The DNA sequences between humans and chimpanzees are 98.5% similar; the similarity is 99.9% between humans. As we know today, DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms. Unfortunately, for humans, that 0.1% difference fuels the hate behind genocide, war and crime.

To achieve universal peace, humans must place their allegiance within the human race before their ethnicity, creed, or religion. We must place the rights of every person on the planet, regardless of gender, ethnicity, social standing or religion, above our own.

This is not a task to be undertaken by the lone wolf – there are simply too many subsections that the term ‘human rights’ can be broken up into. That is why the Attorney.org Equality, Justice, and Peace Network has compiled the following list of human rights organizations in order to provide our users with the most prominent names pursuing worthy causes. We hope that you can find an organization pursuing the same cause as you and that you choose to stand alongside them in their mission.

We have categorized each advocacy organization according to the continent that their work focuses on:

Africa

Action for Integration and Tolerance – http://www.afsi.org.uk/
Voluntary organization based in London, UK. Responds and advances African and ethnic minority communities’ welfare, rights and development needs through information provision, support, advice and capacity building. Develops effective partnerships between voluntary and community groups, funding bodies and statutory agencies.

Africa Action – http://www.africaaction.org/
Organization based in Washington, DC. working to change U.S. foreign policy and the policies of international institutions in order to support African struggles for peace and development.

Africa Files – http://www.africafiles.org/
A network of volunteers committed to promoting African perspectives and alternative analyses for human rights and economic justice in Africa.

Africa: Law – http://www.africa.upenn.edu/About_African/ww_law.html
Constitutions of African countries. Details of Africa Legal Aid (AFLA), counseling individuals and groups on human rights matters, promoting awareness of human rights, and publicizing violations.

African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies – http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/africa/ACOHRS.htm
Charter and general information on this initiative for equal rights.

African Commission on Human and People’s Rights – http://www.achpr.org/
Organization charged with ensuring the promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights throughout the African Continent.

Africans In America Inc. – http://www.aiainc.org/
A nonprofit organization combating modern trafficking and slavery of African children, and providing services for the victims of African child trafficking and slavery in New York City

All Africa – http://allafrica.com/
AllAfrica Global Media is a multi-media content service provider, systems technology developer and the largest electronic distributor of African news and information worldwide. Registered in Mauritius, with offices in Johannesburg, Dakar, Lagos and Washington, D.C., AllAfrica is one of a family of companies that aggregate, produce and distribute news from across Africa to tens of millions of end users.

Black Sash – http://www.blacksash.org.za
Works to advance equality, social justice and human rights in South Africa. Provides a paralegal service to those who need help in a variety of matters, including child support, social grants, labour problems, debt counselling and citizenship applications.

Foundation for Human Rights of South Africa – http://www.fhr.org.za/
Foundation for Human of South Africa advocates human rights awareness, promotion of children’s rights, public interest litigation, security of tenure on farms and youth and human rights development. It is the main South African grant maker.

Independent Advocacy Project – http://www.ind-advocacy-project.org/
Promotes respect for good governance in Nigeria. IAP brings together individuals and organisations to promote participation, transparency, accountability and respect for human rights.

Kabissa – Space for Change in Africa – http://www.kabissa.org
Seeks to strengthen the capacity of African non-profits to build civil society and democracy in Africa. Includes Newsletter.

Kenyan Human Rights Commission (KHRC) – http://www.khrc.or.ke/
An NGO based in Nairobi, Kenya. Originally formed in the US in 1991 by Kenyan exiles and activists to lobby for human rights and the promotion of democratization, accountability and good governance in Kenya.

Legal Assistance Centre – Namibia – http://www.lac.org.na
A public interest law centre advocating human rights in Namibia by making the law accessible to those with the least access.

Nelson Mandela Foundation – http://www.nelsonmandela.org/
Supports conflict resolution, removal of poverty as well as improving the health of the public, especially in regard to terminal diseases. The Foundation was established in 1999 as the primary vehicle for Mr Mandela’s pursuit of his ideals and goals.

POWA – People Opposing Women Abuse – http://www.powa.co.za/
People Opposing Women Abuse is an NGO undertaking research into gender-based violence in Africa.

Sangonet – http://www.sangonet.org.za/
Supports the effective use of ICTs in Southern African civil society organisations by providing quality services and initiatives. Includes list of South African NGOs on the web.

