Center for Victims of Torture’s New Tactics in Human Rights Programme

The Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) launched its New Tactics in Human Rights Programme in 1999, with the aim of helping human rights defenders work more effectively so they can achieve their goals and better address human rights violations around the world. According to CVT, the New Tactics Programme began when it “recognized how complex the systems are that allow …   Continue readingCenter for Victims of Torture’s New Tactics in Human Rights Programme

Advocacy and Ecology: Monitoring of “Hot Spots”

Since 2005, EcoLur has undertaken public information campaigns through the monitoring of ecological “hot spots.” The monitoring analyses the compliance of government authorities’ decisions with, among other things: Article 33.2 of the Armenian Constitution, which provides that everyone shall have the right to live in an environment favorable to his or her health and …   Continue readingAdvocacy and Ecology: Monitoring of “Hot Spots”

Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW)

ELAW is a network of 300 public interest advocates from 70 countries. The core mission of ELAW is to assist its partners, who are grassroots environmental lawyers working in their home countries protect the environment and communities through use of the law. Grassroots advocates play a key role in helping communities speak out, and ELAW gives these advocates the legal and …   Continue readingEnvironmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW)

Protection of Environmental Human Rights Defenders

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (OBS) is a partnership created in 1997 between the Fédération Internationale des Droits de l'Homme (FIDH) and L’Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT). According to the OBS web site, the objective of this programme is to intervene to prevent or remedy situations of repression against human rights …   Continue readingProtection of Environmental Human Rights Defenders

Front Line Defenders Identification Cards for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

Front Line Defenders (FLD) was founded in Dublin in 2001 with the aim of protecting human rights defenders at risk -- people who work non-violently for any or all of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. One important programme FLD has employed since 2005 is the use of identification (ID) cards to provide human rights defenders with an …   Continue readingFront Line Defenders Identification Cards for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

The Goldman Environmental Prize for Grassroots Environmentalists

For the past 25 years, the Goldman Environmental Prize has honoured grassroots environmentalists from Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands and Island Nations, North America, and South and Central America. The Prize, which awards each recipient $175,000 USD, recognizes individuals for sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment. The Goldman …   Continue readingThe Goldman Environmental Prize for Grassroots Environmentalists

National Inquiry as an Investigation Strategy of the Malaysian National Human Rights Commission

The National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) uses “national inquiries” in order to look into systemic human rights issues. By adopting a broad-based human rights approach, the Commission can examine a large situation as opposed to an individual complaint. National inquiries have a dual focus, fulfilling both fact finding and educational roles. SUHAKAM …   Continue readingNational Inquiry as an Investigation Strategy of the Malaysian National Human Rights Commission

Grassroots Legal Advocates or “Community Paralegals”

Namati is an international civil society organisation dedicated to putting the law in people’s hands through building a global movement of grassroots legal advocates who work with communities to advance justice. The objective of training grass roots advocates is to empower communities to exercise their rights and participate in processes of governing. Namati, working …   Continue readingGrassroots Legal Advocates or “Community Paralegals”

Environmental Management Committee (EMC ): A Joint Monitoring Body of Civil Society, Government and the Private Sector in South Africa

In 2008 an Australian company, Coal of Africa (CoAL), applied for a mining right in South Africa on land less than seven kilometres from the boundaries of a UNESCO recognised World Heritage Site called the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape. A civil society organisation called Save Mapungubwe Coalition formed and undertook a wide variety of strategies that included engaging …   Continue readingEnvironmental Management Committee (EMC ): A Joint Monitoring Body of Civil Society, Government and the Private Sector in South Africa

Women’s Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRDIC)

WHRDIC is a global resource and advocacy network comprised of 28 organisations working to defend women human rights defenders (WHRDs). The network includes Amnesty International, Front Line Defenders, and Human Rights First. WHRDIC provides many support services to human rights defenders, including: tools, resources and analysis to WHRDs to enable them to be effective …   Continue readingWomen’s Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRDIC)