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Human
Rights in International Law |
In an age of violent video games and a seemingly growing
selfishness, hope returns anew in the veritable founts of idealism and
passion that are non-governmental organizations, otherwise known as
NGOs. When governments fail,
NGOs often step in to attempt to rectify the failed mission. For the issue of torture, several
organizations are well known for leading the charge against such atrocities. á Human Rights
Watch began in 1978
as the Helsinki watch. The
organization was designed to monitor compliance with the human rights
provisions of the Helsinki Accord.
In the 1980s, Americas Watch was set up to discourage the notion that
torture was an acceptable tool of war.
All the Watch committees were joined in 1988 and Human Rights Watch as
it is known today was born.
Professionals from all occupations run Human Rights Watch and
countless volunteers provide priceless support. Human Rights Watch is shining example of a conscientious
global community as the group has offices in New York, with offices in
Brussels, London, Moscow, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tashkent,
Toronto, and Washington. Human
Rights Watch is known and trusted for the groupÕs extensive, accurate and relatively
unbiased reporting. To quote the
site: ÒHuman Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of
people around the world. We
stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold
political freedom, to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to
bring offenders to justice. We
investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers
accountable. We challenge governments
and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international
human rights law. We enlist the
public and the international community to support the cause of human rights
for all.Ó á Amnesty
International came
into being when a British Lawyer named Peter Benenson wrote an article called
ÒThe Forgotten PrisonersÓ about two Portuguese students who were imprisoned
for toasting to freedom. In his
article, Benenson appealed for amnesty for the students and this appeal was
reprinted all over the world. In
July of 1961, the UK, France, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Belgium, and the
United States met to establish Òa permanent international movement in defense
of freedom and opinion and religion.Ó
Thus, the first Amnesty International groups were born in the UK, West
Germany, Holland, France, Italy, and Switzerland. To once again quote the Amnesty International website,
Amnesty InternationalÕs Vision and Mission Òis of a world in which every
person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.
In pursuit of this vision, Amnesty InternationalÕs mission is
to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave
abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience
and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of its
work to promote all human rights.Ó á Human Rights First - To quote the site: ÒHuman Rights First is a leading
human rights advocacy organization based in New York City and Washington, DC.
Since 1978, we have worked in the United States and abroad to create a secure
and humane world – advancing justice, human dignity, and respect for
the rule of law. All of our activities are supported by private
contributions. We accept no government funds.Ó á Physicians
for Human Rights was
founded in 1986. The mission
statement of PHR is both admirable in its lofty goals and its acknowledgement
of the newly formed global community.
To quote the site: Òthe
principles guaranteeing international human rights -- so carefully enshrined
in international law almost fifty years ago with the adoption of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- are today routinely violated on
virtually every continent.
Dozens of governments detain their political opponents and those who
advocate social or economic reforms. Armed forces and paramilitary groups
rape and murder entire groups of individuals on the basis of their race,
religion, or ethnicity. Millions
of men, women, and children lack the most basic necessities of life and a
voice in their country's political process guaranteed by international
treaties. At the same time,
virtually no major bilateral or multilateral meeting between or among world
leaders today can avoid confronting questions of fundamental human rights.
The human rights practices of governments are held up to scrutiny before the
international community and by the global media as never before. No longer
can governments or individuals make the claim that they did not know about
atrocities occurring within the borders of another sovereign state. In dozens
of countries, from South Africa to the Czech Republic, from Haiti to the
Philippines, citizens with an acute awareness of their rights have demanded
them, and have voted out or transformed oppressive regimes, reinvigorating or
restoring their societies. Health professionals and scientists, because of
their training, are uniquely qualified and can play an important role in
human rights investigation, fact-finding, and documentation. For ten years, this has been the
mission of Physicians for Human Rights.Ó á The Center for Victims
of Torture was
founded in May of 1985 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The center was modeled after the Rehabilitation Center for
Torture Victims. To quote the
site: ÒAt CVT it is our mission
not only to heal the wounds of torture, but also to stop its practice
worldwide. As a treatment center,
we can advocate for the protection of human rights from a unique position
– one of healing and reclaiming civic leadership. We have brought the
topic of torture to the table in the Minnesota legislature, in the U.S.
Congress and in international bodies such as the UN by lobbying for the needs
of our clients and of all torture survivors.Ó |
