committee to select a venue that fits the vision and theme. Moreover, the venue needs to be appropriate for the number of people who will attend. Typically, organizing committees should aim to decide the date and venue of a donor event around 6 months prior to the event so that prospective donors can mark the fundraiser in their calendars early in advance.

#6. Determine how donations will be collected

As the primary purpose of a donor event is to raise as much funds as possible, it will be important for the organizing committee to determine how donations will be collected at the event. Although ticket sales may be the main source of collecting funds, organizing committees should also look towards creating opportunities to gather donations throughout the event. While traditional cash donations continue to be a major source of fundraising income, contactless and cashless money transfer systems have gained more popularity in recent years.

#7. Arrange guest speakers and entertainment

A donor event would be bland and boring without guest speakers and some form of information or entertainment. Organizing committees should determine guest speakers at least 3 months prior to the event in order include them in promotional materials when advertising the event. Guest speakers should be individuals who have a close connection to the non-profit organization or are renowned within the sector you are choosing to promote. The speakers should be prepared to inspire prospective donors and attendees and encourage them to donate more towards the cause. Similarly, the organizing committee should reserve information and entertainment in order to keep the event lively – live bands, theatre groups, artists, vocalists and string quartets are common options.

#8. Event promotion

Once much of the logistical aspects of the event are set, it is time for the organizing committee to promote the event to the greater public. Promotional tactics should be mindful of the target audience they have chosen to focus upon, as this will influence the ways prospective attendees will interact with the invitation. While using social media platforms such as Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are good starts towards promoting the event, organizing committees should also look towards personalizing invitations to prospective donors. Oftentimes, prospective donors prefer receiving personalized invitations via email or letters and organizing committees should cater promotional materials in tandem with the targeted audience demographic.

#9. Run a dress rehearsal of the event

To ensure there are no logistical gaps within the event, the organizing committee should run a dress rehearsal of the donor event at the designated venue before the event. This way, volunteers, staff and guest speakers alike will have a general understanding of the flow of the donor event and can determine what worked and what did not work before logistical issues emerge. As a result, it will be important for the organizing committee to book the venue for at least 2 days in order to rehearse the event and prepare all staff involved to dedicate an entire day rehearsing for the event.

#10. Feedback forms and letters of appreciation

Following the donor event, it will be crucial for organizing committees to follow up with attendees and donors who participated in the event. Whether it be emails or direct phone calls, thanking donors for their time and support will encourage them to donate more in the future and make them feel valued. Similarly, in order to better donor events in the future, organizing committees should look towards collecting feedback from attendees in order to have an outside perspective of how the event ran and what attendees considered was successful and unsuccessful. The evaluation is a valuable resource for organizing the next event. Finally, let’s look into why donor events are important.

Why Are Donor Events Important?

Given the logistical hurdles and the amount of planning donor events, non-profit organizations and charities may wonder why they should dedicate the time to host such events. Here are 3 major reasons as to why organizations should periodically host fundraising events.

A) Strengthens relationships and support within the non-profit organization and attendees

As donor events are characterized by a multitude of moving parts and logistics, individuals involved in the planning and execution of the donor event will find a greater sense of community. Organizing the event will strengthen the relationships they have and be a team building exercise.

B) Spreads awareness of the chosen cause

Although logistical aspects may be overwhelming at times, organizing committees must remember to keep their initial purpose and vision in mind throughout the organizational process in order to spread awareness of the chosen cause. As donor events are centred around a specific cause, any outreach and advocacy efforts will help to spread awareness of the issue to not only donors, but the public at large. Because donor events are personal experiences, they are a powerful tool that participants will remember.

C) Builds a solid donor base through recognition

One of the most effective ways of retaining a donor base is to give donors and attendees the spotlight. Recognizing their philanthropic activities and contributions towards the non-profit organization, is a great way to ensure they feel valued for their important contributions. Awards, event participation and naming certain tables, prizes and aspects of the event after invested donors can be a way to highlight the most loyal donors. Doing this will also help donor retention in future events and donation programs. It will also pave the way towards new and innovative ways of fundraising and engagement with donors in the future.

The post How to Organize Donor Events in 10 Steps appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Non-profit organizations heavily rely on the contributions of donors who financially support the mission and the visions of the organization. While all donors provide remunerative assistance, donors vary in their donating patterns and types, whether they be individual donors who provide on a periodic basis, or corporations that sponsor a specific event. Non-profits need to be aware of the differences between different types of donors in order to understand donating patterns and formulating a fundraising plan that coincides with the behaviours of donors. This article will explore 6 different types of donors and highlight how each one can contribute to non-profit organizations.

#1 Prospective Donors

Prospective donors are individuals who have not yet donated to a non-profit organization but hold the potential to provide assistance in the future. Prospective donors often include past event participants, volunteers and family members and friends of existing donors. As they are prime candidates for supporting a non-profit organization, it will be integral for the organization to keep prospective donors updated on activities and recent developments through mailing programs, appeal letters, monthly newsletters and annual reports, alongside inviting prospective donors to events and crowdfunding initiatives.

#2 Mass Donors

Mass donors are average individual donors who provide monthly or infrequent donations that range from $5 to $250 dollars. Despite their small donations, they typically constitute the largest amount of a non-profit’s donation base and typically provide their donations through mail, phone or via the website of the non-profit. Mass donors are typically reached through mass marketing strategies and communications are often centred upon stewardship and impact messaging related to their philanthropic deeds. Although many mass donor solicitations are often generic and non-personalized, non-profit organizations should look to personalize messages in order to retain a high level of engagement.

#3 Major Donors

Major donors are individuals who hold the capacity to provide large donations to a non-profit organization and often hold a personal connection with the organization. Despite only constituting 20% of donors, major donors typically give over 80% of a non-profit’s total revenue through gifts that range from $5000 to $25,000. Communication and solicitation with major donors should be highly personalized and should only receive select fundraising communications that align with their personal views and opinions. Cultivating a deep relationship with major donors is integral for the success of a non-profit organization and will require great effort through personalized proposals, networking and communication.

#4 Corporate Donors

Corporate donors are corporations that provide large donations to be philanthropic. These donors require a very different approach of interaction with non-profit organizations, as corporate donors expect several marketing opportunities from their donation, whether it be a major press release announcing their gift or the naming of a certain building, institution or event. Although corporate donors are more rare, non-profit organizations should look towards reaching out to prospective corporations who share similar values to the organization and potentially appeal for their cause and mission.

#5 Legacy Donors

Legacy donors are donors who typically provide planned gifts that are to be given at a future date, typically bequests in their will or gifts that are to be donated after their passing. Planned gifts by legacy donors can include bequests, securities, insurance, charitable annuities, property and artefacts. Legacy donors look towards continuing an impact even after following their passing and creating a legacy for decades to come. Non-profit organizations should look towards building strong relationships with major donors in order for them to become legacy donors that are truly passionate towards the missions and visions of the organization. To do this, non-profits should focus their communications with prospective legacy donors about creating an impact and leaving a legacy for future generations.

