For human rights to find resonance in the global South, we must connect them to the existing beliefs of the people by engaging religious leaders. Without this cultural resonance, the human movement is doomed to fail. A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate, Religion and Human Rights.
While religion is foundational to human rights, it is also problematic. Broad concepts of religion often obscure identity and hide an imperialistic organization of the world. How, then, can we understand religion as more than an external social category that only protects theoretical rights, rathe
Although many human rights movements have religious underpinnings, explicitly linking religion to human rights can lead to the exclusion and persecution of minority groups. To protect the rights of those minorities, we must work to keep religion separate from human rights. A contribution to the op
Many human rights activists are secular and view religion as a problem, rather than as an ally. Although religion does often pose serious challenges, it also offers the human rights movement hope for renewal, along with greater legitimacy and impact. A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate,
Normative frameworks in the Global South are largely religious, making it difficult for the secular human rights movement to penetrate these societies. Religious groups also have a better track record in mobilizing social reform, which begs the question: should the rights movement operate more lik
As Human Rights Watch places more full-time staff in the global South, domestic rights groups in these regions are raising concerns about donor competition and pretensions of northern leadership. Can we move beyond old dichotomies and focus on common goals to draw all areas of the human rights net
Over four decades, BRAC has become one of the largest and most effective NGOs in the world, with outstanding success in incorporating human rights into its programs and resisting untoward donor pressure. For Southern actors looking for funding and programming within their own societies, the BRAC m
The global pushback against domestic NGOs has arrived. International donors must learn to cope, but it won’t be easy. A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate on Funding for Human Rights. Español, Français, العربية
Designing and planning solutions to human rights problems from thousands of miles away often produces unsustainable results. The time has come for Southern human rights actors to find funding within their own societies. A contribution from Nigeria to the openGlobalRights debate on funding for huma
The discussion about elites and grassroots in the human rights movement is important – but can sometimes confuse as much as it illuminates. A contribution to the openGlobalRights debates on Emerging Powers and Human Rights and Human rights: mass or elite movement? Español, العربية
If international funding compromises the work of domestic human rights groups, what should international donors do? It is admirable for local groups to refuse international aid on principle, but the ethical implications for global human rights funders are complex. A contribution to the openGlobalR
Ron, Crow and Golden argue that human rights organizations should foster grassroots movements worldwide. Elite-focused approaches remain essential, however, especially in highly unequal countries such as Mexico and Colombia. A contribution to the openGlobalRights debate, “Human rights: mass or eli
