only search openDemocracy.net

Internationalizing human rights organizations - why, how, and at what cost?

Human rights organizations, networks and movements are expanding, broadening, and internationalizing. Groups based in the global north are trying to sink southern roots, while groups based in the south are trying to become more cross regional and global. Donors, such as Ford Foundation and the Open Society Foundations, are supporting these changes. In this debate we explore why, how, and at what cost internationalization is taking place in the global human rights community.

Less money, more risk: the struggle for change in women’s rights

Rochelle Jones, Sarah Rosenhek and Anna Turley
With fewer resources and greater risks, sustainable change in women’s rights internationally means supporting local women’s collective action and power. Español, Français

The realpolitik of rights and democracy

Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua
What happens when human rights and democracy do not only advance Western foreign policy, but also contribute to producing, not reducing, poverty?

Internationalisation: lessons from the women’s movement

Muthoni Muriithi
The internationalization debate can learn a lot from women’s movements in terms of opening spaces and opportunities for the voiceless. Français

Are humanitarian aid and professional ambition mutually exclusive?

Jacques Stroun
The professionalization of human rights organizations is only effective if management adapts their strategies. An amateur mentality simply will not work. Français

Do African rights groups have the "how" to internationalise?

Charles Kojo Vandyck
Internationalising human rights work in Africa will always be a distant dream unless rights groups operate beyond survivability.

Towards a multipolar civil society

Dhananjayan Srikandarajahand Mandeep Tiwana
With the world more multipolar than ever, why is civil society power still disproportionately located in the global North?  Español, Português

When internationalization causes more harm than good

Ram Mashru
Focusing on the practicalities of internationalization neglects a vital and thorny question: is going global really in the interests of all rights groups? Français, Español, العربية

One-way street: can internationalization ever be South-North?

Maja Daruwala
North-South internationalization must be an alliance of equals, not simply a Northern expansion.

How does professionalization impact international human rights organizations?

Carrie Oelberger
The more transnational human rights groups become, the more likely they are to professionalize. This, in turn, can influence the sector’s values. Español, Français

Decentralizing can make global human rights groups stronger

Adriano Campolina
NGO internationalization is now trendy, but ActionAid realized long ago that giving up power doesn’t mean having less power. Español, Français

A Geneva Spring? Why civil society needs North-South solidarity

Louise Arbour
International human rights institutions are weak, but true North-South solidarity in civil society could challenge a broken system. Español, Português

Internationalization is about more than just advocacy

Johanna Siméant
As NGOs create global brands rather than a “global civil society”, internationalization reaches beyond human rights advocacy. Français

Playing both ends against the middle

Stephen Hopgood
The idea of a “global middle” assumes that human rights transcend borders. But do they really? Español, Français, العربية

Internationalizing human rights NGOs is not a zero-sum game

Kenneth Roth
Internationalizing human rights NGOs can benefit everyone; it’s not a zero sum game. Español, Português

New trend, old roots: “internationalization” in Amnesty’s history

Susan Waltz
For Amnesty International, the growing trend of “internationalization” has very old roots. Español

Transnational rights violations call for new forms of cooperation

Jessica Montell
Human rights violations are increasingly transnational, yet there are no organizations addressing human rights in Israel’s foreign policy. العربية ,עברית, Español, Français

Human rights diversity goes beyond North-South relations

Emily Martinez
Diversifying the global human rights movement involves more than North-South restructuring. Español, Français, العربية

A time for change? The future of INGOs in international human rights

Wendy H. Wong
Representativeness and access in the human rights arena is crucial, but is decentralization really the best move? Español, Français, العربية

Don’t ditch the “local” when scrambling to “go global”

Stanley Ibe
We cannot afford to globalize human rights at the expense of local context. To be sustainable and effective, local activists must lead and adapt human rights initiatives to their specific circumstances. Español, Français, العربية

Long before “internationalization”: Human Rights Watch and local collaborations in Russia

Tanya Lokshina
Despite a hostile climate and many different challenges, the collaborations of Human Rights Watch with local Russian organizations continue to be the key for making real change. Ру́сский

Home and abroad: balancing Brazil’s human rights commitments

Muriel Asseraf
Emerging countries like Brazil are at a turning point, struggling to balance their domestic issues with their international aspirations. Español, Português

How do we solve structural inequality in global networks?

Charli Carpenter
It’s time to relocate power centres in the top-heavy human rights network. The savvy use of network tactics is the best approach: cultivating southern “hubs”, empowering global south activists to access northern centres, and thinking broadly about network power in global civil society. Español

Multiple boomerangs: new models of global human rights advocacy

César Rodríguez-Garvito
The global human rights field is being transformed, and activists are inventing new, less hierarchical models of collaboration, including global virtual networks and “multiple boomerangs.” Español

Coming together, or falling apart?

Sarah Stroup
International human rights groups are a big help when developing transnational norms; decentralizing these NGOs risks robbing them of their key strength. Español, Français, العربية

Moving Amnesty closer to the ground is necessary, not simple

Salil Shetty
The rapidly changing global structure and the rise of emerging powers require Amnesty to work in a more bottom-up manner. Now, for the first time ever, there is a real possibility of doing so. Español, Français, العربية

Convergence towards the global middle: an emerging architecture for the international human rights movement

Louis Bickford
As international rights groups move “closer to the ground” and domestic groups reach out internationally, the human rights community is converging. Can we harness this movement towards the middle to more effectively realize rights? Español, Français, العربية

To truly internationalize human rights, funding must make sense

Wanja Muguongo

Do western donors want to “internationalize” the human rights movement, or do they want to retain control while including a few token Africans? It’s time for long-term and sustainable funding that makes sense. Español, Français, العربية

All articles in date order:

Less money, more risk: the struggle for change in women’s rights

Rochelle Jones, Sarah Rosenhek, and Anna Turley 21 August 2015

With fewer resources and greater risks, sustainable change in women’s rights internationally means supporting local women’s collective action and power. A contribution the openGlobalRights debate on internationalizing human rights organizations. Español, Français

The realpolitik of rights and democracy

Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua 11 August 2015

What happens when human rights and democracy do not only advance Western foreign policy, but also contribute to producing, not reducing, poverty? A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate on internationalizing human rights organizations.

Internationalisation: lessons from the women’s movement

Muthoni Muriithi 4 August 2015

The internationalisation debate can learn a lot from women’s movements in terms of opening spaces and opportunities for the voiceless. A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate on internationalising human rights organizations. Français

Are humanitarian aid and professional ambition mutually exclusive?

Jacques Stroun 29 July 2015

The professionalization of human rights organizations is only effective if management adapts their strategies. An amateur mentality simply will not work. A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate on internationalizing human rights organizations. Français

Do African rights groups have the “how” to internationalise?

Charles Kojo Vandyck 9 June 2015

Internationalising human rights work in Africa will always be a distant dream unless rights groups operate beyond survivability. A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate on internationalising human rights organisations.

Towards a multipolar civil society

Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah and Mandeep Tiwana 28 May 2015

With the world more multipolar than ever, why is civil society power still disproportionately located in the global North? A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate on Internationalizing human rights organizations. Español, Português

When internationalization causes more harm than good

Ram Mashru 26 May 2015

Mashru1Focusing on the practicalities of internationalization neglects a vital and thorny question: is going global really in the interests of all rights groups? A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate on internationalizing human rights organizations. Français, Español, العربية

One-way street: can internationalization ever be South-North?

Maja Daruwala 18 May 2015

North-South internationalization must be an alliance of equals, not simply a Northern expansion. A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate on internationalizing human rights organizations.