#6 Foundation Donors

Foundation donors are donors that also work as non-profit organizations that are based on communities, families and corporations. As a non-profit organization, foundation donors are subject to taxation laws and as a result, give a percentage of their revenue to other non-profit organizations or charities in order to retain their tax-free status. Foundations typically provide monetary assistance through grants and focus on certain issues that the non-profit organization is working upon. In order to establish a philanthropic relationship with a foundation donor, non-profit organizations should build partnerships with other non-profit organizations or charities that share similar goals or visions in order to pave way towards future donations.

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Whether it be promoting greater road safety in your local neighborhood or the protection of women’s rights, advocacy plays a major role in having the voices of citizens heard by individuals in power. Through advocacy, individuals are able to foster a sense of community and solidarity in order to promote their cause to the wider public. Here are 10 reasons why advocacy is important and how it holds an impact on all aspects of life.

#1 Advocacy enables people to be heard

Advocacy allows individuals to have their voices heard in the public sphere, attracting attention from politicians, the media and high-profile individuals around the world. By advocating for a cause, individuals are able to spotlight their perspective to the wider community and act as a catalyst for change. Without advocacy many voices would remain silenced. If we didn’t have advocates, we would miss out on critical support for many important issues.

#2 Advocacy supports the protection of human rights

Issues that are advocated for are often based on protecting the rights of humans. Through advocacy, communities at large will have a greater awareness of their rights and societal entitlements and the infringement of rights marginalized groups in society face today. The promotion of the rights of women, education, and safety are all issues that pertain to the protection of human rights and are often discussed and negotiated in the societal sphere.

#3 Advocacy influences laws and policies

Similar to having the voices of individuals heard in the public sphere, advocacy can directly influence decisions in public policy. As communities advocate for a certain cause or issue, politicians and law makers alike will become increasingly aware of such issues and may consider including the perspectives of advocates into formal law or policy. This is crucial for social change and holding perpetrators to account.

#4 Advocacy enables people to better understand each other

Depending on the success and outreach of advocacy efforts, major celebrities, famous entrepreneurs and philanthropists may be influenced by the promotion of a certain cause in society. Such outreach will enable influential individuals to make a public statement on such issues and may help to change the status quo of society and enact greater and meaningful change. Moreover, members in the community will be exposed to certain issues and topics which is the first step to a better mutual understanding.

#5 Advocacy promotes problem solving and participation

All advocacy efforts require communities and groups to collectively work together and solve problems. From organizing logistics of advocacy efforts to organizing public protests, communities will need coordination skills in order to ensure the smooth facilitation of advocacy efforts. Participation and participatory decision-making is crucial for advocacy work.

#6 Advocacy highlights available resources and services

Although advocacy works to fight for the rights of marginalized individuals and groups in society, a positive externality of advocacy is the discovery of resources and services that may be available to assist advocacy efforts. Whether it be additional financial resources to further fund advocacy initiatives or governmental services that can assist marginalized groups, greater advocacy can allow people to utilize resources and services that were previously thought unattainable.

#7 Advocacy educates the greater community

Nelson Mandela was quoted saying that “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”, and this can be directly applied to the importance of advocacy in society. Oftentimes, people are unaware of the injustices and grievances groups face around the world and advocacy efforts can help shed light and educate the greater public on such issues. Advocacy is a learning process and can help equip people with the skills they need to defend and claim their rights.

#8 Advocacy fosters respect for a cause

Advocacy is important because not only does it help make the world a better place, it also fosters respect for issues that concern the world today. Fostering respect and solidarity are integral for advocacy efforts to move forward and enables individuals, groups and people in power alike to find common ground and solve problems in a civil manner.

#9 Advocacy makes people feel stronger

Oftentimes, individuals may be afraid or feel a lack of motivation when trying to advocate for issues that hold great personal intent because they are alone. A strong support network can help people get back their drive and trigger momentum. Advocacy efforts thrive when implemented in a group context, as people are strengthened by the presence and will of other people.

#10 Advocacy helps NGOs to thrive

Non-profit organizations and NGOs are often founded upon a central goal or mission that works to make the world a better place. Advocacy for certain causes will help non-profit organizations strive towards such goals and will garner greater attention from the public eye, which will help them to make a change in the world through their ambitions, hopes and dreams for the future.

The post 10 Reasons Why Advocacy is Important appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Despite celebrating their status as a “young and free” country in their national anthem, Australia is no exception to the several human rights abuses that occurs within the nation. In this article, we’ll explore the plethora of human rights issues that challenge Australia today, ranging from its systemic discrimination towards its Indigenous people to the freedom of expression on Australian soil.

#1 Refugees Rights

Despite proposals on terminating asylum seeker offshore processing in Papua New Guinea and Nauru, the Australian government has made the decision to continue its policy indefinitely, sparking criticism from human rights activists worldwide. Since its inauguration in 2012, all asylum seekers who arrive by boat are required to undergo mandatory indefinite detention and processing offshore. Several refugees who have transferred from Papua New Guinea and Nauru have been detained in hotel rooms with limited sunlight, fresh air and room to exercise. At least 12 refugees have died in Australia’s offshore processing policy since 2013, with half of the deaths attributed to suicides. In 2021, a Kurdish asylum seeker sued the Australian government, arguing that the government’s use of hotel detentions were unlawful and breached the human rights of refugees and asylum seekers.

#2 Indigenous Rights

Indigenous Australians have consistently been overrepresented in the criminal justice system, comprising a third of the adult prison population, despite constituting only 3 percent of the Australian population. During 2021, over 11 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians died in custody and a prison officer faced court charges for manslaughter for shooting an Indigenous prisoner.

#3 LGBTI Discrimination

Despite progressive work in promoting the equality of LGBTI people in Australia, young Australians continue to face discrimination for their identity as having same-sex attraction. A study found that 61% of LGBTI Australians reported suffering from verbal abuse and approximately 20% facing physical abuse. Over 80% of homophobic discrimination and bullying occurs at schools, leading to higher cases of school dropout, depression and mental health issues.

#4 Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment and violence against women are one of Australia’s pressing human rights issues, with one in three Australian women experiencing violence in an intimate relationship, and one in five facing sexual violence. Domestic and sexual violence against women is also cited to be the greatest contributing factor of homelessness in Australia.

#5 Incarceration of Children

In Australia, Indigenous children are 21 times more likely to be detained than non-Indigenous children, highlighting the disproportionate effect of incarceration on ethnic minorities. Approximately 600 children under the age of 14 are imprisoned each year and despite calls to raise the age of criminal indictment from 10 to 14 years to match recommended international standards, the Australian government has consistently declined such requests. Furthermore, a 2020 report by the South Australian Guardian for Children and Young People revealed that imprisoned children were subject to invasive body searches and treatment in Adelaide’s Youth Detention Centre.

