The Advocates for Human Rights (The Advocates), formerly the Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, uses traditional human rights monitoring methods to document abuses. They have adapted these methods to address emerging issues, especially violence against women.

Addressing Domestic Violence in Eastern Europe

In the early 1990s, The Advocates began focusing on women’s rights violations, including domestic violence, rape, and trafficking. They conducted fact-finding missions in 22 countries, publishing reports on each country’s laws and law enforcement practices. These reports included recommendations for aligning with international human rights standards.

Impact in Bulgaria

In 1995, women’s groups in Bulgaria invited The Advocates to document domestic violence. Their 1996 report exposed systemic failures: police rarely responded to calls, prosecutors labeled domestic violence a “family matter,” and judges did not hold offenders accountable. At the time, there were no shelters or support services for victims.

After the report, The Advocates partnered with Bulgarian women’s groups to train legal professionals on protecting women. Bulgarian NGOs used the report to push for stronger laws. In 2003, the Bulgarian Parliament passed a civil protection order law, modeled on Minnesota’s, to give immediate protection to victims. Later that year, The Advocates returned to Bulgaria to help train police and judges on the new law.

Supporting Immigrant Women in the United States

The Advocates is now documenting battered immigrant women’s experiences in the Twin Cities, USA. They aim to identify barriers to protection and effective programs that meet immigrant women’s needs. A Steering Committee of community members and advocates will guide the report drafting and review process. The final report will be distributed to community groups, legislators, and practitioners.