In recent years AHRC and ALRC activities have been geared towards achieving maximum impact in the protection and promotion of human rights with very limited resources. The impact of our activities has to be felt within a geographical area, Asia, where the implementation of human rights norms and standards is very difficult.
Our starting point is that we do not accept the difficulties faced as an excuse or insurmountable obstacle for seeking the implementation of rights. The difficulties must be taken as a given and the work must evolve to achieve maximum impact and surmount the difficulties.
The way to achieve impact
The impact of AHRC’s work can be seen through the application of certain working principles.
a. The principle: Reveal the obstacles and difficulties
This implies following a “no-nonsense approach” in stating the difficulties facing our work. Some people object to this, arguing that stating the difficulties too nakedly may lead to pessimism and become counter-productive. There are some who suggest a soft approach,and this is even presented as being diplomatic. However, we find that when we come to grips with actual problems and are able to explain them, we create more energy in many others to fight hard to make things improve. In fact, many people want to know clearly why human
rights violations take place and how to overcome such obstacles in real terms. People do not take the “soft” sentimental approach seriously, but very much respect the truth being told.
Application:
It can be said without exaggeration that in Asia the work carried out by AHRC and ALRC to reveal human rights conditions has no parallel. This can be said both in terms of the quality and quantity of work. This conclusion can be reached not merely by measuring documents produced, but also by the comments of our partners and others involved in human rights in Asia.
b. The principle: Learning the real situations
To reveal the truth it is necessary that we learn about real situations. This requires working methods that lead to deeper understanding. On the one hand this requires a constant flow of information. On the other, it also requires sufficient background knowledge to interpret the new information. Mere collection of information from documents is not enough. It is our experience that some of the most acute human rights problems are not well-documented in normal media channels. Academic publications are even further removed from contemporary problems of human rights protection and promotion. This scarcity of information has to be countered by building a direct link with those who suffer violations of rights. The collection of direct information is thus a core activity when seeking impact to improve rights; along with the sharing of such information as widely as possible.
Application:
The learning of real situations takes place all the time. What we learn is usually very upsetting to us. The in-depth knowledge we have gained about real problems seems to many like horror stories. When we tell what we have learned to the international community, the initial reaction is often scepticism about what we reveal. But, with time it
helps us to establish common understanding on real problems, thus making it possible for us to look for common approaches to solve them. As a centre for real learning of actual human rights situations, the achievements of AHRC and ALRC are enormous.
c. The principle: Develop practical interventions
Without development of practical interventions it is not possible to change very brutal human rights situations. Impact lies in intervention. An intervention, in order to be practical, must combine the following characteristics: a sense of urgency, and clear short term and long term strategies and suggestions for easy methods of participation by as many as possible. Urgency requires that we avoid delay in making our interventions. Undue delay often leads to discouragement and defeatism. Quick interventions help to direct the energies of victims in a creative way. It creates hope and solidarity. Delays must be minimized, whatever the inconveniences it may cause us. Delayed interventions bring frustrations that are sharper than the inconveniences we may have in dealing with issues. A life that is saved, an issue that is freshly highlighted, a smile that reappears on the face of a person who — if not for quick interventions may suffer irreparable loss — is more than sufficient compensation for our little inconveniences. A combination of short term and long term objectives implies concern both for individual victims and the causes of their problems, including structural issues. A mere propaganda approach, without real worrying about the people concerned or the underlying issues, does nothing.
Application:
We are involved in practical interventions of many sorts all the time. The AHRC Urgent Appeals Programme makes constant interventions on individual cases. These include civil rights cases as well as economic and social rights cases. Some interventions are directed towards campaigns to establish national or international tribunals. There have been many successes in individual cases. We have the testimonies
of many persons saved from death or extreme danger due to our interventions. Many have been persons not directly known to us but on whose behalf we have appealed after receiving reliable information. Interventions are also made to bring changes in policies, such as to have a UN convention passed into domestic law or have undesirable legal proposals rejected. Interventions may take place locally or internationally. They may involve a very sophisticated approach or something as simple as postcard or letter writing.
d.The principle: Once an intervention starts, keep it going as long as it takes
One-time interventions may bring some results. However, lasting impact depends on repetition and consistency. Methods must be found to keep an issue alive till the aims are achieved. This also involves finding creative ways to keep up interest. If repetition means reproduction of the same material then interest is lost. Updated information must generate interest.