#6 Freedom of Expression

Several Australian universities have failed to protect the freedom of expression of students from China and academics and students who criticize the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Such lack of protection has led Chinese students and academics vulnerable to harassment, intimidation and attacks by pro-CCP groups, with pro-democracy students self-censoring themselves to avoid threats and being “reported” by peers to Chinese authorities.

#7 Disability Rights

Human Rights Watch recently discovered that between 2010 and 2020, approximately 60 percent of prisoners who died in Western Australian prisons had a disability. Within this segment of prisoners, 58 percent died due to limited resources, a lack of support and mental health services, suicide and violence, highlighting the inadequacies of the criminal justice system in Australia.

#8 Rights of the Elderly

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there were over 650 COVID-19 associated deaths in aged care homes in the state of Victoria, with many outbreaks cited to be preventable.  The pandemic has highlighted the inadequacies of the aged care industry in Australia and the gaps in regulations. In fact, several aged care facilities use dangerous drugs without written consent of patients to control the behavior of the elderly with dementia and the federal government has yet to ban the practice.

#9 COVID-19 Restrictions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian government restricted the rights of its own citizens from entering and leaving the country, with strict quarantine and quota measures leaving over 43,000 of Australian citizens stranded overseas. Following a spike of COVID-19 cases in India in May 2021, the Australian government implemented harsh fines up to AUD $66,000 or five years in prison for Australian residents and citizens who chose to fly between India and Australia. Despite similar spikes in COVID-19 cases in the United States and the United Kingdom, no bans and criminalization policies were implemented for these countries.

#10 Homelessness

On any given night in Australia, 1 in 200 people are homeless and find themselves unable to stay under a safe and affordable roof. Over a third of homeless people in Australia are under the age of 18 and domestic violence, poverty and sexual assault are the leading causes that drive up homelessness rates in Australia. Consequently, is the societal by-product of systemic inequalities and human rights issues that urgently need to be addressed.

The post 10 Biggest Human Rights Challenges in Australia appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

As a universal language that transcends cultural barriers, music is a medium where people and artists alike can have their voices heard in a manner that words alone cannot. Music has often been used to foreground pressing political and societal issues, including the promotion and protection of human rights. These 15 artists have used their musical talent and platform to share awareness of human rights issues across the world and bring a voice to marginalized members of society.

Pete Townshend

Pete Townshend is an English musician, songwriter and vocalist of “the Who” rock band, one of the most influential rock ensembles during the 1960s and 1970s. Alongside his career in the rock music industry, Townshend has a long history of charity and philanthropic work for human rights issues, advocating for greater drug rehabilitation and activism for children’s rights. In 1979, Townshend was the first musician to perform for Amnesty International’s Human Rights Concerts and inspired other renowned rock musicians to support the human rights cause. Townshend is quoted saying, “Amnesty does things that I can’t do in my work. It deals with the specifics of injustice… It makes them public. It was 1979 that I appeared at ‘The Secret Policeman’s Ball’… It was amazing subsequently to see what ‘The Secret Policeman’s Ball’ triggered. Quite big names got involved in supporting Amnesty. And it became apparent that big names in music and Amnesty melded very well. It’s good to see that what I did kicked that off…”

Sting

Performing under the stage name, “Sting”, Gordon Sumner is a Grammy-Award winning guitarist, vocalist and songwriter who is renowned for his work as both a solo musician and an ensemble musician with the rock band “the Police” between 1977 – 1984. Sting is heavily involved in human rights activism, having written songs inspired by his concern for world hunger and oppressive political regimes, and has also extended his activism beyond music by writing an open letter for the decriminalization of drug possession in the United Kingdom in 2011. He has also signed several petitions against the death penalty in Belarus and has cancelled concerts in response to human rights issues in several countries. Sting’s humanitarian activism has been recognized by Amnesty International and he has performed for the NGO’s Human Rights Concerts on several occasions.

Bono

Described as the world’s best known philanthropic performers and most politically effective celebrity of all time by the National Journal, Bono (Paul Hewson) has worked extensively as a rock musician in the band U2, a philanthropist and human rights activist. Focusing much of his efforts into advocating the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty in Africa, Bono has lobbied governmental entities to adopt human rights-based policies under his positions as the co-founder of ONE, a global movement campaigning to end extreme poverty. More recently, Bono raised awareness of vaccination against COVID-19 and vaccine inequality around the world and in April 2022, Bono recorded an acoustic rendition of “Walk On” by his band, U2, for the Global Citizen’s Stand Up for Ukraine livestream, urging global leaders to support Ukrainian refugees. Bono was also invited by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to perform in a metro station in Kyiv, showing his solidarity to Ukraine under invasion from Russia.

Peter Gabriel

Rising to fame as the lead singer of the rock band Genesis, Peter Gabriel has been an active rock musician, singer and producer whose music has been awarded nine MTV awards, Brit Awards and Grammy Awards throughout his musical career. Aside from his musical accomplishments, Gabriel is the co-founder of WITNESS, a human rights non-profit organization that supports local organizations document human rights issues and advocacy. In recognition of his humanitarian work, Gabriel was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 and was named as one of the most influential people in the world in 2008 by Time Magazine.

Angélique Kidjo

Awarded “The Ambassador of Conscience Award” by Amnesty International in 2016, Angélique Kidjo is a Beninese singer-songwriter renowned for her creative music videos and unique musical style that integrates Afropop, Congolese rumba, jazz and Latin music genres. Within her 30-year musical career, Kidjo has been a prominent advocate for the expression of freedom, the education of girls in Africa and has expressed concerns regarding female genital mutilation and has worked as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2002. Alongside her major ambassador roles, Kidjo is the founder of The Batonga Foundation, a non-profit organization that empowers women in Benin and upskills these women for socio-economic mobility.

Lang Lang

Described as one of the most exciting and accomplished classical musicians in the world, classical pianist Lang Lang has not only revolutionized the classical music industry but has also used his music as a way to advocate for human rights globally. Appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and a Messenger of Peace, Lang Lang primarily advocates for children’s rights and access to education through concerts that raise funds for UNICEF and other humanitarian crises.

Buffy Sainte-Marie

As an Indigenous Canadian singer-song writer and composer, Buffy Sainte-Marie’s music primarily revolves around the issues faced by the Indigenous peoples of Canada and the United States. Buffy began her advocacy efforts for the protection of Indigenous artists, performers and their intellectual property by establishing the Nihewan Foundation for Native American Education in 1966 and has moved on to founding The Creative Native Project, an initiative which seeks to empower Indigenous youth in the performing arts. More recently, Buffy was awarded the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award and was invited to the Canadian Music Week in 2020.

