Grassroots human rights advocates are dramatically changing their communities in groundbreaking ways all over the world. They mobilize people to challenge repressive governments and other abusive forces, planting seeds of change in their communities. However, they often work with little formal...
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Grassroots human rights advocates are dramatically changing their communities in groundbreaking ways all over the world. They mobilize people to challenge repressive governments and other abusive forces, planting seeds of change in their communities. However, they often work with little formal training and little access to lessons learned from their colleagues. Advocates have accomplished much, but because they have limited resources they are unable to learn from each other's experiences.


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Human Rights Connection enables human rights activists around the world to share lessons, tools and practical strategies to advance their work. It has three noteworthy characteristics:

FREE MANUALS AND CASE STUDIES: The site has short, easy-to-use articles and checklists that...
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Human Rights Connection enables human rights activists around the world to share lessons, tools and practical strategies to advance their work. It has three noteworthy characteristics:

FREE MANUALS AND CASE STUDIES: The site has short, easy-to-use articles and checklists that activists can download, print out and carry away for free. In addition, case studies will provide real-world examples of how activists implemented the techniques described in the manuals. A particular emphasis will be placed on finding and highlighting materials developed in the global South for local activists.

AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES: Manuals will be available in five languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic. Other languages, such as Mandarin and Russian, will be included as the site grows.

INFORMATION EXCHANGE: The key to HRC's success is the ability of activists and groups to share the case studies, best practices and other information that suit their needs. By providing their email addresses to us, activists will get regular updates on new information. An Advisory Committee of activists from different parts of the world reviews documents to ensure that they are applicable and are presented in a user-friendly manner. Activists who use our site can give feedback on site material.

Human Rights Connection: http://www.hrconnection.org/ Human rights groups around the world now have access to a forum for the exchange of practical information in many languages to support their social justice work. The Digital Freedom Network, Forefront and the Center for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University have partnered to coordinate Human Rights Connection (HRC) at http://www.hrconnection.org, a web-based community resource center that provides human rights activists with a place to read and post "how to" information, articles and case studies on a wide range of issues, such as working with the media, planning an advocacy campaign, establishing an organization, and using technology. Material on other topics, such as managing a Board of Directors, fund raising and financial management for human rights, accountability and coping in face of danger will be posted in the future. Human Rights Connection is developed out of longstanding relationships with grassroots activists. Initially published in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish (and Arabic and Chinese in the future), the site provides a forum for South-South exchange and offers materials written and suggested by activists from around the world who are working to improve their communities. We invite you to share resources that your organization has used or found helpful. As this site will continue to evolve based upon the needs and input of those in the human rights field, please send us your comments and suggestions. Contact:

* Atireme Matos, Forefront http://www.forefrontleaders.org, +(1-212)845-5242, matosa@forefrontleaders.org

* Bobson Wong, Digital Freedom Network http://dfn.org/, +(1-646) 223-1266, bwong@dfn.org

* Erhyu Yuan, Center for the Study of Human Rights http://www.columbia.edu/cu/humanrights, (1-212) 854-2479, ey9@columbia.edu


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Many just go to the web site and look