International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR)
Encyclopedia
International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) is an international non-governmental human rights
organization with its seat in Brussels
, Belgium
. It was established in the spring of 2008. It is a non-profit organization
(registered with the Brussels
Commercial Court
as an association sans but lucratif, or ASBL).
in different countries and help them make their concerns heard at the international level. Working together with other human rights
NGOs, IPHR acts to advance the rights of vulnerable communities, who are subject to discrimination
and human rights
abuse
s in different parts of the world, through monitoring, reporting, awareness-raising, capacity-building and national and international advocacy.
experts who had previously worked together for the Vienna
-based International Helsinki Federation. IPHR's expertise was initially concentrated in Central Asia
and other countries of the former Soviet Union
. Recently, it has expanded its work to other regions of the world, including the Gulf countries and the Middle East.
NGOs with project development and funding, international advocacy (before the EU, Council of Europe
, OSCE, and United Nations
), as well as research and publication activities. IPHR also implements projects aiming to advance the rights of vulnerable communities, such as women, children, migrants and minorities, who are subject to human rights
abuse
s in different parts of the world. In 2010-2011, IPHR is implementing a project financed by a private foundation to assist human rights
groups from Kazakhstan
, Kyrgyzstan
, Tajikistan
, Turkmenistan
and Uzbekistan
with the preparation and distribution of publications, as well as the conduct of advocacy to raise international awareness, mobilize international support and promote international action to improve respect for the rights of vulnerable groups such as civic activists, journalists and others who challenge government policies; ethnic and religious minorities; people in prison and detention; and women and children. This project has already resulted in the publication of many statements.
, and the Child Rights Information Network (CRIN).
and the Director in charge of day-to-day management. The General Meeting is composed of all effective members. At least one meeting must be held annually to approve financial documents and appoint board members. The Board of Directors
oversees the administration of the association and exercises all powers not expressly attributed to the General Meeting. It is composed of 3 to 9 members chosen among effective members; up to 1/3 of Board members may be outside directors.
) and fees.
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
organization with its seat in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. It was established in the spring of 2008. It is a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
(registered with the Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
Commercial Court
Commercial Court
Commercial Court may refer to:* Commercial Court * Commercial Court * Commercial Court...
as an association sans but lucratif, or ASBL).
Aims
IPHR's main aim is to empower local civil society groups promoting human rightsHuman rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
in different countries and help them make their concerns heard at the international level. Working together with other human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
NGOs, IPHR acts to advance the rights of vulnerable communities, who are subject to discrimination
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
abuse
Abuse
Abuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise...
s in different parts of the world, through monitoring, reporting, awareness-raising, capacity-building and national and international advocacy.
History
IPHR was created in the spring of 2008 by a team of human rightsHuman rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
experts who had previously worked together for the Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
-based International Helsinki Federation. IPHR's expertise was initially concentrated in Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
and other countries of the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Recently, it has expanded its work to other regions of the world, including the Gulf countries and the Middle East.
Activity
IPHR assists human rightsHuman rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
NGOs with project development and funding, international advocacy (before the EU, Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
, OSCE, and United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
), as well as research and publication activities. IPHR also implements projects aiming to advance the rights of vulnerable communities, such as women, children, migrants and minorities, who are subject to human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
abuse
Abuse
Abuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise...
s in different parts of the world. In 2010-2011, IPHR is implementing a project financed by a private foundation to assist human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
groups from Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
, Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
, Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
and Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
with the preparation and distribution of publications, as well as the conduct of advocacy to raise international awareness, mobilize international support and promote international action to improve respect for the rights of vulnerable groups such as civic activists, journalists and others who challenge government policies; ethnic and religious minorities; people in prison and detention; and women and children. This project has already resulted in the publication of many statements.
Joint Appeals
In recent years, IPHR has co-issued, contributed to and/or been a signatory to a number of joint appeals with, inter alia, the SOVA Center for Information and Analysis, Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, and the Child Rights Information Network (CRIN).
Selected Publications
- Kazakhstan: Open Letter about Yevgeniy Zhovtis
- Open NGO letter to the European Commission in advance of visit to Turkmenistan
- Belarus: Appeal to the OSCE Participating States
- Central Asian human rights defenders continue to face serious challenges
- Joint statement on religiously motivated persecution in Uzbekistan
- A joint report on the fight against trafficking in persons in Kazakhstan
- Open letter: threats and pressure against human rights NGO in southern Kyrgyzstan
- Appeal to EU in support of endangered Turkmen human rights defender
- Kyrgyzstan: Joint statement highlights unlawful and abusive actions
- Joint statement to the OSCE: challenges faced by human rights defenders in Central Asia
- Appeal to the international community in support of human rights defender Azimzhan Askarov
- Open letter on Tunisia: human rights defenders and the EU
- Appeal to the EU: Kyrgyz human rights defender
- Briefing note on repression of farmers in Uzbekistan
- Appeal to the EU: end to intimidation of Turkmen civil society
Organisation
IPHR has three governing bodies: the General Meeting, the Board of DirectorsBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
and the Director in charge of day-to-day management. The General Meeting is composed of all effective members. At least one meeting must be held annually to approve financial documents and appoint board members. The Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
oversees the administration of the association and exercises all powers not expressly attributed to the General Meeting. It is composed of 3 to 9 members chosen among effective members; up to 1/3 of Board members may be outside directors.
Financing
IPHR finances its activities and projects through grants (from private as well as public donors, such as the European CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
) and fees.