Front Line Defenders

Front Line Defenders was established in 2001 in Dublin with the goal of protecting human rights defenders at risk and those who work for any or all of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Their HQ is based in Dublin, but they also have office in Belgium, the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

They provide grants to strengthen and protect human rights defenders to be able to continue their work. For example, these grants cover legal fees for those who are judicially harassed, medical fees for those who have been attacked, and family assistance for imprisoned human rights defenders. The part of their work is also campaigning and lobbying at the international level for the protection of human rights defenders.

Amnesty International Ireland

Amnesty International Ireland is the Irish branch of Amnesty International, an international human rights organization fighting against human rights violations worldwide. The Irish branch of Amnesty International has around 20.000 supporters campaigning on issues such as refugee rights, ending torture and reproductive rights.

Amnesty International Ireland investigates and exposes facts about human rights violations and campaigns towards governments to ensure they respect international law. They mobilize supporters to campaign for change and supports people in claiming their rights through training and education.

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission national human rights and equality institution. They were established with a purpose to promote and protect human rights and equality in Ireland, and build a culture of respect for human rights in the country.

One of the most significant aspects of their work is providing legal assistance to help people defend their rights, as well as contributing to legal cases that deal with human rights violations. They also work at the policy level to review the effectiveness of human rights and equality laws and cooperate with civil society to monitor and report on human rights and equality on the ground.

FLAC

FLAC is a human rights organization that was established to promote equal access to justice for all. Their vision is ‘’ of a society where everyone can access fair and accountable mechanisms to vindicate their rights’’.

FLAC offers free and confidential legal information and advice to people and helps them access their legal rights. They also carry out research and analysis of human rights law to achieve greater equality, especially for groups who are more marginalized. Last, but certainly not the least, FLAC advocates to bring about the legal change in areas in which laws are discriminatory and unfair.

Nasc

Established as a human rights NGO, Nasc’s mission is to empower migrant communities to realize and fulfil their rights. They work closely with migrants and refugees to advocate for a change within Ireland’s protection and immigration systems.

Nasc’s name derives from the Irish word ‘’link’’. They link migrants and refugees to their right. Their goal is ‘’to realize the rights of all migrants and refugees within Irish society’’, as well as to ensure fairness, access to justice and the protection of human rights.

Afri

A Dublin based NGO, Afri works to promote human rights, peace, justice and environmentalism, with a special focus on the Global South and injustices caused by conflict. Their mission is to influence policy and practice both in Ireland and internationally on human right, global justice, peace, and sustainability issues.

Afri organizes and conducts campaigns and events on issues such as climate change, poverty, war and militarization, democracy, food sovereignty, corporate accountability and natural resources. They also hold workshops and talks attended by grassroots activists, and conduct educational campaigns in schools, colleges and communities on all the issues mentioned above.

Doras

 Doras is NGO working to promote the rights of migrants in Ireland. Their vision for Ireland is ‘’a society where equality and respect for the human rights of migrants are social norms’’.

Through promoting and upholding the human rights of migrants, Doras advocates and campaigns at all levels for change in policy and legislation. They also provide legal aid on immigration and asylum issues, direct provision, family reunification, and employment rights to over 1.200 migrants annually. Last, but not least, they work with external stakeholders ‘’to ensure that all those who now call Ireland their home feel valued, recognized and appreciated’’.

Migrants Rights Centre Ireland

Migrants Rights Centre Ireland is a national organization working with migrants and their families in the country to promote empowerment, equality and justice.

One of the core areas of their work is providing support to migrants in minimum wage and unregulated work since these populations are at a higher risk of becoming exploited and poor. They also provide support to victims of trafficking for labor exploitation, as well as to undocumented, unemployed or underemployed migrants. To facilitate their activities, the Migrants Centre Ireland provides access to rights, information, conducts case work, and works with migrants in campaigning.

Irish Refugee Council

Irish Refugee Council is an working with a mission to ‘’ promote and protect the rights of people seeking protection and those recognized as refugees in Ireland.’’

They work with people who fled their countries due to war or conflict and it is no longer safe for them to return. They also work with people who experienced torture, death threats, and other forms of violence because of their religious belief, political stance, sexual identity, for protesting, or for simply being a female or a member of an ethnic minority.

Peace Bridges International Ireland

Peace Bridges International has been internationally promoting non-violent approaches to peacebuilding and protecting human rights defenders since 1981.

The Irish branch of Peace Bridges International was founded in 2014 as a part of country groups across the world, who work to support and strengthen human rights defenders through implementation of various projects. They promote non-violent approaches to conflict resolution and build a culture of human rights that will, in the future, lead to a more just and peaceful world.

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At time of writing this article, there were over a hundred political prisoners in prison in the Philippines. Many of them are tortured and mistreated during interrogations. Many people have disappeared, and civilians were killed over land disputes. The human rights situation in the Philippines is deteriorating in a fast pace and the Filipino government is doing very little to tackle the issues. Nevertheless, these following 10 human rights NGOs are constantly fighting for the improvement of the human rights situation in the country.

Amnesty International Philippines

Amnesty International is a global movement of more than seven million people who are independent of any type of political ideology, religion or economic interest and who take injustice personally. They campaign for the world in which human rights are enjoyed by all.

Through its office located in Manila, Amnesty International employs research, advocacy, lobbying and campaigns to fight for human rights in the country. They lobby for adoption of anti-torture laws, ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture, reproductive health policies, abolition of the death penalty, juvenile justice and adoption of laws that would stop violence against women.

Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances

The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) was established in 1998 in Manila as a federation of human rights organizations working on the issues of involuntary disappearances in Asia. They see enforced disappearances as one of the cruelest forms of human rights violations and work to support families of the disappeared.

They promote international solidarity among organizations of the families of the disappeared in Asia and other continents and provide support to their member organizations to better respond to this issue. AFAD also conducts campaigns and lobbies to address the issue of enforced disappearances in Asia to ensure there are truth, justice, and the reconstruction of the collective memory of the disappeared.

Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates

Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates is human rights NGO working with a mission ‘’to develop a strong, progressive, dynamic, and pluralist human rights movement that engages the state to comply with its human rights obligations and non-state actors to fulfill their human rights responsibilities’’.

To achieve their goals, PAHRA conducts campaigns and advocates for the respect of human rights. They work closely with other human rights organizations, as well as with individuals and government agencies to promote and defend human rights. Since their establishment in 1986, PAHRA serves as an advocacy center committed to promotion of human rights and their recognition and realization as embodied in international human rights instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

KARAPATAN

KARAPATAN was founded in 1995 as an alliance of groups, organizations and individuals working for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines. They conduct several programs to raise awareness about human rights in the country, including education and training, services programs, documentation and research, and networking.

However, a large portion of KARAPATAN’s work involves campaigning and advocacy through which they seek to develop a strong public opinion and support for human rights issues and concerns. To achieve this, they lobby for the defense and promotion of human rights and disseminate information about the importance of human rights.

Philippine Human Rights Information Center

Philippine Human Rights Information Center or popularly known and PhilRights was founded by the PAHRA in 1991 as the research and information human rights NGO, and since then they gained a special consultative status with the UN ECOSOC and the UNDPI.

They conduct research and produce studies on terrorism, child soldiers, the death penalty, poverty and other pressing human rights issues in the Philippines. They also provide human rights education programs and trainings and document the cases of human rights violations, all while providing long-term support to victims of human rights violations and their families.

Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau

Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau (WLB) is ‘’a is a feminist legal non-government organization composed of women’s rights activists, advocates and development workers’’. They were founded in 1990 with a goal of engaging in feminist legal advocacy and to pursue programs that uphold the rights of Filipino women.

Currently, they focus on women’s economic, social and cultural rights through maximizing gains won by women in arenas such as the Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against women and other UN agencies and international organizations. They work to transform the society by engaging institutions to support women’s rights and dignity.

Philippine Task Force for Indigenous Peoples’ Rights

The Philippine Task Force for Indigenous Peoples’ is a network of NGOs working to advance rights of indigenous peoples in the country. They envision ‘’a society that promotes and defends indigenous peoples’ rights and upholds their self-determined development.

Their programs encompass network-building and information dissemination, research for enriched knowledge-base on indigenous peoples’ rights, sharing of resources and information exchange and capacity-building and policy advocacy. They also work to ensure indigenous peoples’ rights to their ancestral lands and resources in order to ensure their food security.

Campaign for Human Rights Philippines

Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines (CHRP) was founded in 2006 in response to the increasing number of political killings and human rights abuses in the country. They work to raise awareness of the critical human rights situation in the Philippines and put pressure on the government to investigate these killings and protect its citizens.

Their activities include holding seminars, hosting speaker tours and organizing protest actions. They also work to raise awareness in the UK about human rights situation in the Philippines and to put spotlight on the British investment and trade that benefit from the human rights violations in the Philippines.

PREDA Foundation

PREDA Foundation is a human rights NGO ‘’giving freedom and a new lease of life to the girls rescued from the streets, brothels, human traffickers and sex offenders and pedophiles’’. They also rescue young boys detained by the government from being abused and deprived from their children’s rights.

The heart of PREDA’s mission is working, educating and advocating human rights and especially children’s rights through public seminars and a theater group that tours internationally. They provide therapy and safe homes for children who suffered from abuse and promote their education and employment.

Free Legal Assistance Group

Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAF) is a human rights lawyers NGO committed to the protection and promotion of human rights and civil liberties in the Philippines. They advocate against political repression, police and military abuses, and death penalty.

FLAG is a leading NGO in prosecuting military and policemen and these actions have led to some landmark decisions before the courts. FLAG also incorporates the educative role of lawyers in their work with ‘’ a belief that the legal process is but part of a larger process that should involve those who are directly affected by a problem’’.

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Race Forward

Race Forward is a social justice organization that catalyzes movement building for racial justice. They  envision ‘’a just, multiracial, democratic society, free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose’’.

They work with communities and other organizations to build strategies to advance racial justice in policies, institutions and culture. They conduct cutting edge research on pressing racial justice issues and focus on the significance of race in society. Their work also entails pushing forward the conversation on race in the media, mainly through their award-winning daily news site Colorlines, as well as advocating on complex racial justice issues in several other ways.

Equal Justice Initiative

The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) was established in 1989 by a popular public interest lawyer Bryan Stevenson to ‘’end mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenge racial and economic injustice, and to protect basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.’’

EJI works with marginalized communities to change the narrative about race in America. They also provide legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted or abused in state prisons. They challenge the death penalty and excessive punishment, and provide assistance to formerly incarcerated people. Recently, they also have been creating memorials to address the legacy of lynching, slavery, and racial segregation.

Transgender Law Center

The Transgender Law Center (TLC) is a trans-led social rights organization advocating for a world in which all people are free to pursue their lives as they wish. They change laws, policies, and attitudes so that everyone can live free from discrimination regardless of their expression or gender identity.

For almost two decades, TLC has been has been challenging the legal system to respect the dignity and humanity of transgender and gender nonconforming people. They believe in justice and liberation for all trans people, including those most impacted by the system they fight against such as imprisoned trans people, black and brown trans migrants, black trans women, trans people living with HIV, and trans youth.

Fair Fight

Fair Fight works on promotion of fair elections in Georgia and around the United States by encouraging voter participation in elections and educating them about their rights. They bring awareness to the public on election reforms and advocate for election changes at all levels.

Fair Fight works against voter suppression of voters of color and young voters and engages in their mobilization by conducting education activities and advocating for progressive issues. They had mounted significant programs to combat voter protection suppression and initiated programs to actually support voter protection across the country.

National LQBTQ Task Force

The National LGBTQ Task Force fights for freedom and equality of LGBTQ people. They work to build a future where everyone can be themselves in every aspect of their lives. To achieve this, they train and mobilize activists to deliver a free world.

Their advocacy team advocates on opportunities to advance full freedom, justice, equality and equity for LGBTQ people. They achieve this through queering the progressive movement and mobilizing the LGBTQ community and allies at places of intersectionality to end discrimination in housing, employment, healthcare, retirement, and basic human rights.

GLSEN

GLSEN was founded in 1990 by a group of teachers who knew that educators play key roles in creating affirming learning environments for LGBTQ students. Today, their network has more than 1.5 million members and includes students, families, educators and education advocates.

They advocate for comprehensive policies that protect LGBTQ students and students of marginalized identities. Their network spreads across 43 chapters in 30 US states, to ensure that they reach every LGBTQ student so that they are able to grow and learn in a school environment free from harassment and bullying.

Color of Change

Color of Change is one of the largest online racial justice organizations helping people respond effective to injustice in the world that surrounds them. It has around 7 million members moving decision-makers in corporations and government to create less hostile world for black people in America.

They lead campaigns to rebuild real power for black communities, through which they challenge injustice by holding political and corporate leaders accountable. They also conduct research on inequality systems and provide solutions for racial justice that can transform the world.

Communities United Against Police Brutality

Communities United Against Police Brutality (CUAPB) was founded in 2000 in the aftermath of the police shooting and death of Charles Sanders. Since then, they became an organization that deals with police brutality on an ongoing basis.

They work on extreme cases of abuses, brutal police killings and other incidents. Their goal is to ‘’create a climate of resistance to abuse of authority by police organizations and to empower local people with a structure that can take on police brutality and actually bring it to an end’’. They provide constant support for survivors of police brutality and their families so they are able to reclaim their dignity and join the struggle to end this form of violence.

Brennan Center for Justice

Brennan Center for Justice strives to uphold the values of democracy and stands for equal justice and the rule of law. They work to strengthen democracy, protect liberty and security and end mass incarceration.

Their programs focus on criminal justice, democracy, protection of fundamental freedoms and securing the balance of power. They conduct research to reach transformative solution and advocate and fight in courts with elected officials to advance legislations. They also act a cutting-edge communications hub by taking their message directly to the press and public.

Assata’s Daughters

Assata’s Daughters is a black woman-led social justice organization that works on organizing young black people in Chicago and providing them with political education, mentorship, leadership development, and revolutionary service.

They were formed in 2015 as collective of black women, gender nonconforming people and femmes, with a goal of addressing a shortage of programs in these communities. In 2018 they shifted to a formal organizational structure ‘’led by black women using a black queer feminist lens and relationship-based tactics to organize bases of young black people in divested-from areas of Chicago’’.

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UC Social Justice

The Law Center for Race, Gender and Social Justice of the University of Cincinnati grew out of the joint program in law and women’s studies, during which students develop their own research projects and have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a variety of settings.

A team of professors and recent graduates at the Center run a blog that “aims to prepare law students to tackle social justice issues and serves as a communication bridge between communities by providing insightful articles”. They also directly help survivors of domestic violence, advocate for LGBTIQ rights and work with feminist organizations.

Janet Mock

Janet Mock is an American author, director, producer, television host and transgender rights activists. A native of Honolulu, she attended the University of Hawaii and earned her master’s degree in journalism from the New York University.

Her book titled Redefining Realness became a New York Times bestseller. She is also a former staff editor of People’s magazine and a contributing editor for Marie Claire magazine. Janet lives in New York and Los Angeles and runs a blog about race, gender and culture, written about from an analytical point of view.

Campus Pride

Campus Pride is a nonprofit organization based in the USA that brings together leaders from campuses on entire continent to speak about LGBTIQ issues and highlight events in their college community.

Their blog explores issues related specifically to LGBTIQ college students and fights for a safe college atmosphere and race equality. They envision “campuses and a society free of anti-LGBTIQ prejudice, bigotry and hate”. They work to develop student leaders, campus networks, and future actions to create such positive change.

Hollaback!

Hollaback! started working in 2005 to end gender based harassment in public space, commonly known as street harassment. Later on they expanded to work on harassment in all spaces taking into account different groups such as women, LGBTIQ, black people, indigenous groups and more.

Their blog is supported by local activists in 84 cities and 24 countries. It provides an online space for people to speak about times they have been harassed on the street with a purpose of raising awareness about street harassment through personal stories. Hollaback! envisions “a world where street harassment is not tolerated and where we all enjoy equal access to public spaces”.

Crunck Feminist Collective

The Crunck Feminist Collective (CFC) serves a space of support for hip hop generation feminists of color, straight and queer. They build a rhetorical community to discuss ideas, express their feminist views, challenge and debate one another, as well as support each other.

The CFC is a community of scholar-activists coming from different professional areas to share their work in an online blog community. The word crunk derives from the terms crazy or chronic and with drunk and paired with feminism, suggests people become intoxicated with the complexity of the term. The  blog, thus, covers insightful topics while raising controversial discussions about social justice.

Real Colored Girls

Real Colored Girls is a blog written by Christina Bell, a spoken word poet, and Mako Fitts Ward, a writer, activist and a feminist educators. Their blog is affected by women of the African diaspora revolving around the issues on the ways they are being represented globally.

On their blog they talk about issues affecting representation of minorities in the media with a goals of putting an end to stereotypes that appear in the public space. They empower women of color to achieve the meaning of real in different ways, professionally, emotionally, politically and spiritually.

Parenting for Social Justice

Parenting for Social Justice is a blog run by a non-profit Act for Justice. They work with a goal of reducing harm and to create safe, healthy and just communities. They engage in community social work, human rights, restorative justice in schools, radical finance, and starting up a social justice collective.

The blog is run by Abi and Angela, who are challenging themselves to be more intentional about bringing social justice books, conversation, and action into their parenting. They work to understand seven social justice principles and through Parenting for Social Justice blog they share their ideas, attempts, mess-ups and resources.

Peace and Justice Center

The Peace and Justice Center is Vermont based non-profit that provides support on a variety of economic and social issues. They work with community members, local business, other non-profits and activists to achieve their goals.

They work on the interconnected issues of peace, human rights, and economic, social, and racial justice by utilizing education, leadership development and community building. Since their ultimate goal is to create a just and peaceful blog they run a blog covering issues around racism, gender discrimination and LGBTIQ.

Feministing

 Feministing describe themselves as ‘’an online community run by and for young feminists’. Their team is made up of more than a dozen editors, columnists and interns publishing feminist analysis covering topics from pop culture to politics, while inspiring youth to make real world feminist changes.

On their blog they publish on a broad spectrum of intersectional feminist issues, from campus sexual violence, reproductive justice to transgender rights. They act as a gateway to the feminist movement for young people, giving them a way to take concrete actions in their communities.

BGD Blog

BGD was created by an award-winning writer Mia McKenzie to amplify the voices, expressions and experiences of trans and queer people of color. With focus on social justice from a QTPoC perspective, BGD is the only blog if this kind on the web.

Since it was started in 2011, BGD Blog has featured over 300 diverse writers from three countries reaching over seven million readers globally. It is a place where voices are heard, and where queer and trans people of color can express their views on issues affecting them.

The post 10 Thought-Provoking Social Justice Blogs Everyone Should Read appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Amnesty International Canada

Amnesty International is a world-known human rights NGO working in more than 150 countries to promote and protect human rights. Amnesty has a vision of ‘’a world in which every person enjoys all the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments’’.

To contribute to their common vision, Amnesty’s Canadian branch conducts research and generates action to put an end to grave human rights violation and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated. Amnesty International has been providing the world with accurate and reliable information about human rights violations as well as international human rights law and standards for over 50 years.

Peace Bridges International Canada

At the heart of the Peace Bridges International’s work is providing protection support and recognition to local human rights defenders who are working in areas of conflict and repression. Ever since its establishment in 1981, they have been working with human rights defenders in more than 14 countries worldwide.

Peace Bridges has a life-saving presence in areas of conflict and repression, as well a powerful global advocacy network protecting human rights defenders on the ground. They employ an integrated approach by combining a network of international support and on the ground presence together with human rights defenders. This approach proved to be effective since Peace Bridges International operates on the basis of non-interference in the work of people it accompanies.

Human Rights Internet

Since their establishment in 1976, Human Rights Internet has been working on sharing information, education, advocacy and dialogue on human rights while providing an online platform through human rights information and resources to Canadians and beyond.

Human Rights Internet implements various types of projects, including publications, events and documentation projects. Moreover, they have a worldwide reach by supporting the exchange of information within the human rights community. During the years, they have worked with many governmental and intergovernmental institutions and NGOs to collect and disseminate human rights information, while currently they are working on providing an online space for both individuals and organizations where they can access present information on human rights.

Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights

Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights is a progressive NGO working to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights in Canada and worldwide with a vision where ‘’all people everywhere have full control over, and are able to decide freely upon, all matters related to their sexuality, reproduction, and gender, including their reproductive and sexual health.’’

They work in Canada and globally to promote rights related to reproduction and sexuality by providing support, referrals and information to those who need it the most. They also partner up with groups and other organizations on a range of campaigns and collaborate with decision-makers to advance policies on access to abortion, stigma-free healthcare, gender equality, LGBTIQ rights, and inclusive sex education.

Plan International Canada

As a member of global Plan International, the Canadian branch of the organization follows the mission and dedication of fighting for equality for girls and advancing children’s rights-from their birth to their adulthood.

Plan International Canada works with children, young people and other actors to throw over the barriers faced by girls and young children and prepares them to respond to crises and adversity. They drive change in practice and policy at all levels using their reach, experience and knowledge. In 2011, with the support of the Canadian government, they successfully led the call for the UN to adopt an International Day of the Girl, with the world having an opportunity to celebrate its first official International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, 2012.

Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA)

FAFIA was established as an alliance of organizations ‘’committed to making international agreements on women’s human rights a reality in women’s everyday lives in Canada’’. Today, they provide space for women across Canada and Quebec to collaborate together to ensure a better quality of live for all women.

They implement several activities and projects to achieve their goals, which include providing training and resources on women’s human rights instruments as well as helping women to directly participate in using those instruments to address inequalities they encounter in their lives. They also provide training and resources on gender budgeting while supporting women in engaging with budget planning processes at the national and regional level, all while advocating for the full implementation on women’s human rights instruments to which Canada is signatory.

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (Inuits are United in Canada) is Ottawa based NGO that serves as a national voice protecting and advancing the rights and interests of Inuit indigenous people in Canada. They work with the four Inuit regions in the country to present their unified priorities in Ottawa.

The organization conducts research, advocacy, public outreach and education activities related to issues affecting the Inuit population. They advocate for rights of Inuit’s through their relationship with the Crown and for ensuring that this group is consulted where indigenous and other treaty rights are to be affected by Crown decisions. They also oversee and conduct research on laws and policies affecting the Inuit population and cooperate closely with lawmakers and other actors on the effectiveness of these policies.

Canada Without Poverty

Canada Without Poverty is an NGO working with a mission to ‘’eradicate poverty in Canada for the benefit of all by educating Canadians about the human and financial cost of poverty, and by identifying public policy solutions’’.

The organization believes that human rights education is crucial for eradicating poverty in Canada. They see poverty as a deprivation of basic human rights, such as the right to housing, food and an adequate standard of living. In 2019, they launched a new education program to make learning about human rights accessible to everyone and to achieve their goals they closely cooperate with governments, businesses and other civil society organizations to ensure that Canada has a strong social foundation so that all people are given an opportunity to live in dignity.

Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW-ICREF)

CRIAW-ICREF was founded in 1976 to research and document the economic and social status of women in Canada. Since then, they have conducted a variety women centered research and they provide tools and information to assist organizations to take action to achieve social justice, women’s rights and equality for all women.

The organization works with a vision of ‘’creating a world in which individuals of all genders, races, cultures, languages, incomes, abilities, sexualities, religions, identities, ages and experiences fully partake of, and contribute to, a just violence-free, balanced and joyful society that respects the human dignity of all’’. To achieve this, CRIAW-ICEF creates spaces for development of women’s knowledge and provides communication links between researchers and organizations actively working to advocate for equality of all women.

Children First Canada

Children First Canada is a non-profit alliance of Canadian children’s NGOs and other actors that see children’s rights as universal. The organization has a vision of making Canada the best place in the world for children to grow up.

They work to raise awareness by publishing research on the state of children and their rights in Canada and empowers children by listening to them and building their knowledge and skills to advocate for themselves. They meet up with policymakers to assist them to act in the best interest in children as well as to develop practical policies and solutions to make is as easy as possible for the government to act. Children First Canada celebrates what benefits children and challenges what does not and creates a sense of urgency to make changes happen.

