Human rights rapid response monitoring survey report

The purpose of the survey was to gauge existing capacity among nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other nonprofit associations for human rights rapid response monitoring activities. The participants were invited to share their comments about human rights monitoring and USAID"s potential role. The findings can be summarized as follows. (1) None of the 25 surveyed organizations have sufficient capacity to undertake human rights monitoring on short notice (i.e., within one week). (2) Two organizations (America"s Development Foundation and Freedom House) have significant expertise in several aspects of human rights monitoring activities. However, neither of the two NGOs had a rapid response capability for mobilizing large numbers of volunteers in a crisis situation. (3) Several of the other surveyed organizations possessed significant expertise in one or more aspects of the monitoring process. For example: five organizations maintain computerized databases that contain the names of several thousand volunteers, many of whom could be identified, screened, and contacted within 24 hours of an emergency alert; two suitable monitor training programs have been developed that could be conducted within two weeks" time; three organizations specialize in providing logistical support to relief operations. Altogether, these complementary NGO resources offer several cost-effective methods for rapidly deploying human rights monitors. The organizations generally agreed that there was a significant lack of coordination and commitment among donors and the UN in the field of human rights. While the respondents unanimously advocated a role for NGOs in human rights monitoring, they disagreed as to what the proper role of the UN and USAID should be. Most found the UN"s Human Rights Center (UNHRC) to be ineffectual and overly bureaucratic in its operations in Rwanda. Nearly all of the respondents cautioned against a visible role for the Agency with regard to monitoring. They agreed instead that USAID should limit its activities to funding training activities for monitors and building the capacity of human rights NGOs and/or the UNHRC. One respondent offered a unique example of coordination that envisioned the UNHRC, international NGOs, and indigenous human rights monitors combining their strengths in a three-level organizational structure. (Author abstract, modified)