Maxim Vengerov

Hailed as one of the most talented violinists in the 21^st century, Maxim Vengerov was the first classical musician to be appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1997. Alongside his musical accomplishments, Vengerov has focused much of his advocacy on the promotion of children’s education and rights and has visited countries such as Turkey, Uganda and Bosnia and Herzegovina representing UNICEF. Vengerov has also performed at #EndViolence events in Bucharest, Romania for UNICEF Romania.

Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen is an American singer-song writer, known as one of the original founders of the heartland rock genre, which combines elements of mainstream rock music with narratives of the American working class. Throughout his musical career, Springsteen has been a long advocate for LGBT rights, the empowerment of women and democracy, using his international platform to raise awareness of social issues. Springsteen was first invited to perform for Amnesty International in 1988 and has since continued his advocacy of human rights through his music.

Nadya Tolokonnikova

As the leader of the Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot, Nadya Tolokonnikova uses her musical platform to spread awareness of human rights issues through her music. As a passionate feminist, Tolokonnikova delved into themes of sexism and rape culture in her newest EP, Panic Attack, and has agreed to donate a portion of the proceeds from her EP to a shelter for domestic violence in Russia. Tolokonnikova herself was recognized by a political prisoner by the Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners and Amnesty International described her as a “prisoner of conscience” due to the “severity of the response of Russian authorities.”

Piera Van de Wiel

Piera Van de Wiel is a British singer and composer who uses her music as a platform for her human rights advocacy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Van de Wiel released a single, “Used”, to raise awareness of the increase in domestic violence and abuse against women during the pandemic with the support of the United Nations Spotlight Initiative. Alongside her musical pursuits, Van de Wiel is the founder of the non-profit organization, Stronger With Music, a movement that works towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Evan Greer

Evan Greer is a trans/genderqueer artist based in Boston who composes acoustic songs that advocate technological security, LGBTQ rights and movements for justice and liberation. Alongside their musical accomplishments, Greer is the founder of a non-profit organization called Fight for the Future, which aims to secure digital rights and banning unethical technological practices.

Max Richter

German-British composer and pianist Max Richter is one of the most prominent composers of the 21^st century, boasting over a billion streams of his music and a million album sales throughout his 25-year musical career. Richter has previously responded to the Iraq War, the 2005 London terrorist attacks and the Kosovo War through his music and his most recent album, “Voices” takes inspiration from the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. All ten of the tracks (except for the final song) incorporate text from the 1948 UNDHR document and Richter himself has stated that the album is a response to the human rights abuses around the world and the need for social justice and equality of humans around the world.

Hans Zimmer

Composer of award-winning films such as The Dark Night, The Lion King and The Rock, Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer has established himself as one of the most eminent film composers in history. Zimmer was invited to compose an anthem to celebrate Amnesty International’s 50^th anniversary, titled “One More Voice for Freedom” in commemoration for International Human Rights Day. Zimmer himself is quoted saying “it was a privilege to create this piece of music for a cause which is so close to our hearts” and that it is my “hope that the anthem will inspire people to support Amnesty’s vision of a world where fundamental rights are protected for everyone. We should all join Amnesty in standing up for justice, freedom and human rights”.

Alicia Keys

Dubbed as the “Queen of R&B”, American singer-song writer Alicia Keys has intertwined her passion for music with human rights activism through her extensive philanthropic work in her musical career. Keys is the co-founder of the non-profit organization, Keep a Child Alive, that provides treatment and social support to children and families affected by HIV in Africa and India. As part of her work in Keep a Child Alive, Keys host an annual fundraising gala called the Black Ball, where she invites major musical artists to perform at the event to raise funds for HIV and AIDS activism.

The post 15 Artists Using Music to Promote Human Rights appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Development coordinators at NGOs are required to possess a wide range of professional and soft skills in order to be successful. Acting as the backbone for many activities and projects, development coordinators are a central figure in all aspects of human rights advocacy, from managing fundraising efforts to promoting a healthy work environment. Here are 10 skills a development coordinator will need in their day-to-day jobs:

#1 Project Management

Project management is an integral skill for individuals aspiring to become a development coordinator at an NGO, as there are always multiple projects running simultaneously that require a high level of organization and management skills. As human rights NGOs work with governmental entities, law firms and other non-profit organizations, a development coordinator is required to stay on top of targets, deadlines and timelines of projects, while maintaining a high quality of output. Furthermore, as human rights NGOs typically work in small teams, it is important for a development coordinator to manage a project and assign achievable goals to team members through effective planning and execution. Consequently, human rights professionals will need excellent project management skills to develop a team that work to create concrete change in the human rights sector.

#2 Fundraising

Funding is often a major hurdle for NGOs as many human rights organizations rely on donations and grants in order to conduct their activities. A lack of funding often leads to a reduction of projects, advocacy and support for the human rights agenda, and has sadly led to the closure of many NGOs worldwide. Consequently, development coordinators need excellent fundraising skills and the ability to develop relationships with donors, organizations and trusts in order to secure funding for the NGO. Human rights professionals will need to employ creative strategies and think outside the box with an entrepreneurial spirit in order to continue previously established flows of funding and find new avenues for fundraising. Oftentimes, development coordinators will host fundraising events and keep donors updated on their activities to maintain relationships with their biggest sponsors.

#3 Communication

The heart of the working at an NGO lies within strong communication, as development coordinators are constantly required to liaise with other departments, colleagues, donors, governmental institutions and other organizations outside the NGO. As human rights professionals often find themselves working with stakeholders and the public, it will be integral for development coordinators to be able to communicate in both a professional and social settings. Furthermore, as development coordinators are often interviewed by major news outlets and invited to speak at press conferences, it is important for human rights professionals to be prepared for public speaking and understand that their presence and communication skills will have a huge impact on how the public perceives human rights issues.

#4 Resilience

Development coordinators will often be faced with confronting images of human rights abuses around the world and be directly exposed to individuals who have first-hand experience of traumatic incidents that infringed their rights as humans. Although holding the capacity to help these people directly may be personally and socially fulfilling, human rights professionals must be emotionally prepared in their day-to-day activities at work and ensure that these emotions do not overwhelm their professionalism and mental state. Consequently, not only do development coordinators require a high level of empathy and compassion towards the human rights agenda, they must also be mentally prepared to support stakeholders in order to support the protection of human rights.

#5 Crisis Management Skills

Working in the human rights sector is definitely not for the faint-hearted, as there can be many threats to the integrity and survival of an NGO. Human rights NGOs are often the target of smear campaigns and other attacks and thus require staff to deal with such threats in a calm and effective manner. Development coordinators will be one of the first people in contact when such a crisis occurs, and it is crucial for these professionals to focus on the situation at hand by pinpointing the root of the issue under a stressful environment. Moreover, crisis management will require human rights professionals to respond and make decisions quickly, alongside manage expectations of the issue at hand for other members in the NGO. Finally, flexibility lies in the heart of effective crisis management skills as the volatility of issues requires development coordinators to adapt to quickly changing situations with mental composure.

