Summary Available
The 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees provides protection for people forcibly displaced by threats of persecution and violence. The convention defines these people as refugees, those who are “unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.” However, while the 1951 Convention put in place important protections for vulnerable groups around the world, it did not provide protection for all populations experiencing forced displacement. This conversation will focus on people forcibly displaced by violence and conflict. Due to the definition’s emphasis on personal discrimination, many people whose safety is threatened by the violence around them but not necessarily directed at them are excluded from the same protection given to refugees. Internally displaced people (IDPs) are also excluded from the refugee definition because they have not left the borders of their country, even though they may be experiencing similar hardships as refugees. Finally, stateless populations’ lack of citizenship can make it difficult for them to access refugee status.

Measuring Success of Advocacy Initiatives

The Center for Victims of Torture’s New Tactics in Human Rights program is working to create a flexible methodology for measuring success in advocacy campaigns. Because of your important work in funding advocacy initiatives, we would like your input early on in the process. We will be asking you about examples and stories that you have from your own work. The following are the kind of questions we will be asking:

New Tactics in Human Rights helps human rights defenders work more effectively so they can achieve their goals and better address human rights violations around the world. We do this by:

1. Creating and sharing information and materials: New Tactics developed a range of online materials for human rights defenders to use in their work. These publications are available in our Resource Library.
2. Training and mentoring: Training and mentoring for human rights advocates supports them in their work.
3. Building an online community: Monthly peer-to-peer online conversations have enabled the strengthening of a global community of human rights advocates. Activists connect with others, share what they’ve learned, and ask questions.

How have the materials, trainings and/or online community helped you to be a more effective human rights defender? Share your testimonial by adding a comment to the discussion topics below!

Strategic thinking is a discipline used in all types of work. In order to build a house, you need a plan. In order to win votes to get elected for a political position, you need a plan. Human rights work is no exception - in order to make change, you need a plan (and hopefully, it’s a good one!).

We want to build a collection of strategic-thinking resources and tools for human rights defenders to help in the selection and application of successful tactics. We have been working closely with human rights defenders in the Middle East and North Africa region to share a methodology to apply strategy and tactics to human rights work, and we are eager to share with you the tools we’ve been using (coming soon).

We also know that many others have been developing and using tools and resources, some that have been shared online. New Tactics in Human Rights would like to collect and share these resources on our website. We want your help in identifying what you have found to be really useful in your work. What resources and tools are out there that are being used by human rights defenders to develop strategy and apply tactics? What resources are missing that need to be developed? Share your ideas, resources and tools in this open forum!

In our on-going work to protect and promote human rights, it is important to acknowledge our accomplishments - no matter how small. Human rights work is a powerful and fulfilling vocation. And it is equally challenging for human rights practitioners, which is why it is important to take the time to appreciate what we've achieved.

Here at New Tactics, we know that human rights work victories come in all sizes. Achieving even small tactical goals are important steps towards reaching your human rights goals.

We invite you to take a moment to reflect on the human rights victories you've accomplished - big or small. Let's recognize and celebrate these important accomplishments. Share one or two accomplishments to this conversation by adding your comments below.

Thank you, and congratulations on all of your human rights accomplishments!

This conversation is now closed.

In recognition of the One-year Anniversary of the New Tactics interactive website, we hosted a “year-end review.”

We wanted to provide this opportunity to generate feedback from you, our New Tactics community members, about what New Tactics resources and tools have worked well for you. We have opened the “year-end review” with some general theme areas. This is a summary of the ideas and experiences shared in this dialogue.