The Performance of Human Rights Non-Government Organizations - Essay Example

Running head: Non-Governmental Organizations (The Performance of Human Rights Non- Government Organizations) Student’s name Institution Course Professor Date Introduction Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have in recent times gained popularity in development circles due to their role in enhancing and implementing locally based development initiatives. This is amid diverse and continuous debate regarding their role and rapid spread both in developed and developing countries. They have been around since 1945 when the United Nations was first created. They gained fame as some were selected to act as observers in the United Nations Summits and Assemblies (Bell & Coicand ,2007). In addition, these non- government organizations also go by a number of many other acronyms such as non-state organizations, voluntary organizations (VO), non- profit organizations (NPO).United Nations is an inter government organization and hence facilitated the formation of other non- government organizations. Such NGOS include international organizations such as Red Cross Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch as well as Action Aid. The Performance of Human Rights Non-Government Organizations Non- government organizations are organizations which constitute of individuals who have a common non- commercial interest and hence come together to promote humanitarian agendas. They are generally assumed to form part of the civil society, along with community based organizations (CBOs), social movements and other associations. According to Buxton and Prewitt (2003), Non-Governmental organizations is composed of a group of people from various localities who organize for the support of needy communities and which operates in a wider network. They act independent of the government or alongside the private sector, self-help groups as well as the local government in order to address a certain particular social issue (Bell & Coicand ,2007). NGOs vary and can be classified according to activities or scale of operations. When classifying according to activities they emerge environmental NGOs dealing with environmental issues, human rights NGOs fighting for human rights, development NGOs promoting development issues etc. On the other hand while classifying NGOs according to the scale of operation, then the types of NGOs that emerge are classified into local, regional, national or international NGOs (Bell & Coicand ,2007). In general, the characteristics needed in order to identify an organization as a non- government organization is for it to be nonprofit, independent from control of any government, legally constituted and most of all should not be affiliated to a political party. Approaches Taken by NGOs towards Promoting Human Rights Defense and promotion of human rights is one of the most popular social issue that most NGOs specialize in doing. In order to do this they would need to publicize information about abuses as well as violations of human rights. This information is based on research. Moreover, they would also need to engage in campaigns against abuse of human rights. They also should provide assistance, for example legal assistance for the poor and oppressed and put pressure on the government so as to change rights- abusive policies (Nelson & Borsey,2008). The methods used to deal with the human rights issue differ from one NGO to the other. Generally though, these approaches border on setting goals, outlining the strategies needed in order to achieve these goals, getting resources such as funds as well as finally assessing the effectiveness of their strategies In order to study the different approaches used in dealing with the issue of human rights and unique to the NGO using it, taking a deeper look into the operations of several human rights NGOs would go a long way to shed light on the effectiveness of the various methods used by these NGOs. Moreover, to understand the role of human rights NGOs, the meaning of what exactly are human rights needs to be addressed. Human rights are universal entitlements that are destined for every human being regardless of ethnic group, race, age sex and so forth. These rights include the right to life, freedom of speech etcetera (Nelson & Borsey,2008). Violation of these rights is a crime and measures should be taken to defend and protect them. Human rights NGOs thus are formed to protect human rights and ensure that action is taken against anyone who abuses the rights of others. These human rights NGOs include such NGOs as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights First and many others. Amnesty International is a human rights organization of international acclaim that aims at protecting human rights through such methods as bringing them to media attention, conducting research, lobbying as well as using direct-appeal campaigns. Human Rights Watch is pursuant to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which acts as the normal by which human value is measured. Human Rights First also deals with the protection of human rights on an international scale especially those of refugees. It was formerly known as Lawyers Committee for Human Rights. In view of the steps taken in protection of human rights, the above NGOs have different approaches to achieve their objectives (Hopgood,2006). Goal Setting Amnesty International’s main objective is to defend human rights. Though it aims is to promote all human rights, it focuses mainly on rights of refugees, women, children, prisoners of conscience, minorities