In many countries around the world, people are denied basic freedoms. Women are oppressed, prisoners are mistreated and people are dying of curable diseases. In many cases, people are governed by dictatorships and never have a say in the government's actions.
"We are interested in bridging and encouraging dialog between the government and its citizens," says Patricia Poirier. She is the communications director for a human rights group.
"Most of our work is done in developing countries," she says. Generally, these countries are either undemocratic or are fledging democracies.
The idea of the group isn't to go in and tell a country how to govern itself. Rather, its aim is to conduct studies and set up a democratic framework for the people in the country to use to build their own system.
"For example, we went to Kenya, and in partnership with other groups, did studies on how the country could further democracy and how to encourage it," explains Poirier.
Once the study was complete, it was presented at a national conference, where partner groups from Kenya met to discuss the findings. "It brought together people who had never met but who were working towards the same goals," she says. "At this conference, these people could then plan and work at the same issues and decide how to proceed."
In addition to giving research support, the group also gives financial support. "In many cases, the only thing a group lacks is the finances to carry through with their plans," she says.
The government gives assistance to developing countries, but how do they know who needs help? Human rights organizations can offer suggestions.
"For example, in Peru, our partnership organizations tell us whenever there is a crisis," says Poirier. "They tell us what [we] could do to help them. We take this information and then lobby the government on these international issues."
In addition to helping promote democracy, the group also promotes women's rights.
No individual or group is going to change the world. But in partnership and with action, human rights workers can proceed towards common goals. "We aren't going to change the law by ourselves," says Poirier. "We're a small group, but we can certainly help."
Errol Mendes is the director of a human rights research center. He says that there are a few main areas where human rights work will continue to grow.
"In developing nations, providing health care, better forms of government and policing will be an issue," he says. In addition, developing new international criminal laws for war crimes and crimes against humanity is a priority for human rights workers.
He also believes that the human rights sections of large multilateral organizations such as the UN and UNICEF will need more workers. "These organizations hire people by geographic equality so that they won't be filled by Americans and Canadians, but there still will be more opportunities in this area for all."
Most human rights workers get interested in the field because of personal beliefs.
"I find it meaningful to act in a way consistent with my own beliefs," says Deanna Gallagher. She is the education coordinator for a human rights organization in Minnesota. "Depending on the area you work in, you can really have preventative and positive effects."
She also enjoys meeting others who are excited to work in human rights. "You come in contact with other like-minded people," she says. "You find a whole network or tribe of people that care about the same issues as you do.
"We're trying to make the world a better place."