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 development agency CARE-Bangladesh successfully involved key stakeholders, particularly a transport worker’s union, in combating the spread of HIV/AIDS by establishing a program of advocacy and service to address STIs and HIV. While Bangladesh’s HIV infection rate is low, it is surrounded by countries with high levels of the virus.  Transport workers are particularly vulnerable and at risk to get and spread HIV/AIDS in the country. To prevent the spread of the disease, CARE worked to build the trust and respect of the union workers, and developed their program alongside the civil society participants. The organization emphasized a sense of ownership for the stakeholders, and actively involved them in all parts of the development and implementation, with plans to give the project completely over to the participants. By creating the sense of ownership and holding the transport workers accountable and responsible, CARE succeeded in creating a sustainable and holistic health and prevention program, which resulted in a nationwide service network. The network consists of 45 drop-in centers, and 4,000 transport workers receive services every month from the program.

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/EngagingKeyStakeholders">Engaging Key Stakeholders: Ensuring the right to HIV/AIDS education and health care services</a></b> by Syed Asif Atlaf Chowdhury and Roy Romesh Chandra.