The post 10 NGOs in Ottawa Advocating for Human Rights appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Refugee Rights Europe

Founded in London in late 2015, Refugee Rights Europe is a human rights NGO working with a mission ‘’to call on those in positions of power to bring about much needed change and uphold their national and international obligations in relation to people in displacement.

The organization conducts research and documents the situation of displaced people and refugees seeking protection in Europe. Refugee Rights Europe focuses on human rights abuses and inadequate humanitarian conditions in which refugees and displaced groups find themselves. Through its research results, the organization advocates for human rights centered policy development to secure that the rights of these affected groups are upheld on the European continent and in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

TRIAL International

TRIAL International is an NGO that fights impunity for international crimes and supports victims in their search for justice. Founded in 2002, the organization has offices in two European countries-Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina, followed by one office in Africa and Asia.

TRIAL International follows and works based on innovative approaches to the law, paving the way to justice for survivors of unspeakable sufferings. It provides support to victims in forms of legal assistance, litigation of cases, and development of local capacities, all while pushing forward the human rights agenda. Its work is based on the belief of ‘’a world where impunity for international crimes is no longer tolerated and only when victims are heard, and perpetrators held accountable can the rule of law prevail’’.

Anti-Slavery International

Established in 1839 in the United Kingdom, Anti-Slavery International is the world’s oldest human rights NGO basing its work on the UN treaties against slavery. It is committed to eradicating all forms of slavery and slavery like practices worldwide.

Anti-Slavery International works closely with partners organizations from across the world. Working at grassroots levels informs and shapes the organization’s work and drives it to bring a change on a global level and influence decision makers, particularly when it comes to the issue of bonded labor or debt bondage, descent-based slavers, forced labor, forced marriage, all forms of child labor, the exploitation of migrant workers in conditions amounting to slavery, and human trafficking. To achieve these goals, Anti-Slavery has worked towards gaining the consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council and observer status at the International Labor Organization.

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

FIDH is international human rights NGO federating 192 organizations from 117 countries. It was established in 1922 and ever since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, FIDH has been defending all civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

The organization’s headquarters is located in Paris, but it also expands with permanent delegations in the UN in Geneva and New York, in the EU in Brussels and within the International Criminal Court in The Hague, as well as with a regional office in Tunis and several joint bureaus across Africa. FIDH works on all levels to support its members in addressing human rights abuse and consolidating democratic processes. FIDH works on the basis of three pillars: securing the freedom and capacity to act for human rights defenders, the universality of rights and their effectiveness.

Rights and Humanity

Rights and Humanity is an international NGO ‘’contributing to development, peace and environmental sustainability through the realization of human rights and responsibilities’’. Since its establishment in 1986, its work has expanded to 54 countries worldwide and brought together people of diverse faith, cultures, professions, and political ideas.

In its work, the organization prioritizes the rights and needs of people living in social exclusion and poverty, mainly in the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Rather than monitoring human rights abuses, Rights and Humanity focuses on the practical realization of human rights by tackling the root causes of poverty and providing solutions. It also works on empowering, inspiring, and informing both individuals and groups to play their role in the protection of human rights.

Amnesty International

Amnesty International describes itself ‘’as a global movement of more than seven million people who take injustice personally’’ and who are ‘’campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all.

Amnesty International is active in investigating and exposing facts about human rights abuses, lobbying governments and powerful groups to respect international law, mobilizing millions of supporters through social media to campaign for change and defend activists, and supporting people to claim their rights through training and education. Over the years, the organization has on a spectrum of human rights issues, from abolishing the death penalty to protecting reproductive and sexual rights, fighting against discrimination and defending rights of migrants and refugees. Amnesty International ‘’speaks out for anyone and everyone whose freedom and dignity are under threat’’.

Human Rights Without Frontiers International (HRWF)

HRWF is a human rights NGO based in Brussels, Belgium, working on promotion of human rights around the world and advocating for democracy, the rule of law and social justice. Besides Belgium, the organization has offices in Nepal and China.

The organization conducts research, field missions, monitoring and analysis concentrating on a wide range of issues related to human rights around the world. It focuses its attention mainly on freedom of religion or belief, women’s rights and gender equality, LGBTIQ rights, and human rights abuses in China, North Korea, Ukraine, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran. It advocates for the respect of human rights mainly through the EU institutions in Brussels, the UN in Geneva and the OSCE in Warsaw and Vienna.

Minority Rights Group International

Based in London, the Minority Group International works in 50 countries worldwide on advancing the protection of ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities and indigenous peoples around the world. It works with more than 150 partners to ensure that rights of minorities and indigenous people are upheld and that their voices are heard.

The organization concentrates in protecting and advocating for rights of minorities and indigenous people land and languages and to achieve this, it uses media, cultural programs, legal cases, training and education. It also advocates for minorities to be given an equal access to education and employment. Last, but certainly not the least, it holds consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council and observer status with the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights.

International Society for Human Rights (ISHR)

Together with its national branches, the ISHR represents an independent human rights NGO that bases its work on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It was established in 1972 with headquarters in Germany, with a goal to promote an understanding and tolerance in all areas of culture and society on an international level.

The organization bases its work on the philosophy that ‘’the realization of human rights and the improvement of social conditions cannot be pursues through the use of force’’. It supports people who share and follow this principle and seek to claim their rights in a non-violent setting. ISHR, thus, has around 30.000 members in 38 countries around the world, as well as consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, associated status with the UN Department of Public Information and participative status with the European Council.

Lawyers Without Borders / Avocats Sans Frontieres

Lawyers Without Borders was established by a group of Belgian lawyers in 1992. Today, the organization specializes in defending human rights and access to justice and it has field offices in seven countries and employs around 80 people of more than 15 different nationalities.

The organization works around the world informing people about their rights, helping civil society organizations and lawyers to provide them with a proper assistance, and promoting legislative reforms to achieve an increase in respect for human rights. Lawyers Without Borders implements all its projects to assist people to have access to the legal system and to promote the endorsement of human rights, and the rule of law in developing and post-conflict countries.

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Human Rights Now (HRN)

HRN is an international human rights NGO based in Tokyo, Japan. It was founded in 2006 by a group of human rights professionals as the first international human rights NGO based in Japan. Today, HRN has over 700 members working together to promote and protect human rights of people worldwide while putting a special focus on Asia.

HRN received the UN special consultative status in 2012, which provided it with an opportunity to participate in the UN decision making process. The organization is currently present in Tokyo, Osaka, New York, Geneva and Myanmar. The organization implements activities throughout Asia and the Middle East where it highlights the human rights situation and enables victims of rights violations to have their voices heard.

Amnesty International Japan

Amnesty International is the largest human rights NGO in the world with millions of members in 150 countries and regions. Amnesty international Japan was established in 1970 with a goal to inform people in Japan about human rights abuses happening around the world, as well as to report on human rights abuses in the country.

The organization conducts research, organizes campaigns and educational activities, and lobbies the government with a goal of ending and preventing violations of human rights. To ensure that Japanese citizens are promptly informed on the state of human rights in the country and worldwide, Amnesty International Japan works in three main areas: communicating, extending circles and linking people, in order to realize their vision of “a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”.

Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch is an international human rights NGO investigating and reporting on human rights violations around the world. HRW is supported by more than 450 staff members of 70+ nationalities, who work to protect people at risk, from vulnerable minorities to refugees and children in need.

Human Rights Watch has been present in Japan since 2009. Its activities involve advocacy towards the government to change the laws and adopt policies that would put an end to human rights abuses. The organization employs human rights researchers in the field who uncover facts about human rights abuses and share them with millions of people through social media channels daily.

Hurights Osaka

Hurights Osaka is a Japanese NGO with a goal to uphold the respect of human rights in the country and the Asia-Pacific region.

The organization collects and disseminates materials on human rights which often encompass information about human rights practices and issues. It also conducts research on a range of human rights issues such as marginalization of indigenous people, minorities, refugees, migrant workers and other vulnerable communities. Hurights Osaka also organizes educational activities at national and regional levels to promote better understanding and practice of human rights and publishes materials in both English and Japanese languages for a wider public use.

Lighthouse: Center for Human Trafficking Victims

Lighthouse is Tokyo based NGO that fights for the rights of human trafficking victims and works to eliminate this issue in Japan. It is committed to fighting for a society without human trafficking and serves as a voice of human trafficking victims.

Lighthouse implements a variety of activities, including education and training of law enforcement and government officials to assist human trafficking victims and investigate cases and organization of awareness campaigns and seminar to draw more attention to this ongoing issue. It also provides confidential consultation services to victims via a toll-free multilingual hotline and via e-mail and lobbies the government to change legislation since there are no laws against human trafficking in Japan.

Center for Prisoner’s Rights (CPR)

The CPR was founded in 1995 as the first NGO in Japan specializing in prison reform with a goal of reforming Japanese prison conditions in accordance with international human rights standards, as well as to abolish the death penalty.

The organization conducts research on human rights violations in Japanese prisons and makes them visible to the wider public. It also provides legal advice and assistance to prisoners and promotes ratification of international human rights treaties. Four to five times a year, the CPR publishes a newsletter containing features on prison litigations, reports on visits to foreign prisons and other CPR’s activities. The newsletter is sent to about 5.000 people including prisoners and their families, lawyers and researchers.

Asia-Japan Women’s Resource Center (AJWRC)

AJWRC is a Japanese NGO working to eradicate all forms of violence and discrimination against women with a vision of a “democratic Japanese society based on respect for human rights and gender equality, and a fair and sustainable global society”.

AJWRC addresses gender biases and multiple forms of discrimination while challenging the conventional concept of peace and security with a goal of eliminating violence, including sexual violence, trafficking and exploitation. It uses a feminist lens to advocate on alternative politics based on human rights and gender equality and promotes networking and empowerment of women. To achieve these goals, AJWRC works in three program areas: information sharing and networking, education and training, and advocacy and campaign.

Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Research Institute (BLHRRI)

BLHRRI was founded in 1968 with an aim of establishing human rights in Japanese society and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the society, with a special focus on discrimination of Buraku-an outcast minority group living on the margins of Japanese society.

To achieve its goal of putting an end to discrimination and establishing human rights, BLHRRI conducts research and investigation in the fields of economy, history, society, legislation, civil movements, education and culture. Its research finds, and reports are regularly published and available to the wider public. The organization also develops programs and curriculum for human rights training and awareness raising in the form of human rights courses, workshops and seminars.

Shimin Gaikou Centre (Citizen’s Centre for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples)

The Shimin Gaikou Centre is a grassroots human rights NGO that was established by a group of human rights activists back in 1982. Starting in 1987 and ever since, the Centre has been sending delegations to the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations held every year in Geneva, and because of these activities it became the first Japanese NGO with special consultative status to the UN Economic and Social Council.

The organization’s focus is on peace, human rights, environment and development issues on international level. It provides support to indigenous peoples and their human rights, often in cooperation with other indigenous peoples’ organization. So far, the Centre has established cooperation with the Ainu people, the Okinawa Ryuku people and the small island nations in the South Pacific.

Tokyo Metropolitan Human Rights Promotion Center (TMHRPC)

The TMHRPC was founded in 1998 to raise awareness on human rights of Tokyo Citizens through various activities such as education, promotion, and the protection of human rights. The organization’s ultimate goal is to eradicate discrimination and realize human rights of Dowa population in Japan.

The organization is known for providing year-round radio programs and special radio broadcasts during the Human Rights Week. It also creates human rights awareness posters and book covers with human rights slogans. Through various lectures, the TMHRPC educates the Japanese public on human rights issues and provides them with various sorts of books, videos, pamphlets and magazines on human rights.

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Amnesty International Australia

Amnesty International is a global movement of more than seven million people who are independent of any type of political ideology, religion or economic interest and who take injustice personally. Amnesty International Australia is a part of the Amnesty International Network, defending and promoting human rights.

The organization is active in researching on human rights violations that take place in Australia and Asia-Pacific. It employs both advocacy and mobilization to pressure governments to put an end to human rights abuses especially in the areas of violence against women, indigenous peoples and refugees and asylum seekers. Amnesty International Australia has around 250.000 who campaign against human rights violations both in the country and worldwide.

Human Rights Watch Australia

Human Rights Watch is an international human rights NGO dedicated to protecting and defending human rights. Its staff is composed of human rights professionals such as experts, journalists, lawyers, and academics from across the world.

Human Rights Watch opened an office in Australia in 2013. The organization uses targeted advocacy to build public pressure on human rights violators and works on legal and moral changes to changes to improve the human rights. It also works on areas of domestic and foreign policy and meets with the UN, governments and other organizations to press for changes in practice and policy that promote human rights and justice.

Human Rights Law Centre

Human Rights Law Centre is an NGO that envisions ‘’an Australia where everyone is free to lead a decent, dignified life, where laws, policies and institutions promote fairness and equality, and where people and communities have the power to address inequality and injustice and ensure that governments always act in the public interest’’.

The organization uses advocacy, legal action and policy solutions to support communities and people to eliminate injustice and inequality. To achieve its goals, it works with community organizations, law firms and lawyers, academics and experts, and international and domestic human rights organizations. Over the last decade, the Human Rights Law Centre improved access to healthcare for prisoners, established constitutional protection of the right to vote, and provided human rights training to over 15.000 people.

Human Rights Council of Australia

The Human Rights Council of Australia is an NGO that works to promote universal human rights for all people in Australia, region and the world. Since its establishment in 1978, the organization has undertaken and implement a variety of human rights projects.

The organization pioneered in the widely adopted human rights-based approach to development by monitoring actions undertaken by government and by calling for observance of international human rights obligations. Its areas of activity include refugee rights, indigenous issues, refugee issues, business and human rights, sport and human rights and the international human rights system. Human Rights Council of Australia also holds Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic Social and Cultural Committee.

Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR)

ANTaR is an advocacy NGO dedicated specifically to the rights and overcoming the disadvantage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It has been working on reconciliation issues since 1997 and in support of justice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the country.

The organization works on multiple levels to achieve its goals, such as maintaining close relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders leaders and communities and helping them to communicate their concerns and aspirations to the wider public. It also conducts campaigns and national education to raise awareness on related issues. Much of its work is carried out by local groups, which allows for grass-roots level local reconciliation to be effective. Currently, there are around 200 local ANTaR groups working for a better future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Australian Council for Human Rights Education (ACHRE)

ACHRE was founded in 1999 by a group of volunteers with an aim to pursue human rights education in Australia in response to the UN Decade on Human Rights Education. ACHRE works to promote and support human rights in Australia and so far, it has been successful in many initiatives.

The organization provides online human rights educational materials for primary and secondary schools, as well as material for government officials and community organizations. It teaches the public about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through the Citizen for Humanity project. ACHRE also established the National Centre for Human Rights Education at RMIT University in Melbourne and it also organizes conferences, seminars and workshops in developing countries to teach the public about human rights.

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights was founded in 1993 and today serves as an association of legal experts active in promoting and practicing awareness of international human rights standards in Australia.

The activities of the organization include promotion and support to lawyers practice of human rights in the country, promotion of both federal and state laws across Australia in accordance with the principles of international human rights law, engagement with the UN in relation to human rights violations in the country, as well as an international engagement to promote the rule of law and human rights. The organization is also active in human rights education through organization of trainings, courses, conferences, seminars and mentoring.

National Children’s and Youth Law Centre

Youth Law Australia is an NGO dedicated to addressing the human rights violations of children and youth in Australia. It believes in justice and equality for all young people and children in the country and works to achieve this by empowering them with free legal knowledge and information. It works to keep children in school and free from any form of child abuse.

As a member of the Child Rights Taskforce, Australia’s largest children’s body composed of over 100 organization, the Youth Law Centre monitors and advocates for the rights of young people in the country and assists in drafting and reviewing reports compiled for the UN on the state of children’s rights in Australia. It also provides confidential and free legal advice to anyone under 25 years of age helping them to find a solution to problems before they escalate.

ActionAid Australia

Provisionally, ActionAid Australia was established as Austcare, an NGO committed to defending the rights of asylum seekers and protection in emergencies. Austcare joined the ActionAid Federation in 2009 and since then it has become an expert in human rights and poverty eradication.

ActionAid Australia focuses on providing support to women in low income communities worldwide and campaigns to raise awareness on their rights. Since its establishment, the organization has firmly established itself in Australia as a global women’s rights organization, assisting women living in poverty and exclusion. Through its campaigns, ActionAid Australia is addressing the structural causes of inequality and injustice by using an intersectional feminist lens.

United for Human Rights

United for Human Rights is an international NGO dedicated to implementing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on all levels. It is comprised of educators and groups from across the world who share and implement their knowledge on human rights for all humanity.

The organization was founded on the Declaration’s 60^th anniversary with a goal to provide human rights educational resources and unite individuals, educators, organizations and government institutions in the dissemination and adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at every societal level. Its goal is to advance people’s understanding of the Declaration and its thirty rights that ‘’together form the basis of a civilization wherein all people can enjoy the freedoms to which they are entitled, and nations can coexist in peace’’.

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Monika Robert’s TransGriot Blog

Monika Roberts is ‘’a proud unapologetic Black trans woman speaking truth to power and discussing the world around her since 2006.’’ She is a GLAAD award winning blogger and trans human rights advocate working on the promotion of acceptance of all trans people while especially focusing on transgender people of color.

She writes a blog called TransGriot (pronounced Gree-oh) where she lists all her favorite blogs, trans blogs, LGBTIQ and POC resources. On her blog she states the “Blog’s mission is to become the griot of our community. I will introduce you to and talk about your African descended trans brothers and trans sisters across the Diaspora, reclaim and document our chocolate flavored trans history, speak truth to power, comment on the things that impact our trans community from an Afrocentric perspective and enlighten you about the general things that go on around me and in the communities that I am a member of.”

Chloe Schwenke’s Blog

In 2017, Chloe Schwenke’s blog was selected as one of the top 40 human rights blogs on the web by Feedspot. She is a Quaker feminist, human rights activist, educator and researcher with many years of experience working internationally in developing countries.

Up to date, Chloe has worked with some of the leading American human rights, development and research organizations. She compiled a lengthy list of accomplishments as an independent consultant on projects of the USAID, the US State Department, the World Bank, the UN, the Human Rights Campaign, the Inter-American Development Bank and many other international donors. On her blog she writes about feminism, foreign policy, gender equality, human dignity, international development, leadership, public policy, women and girls.

Befeqadu Hailu’s Voice from Ethiopia Blog

Befeqadu Hailu is an award winning Ethiopian blogger, human rights activist and writer, who runs a blog called Voice from Ethiopia, where he writes about human rights issues affecting the country.

In 2014, Hailu was arrested and charged with terrorism together with other members of a blogging group called Zone 9, because of their online and offline activism and campaigning for human rights in Ethiopia. Even though he was released from detention, Hailu is still facing a trial for ‘’inciting violence through writing’’. Hailu, nevertheless, received several awards for his writing and activism, including the Burt Award for African Literature and the International Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Marcell Shehwaro’s On the Edge of Syria Blog

Marcell Shehwaro is a human rights activist from Aleppo in Syria. She is very well known for her blog about life in this city where she writes about some of the most extreme situations that human rights activists are facing in Syria and Iraq.

Marcell recently fled Aleppo due to deteriorating security situation in Syria. She is a member of the group of human rights activists and defenders called Kesh Malek, who, despite the war, keep on protesting against the Syrian current regime. The group’s goal is to warrant freedoms of press, education and justice. Together with Kesh Malek, Marcell wants to set up schools in devastated Aleppo, to provide children who still live there with education.

Craig Murray’s Blog

Craig Murray is a human rights activist, blogger and author. Formerly he served as a diplomat for the UK government in Uzbekistan. He also stood as an independent parliamentary candidate in Blackburn in 2005. He is also an honorary research fellow at the University Lancaster School of Law.

On his blog, Craig Murray shares his personal insights about the world politics and the state of human rights in conflict affected countries such as Syria and Palestine. He was brought before the court several times for blogging; however, he is still very active in posting regularly.

Renee Gerlich’s Writing by Renee Blog

Renee Gerlich is a feminist human rights activist and independent writer based in New Zealand. She writes about women’s liberation, militarism, education and the literacy gap. Her activism often involves exhibitions and actions, including an exhibition called Too Much Truth: Women’s Global Resistance to Sexploitation in 2017 and an intervention at the 2018 Auckland Pride.

She has published on the Canadian website Feminist Current on prostitution and gender identity in New Zealand and the feminist magazine Rain and Thunder. She gave interviews with Women’s Liberation News, Feminist Current, Defend Feminists, and the environmentalist writer Derrick Jensen. Essays she posts on her blog have been translated into French, Spanish, German, Turkish, Norwegian, Serbian and Croatian languages.

Howard Wasserman’s Civil Rights Blog

Howard Wasserman is a law professor who teaches civil procedure, evidence, federal courts and civil rights. He writes for several blogs such as PrawfsBlog and SCOTUSBlog. However, professor Wasserman also maintains his own Civil Rights Blog where he covers a wide range of topics.

An opening line on professor Wasserman’s blog is “the very essence of civil liberty consists in the rights of every individual to claim the protection of the laws, whenever he receives an injury”. On this blog, readers can read about the freedom of speech, the role of procedure and jurisdiction in public law and civil rights litigation.

Johnathan Todres’s Children’s Rights Blog

Johnathan Todres is a law professor and children’s rights activist. He often works as a regular advisor to NGOs working on legislative and policy initiatives to address child trafficking and related issues. He is also a board member of the Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

On professor Todres’ blog you can read about a wide range of issues affecting children’s rights and child-wellbeing, including child trafficking and other forms of child exploitation, the implementation of children’s rights law, human rights and the social determinants of health, legal and cultural constructs of childhood, human rights education and human rights in children’s literature.

Mercedes Allen’s Dented Blue Mercedes Blog

Mercedes Allen is a graphic designer, but also an advocate and activist for transgender rights of communities in Alberta, Canada. She conducted advocacy related to trans, LGBTIQ and aboriginal rights, as well as HIV and sex work.

On her blog she writes about human rights, equality, LGBTIQ and sexual minority issues in Canada, and the cross-border pollination of far-right spin. She also started the website called AlbertaTrans.org which became a network that helps foster and support trans communities in Alberta. She is also a founding member of the Trans Equality Society of Alberta.

Start your own human rights blog!

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Studying a master’s in fundraising can provide specialized knowledge and skills in effective fundraising strategies, donor relations, and nonprofit management, enabling professionals to excel in roles that involve raising funds for charitable organizations and causes. In this article we have compiled a lost of 10 master’s degrees that focus on fundraising and related areas.

#1 MS in Strategic Fundraising and Philanthropy, Bay Path University, Massachusetts

The MS in Strategic Fundraising and Philanthropy offered by the Bay Path University provides a unique understanding of philanthropy at the present. During this program, students learn strategies for building long-term relationships with donors within the area of competitive nonprofit sectors as well as how to match donor’s values with an organization’s mission.

The course is offered completely online or in a combination of campus and online courses every February, June and October. Students usually complete their degrees in one to two years and those who are employed full time at a nonprofit organization may be eligible to receive the University’s Trustees Leadership Development Scholarship.

#2 MS in Nonprofit Management, Columbia University, New York City

The MS in Nonprofit Management held at the Columbia University prepares both experienced nonprofit professionals as well as career changers and new professionals for leadership roles within organizations working in a wide variety of contexts, such as global and community nonprofits, foundations, or as in-demand fundraising experts. The program lasts one year and it is completed on the campus. Students can opt to study part-time or full-time.

One of the core courses of the program is Fundraising Fundamentals for Nonprofits, during which students learn how to apply and implement fundraising strategies while balancing individual donor and institutional needs. During this course, students have an opportunity to engage in analysis of case studies and to participate in role playing exercises. While developing an understanding of the essentials of fundraising activities and operations, students will also examine larger issues that fundraising managers are often confronted with as well as explore the relationships between fundraisers and a structure of management of a nonprofit organization and other stakeholders.

#3 MS in Charity Marketing and Fundraising, Cass Business School, University of London

If you are already working as a marketing and fundraising manager or you wish to transfer your skills and knowledge gained in other areas of expertise, the MS in Charity Marketing and Fundraising offered by the Cass Business School will equip you to deliver fundraising and marketing practice in the nonprofit sector.

