Help PMA grow | Petition forms | Site map | PMA main page
IGLHRC Releases Activist's Guide to Human Rights
Media Release
8 December 2000
(San Francisco). On the eve of International Human Rights Day, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) announces the release of the first comprehensive guide to international human rights mechanisms for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender people (LGBT).
The guide is titled "Making the Mountain Move: An Activist's Guide to How Human Rights Mechanisms Can Work for You," and contains theoretical as well as practical advice and detailed descriptions about the use of United Nations' mechanisms, as well as those of the Inter-American, European, and African human rights protections systems.
"As we celebrate the fifty-second anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we are committed to making the promises in this document come alive by ensuring that everyone can take practical actions to fulfill them," stated Surina Khan, Executive Director of IGLHRC.
"Human rights aren't like a fire extinguisher to be kept under glass in case of emergency," said Scott Long, IGLHRC's Director of Programs and Research and the author of the guide. "Nor are they something to celebrate on one day a year, and forget the rest. They are there for everyone to use, and to defend. This guide is meant to give everyone the means to use them fully. IGLHRC hopes this can make international human rights a little more user-friendly for everybody."
"Who isn't afraid of unknown acronyms? Who can state the difference between the Human Rights Committee and the Commission on Human Rights?," continued Long.
With this guide activists will be able to go through the ABC's so that they can focus less on learning the bureaucracy and more on achieving their ultimate goal of living free in dignity and rights, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status.
The guide is available in English at www.iglhrc.org/news/factsheets/unguide.html. A Spanish version will be forthcoming.
Contact: Sydney Levy, sydney@iglhrc.org
IGLHRC is a US based non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) whose mission is to protect and advance the human rights of all people and communities subject to discrimination or abuse on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status.
Main page on International Human Rights
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
| Action Alerts | PMA's newsletter | What's on where | Peace links | Help PMA grow | Support PMA! | Petition Forms | Site Map |