An international non-governmental organization founded in 1961. The organization investigates human rights violations, brings these violations to public attention, and seeks the release of “prisoners of conscience” – those imprisoned for their beliefs or because of their ethnicity, gender, color or language. Amnesty also advocates for fair trials for political prisoners, an end to torture and ill-treatment of prisoners and prisoners of war, the abolition of the death penalty, the rights of conscripts to alternative civilian service, and the rights of refugees.

Human Rights Watch – Human Rights Watch

Founded in 1978, a non-governmental organization that monitors, investigates and documents human rights violations in more than 70 countries around the world. Conducts advocacy campaigns to make a significant impact on a given situation. “Human Rights Watch opposes violations of what it considers to be basic human rights, including the death penalty and discrimination based on sexual orientation. Defends freedoms related to or derived from fundamental freedoms such as freedom of religion and freedom of the press. Investigates violations of these norms and publicizes findings in regional and international media. The reports published by the organization are used as a basis for drawing international attention to abuses and as a tool to pressure governments and international organizations for reform. According to official statements, the organization does not accept financial assistance from governmental structures, existing at the expense of private donations. Each year, Human Rights Watch awards the title “Human Rights Defender” to activists who demonstrate leadership and courage in the defense of human rights.

International Committee of the Red Cross

A humanitarian organization operating worldwide on the principle of neutrality and impartiality. It provides protection and assistance to victims of armed conflict and internal disturbances. The organization’s offices, which employ more than 12,000 people, are located in nearly 80 countries around the world. In situations of armed conflict, the ICRC coordinates the activities of national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies and the International Federation, which unites them.

Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres

An international independent humanitarian medical organization providing emergency care to victims of armed conflict, natural disasters and those denied medical care. It provides assistance to those in need regardless of gender, race, religion or political opinion. The organization sends more than 3,000 volunteers annually to more than 80 countries around the world, including zones of armed conflict. Volunteers of the organization work in many “hot spots”. In addition, Médecins Sans Frontières conducts preventive and educational work to combat drug addiction and AIDS. Founded in 1971, the organization is a worldwide movement consisting of 23 associations.

Reporters without Borders – Reporters sans frontières

The organization was founded in 1985 to fight against censorship and to free journalists imprisoned because of their professional activities. It publishes an annual freedom of expression index of more than 160 countries on its website.

International Commission of Jurists -The International Commission of Jurists

A non-governmental human rights organization working on international human rights law and international standards of justice. The Commission is a permanent group of 60 prominent jurists (judges and lawyers) from different countries, including representatives of the highest echelon of the judiciary in Australia, Canada, South Africa, Germany, Swaziland, Malawi, Botswana, Argentina, Colombia, Serbia, Tunisia, and other countries of the world.

World Organization Against Torture – World Organization Against Torture

The World Organization Against Torture is an international coalition of non-profit public organizations fighting against torture, extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, established in 1985. The network consists of 297 organizations dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights around the world. Provides targeted medical, legal and social assistance to victims of torture and ensures the daily dissemination of urgent appeals worldwide to prevent gross human rights violations, protect individuals and fight impunity. In addition, some activities focus on the protection of specific vulnerable groups such as women, children and human rights defenders.

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Established in 1994, this human rights organization works to protect housing rights and prevent forced evictions worldwide. The Center is guided by international legal instruments, while understanding that “housing” is more than a roof over one’s head. The Center emphasizes that “about half of the world’s population lacks decent housing, even though this right is guaranteed in international human rights instruments.” In its work to defend the rights to decent housing, the Center and its partners around the world are engaged in analysis, advocacy, education, and training to work in court on issues such as:

• forced evictions
• Property protection
• Access to land
• Water and sanitation
• Women and housing rights
• judicial and legal protection
• Restitution and repossession
• the impact of catastrophic events on housing rights.

In November 2010, in one of its recent landmark decisions, set out in Center for Housing Rights and Evictions v. Italy, the Council of Europe’s Committee on Social Rights (which oversees the revised European Social Charter) found that Italy had violated the rights of its Roma ethnic population by destroying their camps and expelling them from the country. The mass expulsions of members of the Roma ethnic group, who were citizens of other EU States but not of Italy, had increased significantly since 2008. The following violations have been identified: discrimination and violation of the rights of Roma to decent housing, to social, legal and economic protection, protection from poverty and social exile, and violation of the right of nomadic Roma families to protection and assistance. Italy has also been criticized for implementing policies that segregate Roma Roma and subject them to extremely poor housing conditions.

Caring for the environment in Switzerland

Between 1961 and 1976, several large chemical plants dumped more than 114,000 tons of toxic chemical waste into a former clay pit at Bonfohl, near Basel, Switzerland. Today it would be illegal to dump the waste, but in 1961, when the quarry began filling, no such dumps were prohibited by law. The toxic waste remained there, continuing to poison the area and the environment with a mixture of organic and inorganic pollutants. On May 14, 2000, about 100 Greenpeace activists occupied the Bonfole chemical dump site and demanded that the chemical companies that dumped toxic waste there take full responsibility for cleaning it up. The activists said they will remain at the dump site until the chemical companies commit to cleaning it up so that it is no longer a danger to human health or the environment.

The seizure of the landfill site forced the chemical companies to meet with local community representatives and Greenpeace, and as a result, they finally signed an agreement requiring that a feasibility study for the cleanup be completed by February 2001, and that cleanup work begin that year. The companies also agreed to the participation of local communities and environmental organizations in the cleanup process and committed to inform local authorities about the extent of groundwater and drinking water contamination resulting from the waste discharge. On July 7, 2001. “Greenpeace” ceased its action at the landfill site.

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