Bay Area Non-Profit Launches Campaign to Help Local Rights Advocates Access International Justice

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov. 19, 2012 - The International Justice Resource Center (IJRC (http://ijrcenter.org/)) launches its inaugural “I Am a Humans with Rights! (http://www.razoo.com/story/Human-With-Rights-2012)” campaign to educate and advise local civil rights and social justice advocates on using international human rights protections to ensure respect for individuals’ and communities’ fundamental freedoms. The campaign, which will run through December 31, supports the San Francisco-based non-profit’s programs to train and assist attorneys and advocates, and build its online hub of news, handbooks, and other international human rights resources.

“IJRC works alongside activists, advocates, and lawyers to provide the tools and information needed—in a user-friendly, completely accessible platform—to seek justice for a broad range of human rights violations,” explained Betsy Apple, a member of the IJRC Board of Directors (http://www.ijrcenter.org/about/board-of-directors/), and Policy Officer for the Open Society Justice Initiative. Advocates “can use that knowledge to establish a direct relationship with regional and global institutions for the purpose of protecting their rights,” says Víctor Madrigal-Borloz, IJRC Board member and a Principal Specialist of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, a court-like body that monitors human rights throughout the hemisphere, including in the United States.

The “I Am a Human with Rights!” campaign spreads the message that the international human rights system offers concrete opportunities for advocates. By engaging with international human rights bodies like the Inter-American Commission and United Nations Human Rights Council, advocates gain opportunities to make their voices heard, negotiate directly with governments, and present complaints of specific rights abuses – from racial discrimination to environmental contamination to unsafe working conditions. “IJRC provides an essential link between rights and remedies, informing victims of human rights violations and their advocates about what remedies are available, and how to make use of them,” says Gabor Rona, IJRC Board of Directors member and International Legal Director at Human Rights First.  The campaign also seeks to raise $30,000 in individual contributions, in order to meet demand for IJRC’s trainings, guides and tailored advocacy support in 2013.

Since relocating from Boston this summer, IJRC has joined RallyPad (http://rallypad.org/), a non-profit incubator in the SoMa area of San Francisco.  Over the next six months, IJRC will launch a San Francisco Bay Area training program and work with local organizations to increase collaboration around key concerns, including through an upcoming community reception and celebration on Human Rights Day, December 10.

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The International Justice Resource Center (IJRC) is a San Francisco-based non-profit organization and 501(c)(3) public charity. Through its online resource hub, trainings, and tailored advocacy support, IJRC bridges the critical knowledge gap that often keeps communities and grassroots advocates from achieving justice, accountability and reforms when government is unable or unwilling to address persistent human rights concerns.

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