#6 Event Management Skills

In order to promote fundraising efforts, development coordinators will work extensively in organizing donor events and charity dinners, which require high levels of event management skills. As one of the key people within an NGO, development coordinators often are responsible for organizing an event team, marketing, inviting prospective donors and coordinating the logistics of the event. Organizing a large-scale fundraising event will require development coordinators to not only have interpersonal skills, flexibility and the ability to keep calm under pressure, they also need creativity to host a memorable and successful event. Consequently, professionals in the human rights sector require a plethora of soft skills and leadership initiative in order to organize a fundraising event and promote their cause and passion for human rights advocacy to the wider community.

#7 Advocacy Skills

Advocating for clients within the human rights sector is an integral skill for development coordinators in order to communicate on behalf of marginalized communities. As NGOs are used as a platform to ensure the voices of victims of human rights voices are heard, it is important for human rights professionals to share their stories in an empathetic and effective manner, in order to spread awareness of such issues to the broader public. Advocacy efforts have huge potential in gaining public support and will help to create concrete change at local, national and international levels. Furthermore, advocacy efforts also require development coordinators to develop excellent listening skills to fully understand the stories of victims and support these vulnerable people by having their voices fairly represented in the public sphere.

#8 Monitoring and Evaluation

As many projects conducted at human rights NGOs are funded by grants and the donations of supporters, development coordinators are responsible for upholding the accountability and transparency of the work of the NGO. In order to facilitate reporting the activities of the NGO back to stakeholders and donors, development coordinators are required to use their monitoring and evaluation skills to maintain a strong relationship with the individuals who fund these human rights initiatives. Not only does monitoring and evaluating the activities of an NGO provide transparency to stakeholders, it also helps to analyze and determine the progress of projects by tracking achievements and reflecting upon what strategies were effective. This process of evaluation helps facilitate the decision-making process and ensures that NGOs are effectively making an impact upon the communities they work with.

#9 Promote healthy work environment

Although development coordinators work extensively with outside stakeholders, clients and institutions, they also hold an important role in determining the work environment within the NGO. As NGOs often work in small teams across different projects, it is the responsibility of development coordinators to create a sense of cohesion and direction for staff by fostering a safe work environment where all staff feel comfortable sharing their ideas and insights towards human rights advocacy. In order to promote a healthy work environment, development coordinators can commit themselves to incorporate values of equity, ethics and morality into their day-to-day activities and place respect and trust at the top of their agenda. For instance, human rights professionals can create a safe work environment by respecting cultural and gender norms within the workplace and establish avenues where staff can express their concerns in an impartial and respectful manner.

#10 Teamwork Skills

Teamwork is a central aspect when working as a development coordinator at an NGO due to the synergy created by multiple people working towards a common goal or solution. Not only does teamwork foster a greater diversity of ideas and approaches to solve pressing human rights issues worldwide, it also increases work-flow speed and enables greater efficiency when working on group projects. Development coordinators will often find themselves in a leadership role as they coordinate the distribution of tasks, members of the project and the logistical aspects of the project, which ultimately require human rights professionals to use their problem solving and interpersonal skills in order to create a successful project that promotes human rights advocacy.

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Despite being renowned as a multicultural democracy that celebrates its international reputation for upholding the human rights of its citizens, Canada has struggled to address several of its own human rights abuses within its own borders. Here are 10 human rights challenges that continue to plague Canada, ranging from the country’s longstanding discrimination against their Indigenous communities to the breaching of the rights of criminals and migrants in the nation.

Rights of Indigenous Canadians

First Nations communities in Canada have long lived in the shadows of their colonial oppressors, facing systemic discrimination as their rights as humans are breached. Indigenous Canadians live on lands called reserves that are equipped with inadequate water treatment systems, which have led to a health and sanitation crisis in First Nations communities. The lack of access to clean water has led to considerable mental, social and emotional crises for Indigenous communities, highlighting the lack of action the Canadian government has taken to protect the rights of First Nations.

Violence Against Indigenous Women and Children

Indigenous women and children face disproportionately higher levels of violence and are at higher risk of being murdered in Canada. Indigenous women and girls are twelve times more likely to be murdered or go missing that any other demographic group in Canada and are three times more likely than non-Indigenous women to be assaulted. The violence against Indigenous women stems from systemic racism and deep colonial attitudes that perpetuate discrimination across Canada and are exacerbated by sexist and misogynistic perception of women in the country.

Immigration Detention

The Canadian federal government adopted new policy regulations in 2018 that require children to be held in immigration detention as a “last resort”. Although the number of detained children has decreased over the years, the average time they spent in detention facilities rose, highlighting the structural issues of immigration that continue to plague Canada. Furthermore, despite the introduction of the National Immigration Framework in 2016, Canada has seen a rising trend in immigration detainees in prisons – in 2019, the Canadian Border Services Agency detained 7212 people in immigration holding centres, compared to 6609 people in 2017.

Religious Freedom

In April 2020, the Supreme Court of Canada refused to consider whether Quebec’s controversial ban on religious symbols should be suspended. Introduced in 2019, Bill 21 banned civil servants, teachers and police officers in Quebec from wearing religious symbols when providing or receiving government services. Religious symbols such as hijabs, kippahs and turbans are subject to the ban, underscoring the province’s racist and discriminatory attitude towards religious freedom.

Corporate Accountability

Canada has consistently failed to implement reforms to hold major mining corporations accountable for human rights abuses that occur behind closed doors. The Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise currently do not hold the authority to investigate human rights abuses that occur within the mining industry, which prevents the association from exposing the exploitation by Canadian companies that work overseas in the oil and gas trades.

Women’s Rights

Women in Canada are disproportionately more likely to face financial insecurity, violence and workplace harassment compared to their male counterparts. According to the Canadian Women’s Foundation, 10% of women in Canada live on low incomes and every six days, a Canadian woman is killed by her intimate partner. Such phenomena stem from systemic sexism and gender-based discrimination, alongside societal expectations for women to be the primary caretakers of the home, where they engage in unpaid work in childcare.

Counterterrorism

The Canadian government has failed to support and repatriate Canadians who are unlawfully detained in jails due to alleged connections with the Islamic State (ISIS). Approximately 47 Canadians have been detained in these prisons for over a year, living in overcrowded and inhumane conditions and none of these individuals have been charged with any crime. Human Rights Watch speculates that the Canadian government has deliberately withheld support for its citizens due to their suspected connections with ISIS, highlighting the discriminatory attitudes towards counterterrorism.

Unlawful transfer of weapons

Despite the militarized repression of demonstrators in Colombia, Canada has continued to support and transfer weapons to Saudi Arabia, arguing that there would be no “substantial risk” that the arms would be used to commit human rights abuses. This unlawful transfer of weapons breaches Canada’s international obligations to the Arms Trade Treaty and underscores the perpetuation of the violation of human rights conducted by the Canadian government.

Rights of Migrants

Migrants in Canada continue to exploited for their labor, living in “conditions of modern-day slavery”. According to a report released by The Migrant Rights Network, migrants live in destitute accommodation, characterized by a lack of privacy and cleanliness and are desperate for respect and dignity as people. Alongside testimonies of migrants, the report also cited concerns regarding the control employers have over migrant workers, particularly surveillance and control over their movement.

Solitary Confinement

Although solitary confinement was abolished in Canada in 2019, federal jails have continued to use solitary confinement as a way of punishing criminals in prisons. Some inmates have been cited to be kept alone in their cells for extended periods of time, to the extent where it meets the United Nation’s definition of torture. In fact, a Canadian study found that approximately 30 percent of prisoners did not get four hours outside their cells and 10 percent met the UN definition of torture.

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Although Japan is a liberal democracy and hosts one of the largest economies in the world, many human rights challenges still need to be resolved. Here are ten of the biggest human rights challenges in Japan that should urgently be addressed.

#1. LGBTQ Rights

Although the Tokyo Metropolitan Government adopted a major ordinance that protects sexual minorities from discrimination, the national Japanese government has yet to implement an anti-discrimination bill that protects LGBTQ communities and people. While several prefectural governments have passed laws recognizing same-sex relationships with certificates, these documents are unofficial and not legally binding, highlighting the structural barriers LGBTQ individuals face in Japanese society.

#2. Discrimination against Zainichi Koreans

Zainichi Koreans are ethnic Koreans who permanently live in Japan without holding Japanese citizenship and hold roots from the Japanese occupation of Korea in World War Two. This marginalized group in Japanese society are often heavily discriminated in local communities, schools and the workplace and are often urged to hide their Korean identity to avoid such discrimination. In fact, Japanese firms continue to utilize discriminatory hiring practices against Zainichi Koreans, evident by the ethnic minitoriy’s unemployment levels more than double of the average Japanese national, underscoring the systemic racism that plagues Japanese society.

#3. North Korean abduction of Japanese Citizens

Between the 1970s and 1980s, several Japanese citizens were abducted by the North Korean government, and although only 17 Japanese citizens have been officially recognized as have been abducted, there are continuing speculations that there are hundreds of more Japanese citizens who were abducted by the regime. While Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga claimed he wanted to discuss the issue with the North Korean government further, he resigned in 2021 before he could partake in discussions with Kim Jong-Un. Current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has yet commented on the abduction controversy.

#4. Buraku Discrimination/Dowa Issue

Buraku discrimination is a unique human rights issue to Japan that stems from discrimination against the descendants of Japanese social outcasts in the feudal era. As social status was a hereditary trait in the Tokugawa era, these social outcasts were heavily discriminated against and subjected to severe restrictions in all aspects of their lives, including where they lived, their jobs and marriages. These social outcasts were forced to live in “Dowa Districts” and discrimination against them and their descendants are known as Buraku Discrimination.

Although the feudal caste system was abolished in 1871, this has not stopped social discrimination against Burakimin (people with Buraku ancestral roots) – Burakumin in more rural areas of Japan continue to live in sub-par living conditions, lower economic status and educational standing. Furthermore, Buraku discrimination often manifests itself in marriage discrimination and employment practices and many older generation Japanese citizens associate Burakumin with criminality and low social standing.

#5. Death Penalty

Concerns about the death penalty in Japan has long been raised as prison inmates have attested as to having insufficient access to legal resources and given no warning at all before their death sentences. Families of death row inmates are only notified about the execution only after it has taken place and the entire process is shrouded in secrecy.

#6. Migrant Worker Rights

The Japanese government’s infamous “Foreign Technical Intern Training Program” has drawn great criticism for its human rights violations, as foreign workers, typically from Southeast Asia, are bound to their sponsoring employers with no option of changing jobs. These trainees have faced illegal overtime, sub-minimum wages and worked in dangerous working conditions and over 170 technical interns have died between 2012 and 2017.

#7. Children’s Education Rights

Approximately 16% of foreign children living in Japan are not attending school and the prevalence of children out of school contravenes Article 26 of the Japanese constitution which states that “all people shall be obligated to have all children receive ordinary education”. This also violates Japan’s commitment under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and underscores the structural issues that prevent foreign children from obtaining an education.

#8. Criminal Justice

Japan’s criminal justice system has long been criticized for violating the human rights of criminal suspects. Criminal suspects in Japan are held in captivity for long periods of time to coerce a confession under sub-par conditions and Japanese criminal procedure laws prohibit lawyers from being present during criminal interrogations.

#9. Recognition of Indigenous Ainu Peoples

The Ainu people are the traditional custodians of the Hokkaido region in Japan and were forced to assimilate into Japanese culture throughout the 20^th century. Descendants of the Ainu people are disproportionately more likely to live in poverty compared to their Japanese counterparts and continue to face social discrimination in Japanese society due to their misperceptions and hindrance on the welfare systems of the country.

#10. Women’s Rights

Women in Japan face structural barriers that prevent them from taking an active role in society. Women are often subjugated in the workplace through sexual harassment and many employers automatically assume that female workers will take time off from the workforce after giving birth, making it harder for women to get career promotions. Furthermore, women also face domestic violence from their spouses and are victims of stalking incidents, which have sometimes led to assault and murder.

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Human Rights Watch Japan

Human Rights Watch Tokyo is the Japanese subsidiary of Human Rights Watch, which works to investigate and research human rights abuses both globally and within Japan. Human Rights Watch Japan regularly lobbies local governments, businesses and other groups to adopt a human rights based approach in their practices and encourage them to change their policies and laws. As an independent research entity, Human Rights Watch Japan receives its funding from its donors and refuses government and corporate funding.

Human Rights Now

Human Rights Now (HRN) is an international human rights NGO based in Tokyo, Japan with UN special consultative status. HRN was established in 2006 by a group of human rights professionals, as the first international human rights NGO based in Japan. With over 700 members comprised of various human rights specialists, HRN works for the promotion and protection of human rights for people in the world, with a special focus on Asia. Furthermore, HRN looks to contribute to the development of international human rights standards and norms through the UN and other international institutions and promote the incorporation of international human rights standards within the domestic framework of Japan.

Japan International Cooperation Agency

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is a governmental institution that delivers the majority of the Japanese government’s official development assistance (ODA). JICA is chartered with assisted economic and social growth in developing nations and the promotion of international cooperation and human rights protection.

Amnesty Japan

Amnesty International Japan is the Japanese subsidiary of Amnesty International, which works to create a world in which the freedom and dignities of people are equally protected. As the world’s biggest NGO founded in 1961, Amnesty International has amassed over 10 million advocates in 200 countries around the world and through its international presence, Amnesty distributes its independent research and proposes recommendations to the United Nations and other governmental entities. Amnesty International Japan was founded in 1970 and works to inform Japan and the wider community of human rights violations occurring around the world, with a special focus on Japan and the broader Asian region.

