HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS

Many organizations around the world dedicate their efforts to protecting human rights and ending human rights abuses. Major human rights organizations maintain extensive websites documenting violations and calling for remedial action, both at a governmental and grass-roots level. Public support and condemnation of abuses is important to their success, as human rights organizations  are most effective when their calls for reform are backed by strong public advocacy. Below are some examples of such groups.

NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

Globally, the champions of human rights have most often been citizens, not government officials. In particular, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have played a primary role in focusing the international community on human rights issues.

NGOs monitor the actions of governments and pressure them to act according to human rights principles.

Some of these groups are listed alphabetically below with descriptions based on their website information:

Amnesty International:

Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. With more than 2.2 million members and subscribers in more than 150 countries, they conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated. 

Children’s Defense Fund (CDF): The CDF is a child advocacy organization that works to ensure a level playing field for all children. CDF champions policies and programs that lift children out of poverty, protect them from abuse and neglect and ensure their right to equal care and education. 

Human Rights Action Center:

The Human Rights Action Center is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, headed by Jack Healey, world-renowned human rights activist and pioneer. The Center works on issues of the Universal Dclaration of human rights  and uses the arts and technologies to innovate, create and develop new strategies to stop human rights abuses. They also support growing human rights groups all over the world.

Human Rights Watch:

Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. They investigate and expose human rights violations, hold abusers accountable, and challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law.

Human Rights Without Frontiers: (HRWF)

HRWF focuses on monitoring, research and analysis in the field of human rights, as well as promotion of democracy and the rule of law on the national and international level. 

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP):

The mission of the NAACP is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic quality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. 

Simon Wiesenthal Center:

This prestigious international Jewish human rights organization is dedicated to repairing the world one step at a time. The Center generates changes by confronting anti-Semitism, hate and terrorism, promoting human rights and dignity, standing with Israel, defending the safety of Jews worldwide, and teaching the lessons of the Holocaust for future generations.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ mission is to work for the protection of human rights for all people; to help empower people to realize their rights; and to assist those responsible for upholding such rights in ensuring that they are implemented.

Human Rights Council:

An intergovernmental body with membership encompassing forty-seven states, the Human Rights Council has the task of promoting and protecting human rights internationally. Its mechanisms to forward these ends include a Universal Periodic Review which assesses situations in all 192 UN Member States, an Advisory Committee which provides expertise on human rights issues, and a Complaints Procedure for individuals and organizations to bring human rights violations to the attention of the Council.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):

UNESCO’s goal is to build peace in the minds of men.  Its work in the field of human rights aims to strengthen awareness and acts as a catalyst for regional, national and international action in human rights.

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:

This office directs and coordinates international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another state, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country.

US State Department Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor:

The US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor strives to learn the truth and state the facts in all of its human rights investigations, annual reports on country conditions, etc. The bureau takes action to stop ongoing abuses and maintains partnerships with organizations committed to human rights.

Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE):

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the OSCE, comprised of fifty-six participating states from Europe, Central Asia and North America, is engaged in human rights activities focusing on freedom of movement and religion and preventing torture and trafficking in persons.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS

Commission for Human Rights, Council of Europe

The Commission is an independent institution within the Council of Europe mandated to promote the awareness of and respect for human rights in forty-seven Council of Europe Member States. The Commission’s work thus focuses on encouraging reform measures to achieve tangible improvement in the area of human rights promotion and protection. Being a nonjudicial institution, the Commissioner’s Office cannot act upon individual complaints, but the Commission can draw conclusions and take wider initiatives on the basis of reliable information regarding human rights violations suffered by individuals.

European Union Ombudsman:

The European Union Ombudsman investigates complaints about maladministration in the institutions and bodies of the European Union. The Ombudsman is completely independent and impartial.

European Commission Directorate for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities:

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities works toward the creation of more and better jobs, an inclusive society and equal opportunities for all. 

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights:

This Commission is officially charged with three major functions: the protection of human and peoples’ rights, the promotion of these rights, and the interpretation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The Asian Human Rights Commission:

Asian Human Rights Commission works to achieve the following priorities, among others: to protect and promote human rights by monitoring, investigation, advocating and taking solidarity actions.