Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that advocates for protection of human rights. HRW uses media coverage to publicize human rights violations, and encourages leaders of developed countries to intervene when other governments commit abuses.

HRW was created in 1978 by Robert Bernstein, a former publishing magnate who served as President of Random House for 23 years http://www.law.yale.edu/intellectuallife/bernsteinbio.htm. Bernstein created HRW (originally named Helsinki Watch) to monitor the Soviet Union’s adherence to the Helsinki Accords, an international treaty recognizing the need for political cooperation and respect for human rights. The organization established numerous partner groups, such as Asia Watch and Africa Watch, which were later joined together and renamed Human Rights Watchhttp://china.hrw.org/about. Today, HRW has its headquarters in New York City, and operates field offices in Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo, Toronto, and Washington D.C.. The organization employs approximately 280 people.http://www.hrw.org/en/node/75134.

Human Rights Watch Publications

HRW publishes an annual World Report based on investigative work undertaken the organization's staff. The report summarizes human conditions in countries around the globe, citing specific areas of concern and suggestions for how the global community can help to end conflicts. This report is often cited by government officials, and used as a basis for creating foreign policy and determining how to intervene in conflicts.

HRW also publishes investigative reports in news media, as well as its own web site. In addition, HRW issues press releases requesting governments take specific actions to assist in cases of human rights abuse.