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Are you aware of the human rights groups that exist globally?

This article will review the different human rights groups worldwide, with specific focus on those in the United States.

It also aims to deepen the understanding of the readers through the introduction of the historical background and purpose of establishment of each human rights group.

Human Rights Groups

Human rights groups often operate in the form of non-governmental organizations.

The preeminent purpose of human rights groups is to resolve human rights issues, while simultaneously protecting human rights for all.

Accordingly, with the objective of focusing people’s awareness on human rights issues, human rights groups will often use methods such as data collection, analysis and public announcements.

There are also cases in which they press for political action in an attempt to solve these human rights issues.

Reference : ” Us – Human Rights Now”

Major Human Rights Groups

Below are the leading human rights groups, largely based in the United States.
The predominant human rights groups are:

• International Federation for Human Rights
• Amnesty International
• American Civil Liberties Union
• Human Rights Watch
• The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
• Human Rights Without Frontiers International
• Global Rights
• International Human Rights Association

Below are detailed accounts of each group.

International Federation for Human Rights

Consisting of 192 organizations from 117 countries, the International Federation for Human Rights is a multinational human rights non-governmental organization.

The International Federation for Human Rights takes a democratic stance in its actions to resolve human rights violations.

The International Federation has the capability to go beyond borders in its endeavors to tackle these issues, working internationally with the relevant organizations of each country.

It is a non-sectarian, non-political and non-commercial organization, which allows it to tackle human rights issues from an impartial and unbiased standpoint.

Furthermore, the International Federation for Human Rights holds a meeting every 3 years, providing a forum for human rights issues to be discussed at an international scale.

Reference : “WHO　WE　ARE？ – International Federation for Human Rights”

Amnesty International

Amnesty International was established by Portuguese students in protest of human rights violations.

At the time of protest, the country was under dictatorship which impeded freedom of speech of the people.

However, Portuguese people had the freedom to toast.

Two students were detained for this occurrence.

The organization was initiated by supporters of Peter Benenson’s opposing views.

The purpose of Amnesty International is stated as below:

“Amnesty International’s vision is a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments. In pursuit of this vision, Amnesty International’s mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of these rights.”

Reference : “AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’S STATUTE – Amnesty International”

As demonstrated, Amnesty International’s focus is aimed in creating a world in which human rights are protected for all.

Amnesty International retains numerous interrelationships to aid in their realization of this goal.

As can be seen, a strong characteristic of their organization is their abundance in means of finding solutions to the issues they are faced with.

Reference : “WHO WE ARE – Amnesty International”

American Civil Liberties Union

The American Civil Liberties Union was founded in 1920 in the United States.

The origin of this organization lies in the infamous incident referred to as “The Palmer Raids”.

The Attorney General at the time, Mitchell Palmer, began a movement involving the deportation of radicals including socialists, anarchist and communists.

This resulted in thousands of people illegally arrested and imprisoned without warrant.

The American Civil Liberties Union was born with the objective of combatting this situation.

It is now an organization that supports and defends the fundamental human rights protected by the Unites States Constitution.

The majority of the times, the American Civil Liberties Union will attempt to resolve human rights issues in court.

Reference : “ABOUT – American Civil Liberties Union”

Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch both investigates and reports on human rights violations that take place worldwide.

Human Rights Watch was first founded as the “Helsinki Watch” in 1978.

It was after the change in scope from domestic to international, that the name Human Rights Watch was derived.

It carries connections with global human resources in order to collect real time information.

Human Rights Watch works in conjunction with external experts.

Through these various means, they investigate human rights violations and report it to the public.

The Secretary General of Human Rights Watch states the following:

Together, we can use our influence – from advocating with world leaders to sharing the truth of what’s happening on the ground – to help stop repression around the world.

Reference : “Our Story – Human Rights Watch”

As it has been pointed out, Human Rights Watch is not solely a research association, but rather an organization that designates effort in the involvement of the people.

ABOUT　Human Rights Watch

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was established with the intent to protest the discrimination of African descent in the United States.

They state the following:

“When we talk about race and justice, we’re talking about the ways the ways that discrimination, policing, prosecutions, and incarceration practices impact Black communities.”

Reference : “RACE & JUSTICE POLICIES – NAACP”

Their areas of activity also cover the protection of rights of the LGBT community of the NAACP.

The NAACP has become an organization of dual motives; to protect the human rights of not only colored people, but for all.

Reference : “ABOUT　NAACP – NAACP”

Human Rights without Frontiers International

Human Rights without Frontiers International was founded in 1989 in Belgium.

Their aspirations lie in creating an environment in which human rights are exercised equally by all, indifferent to nationality, gender, race or ethnicity, religion, language or other status.

Their approach to human rights violations consists of investigations and the spreading of awareness and knowledge of the subject matter.

A characteristic of Human Rights without Frontiers International is the seminars they hold in attempts to share and spread knowledge on human rights.

Human Rights without Frontiers International have built a reputable status through putting the spotlight on issues that would have otherwise gone unnoticed, ignored or underreported.

Reference : “About – Human Rights Without Frontiers”

Global Rights

Global Rights was established in Washington, D.C. in 1978.

They are now working on human rights issues in Africa, with large focus on Nigeria.

Additionally, a feature of Global Rights is its function in defending and promoting human rights through exemplary governance.

Reference : “About US – Global Rights”

International Human Rights Association

The prospect of the International Human Rights Association is to create a society free of discrimination, based on truth and nonviolence.

The International Human Rights Association states their philosophy as the following:

“All human beings are born equal and free. The only permissible discrimination amongst the people of the world is for the purpose of geographical identification. Cruelty to is as bad as cruelty to human beings.”

Reference : “Mission & PHILOSOPHY – IHRA”

In this manner, the International Human Rights Association aspires to eliminate inequality and discrimination.

It its endeavors to achieve their goal, they have set up a system in which it allows people to report discrimination.

Reference : “Mission & ABOUT US – IHRA”

Understand and Spread Awareness of Human Rights

Familiarizing yourself with human rights groups is crucial in the understanding, improving and spreading knowledge of human rights.

Moreover, by belonging to such human rights groups, it allows for the opportunity to take initiative in countering human rights issues.

It is therefore necessary to understand human rights groups and the activities they partake in to combat human rights violations, as well as be a proactive participant of them.