Application:
Some of our interventions have been kept alive for many years, such as the campaigns to eliminate torture, for criminal justice reforms, to improve the situation of Dalits, to deal with disappearances, for an international tribunal on the 1965-66 massacres in Indonesia, for basic legal reforms in Cambodia, on training of judges in China, for food security in Myanmar, and against “national security laws”. These campaigns have been ket going by constantly updating the situations, meetings to review progress, and finding new ways to keep up interest. As time goes by we have seen matters that initially interested only a few persons gaining the interest of many, and social attitudes changing. Ongoing campaigns are full of frustrations and surprises.
e. The principle: Combine sophisticated approaches with very simple and attractive forms of expression
The ability to combine highly sophisticated approaches to solve problems with a simple and attractive expression and a large outreach is very important. Simplification without in-depth information serves no purpose. Sophistication without simplicity and attractive expression does not help participation. Without a vast outreach it is not possible to achieve change. In this regard, individual stories of rights violations and struggles against such violations are very important. Most careful studies into individual cases reveal all aspects of human rights violations in a country and the ways of fighting against them. Individual stories are powerful. They are also the best illustrations for people to understand human rights problems. In report writing, the most important reference must be to individual stories. In developing strategies for fighting against violations, careful scrutiny of individual cases must be the first priority.
Application:
AHRC and ALRC reports, articles, publications and promotional materials are of high quality. The credibility of our material or analysis has not been challenged. We devote quite a lot of time to collecting information, and testing and discussing our proposals with ordinary folk. By using the `folk school’ method we have avoided an academic approach, or analysis distant from day to day interventions. At the same time, we have produced an enormous amount of materials that are easily read and understood. We produce colourful illustrations that can be seen in our materials. Above all, we meticulously study individual stories. We look for details in the lives of the people concerned and how in their day-to-day affairs people try to resolve their problems. In recent times, we have used advertisements in national newspapers with a large circulation. We are able to achieve a lot in a short time due to such practices.
f. The principle: Humanize the campaigns
People need actual and physical solidarity. They need to talk and associate with others. They need help getting medical care, and often even need help for short term survival after a bad event. Sometimes they need places to live safely. Sometimes they need help to deal with a sense of shame or stigma that comes from being abused.
Application:
In this too we have extensive experience. Our best experience is in Sri Lanka, where we can claim to have created one of the best solidarity networks between victims and the people in the region. Through it, victims have gained enormous self-confidence and have begun to participate actively in human rights organizations. We have seen the psychological impact of this networking with a large section of the country. We have seen a large awakening on moral issues, when people who were silent out of fear have come forward to assert themselves. The sick have been given shelter by people in their own houses, victims have been given protection far away from their perpetrators, young rape victims have been taken into good schools and concerned persons have accompanied them to keep vigil in courts, and journalists have taken moral positions on issues such as torture and abuse of power. In short, a strong protective wall has been built around the victims of human rights violations. Warm human rights relationships have grown while fighting against cold-blooded abuses.
g. The principle: Try to reach as large numbers as possible
In the past NGOs spent a lot of time producing a report or publication that did not reach more than 500 persons or groups. Thus, a lot of effort was put towards producing some valuable material without achieving much. We have deliberately used modern media to constantly reach large numbers. Through email and Internet, we have been able to do this at low cost. We have also tried to use newspapers, radio and television networks. Through such practices we remain visible.
Application:
All our key interventions have reached millions. We have done this through a combination of oral interventions among local groups and by a vast email network with the capacity to reach over 200,000 addresses at any time, and by getting the attention of larger networks such a OneWorld.Net and Yahoo News, the press, television networks such as CNN and Star TV, and radio networks such as BBC. We also create our own media, including CDs, audiocassettes and videos. We constantly create posters, postcards and other materials. We have also taken out advertisements in largely circulating newspapers to get attention to our messages. In fact, in terms of the vast publicity we create, our performance far exceeds the work of any NGO. We have developed many websites and they have been referred to by persons in all parts of the world. We run two regular publications, Human Rights SOLIDARITY and article 2, each bimonthly. We run weekly e-newsletters, which are country-based and issue-based. All these can be viewed on our websites.