This program is designed to teach you how charities and nonprofits use marketing ideas to acquire and distribute resources. During the classes, you will have an opportunity to debate different approaches to fundraising and learn strategic marketing approaches regarding effective brand management, selecting and adopting alternative channels, and the role and types of charity marketing communications. Cass Business School offers five bursaries of £1.000 each towards fees, to students who in addition to meeting the normal entrance criteria also demonstrate how their organization meets the set criteria. You can learn more about the bursary criteria on the Derek Holder Legacy Trust Bursary website.

#4 MA in Charity Management, St Mary’s University, Twickenham, London

The MA in Charity Management by the St Mary’s University offers a fresh and positive outlook for this sector and recognizes the vital role that nonprofits play in society. During this program you will learn contemporary management and business techniques to help nonprofits thrive in a competitive environment. You will learn to develop your management potential to be able to face any future challenges in the sector. On completing your Master’s degree, you will also receive an accredited award from the Chartered Management Institute.

One of the mandatory and core course offered during the program is Social Marketing and Fundraising Strategy. Marketing and fundraising became crucial in keeping nonprofits and charities on top of mind with the public to generate needed funds. Therefore, during this course students are provided with an opportunity to look at the role of social marketing, PR, brand and branding in the context of nonprofits and charities and how they use a variety of fundraising techniques and strategies to keep them afloat.

#5 MS in Administration-Philanthropy and Fundraising, Central Michigan University

By attending MS in Administration-Philanthropy and Fundraising offered by the Central Michigan University you will gain an insight into human and organizational relationships, as well as develop your skills in both written and oral communication and be able to see the big picture when it comes to organizations and their environment. This is an interdisciplinary degree suitable for anyone in administration and management who wants to advance their profession and increase their skills sets.

The program was designed to hone skills in leadership, management and organization for professional administrators in nonprofit and public sectors. It is a 36 credit hours program, with 18 hours of core classes and 18 hours based on student’s selected concentration. Students are required to complete a capstone project before graduating and are encouraged to complete a 300-hour internship program. Graduate assistantship position may be available for students attending this program. Requirements and application information can be found on the MSA website.

#6 MA in Fundraising Management, The School of Management and Law, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland

This MA program was launched by The School of Management and Law at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences to meet future demands of fundraisers and contribute to further development of fundraising sector.

The program has a modular structure and it consists of three compulsory certificate courses (covering operations, strategies, and leadership), while the fourth is selected by students from a range of available course, such as Event Management, Digital Marketing, Customer Lifecycle Management and Cross Channel CRM, and Strategic Marketing. Each course can be also booked individually and independently of the program, where students can acquire a Certificate of Advanced studies. Students will receive a certificate for every course complete and conclude the program by writing a master thesis.

#7 MA in Fundraising, University of Bologna, Italy

The MA in Fundraising of the University of Bologna is a high-level master that builds students’ expertise on different topics such as marketing, digital fundraising and much more while helping the students to build a career in the nonprofit sector. The MA has helped 957 fundraisers to better prepare for the job market and, with its 270 hours of classes, it has helped the 94% of the students finding a job within 6 months after the graduating.

During the program, students have an opportunity to participate at the Fundraising Festival, the most important Italian conference about networking and fundraising and to choose among 400 different internships. The University also provides scholarships and loans for students, if you want to learn more about the scholarships and other opportunities to finance your master, please visit the dedicated page.

#8 MA in Philanthropic Studies, Kent University, the UK

MA in Philanthropic Studies is an innovative online course that builds student’s expertise in the areas of civil society, fundraising, philanthropy, the third sector and volunteering. The program invites students who are seeking a high-level understanding of philanthropy sector as well as professionals seeking an opportunity to reflect on their practice.  The program is distance learning and all students pay two years of fees.

The program offers The Art and Science of Fundraising optional course which provides and overview of the current situation of fundraising in the UK, as well as techniques used by the professional bodies and the latest research on the personal attributes of fundraisers that will lead to successful outcomes. The aim of the course is to teach students to assess the role of fundraising in practice and its wider societal context.  The course covers academic approaches to fundraising including topics such as donor motivation, propensity to give, charitable decision making in amounts, methods and destinations of donations and similar.

#9 MA in Nonprofit Administration and Leadership, Maxine Goodman Levine College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University

The MA in Nonprofit Administration and Leadership is a two-years degree that equips students with experience, practical and hands-on knowledge. The program  is focused on management functions including fundraising, financial management, human resources management, philanthropy, proposal writing, program development, program evaluation, and applied management.

During the program students will have an opportunity to participate in applied research, internships, and scholarly research within the field of nonprofit management. The University also offers scholarships opportunities. Students are required to complete 39 credit hours comprised of core course, electives, and a capstone. Graduates of this program are known for their careers and leading positions in management and leadership in the nonprofit sector.

#10 MS in Nonprofit Management, Northeastern University, Boston

The goal of the MS in Nonprofit Management offered by the Northeastern University in Boston is to develop the knowledge, skills and talent of students to serve in leadership positions at universities, foundations, charities and other organizations. The program includes core classes in fundraising, leadership, governance issues and financial management.

The Fundraising and Development for Nonprofit Organizations is one of the core courses that aims to examine sources of funding and strategies for development planning, including proposals and case statements, donor profiles, foundation and corporate philanthropy, government grant and contract programs, special events, marketing and public relations functions, direct mail and membership campaigns, planned giving, major gifts, and capital campaigns.

Also consider: Master in Human Rights

The post 10 Master’s Degrees in Fundraising and Related Areas appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

1 Global March Against Child Labor

The Global March Against Child Labor (Global March) is a wide network of civil society organizations, trade unions and teachers, who work together to eliminate and prevent all forms of child labor, slavery and trafficking and that all children have access to free and quality public education.

The organization works to ensure that all children enjoy their rights, including free education, and that they are protected from being forced into labor, which hinders their development. The network mobilizes actors from across the world, to promote and protect rights of all children, especially the right to be free from economic exploitation and performing any type of labor that might hinder their mental, physical, spiritual, social and moral development. The network works to increase awareness about child labor and encourages countries to adopt and ratify conventions related to child labor. It also publicly engages to fight prejudices that contribute to child labor and works on eradication of the most oppressive forms of child labor.

2 Love 146

Love 146 is an international human rights NGO working to end child exploitation and trafficking through prevention and survivor care. The organization is helping grow the movement to end child labor and trafficking by providing effective and thoughtful solutions. It believes in the power of love and its ability to effect sustainable change. Love 146 serves children in the United States, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and several countries in Africa.

Love 146 rescues children on the spot. It works with local authorities to provide care for children who have been affected by exploitation and trafficking. If appropriate, a child is placed with a trained Lover 146 carer. The organization uses a holistic approach to treat survivors. It has developed a special education curriculum titled Not a Number to teach young people how to protect themselves from exploitation and human trafficking through use of critical thinking, information and skill development. The organization also provides trainings to professionals through which they acquire tools that help them support the victims. Love 146 also trains workers and provides them with knowledge on how to reach and restore children in their care.

3 Stop Child Labor Coalition

The Stop Child Labor Coalition was established in 1989 with a belief that no child, regardless of their race, sex, nationality, religion, economic status, place of residence, or occupation, should be exploited. The mission of the organization is to serve as a national network for the exchange of information about child labor and provide a space for unified voice to end child labor, as well as educate both public and private sectors how to combat this issue.

The aim of the organization is to influence public policies on child labor issues by understanding the impact it had on health and quality of lives of children. It advocates for enforcement of laws and regulations regarding child labor and works on strengthening protection of children. The activities of the organization include conducting campaigns and media events, research, creating and distributing educational materials, hosting conferences and forums and testifying before the courts on cases of child labor.

4 Save the Children

Save the Children is one of the biggest international NGOs advancing and protecting rights of children in almost 120 countries around the world. Save the Children works in the most disadvantaged local communities educating them about the rights of children and helping them understand that children are meant to be at school and not work.

The protection program in child labor often includes improving the understanding of the situation of vulnerable children in need of care, building their resilience and supporting their participation in their own protection and supporting of community-based care and protection systems. the organization also works on building the care and protection of children into broader social welfare and other strategies. It also works on building the capacities of duty bearers to deliver appropriate care and protection for children and advocates for policies and laws that are in line with the standards set out in the UN Convention on Rights of the Child.

5 ACE

ACE is a Japanese based NGO for international cooperation with a vision to realize rights of children and safe society for all children. It takes direct action for the abolition and prevention of child labor with citizens of Japan. Currently, the ACE works on the abolition of child labor in Japan, India, and Ghana.

The organization operates not only through activities of international cooperation, but also through cooperation with private corporations and engagement in consumer education. In its work, the organization uses three strategies approach. First, it focused on agriculture in rural areas, with attention to cacao bean and cotton seed production areas, since 71% of all child laborers in the world are engaged in this sector. Second, it listens to children’s voices and uses that to bring improvement of schools and communities. Third, it helps communities achieve self-independence by establishing sustainable systems in cooperation with local governments.

6 International Initiative to End Child Labor

The International Initiative on Exploitative Child Labor (IIECL), or commonly known as International Initiative to End Child Labor is the US based NGO established in 1998 with an aim to provide training, technical assistance, research, capacity building, social accountability auditing, resources, program planning and design, and monitoring and evaluation services to public and private sector, NGOs , and international research and development institutions that seek to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in the US and around the world.

The organization strongly advocates that education should be put in first place for all children and raises awareness of the issue of child labor nationally and internationally. The IEECL provides effective strategies and solutions in areas that promote a quality education for children and ensures that operations or programs of both public and private sectors initiate in any way conditions that would enforce child labor. It also works with local NGOs to identify child labor in their communities to be able to provide assistance and technical support to abandon the practice.

7 Centre for Child Rights

Centre for Child Rights is a human rights organization with a focus on all children rights and recognizing children as citizens of today and adults of tomorrow. The vision of the organization is “an inclusive society where all children grow up in an environment that rests on the principle of non-discrimination and equality and where the human rights of all children are recognized, protected and realize”.

The organization works on the protection of children’s rights and fights against child labor in India, which is one of the countries with the highest percentage of child laborers in the world. In order to achieve this, the organization conducts research and documentation and actively engages in advocacy and public education on children’s rights. It also acts as a resource and support to those dealing with children at every level. The organization also conducts the children and governance program, under which it monitors all levels of government through budget for children budget, debates in parliaments and engaging with the justice delivery mechanisms. Last but not least, the organization provides legal aid and counselling to children who are victims of abuse and child labor, as well as those who come in contact at law and it undertakes capacity building with actors who work with children, such as police and teachers.

8 The ECLT Foundation

The Eliminating Child Labor in Tobacco-Growing Foundation (ECLT) was founded in 2000, with a commitment to pursue collaborative solutions for children and their families that combat the root causes of child labor in tobacco-growing areas. The ECLT works on joining together actors within the tobacco supply chain, including growers, manufacturers and leaf supplies, to reduce the impact of industry on child labor.

The organization is a member of the UN Global Compact and a holder of special consultative status of the UN Economic and Social Council. It supports and promotes international legal standards with an aim to contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. One of its tasks include to continuously advance tobacco businesses to act in accordance with international legal standards. The organization also, through it internship program, trains young graduates to become future leaders in the elimination of child labor as well as to develop and deepen their knowledge about human rights issues and business.

9 World Vision

World Vision is one of the largest child-focused organizations in the world employing around 40.000 staff members working in nearly 100 countries. The organization’s task is to tackle the root causes of poverty and currently, it impacts the lives of over 200 million vulnerable children. The organization works based on Christian values and it is an advocacy and development organization tasked to improve the lives of children, their families and communities and create a long-lasting impact. World Vision serves all people, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, race or religion.

World Vision helps all children, including survivors of child labor by helping them to return to normal life or remedying circumstances that led to exploration in the first place. It works with communities, governments and the UN to tackle child labor and commits to solutions to provide care and attention to children to prevent them ending up as victims of child labor. It also teaches people to identify situations in which child might be exploited. So far, World Vision has played a big part in decreasing the number of child laborers across the world.

10 International Catholic Child Bureau

The International Child Catholic Bureau (BICE) was established in 1948 as an international NGO. It serves as an international network of 80 organizations from around the world, that defend dignity and rights of children. The organization’s work is based on the Convention on the Rights of Child, a convention that BICE helped to develop. BICE works to serve all children, regardless of their culture, nationality, religion or ethnicity.

BICE fights against child labor. In different countries, depending on their cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, BICE acts with discretion on the issue of child labor to defend rights of child workers. For example, the organization implemented project in Togo to protect 600 children a year and to influence the issue on national level. It used emergency hotlines, media and public awareness as well as child care. Similarly, in Paraguay, the organization works with local NGOs to tutor children who were child workers to continue their studies and raises awareness on the risks of child labor and provides solutions to prevent it.

The post 10 Organizations Working to End Child Labor appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

#1 Oxfam International

Oxfam International is a global development organization mobilizing the power of people against poverty. It serves as an international confederation consisted of 19 organizations that work together with local communities in around 90 countries. When crisis occurs, Oxfam International helps rebuild livelihoods and works to find innovative and practical solutions for people to end their poverty.

Oxfam International fights for a world in which an opportunity is not a privilege, but a right for everyone and in which human rights can be claimed. At the core of the organization’s work is working with partner organizations, as well as with vulnerable women and men to end the injustices that cause poverty. It also conducts campaigns to raise the voices of poor on local and global agendas to influence decisions that affect them. During the last two years, Oxfam International worked directly with 22.3 million people across the world and provided immediate relief in times of crisis.

#2 The Organization for Poverty Alleviation and Development

The Organization for Poverty Alleviation and Development (OPAD) is an international NGO that actively works on poverty alleviation by promoting human rights, sustainable development and climate change. The vision of the organization is to “improve the standard of living of all people by recognizing them as resources and not as victims.

OPAD acts internationally by offering a variety of services directed towards eradicating poverty. The organization implements many projects of poverty eradication in developing countries by using tools such as education, economic development, health promotion and income redistribution. It also advocates for equal rights to economic resources amongst men and women and works with small-scale food producers, such as women, indigenous groups, family farmers and pastoralists, to improve their income and sources of livelihood. It supports local initiatives by promoting self-reliance amongst women, men and youth in poor countries.

#3 Concern Worldwide

Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organization working to free the world from poverty, fear and oppression. It intervenes in the world’s poorest countries and helps the most vulnerable people. The ultimate goal of the organization is to end extreme poverty. Concern Worldwide has, thus, been working for over 50 years with the world’s poorest people to transform their lives. Its team is comprised of 3.500 professionals coming from 50 countries, and who, each year, work with 25 million underprivileged people.

Concern Worldwide reaches and helps the most fragile communities affected by conflict, natural disasters, climate change, flooding, and extreme hunger. The organization implements various programs designed to address specific causes of extreme poverty in communities in 25 countries. It focuses on six thematic areas: livelihoods, health and nutrition, education, emergencies, gender equality and innovations. The core of the organization’s work is empowering local communities to build their resilience and ensure their transformation is sustainable and long-lasting, with an aim to achieve a vision of a world free poverty, fear and oppression.

#4 End Poverty Now

End Poverty Now (EPN) is a Canadian NGO that passionately works on advocating for hungry, needy and politically under-represented people across the world. The organization is dedicated to alleviating poverty globally operating through grassroot projects and educational initiatives. The mission of the EPN is to partner with other organizations to support communities in need, fund sustainable community initiatives and educate and raise awareness of economic and social issues related to poverty.

The EPN fosters a network of non-profit organizations, volunteers, and donors to fight poverty in local communities. It supports community-led projects to build leadership and lift people out of poverty and provide them with skills to create independent solutions for their future livelihoods. The projects that the EPN funds keep going after financial means are cut since the organization makes sure that the projects are funded in the future through other charitable organizations. It achieves this by bringing together organizations and individuals who, otherwise, would never meet before.

#5 Global Citizen

The Global Citizen is an international advocacy organization working on ending extreme poverty. It serves as a movement of engaged citizens who use their collective voice with a goal to end extreme poverty by 2030. The organization’s headquarters is in New York, with branch offices in Canada, Australia, South Africa, Germany and the UK.

The Global Citizen platform provides tools and knowledge to its members to learn about the systemic causes of extreme poverty and to take actions on those issue. So far, millions of global citizens around the world have taken over 24 million actions to target world leaders to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030. The Global Citizen organizes global campaigns to amplify these actions and so far, this has resulted in commitments and policy announcements by leaders, valued at over 48 billion dollars.

#6 World Relief

World Relief is an international Christian humanitarian organization working to overcome poverty, injustice and violence. It brings restoration and healing to millions of world’s most vulnerable categories through programs in economic development, peace keeping, health and child development and refugee and immigration services.

World Relief partners up with churches and communities in more than 20 countries to provide relief and help those suffering rebuild their live. The organization is based in the US, but has offices worldwide, which are supported by churches, foundations and individual donors. So far, World Relief has reached around seven million beneficiaries with the help of 75.000 volunteers who are actively engaged in reaching their communities. It brings together local leaders and pastors to discuss challenges their communities face and provides them with tools to improve their livelihoods.

#7 Care International

Care International is one of the biggest aid organizations with a mission to fight poverty and injustice. It works in over 90 countries and helps around 65 million people annually to find routes out of poverty.

Care’s International vision is to “seek a world of hope, tolerance and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and all people live with dignity and security”. It delivers emergency aid to survivors of conflict and natural disasters and helps them rebuild their lives afterwards. The programs of the organization tackle the deepest roots that cause poverty and works with private companies to create opportunities for marginalized and poor people to have more access to services, goods and livelihoods. The organization puts women and girls in the center because it believes that world cannot overcome poverty until all people have equal opportunities and rights.

#8 Institute for Research on Poverty

Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to producing and disseminating evidence to inform policies and programs to combat poverty and inequality in the US. It conducts national research and trainings by collaborating with researchers, policymakers and practitioners.

The IRP builds, develops and supports a large network of scholars who deal with the issues related to poverty in multiple discipline and conduct interdisciplinary research on the issue. The IRP applies research evidence on key policy questions and advances the understanding of consequences and causes of poverty and inequality in the following areas: child support, children, economic support, education and training, employment, family and partnering, food and nutrition, health, housing, inequality, mobility, justice system, place and poverty measurement.

#9 Innovations for Poverty Action

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a research and policy NGO that discovers and promotes effective solutions to worldwide poverty problems. It brings together researchers and decision-makers to evaluate these solutions and apply them so to improve the lives of poor populations.

Until today, IPA has designed and evaluated more than 550 solutions to poverty issues and currently it has more than 280 evaluations in progress. The organization has developed extensive expertise in conducting successful evaluations by bringing in leading researchers to ensure that evidence it creates leads to tangible impact on the world. Since its establishment in 2002, IPA has worked with over 600 researchers to conduct over 830 evaluations in 51 countries, which has led to implementation of successful programs that impact the lives of millions of individuals worldwide.

#10 Muslim Hands

Muslim Hands is an international NGO based in the UK that works in over 50 countries around the globe and is dedicated to tackling the root causes of poverty. The organization is passionate about working beyond the immediate relief, towards supporting communities in the long-term.

The organization has implemented many long-term project, including schools, healthcare clinics and livelihoods around the world. It works closely with partners and distributes aid in efficient and transparent was to make a lasting difference to the communities it works with. The organization believes that every human being has the right to education, access to clean water and food, as well as means to supports themselves and their families. It approaches each situation on a case by case basis to find appropriate solutions and strives to empower people for the long-term.

#11 BRAC

BRAC is the largest Bangladesh based international NGO with a mission to alleviate poverty and encourage economic participation by empowering people through social and economic programs. The organization works and has positive impact in the poorest Asian and African countries in the world, reaching around 138 million people.

BRAC works in four main areas, including social enterprises, investments, university and social development. It approaches the issue of poverty by using a businesslike approach and takes into considerations factors that go beyond economy that account for why people are impoverished. It tackles social issues and inequality and allows individuals to come out of poverty by providing them with tools to participate in the economy. So far, BRAC has been successful in establishing many enterprises and has provided primary education for 400.000 children and lifted 86.975 households in Bangladesh out of extreme poverty.

#12 European Anti-Poverty Network

The European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) was established in 1990 and since then it has become the largest Europe based network gathering anti-poverty NGOs, grassroots organizations and European organizations that are active in fight against poverty and social exclusion. Currently, the EAPN is a network of 31 national networks of NGOs and 13 European organizations.

The EAPN fights against poverty by using tools such as education, training, service provision and participation to empower people who are faced with poverty and social exclusion. The aim of the EAPN is to put poverty issue on the EU agenda and to ensure cooperation at EU level aimed at the eradication of poverty and social exclusion. The work of the EAPN is concentrated around enhancing of actions to eradicate poverty, raising awareness around the issue, empowering people who are faced with it and lobbying for all people and groups facing poverty and social exclusion.

#13 The Borgen Project

The Borgen Project is the US based non-profit working to make poverty a focus of the US foreign policy. The organization operates at political levels and advocates for programs that are effective in fighting extreme poverty.

The focus of the organization’s advocacy efforts are starvation and global food security, newborn, child and mother survival, access to clear water and sanitation and food aid reform. The Borgen Project advocates for solutions of these issues by meeting the US congressional members to secure support for poverty reducing legislation. It also mobilizes people around the world to make the issue of poverty a political priority and teaches them basic advocacy skills that will allow them to communicate with their governments. In this way, the Borgen Project builds awareness of global issues and innovations in poverty reduction.

#14 Advocates for International Development

Advocates for International Development (A4ID), earlier known as Lawyers Eradicating Poverty, is an international advocacy organization with a mission “to be a voice of legal community and enable lawyers to join the global fight against poverty and to ensure that legal support is available for those engaged in that fight”.

A4ID provides an opportunity for law firms and companies worldwide to make contribution in meeting the needs of poorest people. It acts as a facilitator matching international legal experts with local needs in more than 100 jurisdictions, with a network of 53.000 lawyers. The goal of the A4ID is to assist the goal of eradicating the extreme poverty by 2030 since it recognizes that developing nations may not have proper access to legal services and that to achieve sustainable development, these services need to available to everyone.

#15 Green Shots Foundation

Green Shoots was established in 2010 with a mission “to prevent or relief of poverty through the implementation in greater Asia or Africa of holistic and sustainable development programmes combining economic empowerment with access to education and/or medical aid.” The organization tackles the issue of poverty through microfinance, sustainable development and holistic approaches.

The goal of the Green Shots is to improve access to education and access to medical aid in developing African and Asian countries. There are multiple programs that the foundation has implemented based on the specific needs of each region. Some of these programs include Education Loans and Social Entrepreneurship (ELSE), Food Agriculture and Social Entrepreneurship (FASE) and Medical Assistance and Medical Education (MAME). Countries that the Green Shoots Foundation has worked in include Cambodia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan.

#16 InterAction

Since its establishment in 1984, InterAction has become the largest alliance of international NGOs and partners in the US, mobilizing more than 180 members to think and act collectively to serve the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world. The InterAction works on a shared belief that this alliance can make the world a more peaceful, just and prosperous place.

InterAction works to eliminate extreme poverty, strengthen human rights and citizen participation, promote peace, safeguard a sustainable planet and ensure dignity for all people. It advocates for the policy priorities, primarily with Congress and the executive branch of the U.S. government, but also with partners, think tanks, and the private sector. In addition, it works to strengthen policies and programs to reduce poverty, hunger, gender and social inequity, and environmental degradation in more than 130 countries. InterAction supports the work of member organizations providing aid to affected people in crises by providing a forum for consultation, coordination, and advocacy on emergency response.

#17 International Child Care

International Child Care (ICC) is a Christian health development organization that operates in Haiti since 1967 and in the Dominican Republic since 1988 to eradicate poverty that impacts health and well-being. The vision of ICC is “health and wholeness for children and families in empowered communities”.

The ICC aims to achieve three goals. First, it works to prevent illness amongst children and their families through immunization, oral re-hydration, vitamin A distribution, prenatal care, clean water projects and training of health careers. Second, it promotes health for children and their families through health education, reproductive health services and community rehabilitation for children with disabilities. Third, it restores health for children and adults who suffer from tuberculosis and HIV.  The ICC is committed to respect and ensure the respect of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of children.

#18 ONE

ONE is a global organization that tackles the causes of extreme poverty and preventable disease, with a focus on Africa. The organization fights also for gender equality, youth employment, quality education, access to health services and similar. The goal of the ONE is to eradicate extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030, so that everyone can lead a life of dignity and opportunity.

