Press Release
Campaigners urge charities to use human rights to make greater impact
10 December 2007
As people across the world mark UN Human Rights Day (Monday 10 December 2007), campaigners will today stress the importance of adopting a human rights based approach to ensure that their campaigns are more accountable and have a greater impact. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations’ (NCVO) Campaigning Effectiveness Programme and the British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) are holding the first ever event to explore with charities, voluntary organisations and community groups how key human rights standards, such as the Human Rights Act, and frameworks, such as economic social and cultural rights, can inform their campaigning work.
The event, held at Amnesty International UK’s Human Rights Action Centre in London, will hear from Scope about how it has used human rights standards, particularly to empower its beneficiaries, in its campaign work.
Stephen Bowen, Executive Director of External Affairs at Scope, said:
“Our mission is to drive the change to make our society the first in which disabled people achieve equality. Human Rights are a powerful tool to achieve this change through our campaigning.”
Chris Stalker, Head of the Campaigning Effectiveness Programme based at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), said:
"There is a significant need to take the debate about human rights beyond the law courts and give it meaning and relevance to all aspects of public life; in particular strengthening the essential role of voluntary and community organisations as advocates and campaigners for social justice, giving voice to the interests and concerns of those they work with."
Katie Ghose, Director of the British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR), said:
“Human rights have long been a powerful campaigning tool for organisations abroad. Now it’s the time to turn the spotlight on the UK and ask how rights can add voice and power to the campaigning work of organisations closer to home.”
For more information please contact Pete Moorey in NCVO’s Media Office on 020 7520 2468 or pete.moorey@ncvo-vol.org.uk.
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