Causes to Support - Advocacy

Advocacy consists of organized efforts, highlighting critical issues that have been ignored or submerged. Efforts are made to influence public attitudes, implement laws and public policies so that a vision of "what should be" in a just, decent society becomes a reality. Advocacy organizations draw their strength from people and it is to them that they are accountable.

Issues

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Awareness

Advocacy initiatives begin primarily with awareness, that is, to make people aware of their rights and duties with respect to policies, issues or government departments. People are urged by NGOs to assert themselves, regarding their political, economic, and social lives.They are made to realize that there can be no change without the involvement and personal sacrifice of each citizen. People gain a voice in the decision making processes of relevant institutions and develop a strength to change the power relationships between these institutions and the people affected by their decisions.

Some relevant websites:

http://www.parivartan.com
http://www.freespeech.org/manushi

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Protection of Consumer Interest

Protecting the interests of consumers is one of the paramount concerns to voluntary organisations.Cooperation and coordination among NGOs is being strengthened to grant them the right to choice, safety, information and redressal. The Consumer Protection Amendment Bill 2001 - a socio-benevolent legislation - helps NGOs working towards strengthening the consumer movement at the grass-root level.

Some relevant websites:

www.cuts.org

Crime and Safety

The tenets behind our criminal justice system may be sound, but some of our crime-fighting techniques are counterproductive. There is a need to make adjustments to ensure the system is effective and fair. Issues like what should be the priorities of the criminal justice system, or how do we promote safety while protecting individual rights, are being debated. NGOs question fundamental public policy perspectives on making prisons more humane.Preparing undertrials to become productive citizens and encouraging people to find lawful and ethical solutions to problems are also included .

Some relevant websites:

http://www.nifi.org
http://www.worldbank.org/wbi/governance
http://www.uncjin.org/index.html
http://www.cvc.nic.in

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Human Rights

Fundamental human rights include civic, cultural, economic, political, and social rights, that is, comprehensive rights to live with dignity. Human rights are also linked to trade and sustainable development of the society. In NGO circles debate continues on the issue of linking labour standards with trade. Some countries are pushing for the inclusion of the social clause into the WTO, while others are opposing it. There is a call to link international trade with human rights, which include workers rights.

Some relevant websites:

www.cuts.org
www.parivartan.com
www.freespeech.org/manushi
www.pria.org

Labour

The social responsibility of corporations is typically not addressed in national or international investment agreements. However, with the pressure of voluntary organisations, socio politico obligations, ethical business standards and social responsibility seem to be the emerging issues. NGOs are educating and involving the public in actions aimed at ending labor abuse, improving living conditions for workers and their families and promoting the concept of a minimum wage.

Some relevant websites:

http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/asia-cst.htm
http://www.nlcnet.org/

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Peace, Security & Communal Harmony

Coexistence is an ideal. Its objective is not the union of divergent groups, but a practical relationship of mutual respect. Coexistence does not deny distinctiveness in fact, it encourages it.It respects the rich ethnic diversity of our country. Efforts by NGOs seek to encourage cross community efforts and inter religious harmony.

Some relevant websites:

http://members.aol.com/rasphila/peace.html

Population

India's population has crossed the one billion mark. To stabilize its population, various new methods of advocacy and communication need to be implemented.These include training a new cadre of people to advocate the benefits of reproductive health and gender issues.

Some relevant websites:

http://www.unfpa.org.in/indiaprogramme/adprojects.htm
http://www.unfpa.org/news/features/india2.htm

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Justice and Law

The advocacy movement in India has been lobbying for new laws to increase the influence on social institutions. Developing strategies for coalition building, media relations, and lobbying have helped in gaining support for public demands.

Some relevant websites:

http://www.cuts-india.org/citee-advocacy-complaw.htm
http://www.sit.edu/ipa/

Social Entrepreneurship

The most powerful force in the world is a pattern-changing big idea - if it is in the hands of an entrepreneur of equivalent ambition. Each such major pattern shift triggers cascades of follow-on innovations, adaptations, and local applications. The railroad and today's digital revolutions are prime business examples. Whether or not society generates a vigorous flow of these critical major innovations depends on its ability to foster and support the entrepreneurs. The economic success that has transformed the world over the last several centuries has ultimately been rooted in society's learning, first, how to tolerate business entrepreneurs and, then, how to support and reward them generously and at every step.

www.ashoka.org

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