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"Man, biologically considered, and whatever else he may be in the bargain, is simply the most formidable of all the beasts of prey, and, indeed, the only one that prays systematically on its own species."

William James in 'Atlantic'

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issues > political

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Political Issues:
Human Rights
Women's Rights
Children's Rights
Prison Reform
Capital Punishment
Conflict Resolution
Disarmament

Human Rights

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Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. They stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom, to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice. They investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable. They challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law. They enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all. Knowing the power of images, HRW's site includes photo essays that invite the viewer to places where human rights are not upheld.

OneWorld is dedicated to promoting human rights and sustainable development by harnessing the democratic potential of the Internet. "Like most of our readers, we are acutely aware of the injustices and unnecessary suffering in the world. Our aim is to bear witness to this injustice and to help people shed whatever light they can on it. Cruelty and injustice flourish most freely in the dark - or in the ambiguous twilight of 'open secrets'. Bringing issues into the light, we believe, is a first step towards positive change."
(search by topic or by country)

Amnesty International is a worldwide campaigning movement that works to promote all the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international standards. In particular, Amnesty International campaigns to free all prisoners of conscience; ensure fair and prompt trials for political prisoners; abolish the death penalty, torture and other cruel treatment of prisoners; end political killings and "disappearances"; and oppose human rights abuses by opposition groups.
Amnesty International has around a million members and supporters in 162 countries and territories. Activities range from public demonstrations to letter-writing, from human rights education to fundraising concerts, from individual appeals on a particular case to global campaigns on a particular issue.

The American Civil Liberties Union is on the forefront of advocating individual rights -- litigating, legislating, and educating the public on a broad array of issues affecting individual freedom in the United States. The mission of the ACLU is to assure that the Bill of Rights -- amendments to the Constitution that guard against unwarranted governmental control -- are preserved for each new generation.

Survival is a worldwide organisation supporting tribal peoples. It stands for their right to decide their own future and helps them protect their lives, lands and human rights. Working in close partnership with local indigenous organisations, Survival campaigns for the recognition of the land rights of tribes ranging from the Indians of Amazonia to the Maasai of East Africa, from the indigenous tribes of West Papua to the Innu in eastern Canada.

B'TSELEM The Israeli Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories was established in 1989 by a group of prominent academics, attorneys, journalists, and Knesset members. It endeavors to document and educate the Israeli public and policymakers about human rights violations in the Occupied Territories, combat the phenomenon of denial prevalent among the Israeli public, and help create a human rights culture in Israel.

As an Israeli human rights organization, B'Tselem acts primarily to change Israeli policy in the Occupied Territories and ensure that its government, which rules the Occupied Territories, protects the human rights of residents there and complies with its obligations under international law.

B'Tselem in Hebrew literally means "in the image of," and is also used as a synonym for human dignity. The word is taken from Genesis 1:27: "And God created humans in his image. In the image of God did He create him." It is in this spirit that the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "All human beings are born equal in dignity and rights.

B'Tselem ensures the reliability of information it publishes by conducting its own fieldwork and research, whose results are thoroughly cross-checked with relevant documents, official government sources, and information from other sources, among them Israeli, Palestinian, and other human rights organizations.


Women's Rights

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Women's Human Rights Net works at recognizing women's human rights and how they are violated; educating women about their rights and that they are entitled to use them; educating the public and building support in recognizing violations and demanding accountability of abusers; using international human rights mechanisms and instruments; and documenting and reporting violations of women's human rights.

The Feminist Majority and The Feminist Majority Foundation are committed to empowering women and winning equality through research, the sharing of information of value to feminists everywhere, and effective action.

The name Feminist Majority is a consciousness-raiser, inspired by a Newsweek/Gallup public opinion poll that showed the majority of women (56%) in the United States self-identified as feminists. Most polls since then reveal that this majority continues with over two-thirds of young women self-identifying as feminists. Most men, especially young men, view themselves as supporters of the women's rights movement.

What is a Feminist Anyway?

Our definition of feminism is simple yet broad: "the policy, practice or advocacy of political, economic, and social equality for women." A feminist is any person -- woman or man, girl or boy -- who advocates feminism. The Feminist Majority Foundation views feminism as a global movement dedicated to equality and seeks to eliminate discrimination of all kinds -- sex, race, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, disability, and marital status. And, like feminists since the late 19th Century, we advocate non-violence and work to eliminate social and economic injustice.

WomensNet, supports women's organizations locally, nationally and worldwide by providing and adapting telecommunications technology to enhance their work.

WILPF works to acheive through peaceful means world disarmament, full rights for women, racial and economic justice, an end to all forms of violence, and to establish those political, social, and psychological conditions which can assure peace, freedom, and justice for all.



Children's Rights

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UNICEF advocates and works for the protection of children's rights, to help the young meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.



Prisons Reform and Crime Prevention

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Prison Activist Resource Center "We believe that progressive social change, not mass incarceration, is the solution to crime. We further believe that nonviolent direct action is the only effective antidote to the many forms of institutionalized violence both inside and outside America's prisons." PARC's goals are to expose the myths that sustain widespread injustices in prisons and in the communities most affected by mass imprisonment; to inspire and motivate people to take positive action against the mass incarceration system and for prisoners' human and civil rights; and to provide practical support to activists who are taking such action.





The National Center on Institutions and Alternatives (NCIA) has been on the cutting edge of criminal justice reform in the United States since its founding in 1977. With a full-time staff of over 300, NCIA is a private, nonprofit agency providing training, technical assistance, research and direct services to criminal justice, social services, and mental health organizations and clients across the country.


The Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to reduce society's reliance on the use of institutionalization as a solution to social problems.



Capital Punishment

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The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty , a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to the abolition of capital punishment, provides information, advocates for public policy and mobilizes and supports people and institutions that share an unconditional rejection of a state's use of homocide as an instrument of social policy.


The Death Penalty Information Center is a non-profit organization serving the media and the public with analysis and information on issues concerning capital punishment. The Center was founded in 1990 and prepares in-depth reports, issues press releases, conducts briefings for journalists, and serves as a resource to those working on this issue. The Center is widely quoted and consulted by those concerned with the death penalty.



Conflict Resolution

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The International Peace Academyis an independent, non-partisan, international organization dedicated to promoting the peaceful settlement of armed conflicts between and within states.


The mission of the Department of Defense of the United States is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of the USA.


The North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) was signed in Washington on 4 April 1949, creating an alliance of 12 independent nations committed to each other's defence. Four more European nations later acceded to the Treaty between 1952 and 1982. On 12 March 1999, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland were welcomed into the Alliance, which now numbers 19 members.



Peacekeeping was pioneered and developed by the UN as one of the means for maintaining international peace and security. Most The United Nations Peacekeepers , often referred to as "blue helmets", have been soldiers, volunteered by their Governments to apply military discipline and training to the task of restoring and maintaining the peace. UN peacekeepers were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1988.



Disarmament

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The United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs


Peace Action displays information about nuclear abolition, weapons trafficking, human rights and the peace economy on maps of the world.

Move Our Money The goal of Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities is to insure that - in the next century and beyond - the United States retains its position as the economic and military leader of the world.


Comments, questions, or suggestions for our issues initiative?
Write to us at: issues@humanity.org



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Since 1987, we have worked to create a positive change in attitude and vision.