A Voice For the Voiceless
The Advocacy Project helps marginalized communities to tell their story, claim their rights and produce social change. Since 1998, AP has supported 117 community-based organizations in 52 countries.
Read more about AP partners who have produced social change.
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Producing Results
AP helps disempowered communities to claim their rights and remove the causes of their disempowerment, in a manner that will produce a larger impact on society. This is the start of social change. While the process takes time, important progress has been achieved with help from AP’s services and volunteers:
Badi women in Nepal: Badi women are a sub-caste of the Dalit and are born into prostitution because of their sub-caste. Prior to 2008, their children were denied the right to citizenship, because citizenship is passed down through fathers and Badi clients have insisted on remaining anonymous. AP visited Nepal in 2005, during the war, and profiled the Badi. AP’s partner, the Jagaran Media Center, then helped 400 Badi women to march on Kathmandu and lobby the government. The government conceded, offered 2.5 million rupees in compensation and agreed that all Badi children would receive citizenship through their mothers. The success achieved by the Badi advocates in Nepal has a larger impact on society, because it changes government policy and affects all members of the sub-caste.
Pygmy slaves in central Africa: AP's partner in Uganda, the WPIO, is working to end one of the world’s most flagrant examples of slavery, by using a community-based strategy of quiet persuasion (“10 for 1 Campaign”). Twice as many slaves were freed in 2008 as in previous years. The approach is attracting interest from the United Nations. WPIO has made extensive use of AP's news bulletins and website.
Girls in Afghanistan: The Oruj Learning Center has brought girls' education and introduced women teachers to a remote area of Wardak province, with support from AP. After starting with 36 students in 2002, Oruj supported more than 2,800 girl students in 2008. Oruj has also begun to change the curriculum through teacher training, with funds raised through AP. AP has helped to raise more than $150,000 for Oruj.
Uterine prolapse in Nepal: AP Fellows have played a key role in publicizing this terrible condition, which affects 600,000 women and undermines the country’s development. The publicity is making a difference: in 2008, the Government tripled funding for surgeries. Social change will be achieved when the condition is recognized as a national priority.
Survivors of Srebrenica: AP has helped survivors to use e-petitions and handicrafts to promote their message of justice and reconciliation. In 2005, AP handed 10,000 signatures to the NATO Secretary-General and Hague Prosecutor on behalf of the survivors. Since 2007, AP has displayed the Srebrenica Memorial Quilt widely in the US, with the diaspora, policy-makers and lawmakers. This has contributed to the international campaign, which has turned Srebrenica into a symbol of impunity and led to the arrest of Radovan Karadzic in 2008. Over 50,000 people attended the July 11 2009 ceremony at Potocari.
Disappeared in Peru: In 2008, AP attended the largest-ever exhumation in Peru, by its partner, the Peruvian Forensic Anthropology team (EPAF). The exhumation played a key role in encouraging relatives for the disappeared to emerge in the Putis region and press their demand for reparations. Using film, press releases, and outreach in the US, AP helped EPAF to promote this breakthrough. AP and EPAF hope to similarly empower other relative associations in Peru, and restore the identity of Peru’s 16,000 disappeared. EPAF has also played a key role in exposing the Cantuta massacre, and securing the conviction of former President Fujimori.
Travellers in the UK: AP has been the only international human rights organizations to consistently support the Travellers of Dale Farm, who suffer from profound discrimination and prejudice. AP’s bulletins and blogs have been extensively used by the Travellers in their lobbying, and in 2008, they achieved a major success when the British High Court ruled that the Travellers could not be evicted until the local council provided housing or found alternative land. This ruling offers a key interpretation of Britain’s 1998 Human Rights Act and affects all ethnic minorities in Britain.
Indigenous massacre survivors in Guatemala: In November 2008, the government of Guatemala offered reparations to 28 indigenous communities in Baha Verapaz province who were affected by the Rio Negro massacres and Chixoy Dam in 1982. The result could set a precedent for other dislocated and damaged communities in Guatemala. The Rio Negro survivors have also entered a case before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Spanish courts which could create important legal precedents. The Spanish Supreme Court has ruled that the case is covered by universal jurisdiction. AP has sent five volunteers to work with the Rio Negro survivors since 2003, and supported the launch of the Rio Negro Memorial Quilt.
Women in Kosovo and Serbia: In 2003, AP helped the Kosova Women's Network to develop a website and newsletter. These have helped KWN to become a leading advocate for women’s rights in the new Kosovo and reach out to Women in Black, a prominent Serbian advocate and AP partner. Together, the two groups are building a common platform based on respect for women’s rights, through the Women’s Peace Coalition. Within Kosovo, KWN has helped to launch a new women’s group that aims to protect women from the ethnic Serb minority in Kosovo itself – another key example of promoting reconciliation.
Civil society in Sri Lanka: In 2008, the Sri Lankan government allowed leading NGOs to participate at two commissions of inquiry investigating notorious killings. This was the first time since 1948 that civil society was given such standing at a commission of inquiry. The NGO participation was coordinated by AP Peace Fellow Adam Nord.
Updated August 2009