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What's Being Done On . . .
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Main
Cross-Border Activities The information on this page is organized according to the following areas of democracy work:
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Building International Solidarity with Democrats in Danger
From time to time, the World Movement for Democracy issues alerts concerning participants and other colleagues who are, or may be, facing personal danger due to their work on behalf of democracy and for whom a vigorous response from around the world may be critical. Through its alerts, the World Movement encourages participants to build solidarity with democrats around the world, particularly in closed societies. Listed below are several alerts exemplifying these efforts.- Iranian Journalist Arrested, on Trial on Spying Charges
- Egyptian Democracy Activists Granted New Trials
- Bhutanese Human Rights Leader Arrested and Held in Detention
- Worldwide Salute for Aung San Suu Kyi
- Amnesty International
- Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
- Human Rights Watch
- Regional Program for Human Rights Activists (RPHRA)
Promoting Democracy in Closed Societies
Many organizations work to promote democracy in closed societies, such as China, Cuba, Iraq, and North Korea, by helping democrats in those countries and building international solidarity. Here are several illustrative examples of such organizations.Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma)
Contact: altsean@ksc.th.com
Altsean-Burma is a network of South-East Asian based organizations and individuals supporting human rights and democracy in Burma. It has initiated a regional campaign plan to pressure member states of ASEAN and the ASEAN Regional Forum to facilitate positive reforms in Burma. The campaign aims to achieve dialogue between Burma's State Peace and Development Council, the democracy movement led by Aung San Suu Kyi, and ethnic groups. Among many other activities, Altsean-Burma conducts an internship program, through which activists from Burma and ASEAN member states interact and share ideas.
Center for a Free Cuba (CFFC)
www.cubacenter.org
The Center for a Free Cuba (CFFC) is an independent, non-partisan institution dedicated to promoting human rights, a transition to democracy, and the rule of law in the island. Established in 1997, the Center gathers and disseminates information about Cuba and Cubans to the media, NGOs, and the international community. The Center also assists the people of Cuba through its information outreach and humanitarian programs in the island.
Citizen's Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR)
www.nkhumanrights.org
Founded in 1996, Citizen's Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR) is a non-governmental, non-profit, and non-partisan organization working to improve human rights conditions for North Koreans and North Korean refugees through publications, relief programs, and network capabilities. NKHR distributes a weekly email, Friends Network News, to groups and individuals belonging to its Friends Network. NKHR provides money, clothes, and medicine to asylum-seekers and their Chinese and Russian protectors, and petitions the host countries to grant asylum-seekers refugee protection until they can emigrate to another country. NKHR volunteers help defectors from North Korea adjust to South Korea through regular visits to the readjustment facility for North Koreans and their homes, offering help with everyday difficulties as well as their academic study or practical training in basic skills, such as computers. To build international solidarity for human rights in North Korea, NKHR also conducts a letter-writing campaign to garner aid for victims of human rights violations, and has organized three international conferences on North Korean Human Rights and Refugees.
Cuban Democratic Revolutionary Directorate (Directorio)
www.directorio.org
The Directorio is an organization composed of new generations of Cubans who struggle for democratic change on the island. Its activities include establishing and maintaining contacts with Cuban democratic opposition groups throughout the island and extending multi-faceted support to their activities. The Directorio also develops networks with pro-democracy organizations in Europe and Latin America to build active international solidarity with the democratic opposition in Cuba.
"Cuba Sí!": Support for the Development of Democracy in Cuba
www.idee.ngo.pl/eng/index.php?page=kuba/kuba.html
The Institute for Democracy in Eastern Europe (IDEE) conducts a program in Cuba called "Cuba Si!" They produce materials containing information on the Eastern European experience in transition to democracy. Working with the Directorio Revolucionario Democrático Cubano, IDEE also follows individual cases of prisoners of conscience in Cuba.
Human Rights in China (HRIC)
www.hrichina.org
Human Rights in China is an independent international nongovernmental organization founded by Chinese scientists and scholars in 1989. HRIC's objectives are to develop a grassroots human rights movement in China and to promote international security of China's human rights situation. It monitors the implementation of international human rights standards in the People's Republic of China and carries out human rights advocacy and education among Chinese people inside and outside the country. Through its publications and advocacy activities, HRIC encourages victims of human rights abuses in China to seek redress under domestic law, and assists them in seeking international intervention.
International Campaign for Tibet (ICT)
www.savetibet.org
The International Campaign for Tibet seeks to promote human rights and self-determination for Tibetans and to protect their culture and environment. ICT conducts human rights monitoring in Tibet and networks with exiled Chinese democracy organizations. To build broader international solidarity, ICT publishes newsletters and regularly give lectures on Tibet-related issues. ICT also provides testimony before the U.S. Congress, the United Nations, and other international bodies.
Network for North Korean Democracy and Human Rights (NKnet)
www.nknet.org
The Network for North Korean Democracy and Human Rights (NKnet), a Seoul-based nonprofit organization, was formed in 1999 to alleviate the suffering of the people of North Korea and to promote the realization of universal human rights and democratic values. NKnet is headed by veterans of the pro-democracy campaign against military dictatorship in South Korea. To achieve its goals, NKnet serves as a network joining citizens, North Korean defectors, students, and international groups; provides information on North Korea to both Korean and international media sources; publishes online newsletters; launches aid projects to benefit North Koreans and refugees; and is organizing the Committee for Truth about North Korea. NKnet also publishes Keys, a quarterly journal that sheds light on the tragic conditions in North Korea. Keys is available on the NKnet Web site in both Korean and English.
Siglo XXI -- Cuban Committee on Human Rights
www.sigloxxi.org
The Cuban Committee on Human Rights works to build a network of solidarity between Cuban democracy activists in exile and dissidents promoting democracy from within the country. Its activities include monitoring and investigating human rights abuses, publishing and disseminating human rights publications, and providing humanitarian assistance to political dissidents and political prisoners in Cuba. Siglo XXI also maintains an online archive of news articles concerning human rights, civil society, and political transition theory.
About "What's Being Done On . . . "
For three months at a time, we highlight the activities of various organizations in different global regions, and links to important resources, that are focused on a particular theme or area of democracy work. Each new theme is announced via DemocracyNews, and the information from the previous installment is placed in the archives below. We hope to receive and post information about the work you or others may be doing that is focused on these issues. Send information via e-mail to the or by fax to (202) 378-9889.
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