Tactics

All over the world people are using innovative tactics to help ensure human rights are preserved. In many cases, other human rights advocates would benefit from learning about these experiences. The New Tactics online database is a growing collection of such tactics, described in a way to be useful and even inspirational for others who can apply them to their own situation as is, or modify and combine tactics to form their own.

We encourage you to browse these tactics, search for specific ones, ask questions, or start a discussion about them, and share your own experiences and innovative ways you approach in addressing a human rights issue close to your heart. We are actively seeking to add to this growing resource of new ways to foster a better world.

Title Country or Region Tactic Purpose Keywords
Using illustrated children’s literature to educate children and adults of their rights and to foster a culture of human rights Egypt Building awareness
Re-writing Traditional Stories to Gain a Gender-Sensitive Perspective Egypt Strengthening individuals and communities
Using zero rupee notes to protest prevalence of bribery in public service sectors India Removing opportunities for abuse
Using humor to put an oppressive government in a lose-lose situation Serbia Resistance
Demanding Compensation: Convincing the government to compensate victims of abuse by police, military, and armed forces personnel India Seeking redress
Workers Saving their Factories and Saving their Jobs: Using an expropriation law to ensure economic rights are protected Argentina Removing opportunities for abuse
Holding an international tribunal to raise awareness of and seek reparations for sexual war crimes Japan Remembering abuses
Informing potential victims of their rights when there is a time limit on protecting those rights Canada Sharing critical information
Using a comprehensive training approach to persuade police officers to transform their relationships with communities Brazil Building constituencies
Protecting freedom of thought and the right to privacy by destroying records that could be demanded by the government United States of America Removing opportunities for abuse
Using Living Newspapers to bring world events into the classroom United States of America Building awareness | Building Human Rights Cultures and Institutions
Using peaceful marches to raise awareness of domestic violence United States of America Building awareness
Using international monitoring bodies to pressure government to address violations and establish mechanisms for protection United Kingdom Sharing critical information | Building awareness
Operating a Temporary Restaurant to Raise Funds and Awareness Netherlands Building capacity
Using government budgets to monitor its legal obligations, commitments, and progress in advancing child-specific rights South Africa Sharing critical information
Mapping personal histories to reclaim a place in history, recover lost land and promote social justice South Africa Remembering abuses
Creating an online database to promote government transparency South Korea Building awareness
Developing a Corporate Sector Model to promote cost-effective and socially-responsible action on HIV/AIDS in the community India Building awareness
Building multiple constituencies for transnational policy advocacy on indigenous issues Finland Building constituencies
Using a historic garment factory to promote dialogue on sweatshop issues United States of America Strengthening individuals and communities | Building awareness
Creating a venue on the Internet for former child soldiers to share their stories and develop new skills Sierra Leone Remembering abuses | Strengthening individuals and communities
Promoting discussions on disability to generate a holistic and inclusive human rights dialogue Canada Collaboration | Sharing critical information
Building a coalition of all human rights organizations in a country to speak with one voice against abuses Peru Collaboration | Building capacity
Using people’s tribunals to mobilize victims and pressure for justice India Building awareness
Using dialogue to build strong alliances for effective sharing of information between organizations
Burundi
Congo
Rwanda
 Collaboration | Sharing critical information