and indigenous rights. It also concentrates on ending any kind of torture, abolition of death penalty and protection of human dignity. Likewise Human Rights Watch (HRW), also mainly deals with promotion and activism of human rights. It particularly deals with gender discrimination, torture, political and judicial corruption along with use of children in the military. Also, it explores the legalization of abortion. Human Rights First, mostly concentrates on protecting the rights of refugees and also giving support to human rights activists all over the world. It also focuses on anti-semantic and anti-Muslim hate crimes. Strategies The techniques used by Amnesty International(AI) to achieve its objectives include, conducting research and publishing impartial reports based on these research. This research is made through interviews of victims of rights abuse, other human rights groups and activists, media monitoring as well as making inquiries into cases relating to human rights. They also use campaigns to educate the public and make candid pleas to mobilize public opinion in such cases. Additionally, they have many members to deal with urgent situations (Hopgood, 2006). Like its counterpart above, Human Rights Watch also produces reports based on research made on violations of international human rights which are used to put pressure on local government to reform as well as draw international attention to such abuses. The research however is done to investigate suspected human rights violations, providing security for the victims in perilous situations, documenting the same and finally choosing an apt time to generate exposure in both local and international media. Moreover, it gives support to authors who may be facing persecution for their work and raise international awareness for human rights activists who are being gagged due to their protest of human rights infraction, through the Hellman/Hammett grant which offers assistance to these writers. In addition, HRW bestows the Human Rights Defenders Award to courageous activists. Human Rights First, concentrates on crimes against humanity that result in violation of human rights and was instrumental in the formation of the international criminal court as a way of having an international justice system capable of holding accountable those who commit heinous crimes in individual countries. The fight against such offences can be illustrated through its efforts in Sudan where through its H.O.P.E and Stop Arms to Sudan, brought to the international eye the bulk atrocities committed in the country as well as tried to somewhat reduce the many arms being exported there which actually enabled such crimes to be effected. On the whole, Human Rights First publicizes abuse of human rights, obstacles faced by activists, report on the prejudiced justice systems and pressure for reforms to be made in order to promote human rights worldwide. Resources To obtain funds to run its campaigns, Amnesty International relies on membership fees and donations that are not associated with any government related sources. The George Soros Open Society Foundation is the chief donor of Human Rights Watch. The rest of its funds come from private donors as well as from its members worldwide. Human Rights First, also gets most of its funds from contributions from private corporations and foundations, law firms and individuals. However the main contributions are from foundations such as the Open Society Institute, Oak Foundation, Fork Foundation and the like. Achievements Amnesty International has succeeded in bringing to focus the violations of human rights especially through its reports and press releases. It therefore attends UN meetings enabling it to reach out to many as well as to make sure that pressure is put on various governments to take measures to enable promotion of human rights. In their campaign against unjust imprisonment, Amnesty International has managed to free such prisoners. For example, one such prisoner who Amnesty managed to free was Maher Arar, a Canadian citizen who was tortured by U.S. Officials. Amnesty is also lobbying to have the U.S government apologize as well as compensate him (Hopgood,2006). Amnesty International has also put pressure on Guatemala’s government and thus got the promise that they would review Maria Isabel Franco’s case. Also, it has achieved partly its goal to have the death penalty abolished and has so far succeeded in several places such as the State of Maryland, Connecticut and many others in the U.S. Furthermore, after campaigns and signed petitions, it managed to convince the international system of the need for a treaty to regulate the sale of arms, a treaty which has been adopted by governments at the United Nations (Wong,2012). Not to be left behind Human Rights Watch, put pressure on the Burmese government which resulted in the freeing of 200 political prisoners in the year 2011.It also put pressure and exposed reports of brutality and gang rapes in Porgera gold mines in Papua New Guinea by security forces through its researcher Chris Albin- Lackey. Since the exposure, the gold mining company, Barrick Gold took measures to control abuses in that part. Furthermore, it shared The Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for being the founder of international campaign to ban landmines, which led to the actual banning of the use of land mines in 1999 (Wong,2012). It has also won The German Theodore Heuss Prize for the credibility of its reports. Other awards presented to them include The Guezen Medal in the Netherlands for the protection