World Vision Japan

World Vision Japan is the Japanese subsidiary of World Vision, an international NGO that provides development assistance, humanitarian assistance and advocacy based upon the spirit of Christianity. World Vision Japan was established in 1987 and in 2021 alone, has implemented 169 projects in 36 countries and provided development assistance and emergency humanitarian assistance in over 100 countries. Alongside its international activities, World Vision Japan amassed over 60 million yen in donations and used its funding for supporting local business activities and human rights advocacy.

Hurights Osaka

Hurights Osaka (otherwise known as the Asia Pacific Human Rights Center) was established in 1994 with ambitions to collect and provide comprehensive human rights research in the Asia-Pacific region. As an international human rights NGO that aims to foster mutual understanding and friendship across the Asia-Pacific, Hurights Osaka hopes to contribute towards the international exchange of Osaka and nurture the understanding of human rights within the prefecture. Currently, Hurights Osaka works towards the human rights cause through research, human rights training courses and seminars, public relations and consultations with stakeholders.

The International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)

The International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) is an international human rights NGO established in 1988 in Tokyo, that aims to eliminate all discrimination and racism globally. As the first human rights NGO based in Japan to obtain consultative status with the United Nations, IMADR has set up an office in Geneva and works with UN agencies across the world. In Japan, IMADR’s work centres around the support of the Indigenous Ainu people in Hokkaido and the Ryukyu people in Okinawa, alongside Zainichi Koreans living in Japan. By amplifying the voices of marginalized social groups in Japan, IMADR actively shares their research and experiences to governmental entities to ensure such issues are recognized by the world.

JANIC

JANIC is a network of civil society organizations based in Japan promoting to solve international human rights issues by uniting and supporting over 100 organizations to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice. Founded in 1987 in the heart of Tokyo, JANIC’s mission centres around the strengthening the institutional capabilities of Japanese human rights NGOs and the facilitating of collective action to the wider Japanese civil society to influence the policies and practices of governments and institutions at both the domestic and international levels. Alongside JANIC’s commitment to supporting NGOs, the organization itself also works to disseminate information and knowledge concerning people’s living conditions in developing regions of the world and enlighten the general Japanese public on the role of NGOs and encourage them to participate in NGO activities in any form.

Tokyo Metropolitan Human Rights Promotion Center

The Tokyo Metropolitan Human Rights Promotion Center was initially founded as the Tokyo Dowa Business Promotion Association in 1971, which aimed to address the “Buraku” discrimination issue, a human rights issue unique to Japan that is based upon the social, cultural and economic discrimination of certain social groups due to historical prejudices in Japanese society. Later, the organization broadened its scope of activities to include human rights violations against children, women, the disabled, foreigners, the Indigenous peoples of Japan and criminals. Since its establishment, the Tokyo Metropolitan Human Rights Promotion Center has worked to raise awareness of human rights among the citizens of Tokyo by implementing human rights education projects to contribute to the solution of human rights issues in Japan.

Centre for Human Rights Education and Training

The Centre for Human Rights Education and Training was established in October 1987 under the management of Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to address discrimination and human rights issues in Japanese society. Currently, the organization is focusing its efforts on educating the Japanese public on human rights issues by supporting and coordinating with various human rights institutions, alongside governmental entities, public organizations and companies. Alongside the centre’s human rights research and training programs the organization opened a human rights library endorsed by Japan’s Ministry of Justice in 2000 to provide greater education and awareness of human rights issues both abroad and domestic.

AAR Japan

AAR Japan was founded in 1979 with a mission to help refugees from Indochina as a civil organization without any political, religious or ideological affiliations. Since its beginnings in the late seventies, AAR Japan has grown into an international human rights organization approved and registered with the United Nations that reaches out to the most vulnerable populations around the globe. Active in over 60 different countries, AAR received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for their international activities providing emergency assistance, support for disabled people, mine clearance, action against infectious diseases and raising public awareness.

Japan Civil Liberties Union (JCLU)

The Japan Civil Liberties Union (JCLU) is a public interest corporation whose sole purpose is to protect basic human rights. Established in 1947, JCLU conducts research and proposals focusing on the freedom of expression, education and the human rights of foreigners, alongside supporting plaintiffs in human rights proceedings. JCLU is also a member of the International Federation for Human Rights (ILHR) and the International Federation for Human Rights (ICJ) and obtained the special consultative status of the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 2003. Alongside its research initiatives and pursuits, the organization publishes a JCLU newsletter every quarter.

Japan Association for Refugees (難民支援協会)

The Japan Association for Refugees is a Japanese NGO that provides comprehensive assistance for refugees from their arrival in Japan until they have comfortably settled in their new homes. The Japan Association for Refugees works as a project implementing partner under contract with the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and provides legal, social and integrative support for refugees, alongside publish an annual report on their activities and advocacy in both Japanese and English.

Japan Alliance for Legislation to Remove Social Barriers based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (J-All)

The Japan Alliance for Legislation to Remove Social Barriers based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (J-All) is a Japanese organization founded in 2015 with ambitions to legislate laws in Japan to remove social barriers based on sexual orientation and gender identity. J-All advise and evaluate a wide range of policies by referring to past cases, data, views of experts and track records of cooperation with local governments, alongside provide legal support and consulting for private businesses. To advocate their cause to the greater Japanese public, J-All also hosts lectures and study sessions regarding the various systems and social trends of LGBTQ issues on behalf of local governments, private companies, labor unions and educational institutions.

Japan International Center for the Rights of the Child (C-Rights)

The Japan International Center for the Rights of the Child (C-Rights) is a certified NPO that works towards the realization of the rights of all children around the world. Established in 1992, C-Rights works to promote and realize the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Japan and abroad, particularly in developing countries and achieve a world where the rights of every child set forth in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are realized, and children can pursue the happiness regardless the situation they are in or country where they reside. Much of their advocacy and activities are centred around supporting children in Cambodia, particularly issues of child labor and human trafficking.

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Asian states have ratified a variety of international human rights conventions. Nevertheless, human rights abuses and violations are common. People and refugees are facing arbitrary detention, torture and enforced disappearance. Beside learning about human rights from world-class lecturers, studying with a regional focus comes with many unique perks and invaluable experiences. Here are 6 human rights law schools in Asia for you to consider:

University of Hong Kong – Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong

Master of Laws (LL.M) in Human Rights Programme

The University of Hong Kong established its Master of Laws in Human Rights Programme in 1999 in order to focus on international human rights issues, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. As an interdisciplinary programme, students are required to draw upon other disciplines such as history, politics, philosophy and sociology to ensure human rights law is understood in context. By the end of the programme, students will have learned to understand the international human rights legal framework, reflect on human rights challenges from global, regional and domestic perspectives and apply their knowledge to advocate for real change. Teachers include renowned experts in the field from around the world including eminent scholars, judges, United Nations (UN) human rights mandate holders, and heads of non-governmental organisations.

