Frequently Asked Questions
What is the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR)? Which goals does it pursue?
The International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) is a humanitarian civil society movement and registered as a non-profit association at the Local Court Frankfurt/Main with the signature 73 VR 6627. ISHR supports people, who fight for the implementation of human rights in their countries by non-violent means or people who are persecuted because they demand their rights. In the opinion of ISHR, the right to life and personal safety, civil rights such as freedom of opinion, assembly, religion and press as well as the right to free movement, are the most important human rights. The basis of ISHR's work is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 10th of December 1948 as well as the Pact on Civil- and Political Rights. ISHR has observer status at the Council of Europe and ECOSOC Roster status at the United Nations' Economic and Social Council.
Who founded the ISHR and since when does it exist?
The International Society for Human Rights was founded by 13 members as the "Society for Human Rights" on April 8th 1972 in Frankfurt/Main. In those days many demonstrated against the war in Vietnam. But nobody demonstrated for the thousands of political prisoners in Soviet penal camps, against the firing order and the victims at the Berlin Wall as well as for the politically persecuted and political prisoners in Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia and other Eastern European states. Initiator for founding the ISHR was Iwan I. Agrusow, born in the Russian town of Pskow, near the border to Estonia. During World War II, at the age of 20 years he was brought to Germany as a forced labourer. When the Second World War was over he saw that Soviet authorities treated forced labourers who were willing to return to their home country as traitors, so that he decided to stay in Germany. Among the founding members were further six people who experienced human rights violations themselves.
How is the ISHR organised?
ISHR is represented by sections and national groups worldwide, which are organised as associations in their home countries. All together the 26 sections and four national groups count approximately 30 000 members. The sections and national groups send representatives to the international council of the ISHR, the "International Society for Human Rights" (ISHR). The ISHR and its international secretariat are based in Frankfurt/Main, Germany. Only the main office in Frankfurt has full time employees, all other members work voluntarily. Members organise themselves - if possible - in working groups (members of one town) or in committees (work on a specific topic).
Where and to which topics does the ISHR work?
The different section's work covers a wide range of topics. Among the areas of work are especially freedom of opinion, association, religion and press, but for example also the overcome of barbaric punishments as stoning, amputation, blinding and birching as well as women's rights. Working on the establishment of (civil -) society in Eastern Europe is a collective project of all sections.
The different sections of the ISHR focus on topics chosen by them. Among these are - depending on the section - instruments of classical human rights work with PR-, press and individual case-, but also charity- work. The latter could be soup kitchens for kids living on the street, help for abandoned children, for disabled persons, for former political prisoners or family members of political prisoners, but also legal advice, support for orphanages, help for re-socialisation, work for better conditions of detention, for Union rights etc.
How is the ISHR financed?
Can Human Rights work really have an impact?
Do you remember the Nigerian Amina Lawal? She was accused of adultery and should be stoned in 2002. Only public interest and pressure saved her life. The ISHR has contributed to this success with over 300,000 signatures.
Experience shows: Human rights work can have an impact! Regimes violating human rights also have an interest in not being exposed to world public for not respecting international treaties and agreements. We should also keep in mind that some trade agreements are based on conditionality, meaning that these agreements include a human rights clause. Looking from a global point of view the differences achieved through human rights work may seem small, but for the people concerned it may mean the end of torture, their liberty or even their life. Many small steps and successes may lead in a medium- or long- term perspective to changes in a country.
How can I help?
There are many possibilities how each and every person can step in for human rights. We are confident that there is also a way for you to help. You can find some suggestions here:
How can I become a member?
Members are not only the soul of a society - they are the society. They give impulses and contribute to fulfilling the association's goals. They give the association importance when dealing with governments, politicians, authorities and international organisations. They can elect the board of directors or take the responsibility to be a candidate themselves.
Everyone who is interested in human rights is therefore very welcome to send a membership application to one of the ISHR's section. He or she must be at least 16 years old, hold up the values of liberty and democracy and should not belong to an extremist organisation.
Can I do an internship at ISHR?
Are you interested in an internship at ISHR? We would be glad about your contribution to our work, e.g. in the area of press- or PR-related work. Please write us or send an e-mail to: info@igfm.de. Only through voluntary work of interns and volunteers can the wide range of ISHR's work be accomplished - thank you very much!
How do regimes violating human rights react to the accusations of human rights organisation?
Human rights movements speak about unpleasant truths for criminal regimes. They are observed with suspicion by some states, some even try to make them sound untrustworthy, others try to totally shut them up. The People's Republic of China and Cuba for example, tried to hinder the accreditation of the ISHR to have the ECOSOC observer status at the United Nations, by claiming that ISHR information about political prisoners in China and Cuba was not true.
Is it correct, that the ISHR was accused if being a public enemy by the former German Democratic Republic?
Between the former GDR and the Federal Republic no language barriers existed, which made it especially easy for ISHR members to speak up for political prisoners. In the GDR these were not only, but mostly people wanting their freedom of expression and opinion as well as free movement. Already in 1975 the Minister for State Security, General Erich Mielke, declared the ISHR as public enemy. Over 100 files at the Gauck authority approve the destructive, demoralising work carried out by willing helpers in the Federal Republic for money or because of political-ideological conviction. Today some false declarations made by the GDR-State Security are still around and spread via internet with the claim to be true.
[more information in German...]
How can I remain updated?
It will be a pleasure for us to regularly send you information via e-mail. You can find further information under "publications"
