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International Online Training Program On Intractable Conflict |
Conflict Research Consortium, University of Colorado, USA |
Literally thousands of local, national, and international organizations have been formed to defend human and civil rights of people around the world. These "NGOs"--nongovernmental organizations--primarily rely on the power of the integrative system and persuasion to try to prevent human rights abuses, and to try to do what they can to mitigate their effects after they have occurred. For instance, they try to publicize human rights abuses so that the international community will pressure the perpetrators to stop their behavior. They encourage massive letter-writing campaigns, the imposition of boycotts and/or sanctions against perpetrators, and other forms of nonviolent action to try to discourage further abuse from occurring. Other civil rights organizations engage in protective accompaniment--providing neutral observers to accompany people at risk of abuse during their high risk activities--or all the time--to protect them from killing, kidnapping, or other violence.
The broader worldwide movement to establish universal principles of human rights and fairness is part of a large scale collective security effort. While agreement on many of these principles remains extremely elusive, the progress that has been made has done much to advance the cause of justice and peace.
Other NGOs provide humanitarian assistance to people in need--for instance, they provide food, clothing, housing, and medical care for refugees who have fled war zones, or for people in countries plagued by famine or disaster. Sometimes humanitarian NGOs get involved in peacebuilding efforts as well, although it is important that the goals and strategies of the organizations remain clear, and that relief workers know what they are doing and what the effects of their actions are likely to be. When their goals are unclear, or they try to work in areas in which they do not have expertise, they can actually cause more harm than good, contributing to the continuation of human rights abuses or a war, for example, instead of helping to end it.
International Guide To NGO Activities in Conflict Prevention and Resolution - December 1996
NGOs and the Peace Process in Angola--United States Institute of Peace - Special Report
Swazi Christians hold peace workshops for Hutu and Tutsi refugeesAlberto L'Abate--Non-Violent Interposition in Armed Conflicts
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