NGOs

Non-Governmental Organizations & Human Rights

NGOs are often supported by celebrities in their efforts.
Here Chris Martin of Coldplay assists with an Oxfam International program in Haiti

In recent decades, non-governmental organizations (or NGOs) have emerged as important forces in addressing human rights issues around the world. Usually issue-specific in their focus, these nonprofit groups attempt to influence governments, businesses, and individuals to make change occur. Significant non-governmental organizations that are active in human rights issues include:

Human Rights Watch--an independent, nongovernmental organization, supported by contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide.
CARE--a humanitarian organization fighting global poverty that places special focus on working alongside poor women because, "equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty."
World Vision--a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide "to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice."
Doctors Without Borders--an independent humanitarian medical aid agency "committed to two objectives:providing medical aid wherever needed, regardless of race, religion, politics or sex and rasing an awareness of the plight of people we help."
Amnesty International-- a worldwide movement of people who "campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all."
Freedom House--a non-profit, nonpartisan organization advocating for democracy and freedom around the world. Freedom House works to advance the remarkable worldwide expansion of political and economic freedom.
Grameen Bank--provides credit to the poorest of the poor in rural Bangladesh, without any collateral. "At GB, credit is a cost effective weapon to fight poverty and it serves as a catalyst in the over all development of socio-economic conditions of the poor who have been kept outside the banking orbit on the ground that they are poor and hence not bankable. Grameen Bank has reversed conventional banking practice by removing the need for collateral and created a banking system based on mutual trust, accountability, participation and creativity."
Derechos Human Rights--works for the respect and promotion of human rights throughout the world.
Physicians for Human Rights--mobilizes health professionals and enlists public support to protect and promote the human rights of all people.
Witness--partners with human rights organizations, teaching them how to use video to document human rights abuses.
Refugees International--generating lifesaving humanitarian assistance and protection for displaced people around the world and works to end the conditions that create displacement.
Committee of Concerned Scientists--An independent organization of scientists devoted to the protection and advancement of the human rights, as well as the scientific and intellectual freedom of scientists around the world.
Invisible Children--using documentaries and creativity to raise awareness and funds, this group focuses on college and high school students to aid the victims of the longest-running war in Africa, particularly former child soldiers
Human Rights First--Human Rights First "protects people at risk: refugees who flee persecution, victims of crimes against humanity or other mass human rights violations, victims of discrimination, those whose rights are eroded in the name of national security, and human rights advocates who are targeted for defending the rights of others."
Madre--promoting social justice and development around the world by developing partnerships with community-based women's groups.
Greenpeace--Greenpeace is a global campaigning organization that "acts to change attitudes and behavior, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace"
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial: Center for Human Rights--Works to support the human rights work of the RFK Human Rights Award laureates. Includes archive of the organizations reports on human rights abuses and profiles of laureates.