Soochow University – Taipei, Taiwan

Master Degree in Human Rights Program

As the only human rights master degree offered in Taiwan, the Master Degree in Human Rights Program aims to deepen the education and research of international human rights and train students to apply their knowledge to the real world. Students are required to complete 24 credits of coursework focusing on “human rights philosophy topics”, “special topics and research on history of human rights thinking” and “special topics on international human rights law”, alongside a thesis and internship in the field of human rights. To complement the human rights education, Soochow University hosts several seminars and human rights weeks every year to exchange information with international scholars.

Mahidol University – Phutthamonthon, Thailand

Asia Pacific Master of Arts in Human Rights and Democratisation (APMA)

The Asia Pacific Master of Arts in Human Rights and Democratisation (APMA) is a 12-month interdisciplinary graduate program jointly offered by the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies of Mahidol University (Thailand), Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines, Kathmandu School of Law (Nepal), University of Colombo (Sri Lanka), and Universitas Gadjah Mada (Indonesia). The program is designed for students who seek a deeper understanding of regional and global human rights issues and the promotion of democracy, peace and development in the Asia Pacific.

By the end of the program, students will have excellent knowledge of theory and practice of the promotion and protection of human rights and democratization, the ability to undertake independent scholarly research on human rights and democratization issues in the Asia Pacific and apply their knowledge of human rights in real situations.

Students will study at Mahidol University for their first and second semesters and will later proceed to study at their chosen partner university (Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines, Kathmandu School of Law in Nepal, University of Colombo in Sri Lanka, or Universitas Gadjah Madah in Indonesia) where they take their remaining classes.

Paññasastra University of Cambodia – Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Master’s Programmes in International Human Rights Law, Faculty of Law and Public Affairs

The Master’s Programmes in International Human Rights Law is offered by the Faculty of Law and Public Affairs at Paññasastra University of Cambodia (PUC-FLPA). Offered in English, it is an international level programme that draws on the academic and practitioner strengths of the Faculty as well as the extensive number of human rights experts associated with Paññasastra University of Cambodia (PUC). Since 2014, the Master’s Programmes
in International Human Rights Law is offered with support from the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI), an independent academic institution affiliated with Lund University in Sweden.

By the end of the program, students will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of international and regional human rights, with a focus on the Asia Pacific region, hold high level competency in research, writing, critical thinking and analysis, advocacy, legal reasoning and problem-solving and utilize their knowledge and competency to help promote and protect human rights.

University of Jember – Jember, Indonesia

Master Program in Human Rights (MA/LLM)

The Master Program in Human Rights (MA/LLM) is a program offered by the University of Jember’s Centre for Human Rights, Multiculturalism and Migration and aims to promote the research of human rights. To advance the advocacy and research of human rights, the Centre for Human Rights, Multiculturalism and Migration conducts annual conferences, inviting world-renowned professors, practitioners and policymakers and publish scholarly articles in the Journal of Southeast Asian Human Rights.

Hitotsubashi University – Tokyo, Japan

Democracy and Human Rights Program, Institute for Global Governance Research

The Institute for Global Governance Research of Hitotsubashi University offers its graduate democracy and human rights program, which aims to promote a deeper understanding of the current state of the liberal international order through research on the global situation of democratic and human rights norms and institutions. The program trains students to craft policy proposals that contribute to the maintenance of the liberal international order and research and defend liberal values.

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Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – Tokyo, Japan

JICA is a governmental agency that delivers the majority of official development assistance for the Japanese government and aims to bolster socio-economic growth in developing nations and promote international cooperation. JICA offers a specialized application process for new graduates with no prior experience and provides housing and commuting allowances for its staff. Employees are also expected to have overseas assignments across the Asia Pacific every 2-4 years throughout their time at JICA. New graduate recruitment at JICA occurs annually in April and successful applicants will start their position in the following April.

Human Rights Now – Tokyo, Japan

Human Rights Now (HRN) is an international human rights non-governmental organization with UN special consultative status and works for the promotion and protection of human rights with a specialized focus on Asia and Japan. Human Rights Now regularly posts job openings on its website and often recruits motivated individuals with 0-2 year’s experience. Alongside full-time work opportunities, Human Rights Now also has an extensive internship program for university students.

Japan Association for Refugees – Tokyo, Japan

The Japan Association for Refugees (JAR) provides assistance for refugees from their arrival in Japan and until they can lead a self-supporting life.  JAR works as a project implementing partner in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and aims to gain legal, social and integrative support for refugees in Japan. JAR occasionally recruits entry level candidates with 0-2 years of experience who are committed to human rights advocacy and upload job postings on their website.

Citizen’s Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR) – Seoul, South Korea

The Citizen’s Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR) is the world’s oldest non-governmental organization devoted exclusively to the protection of human rights in North Korea and was the first organization to bring human rights violations in North Korea to the attention of the United Nations and the international community. NKHR periodically posts job openings on their LinkedIn page and are eligible candidates should possess a relevant university degree, in which no professional experience is necessary.

Justice Centre Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Justice Center Hong Kong is a non-profit organisation that works in partnership with community members across Hong Kong to support refugees, asylum seekers and other forced migrants. The organization seeks to recruit passionate individuals committed to the protection of refugees and is open to hiring individuals with minimal professional experience. Justice Center Hong Kong also has an internship program for university students seeking to delve within the human rights industry following graduation.

Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR) is a non-partisan and non-profit organisation aimed to promote and protect human rights in Malaysia through its UNDIMSIA! civic education program and strategic litigation approaches. MCCHR is often on the lookout for university graduates with approximately 2 years of experience to join their team and regularly posts new positions on their online job board.

Asia Pacific Forum – Remote

Founded in 1996, the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) has created a strong and united platform that brings together national human rights institutions (NHRIs) from all corners of the Asia Pacific to address some of the most serious human rights challenges in the region. APF works in East Asian and South East Asian countries such as Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, India, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong. Employment opportunities are often advertised on their website and many of their posted jobs do not require prior professional experience.

Covenants Watch – Taipei, Taiwan

Covenants Watch is a human rights NGO based in Taipei, Taiwan, dedicated to monitoring the implementation of the international human rights instruments by the Taiwanese government. Renowned for its comprehensive research publications in human rights issues and treaty reviews, Covenants Watch recruits both full-time workers and interns on their website and encourages driven individuals to apply.

Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association – Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Founded by a group of former political prisoners in 1991 after the signing of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements and the conclusion of the Cambodian Civil War, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit and non-governmental organization that seeks to monitor and investigate human rights violations in Cambodia. Alongside its commitment to protect human rights, ADHOC provides free legal assistance and support to victims, empower individuals and communities to enable them to defend their rights, and engage in advocacy work through its Central Office in Phnom Penh and its 17 provincial offices across the country. While ADHOC recruits individuals with varying levels of experience, the organization regularly posts job openings for motivated individuals aged 25 and older who hold a university degree and does not necessarily have prior professional experience.

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