The Africa Law Institute – http://www.africalawinstitute.org/
Legal and social science think tank that engages in policy-oriented research that promotes good governance, democracy and the rule of law in Africa.

Asia

Afgan Women’s Association International – http://www.awai.org/
A non-profit, tax-exempt organization to establish and defend the basic rights of Afghan women. Includes current projects, reports, and news.

American Institute for Taiwan-China Strategy – http://fire.prohosting.com/aitcsweb
Organization producing articles supporting Taiwanese independence and opposing China and other communist countries.

Arizona Friends of Tibet and Dalai Lama – http://www.arizona-friends-of-tibet.org
A non-profit organization supporting non-violent efforts of the Dalai Lama to regain dignity and sovereignty for Tibetan people, to preserve the endangered culture of Tibet, and its Buddhist tradition.

Asian Human Rights Commission – http://www.ahrchk.net/
Seeks to promote human rights in Asia by monitoring, investigations, advocacy, education, conflict resolution, truth commissions and international tribunals.

Free Tibet Campaign – http://www.freetibet.org/
Official site, campaigning for an end to the Chinese occupation of Tibet and for the Tibetans’ fundamental human rights to be respected. UK based.

Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities – http://www.hrcbm.org/
Information about the worldwide campaigning movement dedicated to protecting the human rights of people in Bangladesh

Initiatives for International Dialogue – http://www.iidnet.org/
The IID is a solidarity and advocacy group involved primarily in peoples’ issues in East Timor, Burma and Mindanao in the Philippines.

Montagnard Alliance – http://www.montagnard-foundation.org/
Group of Australian lawyers and advocates dedicated to protecting the human rights of the indigenous Montagnard/Degar peoples of Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

People’s Union for Civil Liberties – http://www.pucl.org/
Provides online journal and documents concerning unresolved human rights problems in India.

Tibet Support Group Grampian – http://www.tibetsupport.org.uk/
Campaigns for Tibetans’ right to determine their own future and preserve their culture, for an end to the violation of their human rights and for a Tibet free from Chinese occupation.

Tibetan Liberation Theatre – http://www.tibetanliberation.org/
Grassroots performance organization supporting Tibetan freedom. Theatre, dance, music programs, community festivals and bazaars. Participate in demonstrations, campaigns, and celebrations.

Tibetan Support Programme – http://www.tibetsupport.org/
A non-religious, non-political group dedicated towards improving the quality of life of ethnic Tibetan people.

Uni Sosial Demokrat – http://www.unisosdem.org/
A nonpartisan NGO in Indonesia which seeks social, economic, and environmental democracy.

Central America

Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador – http://www.cispes.org/
Organization providing solidarity to the people of El Salvador. Also, donations taken online for disaster relief from the earthquake of 2001.

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights – http://www.cidh.oas.org/
An autonomous organ of the Organization of American States for the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as investigating abuses.

Latin America Working Group – http://www.lawg.org/
A advocacy coalition of 65 U.S. organizations concerned with an improved policy of human rights, peace and justice towards Latin America.

Europe

Association for the Prevention of Torture – http://www.apt.ch/
Founded in 1977, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the APT is an independent non-governmental organisation working worldwide to prevent torture and ill-treatment.

Centre Europe – Tiers Monde (CETIM) – http://www.cetim.ch/
Pursuing its research and publications devoted to North-South relations, focuses on human rights and participated in related United Nations work. Based in Switzerland.

European Roma Rights Centre – http://errc.org/
An international public interest law organisation which monitors the situation of Roma in Europe and provides legal defence to victims of human rights violations.

Fortress Europe? – Circular Letter – http://www.fecl.org/
Organisation providing news, analyses and comments on European developments in the fields of liberties, human rights, public order, policing, justice, data protection, immigration and asylum.

Liberty – http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/
An independent human rights organisation which works to defend and extend rights and freedoms in England and Wales.

NEMECIS – http://www.nemecis.org/
A non-governmental, non-profit organization working for the protection and promotion of human rights in Greece.

Human Rights Institute of the Bar of Bordeaux – http://www.idhbb.org/uk-default.htm
Promoting human rights and the training of lawyers in human rights and international criminal law, and reporting on the respect of defense rights.

Human Rights Server, Germany – http://www.humanrights.de
Organization placing human rights within the context of the progress of the mass of humanity. Includes links to those who resist.

Hungarian Helsinki Committee – http://www.helsinki.hu/
Hungarian human rights organisation monitoring respect for human rights in Hungary and providing legal counselling to victims of rights violations.

