German and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
Transnational organisations
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are organisations that have come into being on the basis of civil society involvement. They are independent of the state and the government, also independent of the United Nations (UN), and are primarily involved in social, environmental, peace and health policy. The term was introduced by the United Nations to distinguish civic engagement from the engagement of state organisations and representatives who participate in UN political processes.
German non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
“The strength of Amnesty International lies in the voluntary commitment of its many members and supporters of different nationalities, cultures and age groups. They are united to achieve their goals both locally and globally. Together they use their courage, strength and imagination for a world without human rights violations.”
European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights
The ECCHR is a non-profit and independent human rights organisation in Berlin. It was founded to protect and enforce human rights by legal means.
Human Rights Forum
Member organisations of the Human Rights Forum
More than fifty German NGOs form a network in the Forum Menschenrechte, founded in 1994, to campaign for comprehensive, improved protection of human rights – in individual regions of the world, in the countries and as a critical accompaniment to the human rights policy of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Society for Threatened Peoples
The STP, which campaigns against all forms of genocide and ethnocide, has its main office in Göttingen. The organisation’s website lists numerous regional groups in Germany and internationally.
The Committee for Fundamental Rights and Democracy sees itself as part of the extra-parliamentary opposition and co-organiser of civil protest. Statements, press releases, conferences, essays and brochures, planning and organising actions, observing demonstrations, but also concrete help for prisoners and the “Holiday from War Campaign” are among the many forms of intervention.
In the IPPNW, doctors, psychotherapists and medical students are committed to a humane world free of nuclear threats.
International League for Human Rights
The “International League for Human Rights. In the spirit of Carl von Ossitezky, e.V.” is committed to the realisation and expansion of human rights and peace. It works on the basis of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the European Convention on Human Rights (1950) and the two UN Covenants (1966).
International Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
Alkarama is committed to the protection and promotion of human rights in the Arab world.
Association of civil society organisations founded in 1995, now with over 2,500 member organisations in 150 countries, for an International Criminal Court against war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Organisations can become members here . (English, Spanish, French)
The NGO Derechos HR (Human Rights) is committed to human rights in South America and focusses primarily on information.
Fédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l’Homme (FIDH)
The FIDH (International League for Human Rights) is committed to the protection of victims and the punishment of human rights violations.
The organisation campaigns for a world free from hunger and the right to healthy food.
Human Rights First is an American human rights organisation based in New York, Washington and Houston.
The HRF is an American NGO based in New York.
HRW is an international human rights organisation with offices in many countries around the world.
International Coalition of Sites of Conscience
An international network of historic sites, museums and remembrance initiatives that commemorate past struggles to support today’s movements for human rights and social justice. Based in New York.
International Commission of Jurists
An international human rights organisation of lawyers from all over the world, founded in 1952.
International Commission on Missing Persons
The organisation was founded in 1996 on the initiative of US President Bill Clinton. It is based in The Hague (Netherlands)
OMCT World Organisation Against Torture
A global network against torture and other human rights violations, with 311 organisations worldwide.
Peace Brigades International (PBI)
PBI is an international human rights organisation based in London that organises unarmed accompaniment and monitoring of human rights activities by international teams in conflict zones.
Proyecto Desaparecidos. Por la Memoria, la Verdad y la Justicia
An internet documentary about the victims of state terrorism in Latin America and some other countries in the world, including the murderers, torturers and accomplices. Individual stories are told.
The organisation is a global movement for the rights of indigenous peoples.
TRIAL International (Geneva, Switzerland) is an NGO that campaigns against impunity for international crimes and in favour of supporting survivors and their search for justice.
Transnational organisations
European Court of Human Rights
Before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, a person can lodge a complaint about a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and/or its additional protocols by a contracting state.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
The mission of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, based in Geneva, is to promote and protect human rights around the world. He is the superior of the UN Human Rights Office and reports directly to the UN Secretary-General. Numerous regional offices have been set up in recent years and work at country level has been intensified.
International Court of Justice (ICJ) of the United Nations
The International Court of Justice is responsible for decisions between states and is to be distinguished from the International Criminal Court (The Hague).
Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe
The Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, which was established in 1999 by a decision of the Council of Europe, is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights and human rights education in the member states of the European Union. It advises the member states on issues relating to the protection of human rights and draws attention to deficits.
United Nations (UN) – Human Rights Bodies
The website of the information platform humanrights.ch provides an overview of the UN human rights bodies, Human Rights Council (HRC), High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), Committee on Social Rights (CESCR), Committee on Human Rights (CCPR), Committee against Racism (CERD), Committee on Women’s Rights (CEDAW), Committee against Torture (CAT), Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Committee on Migrant Workers (CMW) and Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Origin and tasks of the ICC, Coalition for the ICC, Rome Statute
https://menschen-rechte.swhost.in/de/startseite/ueber-menschenrechte/geschichte-und-zustaendigkeit
https://menschen-rechte.swhost.in/de/startseite/ueber-menschenrechte/zeugenbetreuung