One pressures governments to fight against extreme poverty and empowers citizens to hold governments accountable. The organization operates in Abuja, Berlin, Brussels, Dakar, Johannesburg, London, New York, Ottawa, Paris and Washington DC, where it educates and lobbies governments to implement policy solutions that would save lives of millions of people living in extreme poverty. The network of ONE consists of artists, activists, faith and business leaders, students, and scientists, who organize, mobilize, educate and advocate so that people have a chance not only to survive, but to thrive.

#19 Engineers Without Borders International

Engineers Without Borders International (EWB-I) is an international organization of national EWB/ISF groups. It helps the member groups develop their capacity to assist developing communities in their respective countries. The vision of the organization is “a sustainable world where engineering enables long term positive social and global development for the benefit of people and the environment everywhere.”

The member groups partner up with disadvantaged communities to improve their quality of live through education and implementation of engineering projects that are sustainable. These are usually grassroots projects that promote global dimensions of experience for engineers, engineering students and those who are motivated non-engineers. The EWB-I, therefore, serves as platform for its member groups to connects and collaborate on projects worldwide, develop partnerships on community projects, as well as share ideas, experience, technical knowledge, and documentation.

#20 Humanitarian Organization for Poverty Eradication

The Humanitarian Organization for Poverty Eradication (HOPE) was established in 1998 with a goal to empower marginalized people who are deprived of their rights by providing them with opportunities and resources. It promotes and protects the fundamental human rights of vulnerable groups such asylum seekers, refugees and migrants, whose lives have been traumatized by disasters, poverty, persecution or discrimination. The HOPE currently operates in New Zealand, Thailand and Pakistan.

The organization provides economic, social, moral and financial assistance, as well as develops activities to educate the broader public on the needs of vulnerable groups. It supports and launched fundraising activities to be able to provide sponsorship of vulnerable groups such as malnourished women, children, rural communities and indigent families. The HOPE encourages marginalized and vulnerable groups in the society come up with their potential of overcoming poverty. It also mobilizes people to take acting to achieve the UN sustainable development goals.

#21 World Vision

World Vision is one of the largest child-focused organizations in the world employing around 40.000 staff members working in nearly 100 countries. The organization’s task is to tackle the root causes of poverty and currently, it impacts the lives of over 200 million vulnerable children. The organization works based on Christian values and it is an advocacy and development organization tasked to improve the lives of children, their families and communities and create a long-lasting impact. World Vision serves all people, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, race or religion.

World Vision works on eradication of poverty through education which allows people to learn about rights and acquire skills, which, in return, opens up economic opportunities that are a fundamental step in transforming lives. The organization, thus, works with local communities by providing small loans to establish businesses, and help improve access to local and international groups. The organization also establishes community savings groups and fosters entrepreneurship. It uses cost-effective solutions to fight poverty such as immunization of children immunisation, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, exclusive breastfeeding, and oral rehydration to prevent death from diarrhoea, more skilled birth attendants, nutrition programs, and access to programs to learn improved hygiene practices.

#22 World Hope International

World Hope International (WHI) is a Christian relief and development organization working with vulnerable and exploited communities to alleviate poverty, suffering, and injustice. The vision of the organization is “to provide those in need with opportunity, dignity, and hope so they can possess the tools for change in themselves, their family, and their community”. WHI supports all people regardless of ethnicity, gender, race, or religion.

The organization empowers, protects and builds resilience through the use of market-based and community driven approaches and implementation of innovative and transformative projects. The projects directly affect the local communities, leader and individuals who are empowered through locally sustainable programs and transformation of these communities and individuals into ones with dignity and wholeness through spiritual, social, economic and physical change.

#23 Village Enterprise

The Village Enterprise is an organizations that works to end extreme poverty in rural Africa through entrepreneurship and innovation by implementing simple and cost-effective program. So far, the Village Enterprises has started over 48.000 businesses and trained over 185.000 Africans living in extreme poverty to start sustainable businesses and savings groups.

The Graduation program that the organization implements provide group of three entrepreneurs with cash transfers as seed capital, training and constant mentoring by a local business mentor. The Village Enterprise organizes the business groups into Business Savings groups consisting of 30 entrepreneurs to allow access to growth capital, provide safe space for savings and build social capital for businesses such as small retail stores, restaurants, tailoring, beekeeping livestock and farming. This directly improved the standard of living for users and broke the cycle of poverty for them and their families.

#24 Trickle Up

Trickle Up is an organization that was established in 1979 to help people living in extreme poverty and vulnerability to advance their economic and social well-being. So far, the Trickle Up has helped many women gain skills and confidence to achieve greater self-sufficiency, which directly affected around 1.5 million people. The organization is committed to help the next million rise from extreme poverty.

The organization partners up with governments, global institutions and local organizations to drive change and help those living in extreme poverty. It provides the poorest people with trainings and coaching and supports them in creating small businesses by connecting them to saving groups where they save money, create plans for the future and drive change in their communities. The organization’s focus is helping women, people with disabilities, and refugees in the poorest parts of rural Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

#25 RESULTS

RESULTS is a movement of passionate and committed everyday people, who together use their voices to influence political decisions that will bring an end to poverty. It is a volunteer-based organization in which volunteers receive training, support, and inspiration to become skilled advocates. They learn to effectively advise policy makers, guiding them towards decisions that improve access to education, health, and economic opportunity.

Ever since its establishment in 1980, RESULTS volunteers secured billions of dollars through advocacy for programs worldwide, including health, education economic opportunities. Besides advocacy activities, the organization also conducts research and oversight, educates and mobilizes the public, policy makers, and the media and supports powerful citizenship by training volunteers in public speaking, generating media, and educating their communities and elected officials on issues of poverty. The organization is successful in pushing legislation and policies to address poverty and in empowering people for their voices to be loudly heard.

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#1 Desert Flower Foundation

The Desert Flower Foundation was established in 2002 by a world-famous model Waris Dirie and her friends, with the goal to forever eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM). Around 200 million girls around the world are affected by this issue and the goal of the Foundation is to educate and inform people to support and save girls from FGM.

During 2002, the Foundation carried out research on FGM across Europe and Africa and published 4.000 pages report on this practice containing hard facts. This led to many governments and the European Union to put FGM on their issues agenda, as well as implement laws and initiate campaigns against this practice. Today, the Foundation is active in raising awareness against this practice worldwide as well as supporting little girls in Africa by directly saving them from FGM. So far, the Foundation has saved thousands of girls in Africa by signing contracts with their parents promising they will not perform FGM on their daughters. The Foundation also supports victims of FGM with health care and reconstructive surgery, as well as with holistic hospital treatment. It also educates and trains women in Africa and enables them to provide their own income.

#2 Equality Now

Equality Now is an international organization that advocates for a world where women and girls have control over their bodies. For Equality Now, the FGM is a human rights violation deeply rooted in gender equality and discrimination. The organization pushes for adoption of laws that protect girls and supports activists who work in their local communities to put an end to FGM.

Equality Now uses legal advocacy, community mobilization and regional partnerships to push governments to adopt laws that criminalize acts of FGM. It also collaborates with individuals, institutions and coalitions of survivors, activists, legal reformers, corporations and women’s organizations. The organization relies on their expertise and knowledge to spark the change. The core of the organization’s work is giving survivors of FGM a platform to speak and share their stories to raise awareness about the issue around the world.

#3 ActionAid UK

By being a member of ActionAid International, the ActionAid UK is dedicated to working with women and girls living in poverty. The organization is dedicated to helping end violence against women and girls and changing their lives forever. Its work covers three areas-mobilizing resources and raising money through investment to fight poverty, influencing for change to challenge violence and exploitation and achieve equal economic opportunities for women and supporting humanitarian action when emergencies threat women’s wellbeing.

The organization actively works on ending FGM in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Gambia and Uganda. It believes that to end FGM, there has to be change in attitudes and behavior at all levels of society. Therefore, the organization provides support to women and girls who escaped FGM through rescue centers, safe houses and girls’ clubs. It also talks openly about the damaging impacts of FGM educating local communities and works with them closely by training them how to speak and influence others about the issues, with an ultimate goal that all communities say ‘No’ to FGM.

#4 Wallace Global Fund

Mission of the Wallace Global Fund is to promote engaged and informed citizenry to fight injustice, and to protect the diversity of nature and the natural systems upon which all life depends. Amongst other goals, the organization is committed to put an end to FGM by 2030. To achieve this, the Fund partners up with local communities mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and works closely with them to end the practice.

The Fund plays one of the main roles in the Donors Working Group on FGM, whose members are also UNFPA, UNICEF, USAID, the US State Department and other multilateral and bilateral donors. The Fund also supports resource mobilization efforts and global advocacy, so that advocates who work in local communities receive political support and funding for their efforts. The Fund also sponsored the Summit on Violence Against Girls and FGM that was held in Washington DC and involved over 200 activists and civil society organizations from around the world. The Fund supports the launch of the US End FGM Network that will coordinate the US groups working on solutions to end and prevent FGM.

#5 28 Too Many

28 Too Many is a charity established in 2010 in England and Wales and that fights to stop FGM in 28 African countries, where it is still practiced. The organization works at community level collecting data and creating education and health networks. The goal of the organization is to create a domino effect to end FGM in Africa forever.

The organization conducts research and provides knowledge and tools to those working to end FGM in African countries. Its vision is a word where every woman and girl is healthy and safe from FGM. The organization presents data it collected in several ways, including country profile reports and thematic papers. By using its research, the organization engages influencers to advocate for change, as well as distributes advocacy materials that are used by local organizations in their communities to bring effective change.

#6 Daughters of Eve

Daughters of is a non-profit organization working to protect young women and girls who are at risk from FGM. It aims to help girls affected by FGM by raising awareness and providing support service, with an aim to bring this practice to an end.

The organization recognizes FGM as gender-based violence which highlights inequalities between men and women and puts in danger health, dignity, autonomy and security of its victims. Therefore, the organization is working to protect and advance reproductive, physical, mental and sexual health rights of young people from FGM within the communities in which it is practiced. It provides healing through holistic approach, as well as offering advice and support to help young people.

#7 African Women Organization

African Women Organization was established in 1996 as a non-governmental organization by women from Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt and other African countries. With a seat in Vienna, Austria, the organization is actively collaborating with other organizations and government agencies that deal with issues of immigrants and women welfare.

Since 1998, the organization’s area of priority is fight against FGM. The organization works on raising awareness and ending this practice in immigrant communities whose members originate from FGM risk countries. The activities of the organization also include providing information and materials to students, researchers and media, as well as providing consultation and advice to FGM victims, preparing FGM training aid kits and training trainers and strengthening communication and cooperation with FGM European network.

#8 World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) was established in 1948 as a specialized agency of the UN with a primary purpose to work on global health issues. The constitution of the organization was signed by 61 countries. The WHO, today, is a leading organization in eradication communicable diseases such as HIV, Ebola, malaria, and tuberculosis. The WHO also works on diseases that affect sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, development, food security and other issues.

One of the programs of the WHO is also fighting to end FGM. The World Health Assembly passed a resolution on the elimination of FGM in 2008, concentrating that this type of action is needed in all sectors including women’s affairs, finance, education and health. The WHO works to end FGM by focusing on providing training, policy, and guidelines to health professionals who can provide counseling and medical care for women and girls affected by FGM. The organization also works on building evidence by collecting facts on causes and consequences of FGM as well as advocating by internationally, regionally and locally to end the FGM practice.

#9 End FGM European Network

End FGM European Network (End FGM EU) is an umbrella network of 24 European organizations that are based in 13 European countries and that are working together to end FGM by connecting communities with non-governmental organizations. The Network works on building bridges between all relevant actors that deal with the issue of FGM in Europe and globally.

End FGM EU serves as a platform for organizations, EU actors and communities to interact and cooperate by sharing experience and knowledge. The strategies of the Network include data collection, health, integrating FGM into broader measures on violence against women and girls, protection of asylum seekers and refugees who are affected or at risk of FGM and inclusion of FGM in EU0s engagements globally. Since 2009, the campaign to end FGM has gained support of over 42.000 people who signed the petition, as well as committed over 50 members of European Parliament to advocated for the issue of FGM to be included in policies and law.

#10 Safe Hands

Safe Hands was founded in 2003 by Nancy Durrell McKenna, aw award winning film make and photographer. The primary mission of organization was to use the power of photography and film to ensure every childbirth and pregnancy was safe.

The organization’s work is driven by three areas of expertise. First, the organization works with women and girls in their communities by collaborating with leaders and service providers to educate them about the issues and develop the right messages. Second, it enables members of local communities to define and present their own stories in their voice. Lastly, the organization uses the evidence-based approach to develop knowledge and build strong programs to respond to needs of women and girls. In the area of FGM, the organization collaborates closely with Hibo Wardere, a well-known anti-FGM campaigner, who trains students, school administration and police on how to identify girls who are at risk of FGM and how to intervene. Lastly, the organization also produces documentary films based on community story-telling to raise awareness about FGM globally.

#11 Beyond FGM

Beyond FGM is an organization with a vision of a world free from genital mutilation. The mission of the organization is to work with young girls and their families, as well as African midwives, to help educate all those involved in FGM and to change their views on the issue.

The organization works with and supports the grassroots organizations in order to strengthen their social change communications to end FGM. It mobilizes partnerships with individuals, the African diaspora and national organizations by forming strong membership base with young people, the media, corporations and community leaders. The organization collects knowledge on FGM by learning from experience of its members. It also targets and advocates for inclusion of FGM as one of the main component of work by the international organizations and works on increasing commitments to ending FGM by donors. Organization’s End FGM Grants Progamme supports grassroots organizations working to end FGM in Kenya, Nigeria and the Gambia.

#12 The UN Refugee Agency

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the UN agency established to protect refugees, forcibly displaced and stateless people. Besides gathering data with regard to these vulnerable groups, the UNHCR also provides emergency assistance such as healthcare, shelter, food, clean water and similar. The organization also conducts the process of placing refugees in third countries, as well as raises awareness and conducts campaigns about the challenges they face.

UNHCR is committed to supporting global efforts to end FGM. It actively works on eliminating FGM among refugees who are placed in refugee camps and in some urban areas in countries such as Yemen, Kenya and Ethiopia. The organization runs awareness programs about FGM and supports community engagement in the issue. It also provides safe houses for victims. The organization also addresses the medical consequences of FGM for women and girls and supports them in pursuing economic activities to become more empowered. It also supports the protection of women and girls who seek asylum on the grounds of FGM by working with state and civil society partners.

#13 FORWARD

Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development (FORWARD) is one of the leading African women led organizations that works to end violence against women and girls. The programs of the organization cover activities to end FGM as well as child marriage and domestic and sexual violence, with a goal to enable African women and girls to live healthy and equally in dignity.

In its fight to end FGM, FORWARD works with local communities to save girls at risk of FGM and supports women who were affected by this practice. It works in Africa, as well as in immigrant communities in the UK and Europe. The organization engages directly with women and men in communities to raise awareness of the risks of FGM and supports them by providing training and confidence building, which enables them to advocate for change in their communities.

#14 The Girl Generation

The Girl Generation is an African organization that acts globally and whose members share the vision that FGM can and must end in this generation. The Girl Generation serves as a platform for initiating social change and bringing together thousands of voices under one identity that challenges the social norms that hold FGM in place.

The Girl Generation supports grassroots organizations to address local contexts and strengthen their social communications to end FGM. It mobilizes partnerships with individuals, the African diaspora, and national organizations and builds the base of youth, the media, community leaders and corporations. The organization uses the vast knowledge of its members to learn about the local contexts and collects positive stories of social change across the African continent and beyond, so that everyone can hear about it. It also advocates for FGM to be mainstreamed in international, regional and national development policies. The organization also provides grants to poorly resourced grassroots organizations working to end FGM. Currently, the grants are available in Kenya, Nigeria and the Gambia.

#15 Africa Coordinating Centre for the Abandonment of FGM/C

Africa Coordination Centre for the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (ACCAF) was established in 2012 with a goal to address the gaps in ending of FGM in African region. The aim of the Centre is strengthen the capacity of research and monitor the progress of FGM abandonment and improved care for women and girls who suffer from the negative consequences caused by this practice.

The organization works through community engagement and government lobbying by engaging with the communities affected by FGM. Programs implemented by the ACCAF enable women and girls to acquire skills and gain confidence to become advocates for change. The organization provides knowledge and tools for organizations working with FGM affected communities and conducts campaigns to raise awareness about the issue. It advocates at all levels, from grassroots organizations to governments, to accelerate the end of the practice. The organization also uses its country, regional and liaison offices to drive changes in policies at all levels in the fight against FGM.

#16 Save the Children

Save the Children is one of the largest independent organizations for children in the world, working in around 120 countries. The vision of the organization is to live in a world in which every child enjoys the right to protection, survival, development and participation. The organization works directly to change ways in which world treats treat children and to achieve a long-lasting change in their lives. Save the Children works on the basis of core values that encompass accountability, ambition, collaboration, creativity and integrity.

The organization works in several countries to prevent the practice of FGM.  It organizes meetings with women and girls in local communities so they can learn about consequences of FGM and speak out against in their communities and trains health professionals to help those who were affected by the practice. The organization also provides support and employment to those who carry out FGM, so they do not have to earn from it for their livelihood. It also works with religious leaders and youth groups through which they learn about negative effects of FGM and spread their knowledge in communities through songs, poems and plays.

#17 Orchid Project

The Orchid Project is a UK based non-governmental organization that works within the global movement to end FGM. It partners with grassroots organizations around the globe and helps them to share knowledge to achieve change. It also advocates to governments to secure that work to end FGM becomes a priority.

Currently, the Orchid Project partners with grassroots organizations in Kenya, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali and India, in which FGM is a social norm in communities and one of the most effective ways to fight against is through human rights based education and allowing communities to choose to end it. The Orchid Project connects organizations and activists to share information and research to catalyze efforts to end FGM around the world. The advocacy team within the organization has shown to be instrumental in ensuring the issue of FGM is present on global platforms and as well as working with leaders and decision makers for actions to end FGM to be accelerated.

#18 FGM National Clinical Group

FGM National Clinical Group was established in 2007 to help women who have been affected by FGM and other related issues. The organization is committed to improving the lives of women and their daughters who are at risk of FGM through research and clinical networks. The FGM National Clinical group is composed of healthcare professionals, advisors and academics with a common task-to end the FGM practice.

The organization advocates for FGM to become a part of syllabus used for training midwives, nurses, obstetricians, gynecologists and other related health care workers.

#19  Plan International

Plan International is a human rights and humanitarian organization that advances equality for girls and rights of children. It works with children, young people and communities to detect the root causes of vulnerability and exclusion of girls. The organization supports right of children since they moment they were born until their adulthood and prepares them to be able to respond to crises and adversity. It uses knowledge and experience to drive changes in policies at all levels.

Plan International fights against FGM by working with community leaders, parents, governments, children and young people to transform their behavior towards the practice and raise awareness to put an end to FGM. It strives to end FGM so girls are given a choice to make decision about their own reproductive and sexual health. A key activity of the organization in the fight against FGM is giving voice to young people by involving them and empowering them to claim their rights and live more fulfilling rights.

#20 Hope Foundation for African Women

Hope Foundation for African Women (HFAW) is an international non-profit organizations that works in rural areas to reduce gender inequalities through economic empowerment and promotion of sexual and reproductive health. At the top of the agenda of HFAW is gender advocacy against FGM.

To fight against FGM, HFAW works with community leaders through dialogue in various institutions. Religious leaders are particularly important since they can influence their followers who trust them. When it comes to outreach, the HFAW focuses on schools, religious institutions, markers, road shows and media to send anti-FGM messages, as well as messages on issues regarding rights of children, women rights and early pregnancies. The health promoters also hold face to face discussions within communities, during which they critically engage on gender issues and FGM.

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#1 World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) was established in 1948 with a mission to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable. The goal of the organization is “to ensure that a billion more people have universal health coverage, to protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and provide a further billion people with better health and well-being”.

The WHO is present in more than 150 countries and its staff works with governments and other partners to ensure the highest level of health care for all people worldwide. The organization’s primary focus is put on improving access to quality primary health care services, working towards sustainable financing and financial protection, improving access to essential medicines and health products, training the health professionals and advising on health policies.

#2 Water School

Water School is an organization that is passionate about bringing improved health and clean water in Africa. The organization currently operates in Kenya and Uganda where it follows the principle that health and education are inseparable and, thus, empowers communities through integration of sanitation and hygiene education with sustainable water treatment technology call Solar Disinfection (SODIS).

The organization partners up with grassroots organizations and community leaders to improve quality of water and to elevate sanitation and hygiene practices. It also uses the services of health officers and health centers to introduce its programs into local communities. It partners up with Africa Water Solutions, which helps the beneficiaries of the projects to become advocates of the program, training their peers and families and spreading the message of clean water and health.

#3 The Global Health Council

The Global Health Council is one of the largest membership-based global health advocacy groups in the world, with over 100.000 members and branches in over 150 countries. The organization advocates for global health awareness and legislation to be passed through the US Congress. The organization’s focus is put on preventing premature death of children and adults worldwide.

The Global Health Council serves as a platform for shared voices on the global cross-cutting health issues, which promotes and catalyses and inclusive community of diverse organizations and people. The organization also challenges the status quo of health policies and calls on action that has both local and global impact. Last, but not least, it promotes collaborative action and is committed to human development through better health worldwide.

#4 VillageReach

The Village Reach was established in 2000 and since then it works on improving access to healthcare in developing countries by partnering with businesses, governments, and other organizations, with an aim to strengthen local infrastructure in rural areas and facilitate the delivery of medical supplies. The headquarters of the organization is in Seattle, Washington, the US, with countries offices in Mozambique, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa.

The organization works on improving capacity of health workers to deliver quality health care and improves availability of vaccines and medicines, so that people have access to the treatment they need. It also works on integrating data driven decision-making at all levels of the health system since smart decisions lead to improved health.

#5 Fistula Foundation

The Fistula Foundation is an organization that is dedicated to treating the obstetric fistula in developing countries, which often occur when labor is obstructed during childbirth and leave women incontinent, which of often ruins their lives leaving them on the margins of the society. Their communities and their husbands often abandon then because of the smell. The obstetric fistula is common when women go to labor at home, without access to professional medical help.

The Fistula Foundation issues grants to partner organizations on an invitation basis and provides them with human and financial resources that serve as many women as possible with the treatment they need. The organization works closely with hospitals and doctors to meet the local needs and makes sure that its funding is spent on the treatment at facilities that are known and have access to qualified fistula surgeons.

#6 International Child Care

International Child Care (ICC) is a Christian health development organization that operates in Haiti since 1967 and in the Dominican Republic since 1988 to eradicate poverty that impacts health and well-being. The vision of ICC is “health and wholeness for children and families in empowered communities”.

The ICC aims to achieve three goals. First, it works to prevent illness amongst children and their families through immunization, oral re-hydration, vitamin A distribution, prenatal care, clean water projects and training of health careers. Second, it promotes health for children and their families through health education, reproductive health services and community rehabilitation for children with disabilities. Third, it restores health for children and adults who suffer from tuberculosis and HIV.  The ICC is committed to respect and ensure the respect of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of children.

#7 SIGN Fracture Care International

SIGN Fracture Care International (SIGN) is an international organization with a mission to “give the injured poor access to fracture surgery by donating orthopedic education and implant systems in developing countries”. The organization provides orthopedic treatment to trauma victims by training and equipping local surgeons.

The organization develops innovative implant systems in low-resources hospital to treat patients. These systems enable hospitals to treat patients without expensive x-ray imaging or electricity. The organization provides healing to the injured poor. SIGN Surgery enables people with severely broken bones to walk within one week of surgery.

#8 UNICEF

UNICEF is one of the largest UN agencies dedicated to helping children in need. It works around the world to help children survive and thrive. Amongst many programs, the UNICEF implements the health care projects that are mostly focused on maternal, newborn and child survival, child and adolescent health and well-being, strengthening of the health systems and health in emergencies and humanitarian settings.

