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The Geuzen medal |
For all these efforts, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has now been awarded the Dutch Geuzen medal, giving the organisation what it regards as an ideal opportunity to call on the Dutch government to take a stand for human rights at a time when, because of the war against terrorism, they have become increasingly vulnerable.
The Geuzen medal is an initiative of the Geuzen Resistance 1940-1945 Foundation and is awarded each year to a person or organisation which has made a special contribution towards safeguarding or promoting democracy or to combating dictatorship, discrimination and racism.
In previous years the award has gone to Amnesty International, the Anne Frank Foundation and Syrian human rights activist Haitham Maleh. Carroll Bogert, Associate Director of Human Rights Watch, was due to receive the medal from former Dutch minister of development cooperation Jan Pronk at the Grote Church in Vlaardingen, near Rotterdam, on Tuesday, 13 March 2007.
Helsinki Watch
Human Rights Watch began its activities in 1978, although it was then known by the name of Helsinki Watch. This organisation was monitoring whether the Soviet Union was adhering to the letter of the Helsinki accords, which contained an important section on the issue of human rights. The organisation did its work by interviewing various Soviet dissidents. Later, more Watch organisations were set up, including American Watch, which campaigned in the 1980s against human rights violations in Central America.
In 1988 all these organisations became part of Human Rights Watch, which carries out investigations in countries suspected of human rights violations. Human Rights Watch also campaigns for the rights of women, children, gay men, lesbians and asylum seekers, among others. Just last year, for example, the Netherlands was given a ticking off when it wanted to send some Iranian homosexuals back to their home country.
Human Rights Watch is often compared with Amnesty International, but there are significant differences, says Diederik Lohman of HRW: "Amnesty is an organisation which traditionally focuses on individual cases, with members being mobilised to obtain the release of a specific person. Human Rights Watch is not an organisation with members. We mainly do research into a system and not an individual."
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The Geuzen monument in Vlaardingen |
The research that Human Rights Watch does is intensive and complex. Often the researchers spend months trying to bring the truth to light. In Darfur, for example, thousands of refugees were interviewed in order to build up a true picture of the situation in the region.
As a result of its research, HRW will then draw up a report with which the organisation can then take to the United Nations, the media and the governments involved.
The organisation has already achieved some very good results with the work it has carried out. It's campaigning for the establishment of the International Criminal Court in The Hague proved successful and HRW has been and is still involved in a number of important international treaties, including one which aims at outlawing the use of children as soldiers.
However, a number of governments have criticised HRW's working methods. The organisation has, for instance, often been accused of being too one-sided in its criticimns of the Israeli government, and there are also critics who believe HRW works to a Western agenda and doesn't take into account the cultural and religious practices of individual countries.
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Carroll Bogart of Human Rights Watch |
Human Rights Watch believes that the war in Iraq and the abuses in Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib prison have seriously undermined the United States' reputation as an upholder of human rights. This is why the organisation has been urging the European Union to take on the mantle of world leader on human rights issues.
In that context, director Carroll Bogart sees an important role for the Netherlands: "For centuries the Netherlands has had a tradition when it comes to the issue of human rights."
At the moment the Dutch government also happens to be the coordinator of Western European countries on the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations. Ms Bogart says: "This commission is going through a difficult period. The Netherlands could put its diplomatic resources and knowledge to good use in order to have a greater impact." Ms Bogart says that there's been no lack of fine words in Europe in recent years, but a lot less in terms of action: "Hopefully in the coming years the Netherlands and other European countries will match the words with deeds."
*Translated and Edited by RNW Internet Desk (cc)
Tags: Abu Ghraib, abuse, award, Geuzen, HRW, human rights, initiative, Jan Pronk, medal