Justice et Solidarité Mondiales – http://www.jsmddh.com/
Seeks greater human rights for people, aid for victims of repression, children in need and victims of catastrophes worldwide.

Nordic Committee for Human Rights (NCHR) – http://www.nkmr.org/english/index.htm
Non-governmental organisation seeking to protect family rights in the Nordic countries.

OSMTH of Norway – http://www.osmth.no
An ecumenical order of Christians based on the foundations of the knights templars who advocate for human rights.

PanCyprian Association for the Protection of Human Rights – http://agrino.org/humrights/main/main.htm
Organisation providing information on human rights issues, with particular interest in the situation of human rights in the Republic of Cyprus.

The Danish Centre for Human Rights – http://www.humanrights.dk/
The Centre’s site gives information about the organization’s activities and also brings news about Human Rights issues.

The Finnish League for Human Rights – http://www.ihmisoikeusliitto.fi/tausta/introduction
European Union’s Finnish monitoring center against racism. Principle objectives are supporting the Sami people against mining activities and logging in the Sami areas, and fighting against all forms of racism and discrimination.

Middle East

Al-Bushra – http://www.al-bushra.org/
Arab American Roman Catholic community standing for truth, justice and peace.

Arab Association For Human Rights – http://www.arabhra.org/
Founded in 1988 by lawyers and community activists, the HRA is an independent, grassroots, non-governmental organization (NGO), registered in Israel.

Human Rights in the Middle East and North Africa – http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/mena/
Resource for organizations related to human rights issues in the Middle East and North Africa.

Kurdish Human Rights Project – http://www.khrp.org/
An independent, non-political project based in Britain to protect and promote human rights of people living in the Kurdish regions of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and the former Soviet Union.

Middle East Children’s Alliance Home Page – http://www.mecaforpeace.org/
A non-governmental organization working for peace and justice for Palestine, Israel, Lebanon and Iraq. Especially focusing on the rights of children.

North America

Alliance for Native American Indian Rights Inc. – http://www.anairtn.org/
Native American advocacy organization focused on Native American burial site preservation and stopping burial ground desecration and looting in Middle Tennessee.

American Civil Liberties Union – http://www.aclu.org/
Advocating individual rights by litigating, legislating, and educating the public on a broad array of issues affecting individual freedom.

Boycott-Riaa.com – http://www.boycott-riaa.com/
Organization rebutting arguments of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and writing critiques of the industry lobbyists’ attempts to control music sharing and copying. With background information, news, essays, and links.

Canadian Arab Federation – http://www.caf.ca/
Umbrella organization whose mandate is to identify, articulate, defend and otherwise pursue the interests of the Arab-Canadian community.

Dakota Lakota Nakota Human Rights Advocacy Coalition – http://www.dlncoalition.org/
Chartered on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation, the DLN is an advocacy group for human, civil, legal, and indigenous rights, and social justice for traditional Dakota/Lakota/Nakota People.

El Centro Hispanoamericano – http://www.elcentronj.org/
A non profit agency advocating for and protecting immigrant rights. Based in new Jersey.

Healthy Citizens – http://www.healthycitizens.com/
Citizens against human experimentation. Focuses on the development of post World War II United States health and military programs.

North Shore Colombia Solidarity Committee – http://home.comcast.net/~nscolombia/
Committee formed by people from various North Shore communities in Massachusetts in response to news that a portion of the coal for the Salem, Mass. power plant was coming from a mine in Colombia where grievous human rights atrocities were being committed against the people in the villages surrounding the mine.

Ontario Human Rights Commission – http://www.ohrc.on.ca/
Information guide about Canadian human rights, classifications of rights and laws, links to individual rights and to the work of the commission.

Ozarkopathy – http://ozarkopathy.org
Claims the attitudes and prejudices in the Ozark Mountain Region of the United States are dangerous.

Rights Action (Formerly Guatemala Partners) – http://www.rightsaction.org
Rights Action raises funds for community development, relief and human rights projects in Chiapas, Guatemala, Honduras and Haiti. Advocates and educates on these issues in US and Canada.

The Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations – http://www.law.ufl.edu/centers/csrrr/
An interdisciplinary academic institution that explores issues of race and race relations

War Child Canada – http://www.warchild.ca/
A non-profit organization to raise awareness and support of war affected children globally through local and international initiatives. Along with the music industry, targets youth with concerts, online chats, and documented footage and diaries of music artists.