strategy
Monitoring human rights violations
Synonyms:
Documenting violations of human rights Implementation:
In 1982, the Human Rights Information and Documentation Systems, International (HURIDOCS) was established. HURIDOCS seeks to promote the protection of human rights by facilitating and systematizing the storage and communication of information on human rights included in both international human rights covenants and in other related instruments in economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights. HURIDOCS role is to establish a decentralized network in which participating organizations could exchange information, gain experience in handling information for the protection and promotion of human rights, and monitor violations. Its activities include developing tools for recording and exchanging information, organizing training courses and workshops, facilitating internships, and building a pool of trainers. Some positive result include the creation of a regional network on human rights NGOs following a workshop for Latin-American organizations, and the to be published Standard Formats for Documentation on Human Rights Violations ("EVENTS"), which provides guidelines to transfer human rights violations information faster and more cheaply to international NGOs and intergovernmental organizations. Narrower:
Documenting tortureInvestigating war crimesDiscrediting allegations of rights violationsMonitoring government involvement in human rights violationsDeveloping early warning systems for human rights violationsInvestigating mass-murderUsing human rights monitors Constrains:
Violating human rights Facilitates:
Protecting human rightsInforming about human rights issuesPreventing continuation of human rights violations Facilitated by:
Exposing violations of human rightsInvestigating human rights violationsProviding technical assistance on human rightsSupervising application of standards of workers rightsAdvancing role of non-governmental organizations in peacekeeping Problems:
Connivance of authorities in human rights abusesDenial of rights of patients suffering from mental illness
Government inaction on alleged human rights violations
Misinformation concerning infringement of human rights
Premature exoneration of human rights abuses
Suspension of rights during states of emergency
Undocumented violations of human rights
Violation of human rights by technological development
Violation of rights of vulnerable groups during states of emergency
Violation of the rights of sexual minorities
Values:
RightsViolationInhumanity References:
Schmid, Alex P and Jongman, Albert J: Monitoring Human Rights ViolationsHuman Rights Watch: World Report Subjects:
Information → DocumentationSocietal Problems → Maltreatment
Research, Standards → Inspection, tests
Type Classification:
F: Exceptional strategies