HRDN – Human Rights and Democracy Network Human Rights and Democracy Network
Created in Brussels in 2001, Human Rights Without Frontiers International (HRWF Int’l) is a non-profit association that seeks to shape European and international policy in ways that strengthen democracy, uphold the rule of law and protect human rights globally. The organisation is composed of a number of national branches in Belgium, Bhutan, Chad, Hong Kong, Nepal and the United States. Additionally, HRWF Int’l works with associated member organisations in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Georgia, Iraq, Kenya, Japan, Moldova, Pakistan, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia and South Korea.
Since its inception, the executive director has been Willy Fautré, a long-standing human rights activist.
HRWF Int’l conducts research, field missions, analysis and monitoring of a wide range of human rights concerns around the world. An international network of correspondents provides this NGO with first-hand information.
HRWF Int’l strives to strengthen a global culture of human rights by sharing information, publishing reports and organising seminars and events designed to educate policy makers and inform the general public. HRWF Int’l has four core areas of focus: freedom of religion or belief (FORB), women’s rights and gender equality, LGBTQI people and human rights, and general human rights violations in specific countries such as China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine. HRWF Int’l publishes electronic newsletters every day on these topics and maintains a database of news on each of these issues that is accessible through its website.
The advocacy that HRWF Int’l does is based on the international covenants and treaties that bind the global community to respect fundamental rights and freedoms. These instruments include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the European Charter of Fundamental Rights and legal precedents set by decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.
The organisation primarily works with EU institutions, the United Nations, the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
HRWF Int’l publishes reports frequently on FORB and runs a Database of FoRB Prisoners covering over 6,000 individual documented cases which is updated regularly.
Click for HRWF reports about FORB, Human Rights and Women’s rights and Gender Equality.
The financial resources of HRWF Int’l are provided by individual donors, a Swiss foundation (Stiftung Alfred Vogel) and by project-based work for other NGOs and lawyers.
For more information, please contact Willy Fautré.