UNICEF implements immunization programs to prevent maternal, newborn and child deaths and provides curative services to prevent pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria and other diseases affecting children. It helps children and adolescents to build a solid foundation for adulthood and helps countries combat non-communicable diseases. It also supports primary health care at community levels to help achieve access to universal health coverage. Last, but not least, the organizes the organization tackles health challenges in places affected by conflicts, natural disasters, migration, urbanization, and political and economic instability.

#9 Partners in Health

Partners in Health is an international organization which cares for patients in their homes and communities in developing countries. The mission of organization is to “provide a preferential option for the poor in health care.” At its root, the mission of the Partners in Health is both medical and moral one, since it is based on solidarity rather than charity.

The organization collaborates and partners with local governments and the world’s leading medical and academic institutions to strengthen health systems and build capacities. The Partners in Health works to achieve two goals: to bring benefits of modern medical science those who are unable to afford health care and to serve as an antidote to despair.

#10 Shot@Life

Shot@Life is an organization that ensures that children around the globe have access to lifesaving vaccines. The organization provides vaccinations for children who are less fortunate, so they will not get affected by preventable diseases.

The organization uses advocacy tools to raise awareness amongst the public, businesses and other civil society organizations across the United States. So far, over 350.000 supporters and 2.000 grassroots advocates in all 50 states of the US strive to decrease vaccine-preventable childhood deaths and give every child a shot at life no matter where they live.

#11 The Alliance for International Medical Action

The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) was founded in 2009 with an aim “to treat and care for as many people as it can”. Since then, it has treated more than two million patients and conducted 56 programs in 13 countries, with a focus on malnutrition, malaria, Ebola, and surgery.

The organization gathers the expertise of global research institutions, international aid workers and national medical organizations to help people in need and contribute to the humanitarian medicine. The organization conducts research related to trauma surgery, pediatric care, Ebola treatment and prevention, and nutrition and works closely with local and national medical organization to provide care to people who live in some of the most neglected communities in the world.

#12 AMREF Health Africa

AMREF Health Africa is one of the largest African based NGOs with seat in Nairobi, Kenya. It severs around nine million people per year in almost 35 countries located in sub-Saharan African. Currently, it conducts over 130 community-based programs in 30 African countries, with a goal to reach as many people as possible.

Through its programs, the organization strengthens health systems and trains health works to respond to the most challenging and critical health issues in Africa. This often includes child death, maternal health, HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, surgical services, the lack of access to sanitation and water, and access to quality diagnostic. It also tackles other infectious and noncommunicable diseases, such as cancer and diabetes. The organization mostly employs Africans, so that it always tackles African challenges with African expertise.

#13 Bridge of Life

Bridge of Life (BoL) is an international non-profit organization working globally to strengthen healthcare, mainly through sustainable programs that treat and prevent chronic disease. The vision of BoL is a world where all human beings has access to quality healthcare. The organization empowers local community health workers and patients through education and training to achieve sustainable changes in healthcare.

Ever since it was established in 2006, BoL impacted the lives of over 118.000 people through 179 international medical missions in 30 countries and 310 domestic events. BoL’s programs include kidney care, through which it establishes local partnerships to improve kidney care for people who suffer from the renal disease, and chronic disease prevention, through which it controls and prevents kidney disease through health education and screening. The organization also works with health professionals at medical camps for kids.

#14 Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE)

CHANGE was established in 1994 to advocate for voluntary family planning and services, and to mobilize. Since then, it has trained and mobilized many US grassroots leaders to be a voice for change in US foreign policy debates that affect sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The efforts of the organization are focused in three areas-public policy, research, and outreach and constituency building. CHANGE advocates for foreign policies that are integrated, woman-centered, and human rights based, with a focus on the impact policies have on family planning, maternal health and HIV. It also conducts research to inform and hold the US government accountable for its policy and funding decision. Last, but not least, CHANGE conducts US foreign policy education and advocacy trainings, and mobilizes its grassroots network of women’s and student groups, HIV activists, faith-based organizations, and reproductive justice advocates at key moments to influence policy decisions.

#15 Combat Blindness International

Combat Blindness was founded with a mission “to eliminate preventable blindness worldwide by providing sustainable, equitable solutions for sight through partnerships and innovation”. Currently, the organization implements four international programs-the international cataract program, certified ophthalmic paramedic program, international pediatric program, and eye care infrastructure.

The organization supports low cost and high-volume cataract surgeries and, in this way, directly supports individuals who suffer from the condition. It also combats childhood blindness by supporting early screening and proper treatment of children and in this way gives them an opportunity to learn and thrive. Combat Blindness also establishes surgical centers and assists people affected by poverty to have access to medical care.

#16 Core Group

CORE Group was established in 1997 with an aim to convene professionals and practitioners in global health community to share knowledge, best practices and evidence, that would be translated into the real world with a direct impact, creating new standards in public and clinical health.

The organization works on advancing community health by developing case studies and analyzing data from the field. It also creates training curricula and conducts workshops related to community prevention and care, with a focus on maternal mortality, infectious diseases and childhood illness. The CORE Group also assists global organizations and NGOs to develop secretariats and networks. The most recent efforts include activities on malaria, polio and pandemic preparedness in India, Nepal, Ethiopia, Angola, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

#17 Doctors of the World

Doctors of the World is an organization that believes that healthcare is a human right. Therefore, the organization serves more than 1.6 million people around the world, through 400 programs in over 80 countries worldwide. Doctors of the World are present in conflict zones, refugee camps and rural communities, with a mandate to create infrastructure, provide care and advocate for the most vulnerable.

Doctors of the World works in emergency situations to build sustainable and long-term health solutions. The organization’s staff are professionals in primary health care, sexual and reproductive health, HIV and infectious diseases, who work with a mission to help all people who are excluded from healthcare systems.

#18 The Syrian American Medical Society

The Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) is an international medical relief organization that is working on crisis relief in Syria to save lives and alleviate suffering. It provides medical care to every patient in need. The mission of the organization is to ‘’deliver life-saving services, revitalizes health systems during crisis, and promote medical education via a network of humanitarians in the US, Syria and beyond’’.

SAMS is currently active in Syria, where it supports healthcare by sponsoring hospitals and ambulances, training and paying salaries of Syrian medical personnel and sending medical equipment and lifesaving humanitarian aid in the most needed zones. The organization also supports Syrian refugees by providing psychosocial support, medical and dental care and similar.

#19 Project C.U.R.E

Ever since it was established in 1987, Project C.U.R.E has been active in delivering medical equipment and supplies to clinics and hospitals in developing countries. The organization is one of the biggest distributors of donated medical relied, affecting lives of people in more than 130 countries.

The Project C.U.R.E delivers three to five trucks of medical equipment and supplies each week to hospitals and clinics that desperately need it. It sends hundreds of healthcare professionals to communities in need, to provide medical assistance. The organization is focused on prevention and treatment of diseases such as HIV, malaria, Ebola, and tuberculosis. The organization also works with healthcare professionals to treat victims of natural disasters.

#20 Physicians for Peace

Physicians for Peace is an international organization that educates and trains healthcare workers in under-resourced communities and expands their skills and medical knowledge base. Through its programs, the organization trains and helps local surgeons to heal patients in their own communities.

Physicians for Peace combine training with theory to teach new techniques in surgery and supports each community where it works, through the network of partners. It also identifies appropriate equipment, curriculum and policies to develop the best practices and local capacities. The organization ensures that its partners have resources and knowledge and empowers them to develop their capacities and make decision to work in sustainable healthy communities.

#21 MedShare

MedShare is an international humanitarian aid organization that is dedicated to saving lives of people by providing them with surplus medical supplies and equipment. The organization helps increase health systems capacities by providing biomedical equipment training and services to medical professionals and healthcare organizations who serve populations in need.

So far, MedShare has delivered lifesaving medical supplies to over 100 countries and has provided biomedical training to over 7.000 healthcare professionals in 18 countries. The delivery of vital medical supplies and equipment by MedShare has helped save many lives across the world, that were provided by hundreds of hospitals and corporations operating in developed countries.

#22 Medical Teams International

Medical Teams International is an organization that helps people in crisis dying from preventable causes. The organization currently operates in the US, Syria, Nepal, Myanmar, Cambodia, Tanzania, Liberia, Haiti and Guatemala.

The organization delivers medical equipment and supplies to communities in need, such as vaccines and other types of medicines. It also supports and trains local health care staff and makes sure that clinics have enough supplies and medicines. The organization empowers local communities with knowledge about health, to be able to care for themselves and their neighbors.

#23 Islamic Medical Association of North America IMANA

IMANA was founded in 1967 as a network of American-Muslim physicians, dentists and other healthcare workers in North America. The organization provides professional networking opportunities for healthcare workers and acts as a resource for medical ethics from an Islamic perspective to medical professionals and educational institutions.

IMANA provides mentoring for medical students and implements medical relief programs to respond to disasters. It also helps build healthcare capacities and facilitate medical knowledge transfer around the world. The organization provides basic healthcare services in underserved communities, while its hospitals, clinics, collaborative projects and basic health units provide care to poor populations.

#24 IntraHealth International

Established as a global health nonprofit organization in 1979, IntraHealth International has worked in over 100 countries and helped improve the performance of health works and strengthen the systems in which they have, so that all people everywhere have access to healthcare they need.

The organization partners with governments, technologists, artists, businesses and activists to produce solutions for local communities, that would have long-term and lasting results. The programs that the organization implements produce both social and economic impacts that keep communities around the globe healthy. In 2018, the IntraHealth International has reached 341.445 health workers, who provided healthcare to millions of people around the world.

#25 International Medical Health Organization

International Medical Health Organization (IMHO) is a global health nonprofit organization which works to improve and develop healthcare services and infrastructure in unserved communities around the world. IMGO would established by a volunteer group of doctors and other professionals, who shared a vision for improved global medical and health care.

The organization empowers communities to build their own health systems to be able to respond to health need. It partners with local and international NGOS to better reach and provide assistance to communities in needs. Its work is focused on primary and public healthcare, health education and training, and capacity building.

#26 International Medical Corps

International Medical Corps was established by volunteer doctors and nurses in 1984 as global, humanitarian nonprofit organization with a mission to improve quality of lives of people through health interventions and build local capacities in vulnerable communities around the world.

Since 1984, the International Medical Corps has serve tens of millions of people in more than 80 countries, delivering medical relief and trainings valued more than 2.9 billion dollars. The organization delivers emergency healthcare to people affected by conflict, natural disasters and epidemics, no matter where they are and in which conditions. It also trains health care to local communities and people in highest rights, to be able to quickly respond to emergency situations. International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated healthcare systems by providing them with development programs.

#27 Cure Blindness

Cure Blindness is an international nonprofit organization that aspires to cure global blindness, treating one patient at the time. It delivers cataract care to people who are underserved in developing countries.

The core goal of the organization is to achieve high-quality and low-cost eye care that can be sustained in developing world for long-term. Cure blindness currently conducts its programs in Nepal, Ethiopia, Ghana, Bhutan, India, Myanmar and Rwanda.The biggest project that Cure Blindness currently implements is the Himalayan Cataract Project. So far, its doctors have performed more than 445.000 cataract surgeries in developing countries through improvised mobile eye camps and walk-in clinics.

#28 World Hope International

World Hope International (WHI) is a Christian relief and development organization working with vulnerable and exploited communities to alleviate poverty, suffering, and injustice. The vision of the organization is “to provide those in need with opportunity, dignity, and hope so they can possess the tools for change in themselves, their family, and their community”. WHI supports all people regardless of ethnicity, gender, race, or religion.

WHI is committed to intervening to help improve health of children, women and families. The organization works in local communities to ensure access to health and nutrition services for all people, especially those who are the most vulnerable. Together with hospital doctors, physical therapists, community health workers, medical students and volunteers, WHI strengthens the health systems so that everyone is able to afford healthcare.

#29 WellShare International

WellShare is Minessota-based nonprofit organization that helps people live healthier lives by connecting them with care and essential health knowledge in their communities. It provides information, resources, and connections to service East African and immigrant communities and trains health works and decision-makers to optimize appropriate and culturally relevant care.

WellShare trains health workers to provide various health service, including the promotion of a tobacco-free lifestyle, prevention of chronic diseases, promotion of healthy lifestyles amongst youth, family planning, as well as skills for immigrants and refugees to navigate the US health system. The programs that organization implements target and reach pregnant women, infants, children, youth, adults and elderly.

#30 ReSurge International

Resurge’s mission is “to provide reconstructive surgical care and build surgical capacity in developing countries”. The organization provides timely, affordable and safe reconstructive surgical care and build the surgical capacities in developing countries. Each year, ReSurge improves health of thousands of children and adult so they can provide for their families, attend school and contribute to society.

The goal of the organization is to enhance the skills of reconstructive plastic surgeons in their countries to increase access to surgical care for the poor. The organization transforms lives patient’s lives by restoring function through the full scope of reconstructive plastic surgery and sends volunteer teams of medical professionals from the US and other countries to countries in which it serves, to provide ancillary and surgical care to local patients.

The post 30 Organizations Defending the Right to Health appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

#1. Human Rights Now Blog

Amnesty International is probably one of the biggest global movements in the world comprising of more than seven million people who take injustice and violations of human rights personally. The movement is well known for employing research, advocacy, action and campaigns to fight against abuses of human rights around the world. One of its core activities is putting pressure on governments and lobby those in power to undertake the necessary measures to prevent and stop human rights violations. One of the ways the organization fights against injustice is through informing the public on their human rights centered blog. The blog of Amnesty USA covers a broad spectrum of issues from women’s rights and political freedoms to regional and global conflicts.

#2. Global Voices

If you are interested in a wide range of human rights related topics then the Global Voices Blog is just the right place for you. The Global voices represents an international and multilingual community of bloggers, journalists, translators, academics, and human rights activists who ‘’leverage the power of the internet to build understanding across borders’’. They report on people whose experiences and stories often cannot be found in mainstream media and advocate for free speech online encompassing technical, legal and physical threat to people who use the web to raise their voices for the public interest. The Global Voices also provides mentorship and training to local communities that are marginalized and want to tell their stories through the media. If you are curious to read about worldwide issues that matter to human rights activists in multiple languages from English to Swedish, you should visit the Global Voices Blog.

#3. Committee to Protect Journalists Blog

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is a non-profit organization that promotes worldwide freedom of press. It defends the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal. The CPJ has been helping hundreds of attacked and imprisoned journalists for more than 30 years, by defending them and their freedom. With the headquarters in New York, the CPJ employs about 40 experts around the world and mobilizes a network of correspondents who report and take action on behalf of targeted journalists. Its work is based on research and documenting of hundreds of attacks on journalists each year. Through its blog, the CPJ publishes reports on violations in repressive countries, conflict areas, as well as established democracies. If you are interested in the issues around the freedom of press and human rights violations surrounding it, you can visit the CPJ’s blog here.

#4. Human Rights Watch Blog

Being one of the largest human rights organizations that acts on the international level by investigating and reporting on human rights violations across the world, the Human Rights Watch is highly committed to reaching goals of equality, dignity and compassion. Lawyers, journalists, country-based experts and human rights workers with the Human Rights Watch advocate for change and force governments, armed groups and businesses to changes and policies and laws that have a negative impact on human rights. They work to uncover and expose human rights violations so that millions of people across the world are familiar and know about what is going on within the human rights sphere. If you are one of those people you can read Human Rights Watch daily blog briefs here.

#5. The Advocates Post

The Advocates Post is a blog by the Advocates for Human Rights, the human rights NGO that fights for a world in which all people are equal and free, and live with dignity, justice and peace. The Advocates for Human Rights investigates and exposes a broad range of human rights violations across the world, from rights of refugees to violence against women. It helps and trains human rights advocates to use research, education and advocacy to assist in protection of human rights by involving broader public in fight for implementation of international human rights standards. Through the Advocates Post Blog you can learn how to support human rights or learn about fight against death penalty. The topics are numerous and you can read about them here.

#6. The International Observatory of Human Rights

The International Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR) is a London-based NGO made up of human rights experts, lawyers, academics, researchers and award-winning journalists of diverse nationalities and backgrounds. The IOHR advocates for human rights around the world by meeting with governments, members of parliament and global groups such as the UN, European Union, and the Council of Europe, as well as private businesses, to push for justice and respect of human rights. The organization works to “defend the dignity of people stripped of their rights including unjustly jailed journalists, human rights defenders, refugees and victims of oppression”. The IOHR is known for “blogging about human rights from every corner of the world” and if you are interested to read about human rights from the first hand, you can access their blog here.

#7. Freedom House Blog

Freedom House is a watchdog NGO that works on the expansion of freedom and democracy worldwide. Founded in 1941, it advocates for civil liberties and political rights, and supports human rights defenders in their quest to promote democratic change. The organization acts as a catalyst to achieve greater civil liberties and political rights through action, analysis and advocacy, and conducts research and analysis of policies in the US and around the world to monitor the progress and decline of freedom. Freedom House advocates for the US government and other like-minded governments to oppose oppression and dictators. If you want to learn more about struggles for freedom in repressive societies and fight for political and civil rights, you can read Freedom House Blog here.

#8. Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition

The Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRDIC) is a network that supports and protects women human rights defenders in their fights against human rights abuses. It has 28 members from all over the world, from local grassroots organizations to large international NGOs. The WHRDIC “wants the world to recognize that people who advocate for women’s human rights, whatever their gender or sexual orientation, are in fact human rights defenders”. The WHRDIC takes strength from the principles of feminism and provides its members with resources, tools and analysis to be effective women’s rights advocates in their societies. If you are interested to learn about women’s rights defenders across the world, you can read the WHRDIC’s blog here.

#9. Chinese Human Rights Defenders

The Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) is a coalition of Chinese and international human rights NGOs. The CHRD works on promotion of human rights to push for rule of law and democratic activism and to strengthen grassroots activism in China. The CHRD is dedicated to monitoring and investigating human rights situation in China by alerting to urgent situations, making statements about important developments, and publishing news and research reports to keep policy makers, human rights agencies, media and the general public updated. If you are interested in the in the current state of human rights in China, you can real the CHRD’s blog here.

#10. Voice of Salam Blog

Voice of Salam, or in English Voice of Peace, was founded in 2015 with an aim to raise awareness about global issues and advocate for the protection, promotion and understanding of human rights, as well as interfaith, social and cultural issues. The Voice of Salam is “all about exposing injustice, breaking down barriers and building mutual understanding”. It shares stories and views, leads campaigns, raises awareness and creates change. You can check out the Voice of Salam Blog for all the latest opinions, thoughts and views on human rights issues across the world here.

The post 10 Human Rights Blogs Everybody Should Know appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Torture is one of the most extreme forms of human violence, resulting in both physical and psychological consequences. It has been used for thousands of years and it is still occurring throughout much of the world. The right to freedom from torture is a universally recognized human right and one of the foundations of international law. Torture, as well as cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, is banned in all times and cannot be justified.

The most precise definition of torture is outlined in the UN Convention Against Torture, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), which defines it as “Any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.”

Even though torture is internationally outlawed and illegal, many countries and armed group still use it. In fact, many countries have failed to criminalize torture and other forms of ill-treatment under their national laws and continue to defy international law by applying various torture methods. Therefore, this article offers an overview of five reasons why torture should be banned and why it does not work as an appropriate method of punishment.

1 Torture is an Ineffective Interrogation tool

States often use torture methods to extract confessions or certain type of information from people. However, often information gained through torture are not reliable. Usually, the application of physical, mental and psychological pressure forces victims of torture to say or confess anything just to end the painful experience. According to some psychologists, the stress caused by torture will most often affect parts of the brain associated with memory and force victims to lie or repeat information they heard from their torturers. This, basically, means that interrogators may unintentionally plant false memories in victims and compromise their cognitive functions which are key in obtaining accurate information.

Therefore, information obtained through torture is not reliable because victims will often say what their torturers want to hear to make the pain stop. For example, detainees who are physically abused during an interrogation might accuse someone else of their deeds, hoping they will be tortured instead. Additionally, detainees might often tell lies simply because they do not have information that interrogators are asking them for.

Legally, the absolute prohibition of torture and other-ill treatment is non-derogable. This means that torture methods cannot be used even in times of emergency. Confessions and information obtained through torture, thus, do not count as evidence under international law. However, in many countries today, torture and other forms of ill-treatment are used to obtain information usually from detainees or suspects for committed crimes.

Evidence, information or confessions obtained through torture are not legally recognized in both international and national laws for the simple fact of torture not being scientifically proven. As previously mentioned, a person will say or do anything under torture or even under a threat of torture to avoid the pain. One such example was provided by the Amnesty International that reported on the case of torture that took place in 2012 when “Mexican marines broke into Claudia Medina’s home and took her to the local navy base where she was given electric shocks, wrapped in plastic and beaten, and forced to inhale chilly.” Medina later stated that if she had not been tortured, she would have not signed the statement.

This results in uncertainty whether information that a person provided is true or not. Thus, all states should consider other, more reliable ways, to collect information while applying principles of humanity and respecting human rights.

2 Torture Causes Psychological and Physical Trauma

Torture methods used on victims can be of both physical and psychological nature, such as prolonged solitary confinement or sleep deprivation. Both psychological and physical torture complement each other causing severe pain to people who were affected by it. Infliction of physical torture is in most cases reflected in psychological consequences.  Applying torture methods of these types on someone can directly damage their memory and cause an extreme psychological trauma. For example, if affected by one of these methods, victims may become so mentally broken that they might not even remember simple things such as their home address. Similarly, victims who are deprived of sleep may become confused and disoriented, which can cause them to convince themselves in things interrogators are suggesting them and, in this way, produce false information. By being tortured in this way, victims’ memory, emotions, and an ability to deploy attention is deeply degraded causing severe psychological trauma, post-traumatic stress and depression.

However, infliction of torture methods does not cause psychological trauma only to victims, but also to the torturers. Most often, state authorities and politicians who support torture are not the ones who inflict it personally. They leave to others to enforce their policies and apply torture methods, which affects them on a psychological level by being rooted deeply within their brain circuit. This means that both victims and perpetrators face a range of devastating psychological consequences.

The use of torture physically destroys people. Torture methods, such as sham executions, rape, sexual assaults, humiliation and sleep deprivation often leave physical consequences on affected persons such as chronic pain in certain parts of body and inability to lead a healthy and prolonged lifestyle. For this reason, people who had been affected by torture should have access to redress such as medical care, reintegration into society, rehabilitation and counseling.

3 Torture is Illegal and Cannot Be Justified

When states and governments use torture to achieve their goals, they often see it as necessary to provide some type of justification for its implementation. Governments and politicians must find ways to excuse and explain the use of torture, while those who publicly advocate for it must find arguments that would justify torture as a practice that is globally and universally regarded as immoral and condemned.

From a legal perspective, the use of torture is never justifiable because it is illegal in international law, as well as in majority national and domestic laws, such as within the UK Human Rights Act adopted in 1998 which states that “No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”.

The prohibition of torture is enshrined in many conventions and declarations within the international human rights and humanitarian law. For example, in the Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights it is enshrined that “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”. Similarly, it was established by the Geneva Conventions and the Additional Protocols that serious violations of international humanitarian law, including torture and other inhuman treatment, constitute war crimes in both international and non-international armed conflicts.

As already mentioned, perhaps the most significant international law instrument used to combat torture is the Convention Against Torture, or the CAT. Most of countries in the world have signed and ratified the CAT and other international human rights treaties and conventions. The CAT came into force in 1967 and it requires that countries take active steps to prevent torture and that “no exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture.” Thus, the prohibition of torture is a fundamental principle of international law, and it applies to all countries, even the ones that have not signed or ratified the CAT.

4 Torture Bears Legal Consequences

Inflicting torture on someone does not end without consequences. Both international and national law instruments oblige countries and governments to search for persons suspected to have committed torture acts and bring them before justice. Countries have a duty to enact legislation that prohibits acts of torture and other forms of ill-treatment and punish those who commit them and those who order them to be committed. Individual perpetrators, thus, can be held criminally responsible for committing these crimes.