of citizens in armed skirmishes in countries such as Iraq, Lebanon, Israel and others as well as ensuring international justice and promoting treaties on landmines and child soldiers. Human Rights First, has also made some major strides in the fight against human rights abuses. In their protection of journalists being prosecuted for their work, their 2009 February report was the basis for freeing Colombian journalist Alfred Molano in 2010, who had been charged with slander after writing an article about an affluent well-connected Colombian family. Furthermore, Human Rights Watch also works with a number of military leaders to speak out against torture and Guantanamo. This led to them getting president Obama to sign orders ending the same in 2009. Through their pro bono Asylum Legal Representation Program, Human Rights First has helped scores of refugees in the U.S. especially, to attain refuge. It has also succeeded in their human rights defenders program, previously the lawyer to lawyer network, which supports and campaigns for human rights defenders in peril. Notwithstanding the many achievements and the accolades that the above NGOs have won over the years, they have also had their share of criticisms heaped on them. Human Rights Watch for example has been accused of being influenced by the US government policy especially in reporting on the Latin America, despite being said to be non-partisan and independent of any government influence. It has also been said to have unfair and prejudiced reporting on human rights issues in Eritrea and Ethiopia. Finally, it has reportedly ignored anti- Semitism in Europe (Welch, 2001). Amnesty International has also not escaped unscathed as it has been said to dish out excessive pay to the management, is allegedly associated with organizations which have a doubtful reputation on human rights protection. It has also been accused of under protection of its staff and officials overseas. Human Rights First has been blamed on propagating the U.S. Ideas and influence while discharging its mandate. Though mainly in the United States of America, it operates in other countries some of whom frown at what they consider the American influence in the human rights protection issue (Wong,2012). General Performance The main differences that exists between the Human Research Watch and Amnesty International lie in their structure as well as their reporting. Amnesty International’s main advocacy tool is to recruit and mobilize its members in the fight against abuse of human rights. It has a huge membership who are vocal in their objective. Human Rights Watch on the other hand relies on its large donor base as well as the influence that comes with such backing from affluent foundations and organizations to put pressure as well as candidly lobby for precise actions and injunctions against persons as well as states who are found to be linked to violations of human rights (Welch,2001). Human Right Watch’s reporting is lengthy and usually consists of wide-ranging analysis and a thorough background analysis while Amnesty International concentrates more on the precise abuse and less on the analysis itself. Amnesty International also uses other avenues of campaigning such as bulk letter writing as well as press releases. Summing up, though all the above NGOs have far reaching impact in the fight against human rights abuse, Amnesty International would seem to have an edge over the other two based on both public opinion as well as government policy. By virtue of their three million plus membership worldwide who take an avid interest in their activities as well as take part both financially and in the strategies themselves, Amnesty International clearly is more well- known and is associated with human rights protection (Hopgood,2006). It is thus more likely to elicit a reaction as well as capture the international eye to abuses and hence ensure that those responsible are accountable for their actions. Their campaigns so to say then have more impact and are more effective due to their large membership. Moreover, the fact that most people find Amnesty International to be tantamount to the defense of human rights. Stephen Hopgood (2006) wrote the following “If one organization is synonymous with keeping hope alive even as a faint glimmer in the darkness of a prison, it is Amnesty International. Amnesty has been the light and that light was truth bearing witness to suffering hidden from the eyes of the world.” (Preface) Amnesty International has therefore won the confidence of the public as well acting in most governments’ policies on human rights. In Australia for example, it acts in line with the Australia’s Human Rights Framework(2010). This framework which seeks to reaffirm commitment to human rights obligations, highlight the importance of human rights education as well as enhance domestic and international engagement on human rights issues (Hopgood,2006). References Bell A. D. & Coicand J. M. (Eds.). (2007), Ethics in Action: The Ethical Challenges of Development and Human Rights NGOs, Georgetown: Georgetown University Press. Hopgood S. (2006), Keepers of the Flame: Understanding Amnesty International, 6-13. International Human Rights; Nongovernmental Organizations. Cambridge University Press. Nelson J. P. & Borsey E. (2008), New Rights Advocacy: Changing Strategies of Performance, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. Welch, C. E. Jr. (Ed.). (2001). NGOs and Human Rights: Promise and Rights. Cornell University Press. Wong W.(2012), Internal Affairs: How the Structure of NGOs Transforms Human Read More