g. The principle: Emphasize the indivisibility of rights
AHRC and ALRC have always tried to highlight the indivisibility of economic, social and cultural rights, civil and political rights, womens’ rights, and minority rights. Without these connections, work on human rights could not address the deeper forms of discrimination that exist. Women in Asia suffer intense discrimination and poverty. Lack of employment is often accompanied by a lack of family support. Private companies generally look at young women only as a source of cheap labour. Women suffer rights violations both as individuals and as members of families. They are often the victims of mass disappearances, torture and other violations. When the rights of male family members are violated, again they suffer. Thus, in real terms, most of the time human rights struggles are all about women’s rights. Women desperately need the support of the human rights movement. For this reason they should also play an active role.
Application:
Issues like enforced disappearances may at first seem purely political rights issues. However, as we work closely on such concerns it becomes clear that they are also economic, social and cultural rights issues. Behind the vast number of disappearances in Sri Lanka, for example, was a move to introduce new economic policies that would impoverish many. Furthermore, disappearances leave families without breadwinners and can bring destitution. Thus we have conducted campaigns that encompass a range of issues.
In many of our campaigns, the active participants are also mostly women. We have tried to highlight economic issues facing these women. In many places our work has evolved due to the role of ordinary women, and we have seen their participation increase in all our projects.
h. The principle: Combine human rights, the rule of law, and democratization
It is necesasry to combine all work on human rights with issues of democratization and the rule of law. In Asia, the rule of law is threatened all the time. During the Cold War, the rule of law was sacrificed for ideological and seemingly security reasons. It has since been sacrificed in the name of development, national security, anti- terrorism, and fighting organized crime. We have taken the position that to abandon the rule of law has direct consequences for the economy, society and individual lives. We have also argued that without the rule of law, genuine democracy is not possible. In most Asian countries, what exists is a fa-ade of democracy. Social transformation towards genuine democracy requires firm foundations in the rule of law.
Application:
In our work we consistently raise the rule of law and democratisation as absolutely necessary if human rights are to be achieved. Voice of the Hungry Nation, the report of the People’s Tribunal on Food Scarcity and Militarization in Burma, highlighted the link between the rule of law and food. We have produced and shared a large amount of material to show how in recent decades the rule of law and democracy have deteriorated, and how the search for solutions is linked to economic problems. We have also created awareness that the justice system is an integral part of a democracy. By raising our concerns on these issues we have improved understanding and practical actions on these issues.
i. The principle: Link the rule of law and elimination of poverty
We aim to highlight the connections between human rights, the rule of law and the elimination of poverty. While there is a lot of talk about the elimination of poverty, it is having no effect. One of the main reasons is that the link between the rule of law and elimination of poverty is not taken seriously. In fact, there is a tendency to regard displacement of the rule of law as a condition for economic growth, which is presented as the way out of poverty. However, a closer look at most countries that have taken this approach shows that besides law and order chaos, they are also economically backward. Without the rule of law it is impossible to think of a strategy to move out of economic limbo.
Application:
This is related to the discussions on the two issues above.
j. The principle: Link local, regional and international aspects of human rights
AHRC always works to link the local, regional and international aspects of human rights work. As a regional organization, its impact depends very much on how it is able to build and maintain such links.
Application:
AHRC has brought the human rights issues of many countries in Asia into regional and international forums. In fact, we do this every day. The list of issues undertaken in our Urgent Appeals, statements, interventions and other activities illustarate the diversity of issues affecting many countries that we address. Furthermore, it is necessary to seek outside assistance to solve human rights problems. This method helps to break the isolation, fear and discouragement that some local groups and individuals may feel. As a regional NGO, AHRC must keep track of what is happening all around in detail, and act to promote regional human rights as a matter of routine. As a regional NGO we undertake a very large quantity of work. We are also in a position to know about events more quickly than groups at other levels, and therefore we can react to things faster. Even the work of the UN depends largly on the work of regional organizations that raise country issues. Often country-based organizations have to face up to a lot of pressures and violence. Authoritarian regimes can find many ways to intimidate and suppress local activists. But when local organizations join with regional bodies, there are much greater possibilities. In the past, there was no such organizational framework in Asia, except on an ad hoc basis. We can now claim to have created one, thanks to our proper utilization of communication networks and dogged persistence. Even in global terms, ours is one of the most developed networks.
