MAHR uses traditional human rights monitoring methods to document human rights abuses, but has made a practice of adapting this methodology to address emerging human rights issues.  The approach has been used to document violations of women's human rights such as domestic violence, rape, employment discrimination, sexual harassment in the workplace and trafficking in women and girls for commercial sexual exploitation.  The findings on violence against women in 22 countries have been published in reports that include an analysis of each country's legislation related to women's rights and of the local law enforcement system, as well as recommendations on bringing laws and practice into conformity with international human rights obligations.

For a detailed exploration of this tactic, please click on the following link to consult our tactical notebook, <b><a href="http://www.newtactics.org/en/FamiliarToolsEmergingIssues">Familiar Tools, Emerging Issues</a></b> by Jennifer Prestholdt.

The Korean Women Workers’ Association United (KWWAU) organized a highly successful campaign gaining public and government awareness and support for increasing the minimum wage, improving government policies for sub-contracted women workers and prosecuting businesses that violate the minimum wage system. In 2000-1, a survey conducted by KWWAU documented that 23% of the sub-contracted workers surveyed received significantly less than the minimum wage. It was discovered that the minimum wage system did not protect workers employed in small and medium sized businesses.  The campaign effectively utilized media—using cartoons, images and other innovative tactics— in 9 different cities in the summer of 2001 which resulted in more than 15,000 people signing KWWAU’s petition. As a result of public outrage, rather than the usual 4% increase, the government wage committee raised the minium wage by 12%. The KWWAU was the first to focus on increasing the minimum wage.  In 2002, many unions and civil organizations established the "Minimum Wage Network" to improve wages and the minimum wage system.  Subsequent efforts have resulted in a yearly minimum wage increase of more than 10%.

For a detailed exploration of this tactic, please click on the following link to consult our tactical notebook, <b><a href="http://www.newtactics.org/en/EngagingtheMedia">Engaging the Media: Building support for minimum wage reform</a></b> by Jee Hyeon Kim.

The Centre for Victims of Torture (CVICT) in Nepal created a process of community mediation as an alternative to the criminal justice system. CVICT did research on what types of disputes were occurring, then developed a training course for community leaders, including women and Dalits (of the untouchable caste), on settling disputes with a rights-based community mediation method. Community mediation would be available for disputes other than violent crimes, and would be made available to everyone, regardless of age, sex, class, or social caste.  The mediation system is improving access to justice and the dynamics of power in the three districts where it has been carried out.  It is also greatly reducing the number of arrests: In the first year, two-thirds of cases were resolved through mediation while one-third went to the police and the courts.

For a detailed exploration of this tactic, please click on the following link to consult our tactical notebook, <b><a href="http://www.newtactics.org/en/AccesstoJustice">Access to Justice: Creating local level, citizen action mediation bodies to ensure human rights</a></b> by Dinesh Narayan Suddhakar.