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What's Being Done On . . . Using Advocacy to Achieve Democratic Reform?
This section highlights organizations and projects that advocate for democratic reform by disseminating reliable information using the media, the Internet, and other forms of communication. Arab Program for Human Rights Activists - Middle East and North Africa Regional www.aphra.org Arab Program for Human Rights Activists (APHRA) emerged in 1997 to meet the need for solidarity among human rights activists in the Middle East. It has since run more than 60 public campaigns in support of citizens and activists who have been harassed in countries throughout the region in which it has a network of more than 100 human rights activists. APHRA disseminates information about human rights violations in the Middle East region through press releases and e-mail alerts, and calls for actions to defend human rights. Asian Human Rights Commission - Asia Regional www.ahrchk.net The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), founded in 1986 by a prominent group of jurists and human rights activists in Asia, seeks to promote greater awareness and realization of human rights in the Asian region and to mobilize Asian and international public opinion to obtain relief and redress for the victims of human rights violations. AHRC operates an e-mail program, using an E-Mailing List, fax, and regular mailing, to distribute urgent appeals on a daily basis. Center for Informational Decontamination - Bosnia-Herzegovina www.6yka.com/ The Center for Informational Decontamination (CID) is a nonprofit organization committed to increasing civic activism and political participation in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Established in 2000 by young journalists and youth activists, the Center conducts a get-out-the-vote campaign targeting young people. CID is currently producing fifteen 90-minute live television debates on social, political, and economic topics affecting citizens in the Serb Republic. Such topics include the role of religion in Bosnian politics, youth involvement in politics, Bosnia's new Freedom of Information Act, the media's role in ethnic reconciliation, ethnic stereotyping in politics, the role of the civic sector in documenting war crimes, nationalist rhetoric and myths, the long-term political and economic viability of the Serb Republic entity in Bosnia, the pros and cons of establishing a Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Bosnia, the status of returnees in Bosnia, national identity questions, and corruption in the health and education sector. The panels at these debates often consist of academics, lawyers, prominent local or national government representatives, civic activists, students, journalists, and religious leaders. Civil Liberties Organisation - Nigeria www.clo.org.ng/ (site under construction) The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) trains democracy monitors in observing the national and state governments. These monitors publish their findings in periodic Democracy Perception Reports and serve as coordinators of state "democracy committees" that are composed of at least five activists from each of Nigeria's 36 states. As coordinators of state "democracy committees," their mission is to expand democratic monitoring and to carry out civic and voter education. Its programs include town hall meetings designed mobilize citizens to be active participants in elections. Chin Forum - Burma www.chinforum.org/ The Chin Forum, composed of a group of activists, including elected members of parliament, academics, and activists, serves as a common forum for the Chin ethnic nationality of Burma committed to working together in unity and for democratic objectives regardless of their political views or affiliations. The Chin Forum is translating and distributing a draft constitution for Chinland in six Chin dialects. The draft constitution offers the full range of democratic protections essential for the preservation of a distinct Chin State within the parameters of a federal constitution for Burma. Digital Freedom Network - Global www.dfn.org/about/index.htm The Digital Freedom Network (DFN) develops and promotes the use of Internet technology for human rights activism around the world. DFN increases awareness of human rights issues on the Internet, makes technical information more readily available to activists, and provides an online voice to those not otherwise free to express themselves. Recent accomplishments include a series of online chats with prominent activists and experts. DFN gives technical assistance to activists by developing Net-based campaigns free of charge and creating technology tutorials. It also publishes original news articles about human rights issues as well as articles provided by other organizations. The guiding belief is that all people have the right to express themselves freely as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others. Foundation for Human Rights and Democracy - Liberia Contact: fohrd@hotmail.com ; or fohrd2003@yahoo.com The Foundation for Human Rights and Democracy (FOHRD) is working to address human rights violations committed in the past decade. FOHRD does this by conducting human rights monitoring and documentation, creating a database on human rights and democracy, publishing quarterly reports and an annual report on human rights, and exposing those responsible for the human rights violations. FOHRD employs a variety of media modes of communication to conduct its campaign against impunity for economic and political crimes, including statements and articles in the print media and on radio talk shows. Gender and Human Values Proactive- Nigeria Contact: huvap59@yahoo.com Gender and Human Values Proactive (HUVAP) is an NGO committed to promoting civic education, women's participation in politics, and legislative advocacy in northern Nigeria. HUVAP is currently working to promote civic education in volatile areas of the country by producing and distributing a series of pamphlets and handbooks on democracy and constitutional rights in English and Hausa not only to the general population, but also to the media, NGOs, religious leaders, and elected officials. Independent Chinese PEN Center- China www.penchinese.net/en/enindex.htm The Independent Chinese PEN Center (ICPC) was chartered by International PEN, the worldwide association of writers devoted to freedom of expression, in November 2001. The Chinese PEN Center now has over 100 members, residing both in China and abroad, and the current elected Board of Directors consists of seven prominent dissident writers, three living in China and four living overseas. ICPC's activities include a bi-annual literary journal devoted to circulating the work of banned writers as well as a bilingual website and bilingual quarterly newsletter to circulate news about campaigns for freedom of expression to a Chinese audience largely cut off from international standards of individual freedom. Information Center for the Human Rights Movement - Russia www.ned.org/grants/00programs/grants-nis.html The Information Center works to publicize the goals and activities