According to the Article 4 of the CAT, all countries must ensure that all acts of torture are regarded as offences under their criminal law, including attempts to commit torture and any acts by any person that constitute participation or complicity of torture. States are obliged to punish these acts in an appropriate manner, as well as to establish jurisdiction over the acts of torture where the offences are committed in any territory under their jurisdiction, or where the alleged offender or the victim is a national of the country. Additionally, countries are obliged to search for persons suspected to have committed acts of torture and make torture an extraditable offence in any extradition treaty they sign with other country.  As already mentioned, torture methods are ineffective interrogation tool and evidence extracted from torture cannot be used as evidence. Under Article 15 of the CAT, any statement made as a result of torture shall not be invoked as evidence in any proceeding, unless it is used against a person accused of torture as evidence that the statement was made.

5 Torture is Immoral

There is a common misconception that generally torture is linked solely to issues of counter-terrorism and national security due to high profile torture cases around the world. However, according to research conducted by the Amnesty International, torture can happen to anyone, including people from ethnic minorities, student activists, protesters, petty criminals, and to those people who were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. In most cases it is marginalized and poor people who get beaten, raped by police and humiliated, with no one to hear their cries for help and help them.

It does not take long for one to conclude that torture acts are cruel, immoral and dehumanizing. According to advocates against torture, torturers rather treat as a thing than a person. That means that they dehumanize their victims to make it easier to torture them. Torturers use the physical body of the victim as a tool to achieve their goals and not as component part of a person. They also use torture to destroy the autonomy of the victim. For example, some societies have use different torture methods to suppress independent and individual thinking and force people to adopt the desired way of thinking. In these cases, victims are tortured until they accept to abandon their own belief systems and views and adopt those of their torturers. Torture, in this way, violates the human dignity and rights of the victim. However, the acts of torture do not only harm the victims, but it also damages the moral reputation of the government and institution that carries it out. The use of torture by an institution can lead to internal dissent and damage its integrity.

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1. UN Women

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) is the UN agency dedicated to gender equality. The agency was established to accelerate progress on meeting women’s needs across the world. It supports the UN members states in achieving global standards of gender equality, and it works closely with civil society organizations and governments to design and implement policies, laws and services that benefit women.

The UN women focuses on four priority areas: 1) Women lead, participate in and benefit equally from governance systems; 2) Women have income security, decent work and economic autonomy; 3) All women and girls live a life free from all forms of violence; 4) Women and girls contribute to and have greater influence in building sustainable peace and resilience, and benefit equally from the prevention of natural disasters and conflicts and humanitarian action.  The UN Women also closely works on positioning gender equality as fundamental to the UN sustainable development goals and assists the members states to hold the UN system accountable for its own commitments on gender equality.

2. Association for Women’s Rights in Development

The Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) is an international organization working to achieve gender equality and women’s human rights across the word. The vision of AWID is “a world where feminist realities flourish, where resources and power are shared in ways that enable everyone, and future generations, to thrive and realize their full potential with dignity, love and respect, and where Earth nurtures life in all its diversity”. The organization supports the gender justice movements to become driving forces in oppression.

The AWID closely works with activists and policy makers worldwide to influence gender policies and practice. It facilitates dialogue and strategies on key issues by connecting actors to share their knowledge, experiences and ideas on relevant issues and mobilizes gender equality movements to support collective actions with feminist causes. It works with activists to build support networks of solidarity on protection and wellbeing and works with historically oppressed communities. Last, but not the least, the AWID advocates for corporate accountability and tax justice to achieve equitable distribution of wealth.

3. Womankind Worldwide

Womankind Worldwide is an international organization for women’s rights that works in solidarity and equal partnership with women’s rights organizations and movements with a goal to transform the lives of women. The vision of the organization is a just world where the rights of all women are respected, realized and valued. Currently, the Womankind Worldwide works with women’s rights organizations and movements in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Uganda and Zimbabwe, advocating for international agencies and governments to promote and protects women’s rights.

Together with its local partners, the Womankind Worldwide helps women and girls transform their lives by providing them with shelters to escape violence and implements projects with community leaders to help women join to talk about what they want to change in their communities and how to achieve that. It also supports the women’s rights movements by providing technical support, funding opportunities and advocacy platform. The organization also uses its expertise to influence policy changes and to make sure that women’s rights are placed at the heart of the international agenda.

4. Center for Reproductive Rights

The Center for Reproductive Rights was established in 1992 with a goal to use the power of law to advance reproductive rights as fundamental human rights around the world. The organization envisions the world in which every person participates as an equal member of society, regardless of their gender, has access to quality reproductive healthcare and where any woman can take her own decisions free from discrimination and coercion.

The Center for Reproductive Rights uses legal and human rights tools, as well as global legal to advance reproductive rights. So far, the organization has strengthened laws and policies in more than 50 countries and won groundbreaking cases before national courts and the UN committees about reproductive healthcare, including birth control, safe abortion, prenatal and obstetric care. It also influences law by working with policymakers and documenting abuses. The Center for Reproductive Rights also promotes progressive measures and fosters legal scholarship and teaching on reproductive health and human rights.

5. Plan International

Plan International is a global development human rights and humanitarian organization working to advance rights of children and equality for girls. It closely works with young people, children and communities to tackle the root causes of discrimination against girls, vulnerability and exclusion and enables them to respond and prepare for adversity and practice. Plan International influence policies and practices at local, national and global levels by using knowledge, experience and reach.

Some of the core objectives of Plan International is achieving gender equality, promoting gender justice and fostering an inclusive society. The organization confronts, and challenges human rights violations and discrimination based on gender, as well as stereotyping and unequal power relations between women, men, boys and girls to promote rights and gender equality. Plan International fosters culture that encompasses its commitment to gender equality and adoption of good practices, positive attitudes and inclusion.

6. Women for Women International

Women for Women International is an international women’s rights organization that supports the most marginalized women in countries affected by war and conflict. The organization conducts projects that enable women to earn and save money, influence decisions in their communities and homes, improve their well-being and health and connect to networks for support. So far, the organization has helped to more than 478.000 women across the world to rebuild their lives after the war. Women for Women International uses its voice to call for global attention to the unique role that women play in advancing peace throughout society.

Through organization’s projects, women learn about their rights on key issues such as access to land, voting, divorce, domestic abuse and custody over children. In this way the organization strives to achieve gender equality and equips and empowers women to stand for themselves. The organization also advocates for a long-term change for marginalized women who survived war, by partnering up with other organizations to influence policies and practices.

7. Equality Now

Equality Now is an international organization founded with the mission of using legal advocacy to protect and promote the human rights of women and girls. It uses law to create equal and just world for women and girls. It attracts global attention to media on individual cases of abuse and uses international human rights law to advocate with policymakers and puts pressure on national governments to adopt and enforce good laws. Equality now partners up with other organizations to ensure that individual cases are visible on the global agenda.

Equality Now is dedicated to achieving gender equality and, thus, it cooperates with individuals, institutions, and coalitions encompassing grassroots activists, survivors, legal reformers, lawyers, service providers, corporations and national and regional women’s organizations and uses their knowledge and connections to local communities to achieve change. It puts pressure on countries to adopt gender equality laws and holds governments accountable for abuses of such laws.

8. Women’s Environment and Development Organization

Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) is a global advocacy organization created to promote and protect gender equality, human rights and the integrity of the environment. WEDO facilitates and connects movements to global agendas and in this way, it ensures that women’s voices are heard, and women’s leadership is advanced.

WEDO partners up with the like-minded organizations and individuals and engages in advocacy to affect policy processes to ensure women’s human rights are respected. It also works on the capacity building and facilitating of space for women’s political voices al local, national and international levels. Moreover, WEDO builds and maintains knowledge on gender equality, women’s rights, sustainable development and environmental issues to ensure effective outreach and information sharing.

9. Men Engage Alliance

Men Engage Alliance is a global alliance consisted of many country networks that are spread across many regions, hundreds of non-governmental organizations and the UN agencies, working towards advancing gender equality and justice, human rights and social justice, with a mission to achieve a world in which all people can enjoy healthy and equitable relationships and their full potential.

The Men Engage Alliance works on engaging men and boys in gender equality and tries to build and improve the practice on engaging men in achieving gender justice. It also advocates for policy changes on key issues where gender directly affects the lives of women and men at local, national, regional and international levels. The organization works in the following areas: promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights, increasing HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment, ending violence against women and girls, combating homophobia/transphobia and advocating for LGBTI rights, reducing forms of violence between men and boys, preventing child sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and trafficking, supporting men’s positive involvement in maternal and child health, as fathers or caregivers and addressing macro-level policies that perpetuate gender inequalities.

10. Global Fund for Women

Global Fund for Women is one of the world’s leading organizations for gender equality, and human rights of girls and women. The organization was created with a mission to amplify the courageous work of women who are building social movements and challenging the status quo. The organization campaigns for zero violence, political and economic empowerment, and sexual and reproductive health and rights of women globally.

The aim of the Global Fund for Women is for every woman and girl to be able to realize their rights as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, since these are essential for women’s equality. The Fund fights for and stands for woman’s rights to decide when and if she wants to have child and, if so, to have a high-quality health care during pregnancy and after birth. The Fund follows and supports two critical documents about gender equality-the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, both affecting women’s right in all aspects of life.

11. Rise Up

Rise Up works on activating women and girls to transform their lives, families and communities through investing in local solutions, strengthening leadership, and building movements. The network of the organization is composed of 500 leaders, which has directly benefited around seven million girls and impacted around 100 laws and policies in Africa, Latin America, South Asia and the US.

Rise Up strengthens the leadership of women and girls to be able to drive changes in their communities. It focuses on advancing women’s rights, equality, education, sexual and reproductive health, and economic empowerment. The organization conducts a range of innovative program and partners up with both global and local organizations to achieve sustainable impact.

12. MATCH International Women’s Fund

The MATCH International Women’s Fund was established in 1976 to match the needs of Canadian women with the needs and resources of women around the world. MATCH International supports women innovators through their breakthroughs of transforming farming practices, child nutrition, and anti-violence campaigns. The Fund works with 650 women’s organizations in 71 countries and so far, it has invested in nearly 12 million dollars in women and girls.

The MATCH joined the women’s fund movement and has officially launched the first Canada global fund for women, girls and transgender people in October 2013. Presently, the organization is the most direct way to get money into the hands of women’s rights grassroots organizations. The MATCH, thus, in this way amplifies work on local levels and supports the grassroot organizations that are breaking ground around the world. The goal and vision of the MATCH is to end violence and discrimination against women and girls, for good.

13. Gender at Work

Gender at Work is an international feminist knowledge network working to build inclusive cultures and end discrimination against women. It partners up with researchers and activists across the world to produce new knowledge on inequality structures and embedded societal discriminatory norms and to produce innovative approaches and tools to transform them in organizations and communities.

The organization believes that the world is facing the crisis of democratic institutions, in which the actors who fight to achieve social justice have been undercut and where spaces for advocacy and action of civil society groups has been restricted. Therefore, the Gender at Work offers a wide range of consulting services to organizations to strengthen their contributions to gender equality and advance feminist leadership. It also helps activists to tell their stories and share their insights on gender inequalities with a broader public.

14. European Women’s Lobby

The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) is the largest European umbrella networks of women’s associations representing more than 2.000 organizations in all European Union Member States, as well as its candidate countries. The EWL was founded with a vision of a society in which contribution of women to all aspects of life is recognized and celebrated. This means that women should be recognized as leaders with self-confidence, freedom of choice and freedom from exploitation and violence.

The EWL joins together women’s movement in Europe with a goal to support women’s human rights and equality between women and men. Therefore, it offers its experiences, expertise and knowledge on gender equality and represents the women’s voice in the EU political arenas. The EWL also mobilizes its members collective experiences to work on major issues affecting women and connects different actors to bring change at the EU level.

15. International Center for Research on Women

The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) is a global research institute with headquarters in Washington D.C. and regional offices in India and Uganda. The ICRW is comprised of social scientists, economists, public health specialist and demographers, all of whom are experts in gender issues. The mission of ICRW is guided by the principle of human dignity, gender equity, inclusion and shared prosperity.

The ICRW conducts research to tackle the causes of gender inequality and offers solutions for fundamental social changed. The organization works with NGOs, government and private sector actors to conduct research and develop and guide strategies that build policies, programs and practices. In its research, the ICRW identifies obstacles that prevent women from being economically empowered and able to fully participate in society. The ICRW translates these obstacles into a path of action that honors women’s humans rights and ensures gender equality.

16. European Institute for Gender Equality

The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) was established in December 2006 as the European Union agency that is dedicated exclusively to gender equality. The task of the Institute is to collect and analyze information on the gender equality, with a goal to help the EU Member States to implement the gender equality policies and to combat gender-based discrimination.

The Institute tackles both European and national policy areas by implementing the principle of gender mainstreaming with an aim to achieve equality of women and men in all spheres of life. The EIGE, thus, produces studies and collects statistics about gender equality in the EU and monitors how the EU meets the international standards about the issue. It also works to stop violence against women and shares its knowledge with other EU institutions.

17. PROMUNDO

Promundo is an international organization that promotes gender justice and prevents violence by engaging men and boys in partnership with women, girls, and individuals of all gender identities. It was established in 1997 in Brazil with a belief that working with men and boys will contribute in eliminating harmful gender norms and provide solutions related to issues related to achieving gender equality. So far, Promundo has worked in over 40 countries to prevent violence and advocate for gender equality.

In addition to working with individuals, Promundo conducts campaigns and engages in local activism to build community support and advocate for governments to adopts policies that would reinforce social change. It also creates safe spaces for women and men in post-conflict settings to heal from trauma, for young people to question gender norms, and for men around the world to discuss violence, exploitation and benefits of shared decision-making. Through its programs, Promundo has reached nearly 10 million individuals, including over 4,500 health professionals, over 22,000 education professionals, over 1,400 members of the police and military, and nearly 300 government officials.

18. Time’s Up

Time’s Up is an organization that works on ensuring safe, fair and dignified work for all women. It works for women all kinds, from those who work at the factories to those who work at the corporations, to be united by a common sense of safety, fairness and dignity during the work. Time’s Up goal is, therefore, to shift the paradigm of workplace culture.

The programs of the organization address the systemic inequality and injustice in the workplace, that often keep women from reaching their full potential. The organization, thus, partners up with some of the leading advocates for safety and equality to improve corporate policies and laws and give an opportunity to both women and men to access the legal and justice systems to those hold those responsible for discrimination accountable.

19. Gender Equality Resource Center

The Gender Equality Resource Center (GERC) 2013 and registered in 2014 as a non-government in the Philippines, with an aim to promote gender equality (GE) for development in and through cooperatives. The core of the GERC’s work are volunteers, advocates, development facilitators and trainers.

The GERC partners up with cooperatives, NGOs, local government units, development councils, government agencies and other actors to implement gender equality. It provides training and capacity building to private and government agencies that lack technical skills in implementing gender equality policies. The GERC’s objectives are:  to promote gender equality in and among cooperatives and to heighten their social impact, to develop capacities of women and households in entrepreneurship and to effect the transformation of all persons in the cooperatives.

20. Amnesty International

Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of with over 2.2 million members, who campaigns for internationally recognized human rights for all. The Amnesty International works on improving the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through international solidarity and campaigning on human rights issue. Its mission is to conduct research to generate action to prevent and put an end to grave human rights abuses, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been abused.

One of the key activities of Amnesty International is fight against violence against women and advocacy for gender equality. Under its campaign to Stop Violence Against Women, the organization advocates for implementation of laws that guarantee access to justice to women who are victims of violence. It works on empowering women and calls for adoption of new laws that protect women’s rights and demands an end to laws that discriminate against women.

21. Save the Children

Save the Children is one of the biggest international NGOs advancing and protecting rights of children in almost 120 countries around the world. It works in the most disadvantaged local communities educating them about the rights of children. Save the Children seeks to advance gender equality in all aspects of its work, recognizing that gender inequalities create major barriers for sustainable development.

The organization works to ensure that all its programs identify different needs of all actors, including girls, boys, women and men. The organization also utilizes gender transformative approaches, and it supports meaningful and lasting impacts in the lives of children by working with key stakeholders to identify and change the root causes of gender inequality. The organization also advocates for policies that promote gender equality and conducts research and analysis on gender to find innovative solutions and tackle changes.

22. International Alliance of Women

International Alliance of Women (IAW) is an international non-governmental organization comprising 41-member organizations involved in the promotion of the human rights of women and girls globally.

Currently, the IAW actively works on gender and economic crisis, since the economic recession, as well as the financial crisis poses threats to gender equality and poverty. Therefore, the IAW advocates for equal participation of women at all levels and implementation all policies in the corporate and private sectors, so they are able to call off the negative effects policies pose on women. It also advocates for implementation of macro-economic policies that respect gender equality and human rights. The IAW implements capacity building on feminist economics of its members to enable them to undertake actions on gender issues.

23. Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch was established in 1978 as non-governmental human rights organization. Today, its network of experts is comprised of human rights professionals, including lawyers, journalists and academics. The organization produces detailed reports on human rights violations and abuses on the global scale. Each year, the organization publishes more than 100 reports on human rights conditions in around 80 countries, which are followed by an extensive coverage in both local and international media.

Amongst reports and publications of the Human Rights Watch are also women’s rights. Ever since it was established, the organization has broadened and strengthen its work in the area of gender equality and women’s rights, bringing a human rights dimension to issue such as domestic violence, trafficking, rape and similar. The organization meets with governments, regional institutions and financial institutions, and corporations, to push for changes in policies that promote human rights and justice around the world.

24. Abaad MENA

Abaad Centre for Gender Equality (Abaad MENA) was established in 2011 with an aim to promote sustainable social and economic development in the MENA region, through equality, protection and empowerment of women. It envisions the world in which men and women are equal and working as partners to secure better future for their lives, and, in which, women are empowered to participate in the democratic processes and have fair access to economic resources, without facing discrimination.

Abaad MENA is composed of human rights activists, lawyers, social workers, and researchers, who are dedicated to achieving women’s empowerment and gender equality. The organization promotes active participation through legal reform, gender mainstreaming, eliminating discrimination and policy development. It also supports the advancement of women and empowers them to effectively participate in their communities.

25. International Women’s Development Agency

International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA) is an Australian based non-governmental organization working to directly address poverty and oppression in developing countries and create positive change for women and their communities. So far, IWDA has worked with more 100 grassroots organizations in developing parts of the world, to support and advance the life choices and well-being of women and their families.

Currently, IWDA implements projects with from the Asia Pacific region, which are devised and managed by women themselves within their communities. The projects are implemented in Cambodia, Timor Leste, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Bougainville, Solomon Islands and Burma. The organization works to achieve gender justice in these communities as well as equitable growth of people.

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International Committee of the Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a private international humanitarian organization whose exclusive mission is to ‘’protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance’’. Established in 1863, the ICRC’s work is based on the Geneva Conventions and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The organization prevents suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law.

Wherever the conflicts occur, the ICRC responds quickly to help people who are affected. It does that by meeting immediate material needs and ensuring that consequences of the conflict, such as disease, hunger, loss of income, injury, do not jeopardize the livelihoods of those who are affected. Depending on the nature of the crisis, the ICRC provides help in the material relief (such as medicine, food, cash and similar) as well as repairing water supply plants or building medical facilities. In addition, the organization trains medical and other staff to be able to provide immediate assistance on the field and builds capacities of local institutions to be able to provide essential services such as health care, sanitation and water.

Take a free course on Sustainable Development in Humanitarian Action offered for free by the ICRC.

International Rescue Committee

Founded at the request of Albert Einstein, the International Rescue Committee is an international humanitarian organization that responds to crises and helps people survive and recover. The organization directly helps people and refugees who were forced to flee from war or disaster in five main areas: economic well-being, education, health, empowerment and safety.

The IRC provides cash assistance to people through debit card accounts and where appropriate, with no strings attached. In this way, people can buy what they need themselves, which directly helps the local economies. The IRC also creates quality learning spaces in schools and helps teachers accelerate learning programs for children. When it comes to health, the organization helps people access the health care and empowers community health workers to rightly treat infectious diseases and assist the most vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women. Ensuring that women, children and marginalized groups have equal access to social and economic opportunities, as well as creating safe non-violent spaces for these groups is at the core of IRC’s activities.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world’s largest humanitarian network made up of nearly 100 million members, volunteers and supporters in 191 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies. The Movement acts as neutral and impartial and its core activity is aiding and protection to people affected by disasters and conflicts. It was founded to protect human life and health, alleviate human suffering and ensure respect for all human beings.

The Movement is composed of three main components: The International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and 191 member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. All three partners in the Movement support communities in conflict and disaster zones to become stronger by implementing a variety of humanitarian activities and development projects. It works with governments, other aid organizations and donors to assist people vulnerable around the world by providing them with an emergency health care, shelter, water supply, sanitation, food and other relief. All components of the movement are independent and each one has its own individual status and exercises no authority over the others.

Oxfam International

Oxfam is a global development organization tasked to mobilize the power of people against poverty. It is an international confederation that consists of 19 organizations that work together with local communities and partners in more than 90 countries. The mission of Oxfam is to change the world of poverty by mobilizing the power of people and working around the globe to find practical and innovative ways for people to be able to do that.

Oxfam directly assists and helps people who are caught up in conflicts and natural disasters around the world by providing them protection, clean water, food and sanitation. The organization conducts active campaigns so that the voices of the poor influence local and global decisions that affect them. Oxfam responds to over 30 emergency situations at any given time by providing life-saving support to those who are the most in need.

Doctors Without Borders / Medecins Sans Frontieres

Doctors Without Borders is a leading international medical relief organization, that implements and manages medical projects in close to 72 countries worldwide. The organization provides direct medical assistance to people affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters, disease epidemics, malnutrition crises and other emergencies. It is focused on emergency medical and humanitarian relief guided by the principles of independence, neutrality and impartiality.

The organization implements medical programs in areas where no health or sanitary systems exist, or where health structures are overwhelmed by the needs of populations. To be able to respond to the most critical needs of patients in field, the organization is committed to providing professional development of its field workers through various types of trainings to build skills and knowledge.

Catholic Relief Services

The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve victims of the Second World War in Europe. Since then, the organization expanded and presently reaches more than 130 million people in more than 100 countries on five continents. The CRS’s mission is ‘’to assist impoverished and disadvantaged people overseas, working in the spirit of Catholic social teaching to promote sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person’’. Even though the CRS’s mission is rooted in Catholic beliefs, the organizations works with all people regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity.

The CRS works with local organizations around the globe, as well as with local churches, other organizations and institutions, including governments, foundations, businesses and investors in both disaster and conflict zones. By investing in people and strengthening institutions, organization helps local organizations to develop, increase the impact of joint programming and produce sustainable solutions.

Doctors of the World

Doctors of the World is an international human rights organization that provides emergency and long-term medical care to vulnerable people. It serves more than 1.6 million people every year, through 400 programs in over 80 countries around the world. It provides help to people affected by conflict, refugees and rural communities.

The organization’s staff goes to war zones and the most affected communities that often stay marginalized and invisible to the world. The medical teams all over the world deal with the consequences of wars, natural disasters, and epidemics by taking all necessary measures to support the existing health systems so that they remain open throughout the crisis. In the aftermath of the war or disaster, the organization rebuilds and improves health infrastructure to make a lasting impact in the community.

CARE International

CARE International in one of the largest humanitarian organizations serving 65 million people in over 80 countries around the world to fight poverty and injustice. When there is a humanitarian crisis, CARE is one of the first organizations to arrive and the last to leave. The organization delivers emergency aid to victims of war and natural disasters and helps them rebuild their lives in the aftermath.

During a disaster, CARE coordinates with other organizations and governments to meet immediate needs of victims. Its focus is on four humanitarian sectors: ensuring that people have enough to eat, a roof over their head, clean water and adequate hygiene supplies, and receive assistance for their sexual and reproductive health. The organization also includes women and men in local emergency responses, who work side by side as volunteers by supporting distribution of relief items and helping their communities rebuild their livelihoods.

The Mines Advisory Group

The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) is an international organization that finds and destroys landmines, cluster munitions and unexploded bombs in places affected by conflict. Since its establishment in 1989, the organization has helped over 18 million people in 68 countries to rebuild their livelihoods after war.

After the conflict stops, the battle areas often remain contaminated with unexploded devices. The MAG systematically clears and returns land to local communities for productive use. In addition, the organization recruits and trains men and women from local communities, which gives them an opportunity to clear their communities as well as to financially support their families.

