WORKSHOP REPORTS: Human Rights

• Democratic indicators or vague ideological definitions are hijacked by tyrannical regimes to present themselves as democracies. This, in turn, leads to:
• The imposition of the notion of state sovereignty over the universal value of popular sovereignty.
• Refugees from closed societies who enter into open societies are often led into closed spaces. Dictatorships can sometimes intimidate democratic governments into isolating exiled dissidents in their countries.
• Regional democratic governments implement policies that de facto support dictatorial states. Recommendations: International campaigns against tyrannical governments have proven to be effective in aiding internal activists in their struggles. They can be further bolstered by:
• A better organization of exile communities for the purpose of providing accurate information to the international community.
• The use of people-to-people advocacy and the centering of campaigns on specific political prisoners and activists in closed societies.
• The targeting of mainstream media to convey more effectively the plight of persecuted persons and more efficiently shame tyrannical regimes.
• Influencing democratic governments so that they recognize the legitimacy of civic struggles in closed societies and have the courage to implement policies that fully support democratic efforts in those societies.

• Regimes are becoming more sophisticated in their repressive methods, which result in greater effectiveness in curtailing the use of advanced technologies in providing information for oppressed peoples.
• The lack of information therefore continues to be the leading obstacle to democratic change in many closed societies and results in oppressed societies not having a clear idea of when and how their human rights are violated.
• Further support is needed from international organizations to overcome these obstacles and aid democracy activists in building their national networks.

• Due to economic conditions, not even the most dictatorial regimes have the ability to control all of society. They are ceding spaces that democracy activists can occupy.
• One such space lies in the increasing role of women within closed societies, but also activism concerning historical or environmental issues, so that people can be mobilized without appearing too threatening at first to the regime.
• Internal activists must be quick to identify new types of resistance that may be developed by oppressed populations to empower them more quickly.
• Cultural campaigns may prove to be very effective in both mobilizing youth and women and in identifying new types and methods of resistance.

• Lobbying legislators to pressure government departments in democracies is often more effective than lobbying government departments directly.
• The World Movement for Democracy should strive to provide greater technological training to activists in closed societies to increase their effectiveness.
• Those in charge of human rights issues in different democratic governments should be invited to attend the next Assembly.
• International campaigns to separate political and common prisoners should be initiated.
• Significant crackdowns on pro-democracy activists by dictatorial governments, such as that conducted by the Burmese government on August 8, 1988, the Chinese government in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, the Cuban government on March 18, 2003, and others, should be commemorated.

• Post-September 11, there have been new forms of repression through laws and policies, including increased jailing of political prisoners, new anti-terror legislation, curbs on freedom of expression, demonstrations by opposition and human rights groups.
• The independence of public institutions (i.e., the media, the judiciary, and the election process) has eroded in the name of the war against terrorism.
• There has been a loss of confidence in the UN system and existing mechanisms to promote and protect human rights.
• Financial and business interests have allowed authoritarian governments to remain in power.

• The World Movement for Democracy should play a more effective role in providing information, linking issues and problems across regions, sharing resources, and building networks.
• The World Movement for Democracy should develop focus groups and lead the way in strengthening lobby efforts at the UN Commission for Human Rights, the European Union, and other bodies. These institutions are only as good as their members; therefore, much effort should be devoted to lobbying work.
• Build on international solidarity efforts.
• Monitor money laundering activities and suspicious transactions of governments.
• Use contacts with journalists, networks, lawyers, and other professional groups.
• Develop new approaches to defend human rights, for instance, ombudsman offices or human rights commissions.
• Don’t marginalize non-English speaking participants in formulating strategy.
• Develop radio networks and channels outside the country.
• Mobilize western civil society to pressure their governments.
• Locate organizations under one house, improve on information and resource sharing and networking.
• Call on democratic leaders of the world to demand that leaders of authoritarian regimes comply with international obligations before the international community concerning the development of democracy, human rights protection, the rule of law, and periodic honest and free elections.
• Call on democratic leaders of the world and the World Movement for Democracy to assist in the implementation of programs to build civic bridges and human rights networks for human rights defenders in authoritarian countries and leaders of democratic change in developed countries.
• Call on democratic leaders of the world and the World Movement for Democracy to work, on a permanent basis, with financial institutions and international development banks to prosecute and bring to justice the leaders of authoritarian countries who systematically violate the human rights of their citizens, narrow democratic development, and for their corrupt practices and abuses of power, even using economic sanctions.

• participation of women and youth;
• participation as a basic human right; and
• participation in the media and NGO sectors.

• Advocate for affirmative action and quota systems to address systemic discrimination against women and youth.
• Promote equality by reforming constitutional and electoral laws to include the needs of women and youth in keeping with existing International Human Rights Instruments (UNUDHR, CEDAW, CRC, etc.).
• Establish NGOs and CBOs dedicated to the rights of women and youth.
• Develop leadership training strategies for women and youth.
• Lobby government and civil society to ensure equal access to enhance the economic power of women and young people and to empower them to participate politically.

• One presenter in the workshop pointed to the changing nature of human rights approaches around the world and the need to devise strategies that go beyond the legalistic approach. However, participants were cautioned that, unlike the legalistic approach, this would not provide immediate remedies, but would require ongoing engagement.
• One strategy recommended is to focus on one issue at a time, which can be illustrated by the story of the little girl who walked along the beach throwing starfish back into the sea. When a fisherman asked her what she was doing, she said she was saving them. The hardened old man pointed out that she will never be able to save them all, and asked, “so why bother”? As she threw the one in her hand back into the sea she said, “but I will be able to save this one.”