of the human rights movement by conducting a campaign of press releases, press conferences, and press monitoring. The Center works to connect the media with the human rights community by maintaining regular contact with human rights organizations and some government officials in Moscow, the Russian provinces, and overseas. These contacts supply the Center with information on developments relating to human rights issues, including human rights violations, important court cases, legislation and other government activities. The Center's staff distributes this information to a wide range of media contacts through frequent press releases, press conferences and round-table discussions. The Center also produces a daily summary of articles appearing in the national press and distributes it by e-mail to 1,500 human rights and related organizations in Russia and abroad. Institute for the Study and Advancement of Business Ethics - Indonesia Contact: lspeui@indosat.net.id The Institute for the Study and Advancement of Business Ethics (LSPEU), a nonprofit corporate governance advocacy organization in Indonesia, publishes two issues per year of the Jurnal Reformasi Ekonomi, which focuses on key reform topics, including corporate governance, election systems and democratic governance, and economic liberalization in transition economies. LSPEU's overarching goal is to create a public consensus on the current status of Indonesia's democracy and to address the shortcomings of democracy through various projects. This year, LPSEU will also host two symposia to collect empirical examples of how political changes influence the development of market principles and whether market forces are influencing the development of political structures and systems. Kharkiv Center for Women's Studies - Ukraine Contact: rudneva@women.kharkov.ua The Kharkiv Center for Women's Studies (KCWS) provides training and consultancy programs on human rights issues in Ukraine. KCWS works to raise awareness of women's issues by distributing information to print media and producing television programs. The KCWS focuses on disseminating strategies to overcome barriers to women's advancement, advocate women's interests at all levels of government, and encourage new social attitudes. Panorama - West Bank www.panoramacenter.org/ Contact: panorama@panoramacenter.org Panorama, a Palestinian NGO, conducts a wide range of activities in civic education and democracy and works to institutionalize democracy in Palestinian society through civic education, advocacy and open public access to information. Panorama is currently conducting a campaign designed to promote good governance in Palestinian governing institutions and NGOs that includes training for civic activists on good governance principles and applications as well as public meetings between citizens and elected representatives. Additionally, Panorama is producing two moderated, televised debates on the interplay between civil society and government in the promotion of good governance, an educational newsletter, and a manual on good governance for use as a reference guide for civic activists and government officials. The goal is to build capacity in those areas, thereby strengthening the ability of civic and governmental institutions to function in a strong, effective, and credible manner. Radio Maendeleo - Democratic Republic of the Congo Contact: buca@bushnet.net Radio Maendeleo, an independent radio station located in Bukavu, Congo, works to give a fair and balanced account of the news as well as a variety of public service programs, including those highlighting human rights and peace issues. The station, owned and run by a collective of local NGOs, has earned a reputation as the most reliable source of information in the city. As such, Radio Maendeleo has recently increased its audience by purchasing and distributing 20 FM-short wave radios to new listening clubs, which have become part of a network of discussion groups. The discussion groups encourage listening club members to discuss their understanding of the news and education programs concerning peace, reconciliation and human rights. This allows Radio Maendeleo staff journalists to report on issues affecting rural areas, which are then included in regular news and special public affairs programming. Syrian Human Rights Committee - Syria www.shrc.org The Syrian Human Rights Committee is an independent human rights organization working to defend general liberties and human rights of the Syrian people through several practices, such as reporting human rights violations, conducting research, publishing books on human rights in Syria, and raising awareness and promoting the culture of human rights in Syrian society. SHRC publishes a quarterly journal, Justice, which is available online. SHRC also disseminates reports and information about human rights violations in Syria by e-mail. SHRC's Web site features a Web-based discussion forum for its members on various issues. Uyghur American Association - China (Xinjiang) www.uhrp.org The Uyghur American Association (UAA) is a nonprofit organization working to promote equal rights for the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang, China. The UAA is undertaking the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) to collect eyewitness testimonials and other documentation of human rights abuses in Xinjiang. The UAA is collaborating with Radio Free Asia and other media contacts in Central Asia to disseminate the reports. The UAA is also producing two thematic reports to be posted on its Web site and distributed through e-mail this year. The UAA also raises awareness in the international community by maintaining multilingual online discussion groups and conducting conferences. Women's Human Rights Net - Global www.whrnet.org Women's Human Rights Net (whrNET) is a collaborative Information & Communication Technology (ICT) project developed by an international coalition of women's organizations. whrNET aims to strengthen advocacy for women's human rights through the effective utilization of information and communication technologies. It provides news, information about conferences, job and internship opportunities, and other useful resources. Youth Action Group - Nigeria Contact: youthsactiongroup1@yahoo.com The Youth Action Group (YAG) is a nonprofit NGO that uses research, advocacy, publications, political education, and social activities to promote democracy among youth, women, and other disadvantaged segments of the population. Currently, YAG is hosting a weekly call-in television program, "Youth Parliament," that explores issues relevant to the youth of Nigeria by engaging them in open debates with youth moderators and members of government. Participants formulate recommendations at the end of each program that are collected and published in a handbook that is given to government policy makers. Youth Parliament explores a range of topics affecting the youth of Nigeria, including democracy, conflict resolution, unemployment, HIV/AIDS, schooling, human rights, and gender inequality. 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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