The World Food Programme

The World Food Programme (WFP) was established in 1961 with a goal to provide food aid through the UN system. It became a fully integrated UN programme in 1965 and, today, it is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger around the globe.

For more than 50 years, the WFP has provided emergency food assistance in the field to the victims of the war, civil conflict, drought, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, crop failures and natural disasters. The agency helps communities to improve nutrition and build resilience, as well as their shattered lives and livelihoods. So far, the WFP has managed to assist 80 million people in 80 countries each year.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a humanitarian agency that works solely with refugees, returnees, stateless people, the internally displaced and asylum-seekers. The primary goal of the UNHCR is preserve and safeguard the rights of people who have been forced to flee due to war and ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in a third country.

The UNHCR provides emergency assistance on the spot, such as shelter, household items, healthcare, food, clean water and similar. The agency also facilitates the process of sending refugees to third countries or returning them to their home when it is safe. During these situations, the UNHCR provides transportation, assistance and implements income-generating projects. The UNHCR also develop and conducts campaigns to raise public awareness about refugees and the challenges they face.

World Vision International

The World Vision is one of the largest private charities in the world employing around 40.000 staff members working in nearly 100 countries. The organization affects the lives of over 200 million vulnerable children by tackling the root causes of poverty. The organization was founded as a Christian, humanitarian, development and advocacy organization devoted to improving the lives of children and serving all people, regardless of their religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

During a disaster, such as war, the World Vision staff works hard to make sure children and their families understand how to reduce their vulnerability. Since the end of the Second World War, the World Vision has assisted children in the Korean war, the Western Balkan Wars, Rwandan genocide and Syrian conflict, by working on the ground and responding to their immediate needs, as well as adapting and learning what works best to restore their hopes and belief in the future.

Save the Children

World Vision is an independent organization for children that works in around 120 countries with a vision to live in a world in which every child preserves the right to survival, protection, development and participation. The organization actively works to improve the ways the world treats children and achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. The organization is guided by several core values: accountability, ambition, collaboration, creativity and integrity.

During the conflict and humanitarian emergencies, the World Vision provides safe spaces for children, so they can feel safe, play and learn. The organization also helps children who have been separated from their families, ensuring that they are taken care through legal systems and reunited with their families. In addition, the organization provides emergency relief and healthcare, psychosocial support, temporary schools and cash grant to families in need.

 The Islamic Relief

The Islamic relief is and independent humanitarian organization that has been serving humanity for almost 35 years. The organization is currently present in over 40 countries across the world striving to help almost three billion people still living in poverty. The organization is inspired by the Islamic faith and values and believes that people who are wealthy have a duty to help those who are less fortunate regardless of race, political affiliation, gender or religious belief.

The projects that the organization implements, provide poor people with access to vital services. The Islamic Relief protects communities from disasters and delivers life-saving emergency aid. The organization helps victims of war directly by delivering food, clothes and other essential kits through its offices on the field and warehouses. In conflict settings, the organization also rebuilds houses and public building like schools. Last but not least, the organization also provides an interest-free loans system to support unemployed people in the post-conflict settings.

INTERSOS

INTERSOS is a humanitarian organization that works around the world providing assistance to victims or armed conflicts and natural disasters. The organization intervenes to meet the needs of people in crisis, while giving special attention to vulnerable groups such as women and children, ensuring that their basic needs are met. Presently, the organization works in 16 countries around the world.

The INTERSOS intervenes in the shortest time possible when a war or natural disaster occurs, distributing basic goods for survival, such as food, seeds and agricultural tools for food sustainability. During a crisis situation, the organization is also active in promoting the right to education by building or rebuilding schools and training teachers. In addition, the organization provides access to medical services by supporting local healthcare systems as well as ensuring access to clean water and sanitation.

International Medical Corps

The International Medical Corps is a global non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to saving lives by providing emergency medical services, healthcare trainings and development programs to those in need. The organization works on the front lines delivering emergency healthcare to victims of war and natural disasters, no matter where they are and what the conditions are.

Currently, the International Medical Corps staff works in the most urgent crisis, such as the Syrian conflict, where a civil war has displaced millions of people, who have found refuge in neighboring countries and beyond. The teams are delivering medical relief on the spot as well as training and working with local healthcare staff to become effective first responders themselves.

Norwegian Refugee Council

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization that helps people forced to flee. Currently, the organization works in 31 countries, where its helps save lives and rebuild futures.

The core activities of the organization are camp management, food assistance, clean water, shelter, legal aid and education. In addition, the NRC advocates for displaced people and defends their rights in local communities, with national governments and in the international arena. Currently, around 14.000 humanitarians work with the NRC and majority directly in the field.

 The UN Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

The UN Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was established in 1949, to carry out direct relief and programmes for Palestine refugees. When the Agency began working in 1950, it was responding to the need of about 750.000 Palestine refugees. Today, around five million Palestine refugees receive the UNRWA services.

The humanitarian services that are carried out by the UNRWA encompass primary and vocational training, primary health care, relief and social services, infrastructure and camp improvement, microfinance and emergency response during an armed conflict. The Agency recognized education being fundamental in helping children achieve their full potential. Therefore, the UNRWA has been successful in operating 711 elementary schools and providing free basic education for 526.000 Palestine refugee children.

Action Aid

Action Aid is an international organization that supports people living in poverty and exclusion. The organization works closely with civil society organizations and social movements to deliver emergency relief, implement grassroot projects and campaign for causes such as women’s economic justice, tax justice and climate justice. The organizations work covers four areas: women, politics and economics, land and climate, and emergencies. A particular focus is put on women’s rights in all areas of Action Aid’s work.

During wars and other disasters, Action Aid helps women who human rights are likely to be endangered or violated. In addition, when it comes to humanitarian response women and women’s organizations are significantly underrepresented in humanitarian responses. For this reason, the Action Aid supports and empowers women in such settings to become active players and leaders.

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency International

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is the global humanitarian organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. ADRA delivers relief and development assistance to affected people in more than 130 countries regardless of their ethnicity, political affiliation or religious beliefs. ADRA improves quality of life of millions of people through nine impact areas: livelihoods and agriculture, children, water, sanitation and hygiene, community health, disaster response, economic growth, hunger and nutrition, social justice and gender equity.

Besides responding to natural disasters, the ADRA is also present in conflict areas where it directly helps and supports the victims of war by providing them with essentials. The organization is mostly active in refugee camps helping victims who were forced to flee by providing them with clean water, food, sleeping mats and blankets and clothes.

Refugees International

Refugees International is humanitarian and independent organization that provides support and advocates for displaced people, including refugees, internally displaced and stateless people. The organization does not accept any type of UN or government funding. One of the core activities of the organization is publishing longer reports, including approximately twenty-five field reports throughout the year on displacement accompanied with comments on international aid and issues concerning girls and women.

When it comes to armed conflict, the organization puts a lot of emphasis on helping girls and women as vulnerable category that find themselves in exceptional danger of living with the constant threat of gender-based violence, such as rape, sexual assault, domestic violence and similar. Therefore, the organization prioritizes advocating for improved humanitarian responses that support the safety and well-being of women and girls.

The Alliance for International Medical Action

The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) was established in 2009 as an international humanitarian organization that brings together aid workers, national medical organizations and global research institutions to provide quality medical care to people in need and conduct research to improve humanitarian medicine. So far, ALIMA has treated more than two million patients, conducted 56 programs in 13 countries. It also launched ten research projects that focus on malnutrition, malaria, Ebola, and surgery.

ALIMA works with local and national organizations to provide medical care to people affected by armed conflicts, displaced people, people affected by epidemics and emerging illnesses. By sharing local knowledge, ALIMA gains a deeper understanding of the contexts in which it works, and it can prioritize the medical research.

SOS Children Villages International

The SOS Children’s Villages International is composed of the Federation of 118 SOS Children Villages Associations. As members of the Federation, each SOS Children Village is dedicated to applying the standards of child care in accordance with the Federation statutes.

In situations of war and violence, the SOS Children Villages launches an emergency response programmes for children and families who need urgent assistance. The emergency response teams of the organization have helped children at risk in more than 160 humanitarian situations around the world. The organization specializes in protection and care of children, such as care for unaccompanied and separated children, family reunification, child friendly spaces and psychological and social support. The organization also supports families with health, food, shelter and similar, to prevent their separation.

Lutheran World Relief

The Lutheran World Relief was established by Lutherans in the United States after the Second World War with a mission to tackle global poverty by helping people to adapt to challenges that threaten their livelihoods. The organization works with all people, regardless of their race, nationality or religion.

During an emergency, such as breakout of civil war, the organization helps families to restore their lives by providing them with aid and partnering up with local communities to build and grow rural economies. The ultimate goal of the organization is to help people build self-sufficiency and create new solutions to break the cycles of poverty.

War Child

The War Child was founded in 1993 by movie makers David Wilson and Bill Leeson, after their visit to the former Yugoslavia and witnessing of ethnic cleaning and violence and its impact on children. Thus, the organization was formed to work with children, families, communities, legal services and local authorities before, during and after armed conflicts, to develop and strengthen child protection systems.

The activities of the organization include rehabilitation of former child soldiers, improving justice for children, setting up child helplines and protection networks, as well as reunifying children with their families. One of the central activities of the War Child is protection of children’s right to education to help them to keep a sense of normality and improve prospects of long-term recovery.

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The International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) and its national branches are independent non-governmental human rights organizations which base their work on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948. The ISHR seeks to promote international understanding and tolerance in all areas of culture and society. The ISHR acts on the philosophy that the realization of human rights and the improvement of social conditions cannot be pursued thorugh use of force. ISHR was founded in order to support individuals who share this principle and, consequently, seek to claim their rights in a non-violent manner. ISHR operates as a membership organization with approximately 30.000 members in 38 countries worldwide. ISHR has Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, Associated Status with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations and Participative Status with the European Council.

Advocacy, Education, Campaigns

Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, France, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Kosovo, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mali, Moldova, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan

Founded: 1972
Location (HQ): Germany
Scope: Global
Focus area: All human rights

Yes

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International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) is an independent, international health professional organization that promotes and supports the rehabilitation of torture victims and works for the prevention of torture worldwide. The IRCT is the umbrella for more than 140 independent torture rehabilitation organizations in over 70 countries. Each year it’s members treat more than 100.000 torture survivors and their families. Organization’s vision is a world that values and accepts shared responsibility for the eradication of torture. It’s mission is to promote and support the rehabilitation of torture victims and work for the prevention of torture.

Research, Advocacy

Supporting torture victims worldwide

Belgium, Denmark

Founded: 1985
Location (HQ): Denmark
Scope: Global
Focus area: Toture

No

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International Alliance of Women (IAW) is an international non-governmental organization comprising 41 member organizations involved in the promotion of the human rights of women and girls globally. The IAW has general consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council and is accredited to many specialized UN agencies, has participatory status with the Council of Europe and is represented at the Arab League, the African Union and other international organizations.

Research, Advocacy, Campaigns

Championing the human rights of women and girls around the world.

Switzerland

Founded: 1904
Location (HQ): Switzerland
Scope: Global
Focus area: Women

No

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The Centre for Minority Rights Development (CEMIRIDE) is a non-governmental organization in Kenya that works on behalf of minority and indigenous communities in Kenya and East Africa in hopes of protecting their human rights. The Centre promotes respect for the cultural minority and exposes human rights abuses in these countries as means to combat violence and promote peace. Before the debut of CEMIRIDE into the CSO sector, there was no conversation on the existence and the violation of minorities and indigenous peoples rights in Kenya. The organization’s mission is to strengthen the capacities of minorities and indigenous people to secure their social,cultural, political and economic rights. This is informed by reality that minorities and indigenous peoples in Kenya are mostly marginalized and excluded from development processes although they have potential to significantly contribute to national development.

Research, Advocacy, Campaigns

We support minority communities in Kenya to secure their rights

Kenya

Founded: 2000
Location (HQ): Kenya
Scope: National
Focus area: Minorities

No

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True to the vision and the work of Rene Cassin, the Foundation has been created by a decree published in 2015. This new Foundation replaced the International institute of Human Rights and takes its full name of International Institute of Human Rights- Foundation Rene Cassin. It aims to implement the defense and the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms through teaching and research in complete independence and in a scientific spirit. This Foundation is chaired by Jean-Paul Costa and it is based in Strasbourg, symbolic city of the rule of law and human rights. Independent and apolitical, it embodies a bridge between the European Court of Human Rights, the Council of Europe and the University of Strasbourg while staying distinct from these entities.

Research, Education

The IIHR, founded in 1969 by René Cassin, is a foundation working for the promotion and the protection of human rights through research and training.

France

Founded: 1969
Location (HQ): France
Scope: Global
Focus area: All human rights

No

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The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) is an international, nonviolent, and democratic membership organization. Its members are indigenous peoples, minorities, and unrecognized or occupied territories who have joined together to protect and promote their human and cultural rights, to preserve their environments, and to find nonviolent solutions to conflicts which affect them. Although the aspirations of UNPO Members differ greatly, they are all united by one shared condition – they are not adequately represented at major international fora, such as the United Nations. As a consequence, their opportunity to participate on the international stage is significantly limited, as is their ability to access and draw upon the support of the global bodies mandated to defend their rights, protect their environments, and mitigate the effects of conflict. In today’s world where over 90 percent of conflicts are intra-state, UNPO has been established to fill this gap, providing an international forum through which its Members can become effective participants and contributors to the international community. UNPO works therefore to address the consequences of marginalization, working with its Members to promote their democratic causes, to provide information, and to articulate creative and nonviolent strategies for progress, above all however, UNPO works to ensure their voices are heard.

Advocacy, Education, Campaigns

The Voice of The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Around the Globe

Belgium

Founded: 1991
Location (HQ): Belgium
Scope: Global
Focus area: Democracy, Environment, Expression, Land rights, Minorities, Women

Yes

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Social Justice Connection (SJC) is an independent organization providing education and advocacy about human rights, global poverty and inequality. Through its education program, the SJC offers unique and engaging educational tools and interactive workshops to schools, NGOs and community groups. In its advocacy, the SJC engages policy makers at the national and international levels to press for greater fairness and the recognition of human rights standards in global finance.

Advocacy, Education

SJC provides education and advocacy for a world free of poverty, violence and inequality.

Canada

Founded: 1975
Location (HQ): Canada
Scope: Global
Focus area: All human rights

No

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Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) is an independent human rights organization with a thirty-year track record of human rights activism and public interest litigation in South Africa. LHR uses the law as a positive instrument for change and to deepen the democratization of the South African society. To this end, it provides free legal services to vulnerable, marginalized and indigent individuals and communities, both non-national and South African, who are victims of unlawful infringements of their Constitutional rights.

Advocacy

A South African human rights organization with 39 years experience in human rights activism and public interest litigation.

South Africa

Founded: 1979
Location (HQ): South Africa
Scope: National
Focus area: Environment, Land rights, Migration, Minorities, Women

No

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Humanity in Action is an international non-profit educational organization. It educates, inspires and connects a global network of students, young professionals and established leaders committed to promoting human rights, diversity and active citizenship—in their own communities and around the world. Humanity in Action creates new programs and opportunities for its growing constituency of Senior Fellows—fellowship alumni who remain engaged with the organization and its mission. Humanity in Action has developed professional development programs at the U.S. Congress, European Parliament, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and other leading institutions. It also organizes ongoing seminars and educational exchanges so that its network of Senior Fellows and the broader public may remain knowledgeable and inspired by Humanity in Action’s core issues.

Education

A global network of young leaders committed to protecting minorities and promoting human rights—in their own communities and around the world.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, United States

Founded: 1997
Location (HQ): United States
Scope: Global
Focus area: Minorities

No

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The International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) is an international human rights organization defending indigenous peoples’ rights. For almost 50 years, the IWGIA gas documented the fight for indigenous peoples’ rights. The organization works through a global network of indigenous peoples’ organizations and international mechanisms. The IWGIA promotes the recognition, respect and implementation of indigenous people’s rights to land, cultural integrity and development on their own terms. The organization works to empower indigenous peoples through documentation, capacity development and advocacy on a local, regional and international level. To achieve its mission it provides documentation, supports advocacy and empowers indigenous peoples’ organizations and institutions via global partnerships. Today indigenous peoples from all over the world are involved in IWGIA’s global network.

Research, Advocacy

We work for a world where indigenous peoples’ voices are heard and their rights are implemented.

Denmark

Founded: 1968
Location (HQ): Denmark
Scope: Global
Focus area: Minorities

No

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The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) is a non-partisan, non-political and non-profit association of citizens concerned with the advancement of theory and practice of human rights. BCHR is recognized as one of the most important and most influential non-governmental organizations in Serbia.The principal goals of the BCHR are advancement of knowledge in the field of human rights and humanitarian law, development of democracy, strengthening of the rule of law and the civil society in Serbia and other countries in transition from authoritarianism to democracy. In the twenty years of its existence, the BCHR has endeavoured to raise the consciousness of the citizens on the importance and dimensions of the idea of human rights and individual freedoms and to establish a favourable climate for their full respect and enjoyment.

Research, Advocacy, Education

A non-partisan, non-political and non-profit association of citizens interested in promoting the theory and practice of human rights.

Serbia

Founded: 1995
Location (HQ): Serbia
Scope: National
Focus area: All human rights

No

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The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) provides support, assistance and expertise to participating States and civil society to promote democracy, rule of law, human rights and tolerance and non-discrimination. ODIHR observes elections, reviews legislation and advises governments on how to develop and sustain democratic institutions. The Office conducts training programmes for government and law-enforcement officials and non-governmental organizations on how to uphold, promote and monitor human rights.

Research, Education

ODIHR is active throughout the OSCE area in election observation, democratic development, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and rule of law.

Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Montenegro, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Founded: 1990
Location (HQ): Poland
Scope: Regional
Focus area: All human rights

No

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The Swedish Foundation for Human Rights is a nonprofit foundation founded with the objective to promote human rights through human rights education, advocacy, and international development cooperation. Since 2008, the organization is part of the Swedish popular education network Sensus, while maintaining its status as an independent foundation with its own board. The main target group for the work in Sweden is decision makers in governmental agencies, Parliament, organizations and media. Internationally the target group is the partner human rights organizations and their particular target groups, as well as key persons and decision makers at the global and regional human rights mechanisms. Internationally the organization specifically focuses on strengthening civil society and its potential to promote human rights. This is primarily done through financial and technical support to local initiatives which lead to a tangible advancement of human rights and simultaneously contribute to a positive development of the competence of local civil society. The organization has a broad contact network of human rights organisations in Africa, Latin America and Asia that work before the regional human rights mechanisms.

Advocacy, Education

Applying the Human Rights Based-Approach

Sweden

Founded: 1991
Location (HQ): Sweden
Scope: Global
Focus area: All human rights

No

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Privacy International is a non-profit organization that investigates the secret world of government surveillance and exposes the companies enabling it. It litigates to ensure that surveillance is consistent with the rule of law. The organization advocates for strong national, regional, and international laws that protect privacy. Privacy International conducts research to catalyze policy change. It raises awareness about technologies and laws that place privacy at risk, to ensure that the public is informed and engaged. To ensure that this right is universally respected, it strengthens the capacity of its partners in developing countries and works with international organizations to protect the most vulnerable.

Research, Advocacy, Campaigns

Promoting the human right of privacy throughout the world.

United Kingdom

Founded: 1990
Location (HQ): United Kingdom
Scope: Global
Focus area: Privacy

No

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Doctors Without Borders is the world’s leading independent international medical relief organization, implementing and managing medical projects in close to 72 countries worldwide and as a worldwide movement of 33 offices and associations. The work of organization focuses on emergency medical and humanitarian relief. It is guided by the principles of independence, neutrality and impartiality, as described in the MSF Charter. The organization implements medical programs in areas where no health or sanitary systems exist, or where health structures are overwhelmed by the needs of populations. The organization provides direct medical assistance to people affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters, disease epidemics, malnutrition crises and other emergencies.

Research, Advocacy, Education, Campaigns, Activism, Lobbying

We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare.

Afghanistan, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Luxembourg, Mexico, Micronesia, Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States

Founded: 1971
Location (HQ): Switzerland
Scope: Global
Focus area: Education, Health

Yes

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The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

The UNOPS is an operational institution within the UN tasked with implementing projects for the UN System, international financial institutions, governments and other agencies around the world. By implementing projects, the UNOPS assists the UN and its partners provide peace and security, as well as humanitarian and development issues. The mission of the UNPOS is to “help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development”. The UNOPS is focused on enhancing the private sector efficiency with a vision of “a world where people can live full lives supported by appropriate, sustainable and resilient infrastructure and by efficient, transparent use of public resources in procurement and project management. The services that the UNOPS covers are infrastructure, project management, procurement, financial management and human resources.

The UNOPS offers exciting internship opportunities around the world. To become eligible for an internship you need to be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate university degree program or have completed the degree within the past three years. To apply for an internship you need to create a UNPOS Job Account and submit details such as personal information, education, experience and skills.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization in 1957 in Vienna, Austria, with an aim to promote peaceful use of nuclear energy and its use for military purposes, in particular nuclear weapons. Today, the IAEA has two regional offices located in Toronto, Canada, and Tokyo, Japan. Even though the IAEA was established independently from the UN it regularly reports to the UN General Assembly and Security Council. The programs that the IAEA implements aim to enhance the development of peaceful usage of nuclear energy, science and technology, as well as to provide international standards that would combat the misuse of nuclear technologies.

The IAEA offers a competitive internship program in order to provide current students or those who have recently received university degree with the opportunity to gain practical work experience in accordance with their studies or interest. To be eligible for an internship program, you must be at least 20 years old and have completed at least three years of studies. You can also apply up to one year after completion of your bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree. The duration of internships is normally not less than three months and not more than one year.

The IAEA provides a stipend of EUR 500 to interns who do not receive any financial support from other sources, such as an institution or university. Additional 500 EUR is offered to interns who are required to pay for their own accommodation. You can learn more about internship opportunities and application procedures on the IAEA website.

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty Organization (CTBTO)

The CTBTO is an international organization that will be established once the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty enters into force as a treaty that will outlaw nuclear test explosion. The organization’s seat will be in Vienna, Austria and the organization’s team will be tasked with verifying the ban on nuclear tests by monitoring and on-site inspections. Currently, the Preparatory Commission, which was established in 1997 operates for the CTBTO. So far, 184 countries signed the treaty, of which 168 ratified it. However, 44 nuclear holder countries must sign and ratify the Treaty before the CTBT can enter into force. This is still to be done by China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan and the USA.

Nevertheless, the CTBTO offers a limited number of internships to university students and recent graduates from diverse academic backgrounds in order to provide them with experience in various specialized fields. The duration of internships is normally not less than three months and not more than one year. For those students who do not receive financial support either from an institution or university, the CTBTO provides stipends during the internship period. Interns are required to participate in the medical scheme of CTBTO at their own cost. All interns are expected to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements during the internship period. You can learn more about the eligibility criteria on the official website.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

The FAO is one of the specialized agencies whose goal is to defeat hunger in the world and achieve food security as well as make sure that people have regular access to quality food in order to be able to live healthy lives. The FAO currently operates in 130 countries worldwide assisting developed and developing countries. The agency also acts as a hub of knowledge and information by helping developing countries to modernize and improve their agriculture, forestry and fishery practices in order to ensure good nutrition and food security for everyone.

The FAO offers internship programmes for students of FAO Member Nations who are enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree programme or recent graduates to who are highly motivated and wish to gain practical experience. To become an intern at FAO you should have appropriate residence or immigration status in the country of assignment prior to the start of the internship assignment. You can learn more about the FAO internship programmes on the official FAO website.

International Labor Organization (ILO)

This agency has been established in 1919 with a goal to bring together governments, employers and workers of 187 member states to set labor standards and develop policies and programs promoting decent work for all women and men. The organization gives equal voice to all three parties in order to make sure that their views are reflected in policies and programmes. The main goals of ILO are to promote workers rights, encourage equal employment opportunities as well as enhance social protection of workers.

ILO’s Internship Programme provides a wide range of opportunities for high calibre graduate/postgraduate students and recently graduated candidates who are looking for a “hands-on” learning experience in fields related to the ILO’s mandate and activities in the period from three to six months. The ILO opens the Internship roster including the a call for applications, 2 to 3 times per year. When the application period closes, the profiles of eligible candidates are made available to departments seeking interns within a given roster period. As such, internships can start on the 1st or 15th of any month throughout the year.

The costs of travel, passport, visa, insurance and accommodation are the intern’s responsibility. In case an intern is not financially supported by any other institution, the ILO provides a stipend to cover the basic costs. You can learn more about this on the official website.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

The WTO is a global organization that deals with the rules of trade between nations. The WTO operates a global system of trade rules and it acts as a forum for negotiating trade agreements, settles trade disputes between states and supports the needs of developing countries. All major decisions within the WTO are made by member governments, usually by ministers or by their ambassadors or delegates. The purpose of the WTO is to open trade for the benefit of all.

The WTO offers three types of internship: 1. The WTO Internship Programme is open to post-graduate students from all WTO members and countries or customs territories engaged in accession negotiations; 2. The China LDC and Accessions Programme (also known as the China WTO Accession Internship Programme); and 3. The WTO Support Programme for Doctoral Studies. Both 1 and 3 are reserved for post-graduate students from developing countries and least developed countries. Interns receive a daily allowance of 60 Swiss francs (including weekends and official holidays). The WTO also covers travels expenses, while interns are responsible for organizing their own health insurance. Read more about the WTO internship programmes.

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

WIPO is a self-funding UN agency and it acts as a global forum for intellectual property services, policy, information and cooperation. It has 191 member states. Its mission is to “lead the development of a balanced and effective international intellectual property system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all”.

The WIPO is always looking for talented interns with backgrounds of law, economics, information technology, technical cooperation, project management, administration, translation, marketing and communications. Students who are holders of a first level degree or who are pursuing an advanced degree will receive a monthly stipend of 500 Swiss franc.The duration of internship is from three to six months. Students who are holders of an advanced degree or graduate students who have completed their coursework but not the thesis, will receive a monthly stipend of 2.000 Swiss franc. The duration of internship for this category is three to 12 months. To apply for an internship, you must submit your candidature through the Internship roster which is advertised year-around. The WIPO reviews the roster regularly and if your application is a good match, the WIPO will contact you directly.

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

The OPCW is an intergovernmental organization and the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, which entered into force on 29 April 1997. Its mission is to implement the provisions of the Convention in order to “achieve a vision of a world free of chemical weapons and the threat of their use, and in which chemistry is used for peace, progress and prosperity”. The OPCW’s seat is in The Hague, Netherlands, and it currently has 193 member states.  The organization works on overseeing the use of chemical weapons by member states and advocates for their destruction.

If you wish to join the OPCW team as an intern you should apply to their internship programme. The OPCW pays interns a 450 EUR monthly stipend to cover the costs. Interns do not receive financial support from the OPCW related to travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses costs. In addition, interns are required to cover all costs related to medical insurance. Currently, the OPWC has an open call for the summer internship applications. Read more about OPCW Internships.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

The UNHCR was established in 1950 with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland with an aim to protect refugees, forcibly displaces and stateless people, as well as to assist to voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to a third country.

The UNCHR is always looking for talented and motivated individuals from around the world to contribute to its mission and thus offers internship programmes to students and recent graduates in order to gain experience working within the humanitarian sector and international environment. Internships are offered around the world depending on the needs of the UNCHR. Interns who do not receive external financial support will be supported by an allowance to cover the costs related to food and local transportation.  All other costs will be covered by interns themselves. If you wish to work as an intern for the UNHCR you can read more about the eligibility criteria on the UNHCR website.

The World Food Programme (WFP)

The WFP is the largest humanitarian branch of the UN promoting food security and addressing world hunger. The WFP provides food assistance to around 91.4 million people in 83 countries every year. Its mission is to deliver food assistance in situations of emergency as well as to work with communities in order to improve nutrition and build resilience. It strives to end the cycle of hunger and poverty. The WFP mainly works in conflict affected areas where people are more likely to have less access to food.

The WFP is always looking for motivated students as interns from around the world and provides them with an opportunity to acquire practical work experience. The internship at WFP normally lasts between two and eight months. The WFP provides internship stipends that are related to the specific duty station. The maximum amount of monthly stipend is $1.000. Learn more about the internships requirements on the official website.

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

UNICEF was established in 1946 as a response to World War II emergencies with a goal to provide food and healthcare to children and their mothers in countries that were devastated by the conflict. UNICEF works in 190 countries “to save children’s lives, to defend their rights, and to help them fulfil their potential, from early childhood through adolescence”. The organization holds over 150 country offices around the world and 34 National Committees carry out UNICEF’s programmes developed together with governments.

UNICEF implements internship programmes that offer students an opportunity to acquire practical experience through the areas of programme and policy, external relations and operations. UNICEF offices pay interns a stipend to cover living expenses and a one-time lump sum to cover the costs of visa and travel. You can learn more about the eligibility criteria on the UNICEF employment page.

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If you are a human rights student, you will often be asked by your professors to do research on a certain human rights issue and write a research paper. Research papers are considered to be academic writings based on your original research, interpretation and commentary of other research findings. They are done in order to demonstrate your academic knowledge of a certain human rights issue and your acquisition of different research methodologies.

Also read: 10 Tips for conducting human rights research

Research papers on human rights can focus on any type of human right or a broad overview of human rights. For example, you can focus your research paper on the right to labor or do a research on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which includes 30 human rights.  This article offers five tips for writing your human rights research paper with an aim to assist you to keep good organization and focus.

Step 1: Choose a Human Rights Topic

When writing a research paper the first thing you have to do is to choose a topic. So where can you get inspiration? A common tactic is to skim through thesis directories to discover topics or issues that spark your interest. Another option you can try, is to visit your favorite online magazine and look at the articles through a human rights lens. The fashion brand, where you buy your clothes, do they care about human rights? What are the human rights implications of the latest developments in artificial intelligence? What happens when you apply a human rights perspective to the netflix series you saw last week? Human rights are everywhere, and so are the topics for your research paper.

Step 2: Conduct Research

Once you have selected your topic, the next step is to conduct research. This can take various forms. Most students start with skim reading through the available literature. When you are searching an online library, make sure you also use synonyms and similar keywords in your search. It might be possible that your topic is well researched already but that most researchers choose a different term than the one you had in mind to describe the issue.

Look for articles and books that were written by human rights experts that deal with your chosen topic. Articles and books usually contain an empirical research that was already conducted within the field you are writing about. Once you find articles and books about your topic, check out the reference list or bibliography. The sources listed there can be a great tool for you to identify more suitable literature.

A great source for conducting research is the Internet, where you can find scholarly articles, books, journals, blog posts, encyclopedias and case directories. However, make sure you distinguish between invalid sources (i.e. Wikipedia, forums, etc.) and valid sources (i.e. scholarly article published by a university research center). Usually, your professor will outline and define what type of sources are acceptable to use in a research paper (i.e. scholarly articles, books, online journals, media articles etc.).

However, the most important is that information you find is trustworthy and based on facts. Academic publications often go through a rigorous quality assurance process and are thus considered more trustworthy than a message anyone can post on social media without much accountability. Your research paper should be based on at least five reliable sources.

Research traditions also vary in different universities and locations. At universities in Germany and Austria it is more common to reference twenty to fifty sources, even for a short research paper while in the UK less sources and more original writing is often state of the art. Make sure you discuss expectations with your professors especially if you are studying abroad and may be used to a different university system.

Citing well known authors and academics will make your research more reliable and your arguments well supported. It is a common best practice to summarize the key arguments of two or more authors and then, based on the research that has already been done, develop your own thoughts and conclusions around the topic. Once you have collected enough information on your topic, you can begin creating the outline of your research paper and developing your main argument.

Step 3 : Create an Outline

One of the most important steps in writing a research paper is creating a proper outline which will, later on, serve you as a guide and keep you on track. However, prior to creating an outline you should develop your research question and thesis statement which serve as a main idea and central point of your research paper. The arguments in your research paper should revolve around answering your research question (Is murder a violation of the right to life?) and testing your thesis statement (Murder is not considered a violation of the right to life, but killings are considered a violation of the right to life). The majority of your research paper will be based on arguments to verify or falsify your thesis statement based on facts and reliable sources.  

Once you defined your research question and thesis statement, you should be able to create an outline of your research paper which will help you organize your arguments. Creating an outline usually means organizing your thoughts into a linear structure with headings and subheadings presenting the main points of your argument.

Usually, a research paper, no matter what topic concerns, has the following structure:

1. Title page (This includes the title, the author’s name, date, the university name and name of your professor)
2. Abstract (This is a brief summary of your research paper with only main points outlined)
3. Introduction (Introduction should contain your research question, thesis statement and brief background information on the topic with the main arguments presented)
4. The main body (This part contains several sections in which you are going to summarize, analyze and present your literature findings and your arguments answering your research question and testing your thesis statement. In this part you are also going to explain how you have conducted your research and what research methodologies you used)
5. Conclusion (In conclusion you should shortly summarize your main arguments and explain the significance of your research. In this part, you should outline whether or not your research question has been answered and if your thesis statement has been confirmed)
6. Reference and Literature (In this section you will list all references and literature that you have used in your research paper)
7. Appendix (This section is necessary only if you have any additional information to support your argument such as charts, tables or figures)

Step 4: Write the paper

Once you finished outlining your paper it is time to begin writing. When starting this process it can be helpful to skip the introduction and start with the main body text. Usually, introduction and conclusion are written last because only then you will have a clear picture of your research paper and will be able to summarize it more concretely without skipping the important points. During the writing process you will develop new ideas and thoughts and the paper might move in a different direction that you originally planned. That’s normal but you need to update all aspects of the paper accordingly to ensure everything is consistent.

While writing, organize your arguments into paragraphs in order to get a clear and concise line of arguments. During the writing stage you will consult the literature and information you collected during the phase of conducting a research. However, it is really important to pay attention to how you summarize your literature in order to avoid plagiarism. This means using someone else’s exact words and copying them into your own research paper. Plagiarism is absolutely unacceptable in any academic discipline and considered as a form of theft.

A common way to avoid plagiarism is to paraphrase a certain argument or a fact in your own words and add a footnote to the original source. If you want to use word to word quotes you must mark them with quotation marks. In addition, always make sure to cite at the end from which source the fact or information derived or came from.

When writing, you should always keep in mind that the main purpose behind writing a research paper is to present arguments supported by the evidence from research.

Step 5: Edit, Revise and Celebrate

After you finished writing your research paper it is important to edit and revise it. At this stage, put your paper away for some time to gain distance to your own writing before you come back and revise it. After a few days, you will be able to notice mistakes more clearly and see whether or not you have presented clear and concise arguments. During the edit phase you should check for typos and spelling mistakes and if language you have used is clear and concise. Also, you will be able to notice if there was repetition in some parts of the paper and repetitive words or phrases that could be replaced with synonyms to improve the style of your paper. Once you have handed in your paper, don’t forget to celebrate! One step closer to your human rights masters.

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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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Working with former war victims in a post-conflict setting can be one of the most challenging aspects while investigating human rights violations. Helping people who were victims of violence and injustice and hearing about their sufferings is often an important step in returning to normal life. An honest quest for the truth, which will ultimately identify the harm done to people, is a powerful remedy for the victims.

I have been working as human rights violations researcher in post-conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina for almost two years. I work closely with former civil war victims, prisoners of war and former camp detainees. During these two years, I have met with a significant number of victims who, in majority of cases, still suffer from the consequences of the abuse, sexual violence and torture they have been through during the period of conflict. My job is to record their stories and testimonies and eventually write report about each case of human rights violations. The job is at the same time both satisfying and hard. To be given an opportunity to record stories that have never been recorded before is truly an amazing thing.

However, working with former war victims can often be frustrating. There are multiple traps that you as a researcher have to be aware of. This is particularly a matter of concern if you are working in your local community because it can be very difficult to maintain objectivity in the situation when you know the victims on personal level and see the effect war crimes have taken on them. The best way to help victims is to keep your objectivity indispensable for conducting an investigation and finally write down a report on the abuse they have experienced. Therefore, in this article I offers five crucial tips that you have to keep in mind if you consider working with former war victims.

1. Be Careful About the Promises You Give

As someone who works closely with war victims, you have to be very careful about the promises you give. The first thing that the victim will evaluate when they meet you is the value of your words. If you promise something and you do not complete it, the victim will, in the worst case, consider you a liar. Even if you do not explicitly promise something, you need to keep in mind that your words are not interpreted as a promise. The words you say during the interview with the victim are very important, because in many cases the victim will give you their full trust by risking their own safety and security of their family.

For example, in my work I meet with a lot of former inmates and war victims who want to remain anonymous for their safety. If I promised them that their identity will remain protected, I have to fulfill that promise. Otherwise, I play out their confidence which can further affect my work in a particular local community, as other victims will see me as an unreliable person. Therefore, it is important to be cautious about the promises you give to the victims. Learn to commit yourself to only those things that you can guarantee. If a victim asks for something that you cannot fulfill, be completely honest with him or her saying that you cannot fulfill it. The victims with whom you will most likely meet are accustomed to the crude reality of a tough life. They prefer to hear the unpleasant truth that is certain rather than pleasantly spoken words in which they have little faith.

2. Be Professional

It is very important that you pay attention to what you say to the victim. Professional standards in documenting serious human rights violations require that you, as someone who moderates and conducts conversation, carefully choose your words in a conversation with victims. The person you are interviewing is not your colleague or your friend. Once you begin an interview you enter in a professional relationship with them. It is best to avoid jokes and sarcastic remarks. Experience has shown me that every additional comment is superfluous. For example, many times it happened that the victims were cursing and saying ugly words about the perpetrators. This is quite understandable and should not be surprising given that many victims still carry anger and fear in themselves for all the injustices they encountered. Many of them suffer from the effects of PTSD and simply cannot control their words. However, as someone who is in charge of conversation you need to be able to listen, but not to comment.

It is very important to know how to “return” the victim to the right conversation. If the victim turns from the topic and begins to talk about other things, you need to ask him or her the question from the interview in order to “return” him or her to their focus. Many times it happened that during the interview the victim turned away from the topic and began to talk about his or her current state and life. Then it is best to ask questions and sub-questions so that the conversation would not go in the wrong direction.

3. Helping Out the Victims – Yes or No?

Many of the victims you encounter will be in a difficult economic state or will live in bad conditions. It’s a very difficult question whether you need to offer your direct help as a researcher. Very often you can be in a situation to help the victim, but, unfortunately, providing such assistance to victims can affect the integrity and credibility of the research. The moment the victim accepts your help he or she loses their credibility. For example, if you offer money to the victim or some other kind of material assistance, this can be considered as a bribe. Your intention was probably not to bribe the victim but to help. However, your credibility as a researcher will fail. In some cases, the victims may give false testimonials in order to gain your sympathies and thus get more help.

The best you can do in these situations is to send the victim to appropriate organizations that can help them. If the organization in which you work is the one that offers help, then it would be most suitable if that is done by another person, not you. If your organization does not offer direct help to victims, then it should collect data and make a list of organizations dealing with this type of work and the rights of victims. This type of assistance to victims is acceptable, but direct material help from you is not.

4. Create a Safe Space

When you are arranging an interview with a victim, it will take some time until he or she does not give you their trust. Many victims need encouragement and some guarantees before they agree to talk. You may need a little skill to persuade the victim to hear your explanation of why it is important for them to work with you and you should be able to explain the importance of this cooperation. Start by presenting yourself and your organization. You need to explain what is that you are researching and why it is important for you to talk to him or her about it. Most victims will usually have additional questions which you should answer honestly and completely.

When you arrange an interview with a victim, it is important to ensure there is a safe space where they feel comfortable enough to talk. A safe space will also enable you and the victim to talk without distractions. Approach the victim to the moment and place where they will not be seen in order to eliminate their fear of talking to you. Avoid coming to their workplace, unless you have previously agreed with them to do so. Experience has shown me that it is best to adapt to the victim and ask her or him where they would feel most comfortable to talk. It is very important to choose a place where you can talk and negotiate a time when the victim is not in a hurry. Most often the victim will usually choose his or her house because it is the place where they feel most at ease, and as a researcher you must always adapt to their desires related to the place.

5. Treat Each Victim Equally

This tip is very straightforward – you must treat each victim equally and with the same respect. Many times you can find yourself in a situation where you think that one victim suffered more than others or that one victim went through the worse abuse than other victim. Of course, the cases are not the same because these are individuals who have a very different experience. However, your opinion on who suffered more or less is not important. What is important is to treat each victim equally.

During the interview, the victims must see that you respect them. Each victim should be carefully approached and treated professionally, sympathetically and with respect to their human dignity. Victims must be given space and opportunity to express their opinions, concerns or objections to your work. The opinions of the victim need to be carefully considered and given the importance they deserve. The victim’s concerns should always be taken into regard, unless this raises the question of the integrity of the research.

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Working in human rights areas can be challenging and intense. One of the disciplines, that organizations use in their approach to strengthen social justice, is research, which is often concerned with on-site investigations and report writing on human rights conditions.

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Ada Hasanagić has been working as human rights researcher in the post-conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina for several years. She does extensive research about the massive violations of human rights that were committed during the war period. We caught up with Ada to find out what is necessary to become a human rights researcher and what is it like to work in such settings.

1. Hello Ada, could you please introduce yourself to our readers. Who are you and what are you doing?

I am a pre-war child. I was born in 1990 which makes me 26 years old now. I was only two years old when the conflict in B&H broke out. My family was forced to leave Grbavica, a part of Sarajevo that was under the control of the Serbian army during the entire war. We became refugees in our own hometown finding a shelter in our extended family’s homes throughout the city. Being a child in war was not easy, simply because you were not able to understand what was actually going on and no one would answer simple questions such as ‘how come I cannot go out and play?’ or ‘why the TV is not working?’. Luckily, we all survived the siege and were able to go back to our home in Grbavica.

During my years of education I was fortunate to be able to study at one of the most prestigious private universities in the country. I received my degrees in Political Science and International Relations from the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology and the University of Buckingham in 2013. The same year I was offered a scholarship to study at the European Regional Masters in Democracy and Human Rights in South-East Europe, which I completed in 2014.

I have been actively working as human rights violations researcher at Association Transitional Justice, Accountability and Remembrance (TJAR) in Sarajevo since September 2015. My job concerns recording human rights violations of the ex-detainees in detention camps that existed in the country in the period from 1992 to 1995. I travel across B&H in order to interview the former war victims who were abused, tortured and deprived of their basic liberties during the war. Once I collect enough information about each detention camp I compile it in the form of a narrative report in which I describe the ways human rights of each victim were violated. The job is very challenging sometimes; however, I am proud to be given the opportunity to provide the society with objective facts so that these terrible human rights violations would never occur again.

2. How did you get this job? What was the ‘’one thing’’ that set you apart from other applicants?

Actually, I did not get this job in a traditional way-you apply, get invited to the interview, “rock it” and get a job. When I finished my master’s program I started looking actively for work. Unfortunately, the job market in B&H is very bad and it is really hard to find one since the institutions are highly corrupted and you often need to have what we call “štela”-someone to whom you are going to pay in cash or service and who, in return, is going to score you a job. Since the beginning I knew that was not the path I want to follow. I had firmly decided that I wanted to work within the civil society sector since I saw it as the only opportunity to be involved in the human rights area. TJAR was one of the organizations that I contacted asking whether I could volunteer and help them out without requesting to be paid. If you want to work in the human rights area you have to show that earning vast amounts of money is not your ultimate goal.

I started volunteering at TJAR in January 2015. I gave my best to be at their service all the time and learn from more experienced people. Ultimately I was told that “once the first donation comes in” the job is mine since they saw me as someone who is devoted to work. It took me around 8 months to score a contract and become one of the researchers. So once I formally started I was already an independent researcher and have been one since then.

3. Do you have any tips for job seekers who would love to work in a similar field?

If you want to work as human rights researcher or within the human rights area in general you have to set your goals and priorities. You need to decide what area and which vulnerable groups in the society interest you the most. Once you set your goals you should start applying and contacting different civil society and international organizations offering them your expertise and knowledge. Most often you will receive negative answers; therefore, it might be good if you start as an intern or a volunteer. You have to have an open heart to be able to work in these areas and your ultimate goal should be related to helping those in need.

Working in the human rights area can be tough emotionally. You could find yourself interviewing all sorts of people- uneducated, poor, people with physical and mental disabilities, victims of torture and sexual violence etc. Therefore, you need to be prepared, especially in cases where you are going to meet people who live in terrible and poor conditions. As human rights violations researcher you have to treat each victim equally and with the same respect. This is a must!

My ultimate tip is that you should always stay true to yourself. Work hard and be passionate about your goals.

4. Can you describe a typical day in your work?

My work consists out of two parts. The first part concerns the typical office work. I work with a team of five human rights researchers. During the time spend in the office I do desk research which mainly consists of reading through the court judgments, various reports of international organizations, books and media articles that relate to detention camps I am currently researching. I usually do this in order to extract as much information about the human rights violations as possible. The time I spent in office I use to contact the ex-detainees and write the narrative reports about detention camps. I am also in charge of checking the work of other researchers in the team and trying to solve any issues that may arise.

The second part of my work is concerned with travelling across the country and interviewing the former ex-detainees. I always make sure to plan the trips in much detail as I can in order to use my time in the best possible way. I spend a lot of time preparing psychologically for interviewing the victims since I never know what type of people I am going to meet. I always strive to interview as many victims as possible in order to get the full picture of what was happening in a certain town or village.

The situation on the field differs from town from town. For example, it is much harder to work within municipalities that territorially belong to the entity of the Republic of Srpska. There are very few Bosniak returnees there and in case we do manage to reach them, they are often afraid to talk since they’re concerned about their existence. It is, however, easier to work within the territory of the Federation of B&H where people seem to be more relaxed to talk about their experiences during the conflict period. Nevertheless, I have encountered numerous situations on the field that range from people telling me to go away to those where they were anxious to tell their stories.

5. What are the biggest challenges and highlights in your job?

My job can be described as challenge after challenge. One of the biggest challenges is actually reaching out to the ex-detainees. Today, there are three large Associations of ex detainees in B&H, which gather three groups of former detainees-Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs. These Associations refuse to cooperate with each other since they firmly believe that the number of victims and sufferings that each victim went through cannot be seen as equal. I agree with this, but again I think every victim should be attributed his or her status as such. Therefore, our organization works with all victims irrespective of their ethnic or national affiliation.

Given that the Associations do not communicate with one another, no single database has ever been created to date on how many detention camps existed in the country and how many people were detained. It has been roughly estimated that around 1.500 camps existed and that around 100.000 people were detained. However, the lists of camps that have been released by all three Associations are, in some cases, inaccurate. Also, many people who have been detained have not been registered by these Associations so it is very difficult to reach them. All three Associations refuse to cooperate with our organization since we are working with all victims. This further aggravates the situation in the research, but our ultimate goal is to document all detention camps so we can get a complete view of what really happened.

Reaching out to victims can be frustrating especially because many people have left the country and many of them had been displaced from their homes during the war. Another challenge is also getting victims to talk. Many of them are afraid to talk because the war criminals that abused them and tortured them have never been prosecuted. This especially relates to the victims of sexual abuses. The work is also psychologically draining since I am working with people who often suffer from the post-traumatic stress with visible physical scars from the abuse.

However, the biggest satisfaction I get from this job is when I discover new detention places and record the human rights violations that have never been recorded before. For example, I base the majority of my work in the region of Krajina, which is about five hours drive far from Sarajevo. The first time I visited the Sanski Most municipality, I interviewed Reuf Hadžić, the man whose story fascinated me. Namely, he was detained in three detention camps during 1995. However, from 1992 until the beginning of 1995, he was mobilized by Serb officials in Sanski Most as he was the only man who had been trained to work in the then bookkeeping programs. During the years he was forced to work with Serbs who had taken advantage of him, maltreated him and discriminated him on national basis. He did not receive paycheck and he was not allowed to celebrate holidays as others were. After all, he went through three detention camps, but I will not talk about his torture in that period. At the end of the interview, he told me that I was the first person to record his story and to help hear his voice. This gave me great pleasure in the business I am dealing with.

The fact that I am able to record these types of stories stimulate me to continue working hard because I know that my work will contribute to the prosecution of war criminals one day and that the memory of the victims and their sufferings will be preserved.

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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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