Human rights are standard opportunities that all people should have, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, language, etc. Everyone should understand that they have the right to life, freedom from slavery and torture, and the ability to express their beliefs. Everyone has the right to education, to work and more. And no one should be discriminated against in any way.

International Law

The first document to proclaim forward thinking at the international level was the Charter of the United Nations, signed in San Francisco in the summer of 1945. On October 24 of that year the document entered into force, a date celebrated annually as UN Day.

The UN Charter is considered an instrument of international law, with signatory states bound to act in accordance with the principles of interstate cooperation enshrined therein:

1. The equality of all members of the UN.
2. Settlement of international disputes by peaceful means only.
3. Renunciation in interstate relations of the threat of force.
4. Non-interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state, etc.

The Charter is not a rigid document, it was amended in 1963, 1965 and 1973.

The International Court of Justice acts to resolve disputes arising between states in accordance with the UN Charter.

Only States may be parties to cases before the Court.

The judicial body consists of 15 independent judges with impeccable reputation and qualification, not more than one representative per State.

The seat of the Court is traditionally considered to be The Hague, but if necessary judicial hearings can also take place in other places.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was proclaimed in Paris on December 10, 1948, to protect the individual interests of citizens. The document was initiated by the UN General Assembly, and representatives of most cultural traditions from all regions of the world took part in its drafting. The Declaration became a legal standard to which all peoples should aspire, and over the years it has been translated into over 500 languages.

The UDHR outlines the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens, and has been recognized as one of the most significant documents in the history of mankind. Already in its preamble, it states that the dignity and equality of human beings is the foundation of justice and freedom. Tyranny and oppression can lead to rebellion, and to prevent this from happening, citizens must be protected by the rule of law. And relations between nations must develop in a friendly way, etc.

The 30 articles of the UDHR list basic rights and freedoms, the observance of which should lead to the improvement of people’s lives and social progress. Here are some of them.

• All human beings are born free and equal.
• This does not depend on race, color, nationality, religion, sex, property status, political opinion, or other differences.
• Every human being has the right to life, freedom, and should not be enslaved.
• Torture, humiliation, punishment, and discrimination are unacceptable.
• All are equal before the law and can expect a defense, a fair public trial and a hearing, no one may be detained without cause.
• The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, he cannot receive a harsher punishment than that in effect at the time of the crime.
• No one may invade privacy, home, correspondence, honor and reputation.
• Everyone may move freely in his own country, leave it and return to it, and take refuge in another country, as long as his actions are not contrary to the UN Charter.
• No one can be arbitrarily deprived of his citizenship.
• The institution of marriage is protected by the state, and men and women have equal rights.
• No one may be deprived of his property without cause.
• Everyone may freely choose his or her religion, political beliefs, and participate in social organizations.
• Every person may participate in government by himself or through elected representatives, who shall be elected by fair and open voting.
• Every member of society has the right to work and to fair pay for it, as well as full recreation (e.g. to play in Dutch online casinos without registration https://onlinecasinopoint.nl/).
• Everyone is guaranteed social security, decent medical care, education, etc.

All rights and freedoms are exercised in accordance with the principles of the UN.

What does the Human Rights Act do

Some countries have special laws devoted to human rights. Such a law came into effect in 2000 in the UK, it consists of a series of Articles, each explaining a different “right.”

The UK has decided that the state must guarantee the interests of its citizens through its own legislation. The Human Rights Act makes it possible to obtain justice in a British court without going to the ECtHR.

All government agencies are obliged to respect and protect human rights.

Every article of the Act is borrowed from the European Convention on Human Rights and mentions the basic natural, political, civil and other freedoms on which a democratic society relies. And judges try to pass sentences in accordance with the Convention.

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One of the most important components of a stable and prosperous state of society is calm on the streets, in public places, and the proper state of public order. The degree of importance of this issue for modern society can be evidenced by the totality of the efforts undertaken by various states. Therefore, it is no accident that the efforts of the state, society, and the individual are aimed at maintaining public order.

At the state level, protection of public order is carried out by a system of special bodies. But along with the active efforts of such bodies, public participation in this process, whose representatives actively cooperate with state authorities, is becoming increasingly important. Such cooperation seems to be more effective than the adoption of “hard” laws. For this purpose, various public associations are created, citizens unite in order to ensure proper order on the streets, protection of public order. Interaction of the state and institutions of civil society is an indicator of democratic development, it shows the interrelation and interdependence of the state and public subjects.

Let us note that similar organizations are created and carry out their activities in foreign countries as well. For example, in the USA there is a large number of different public organizations, the activities of which are aimed at protecting public order. These organizations can be formed according to the area of residence, production interests and even “according to race in white and black neighborhoods.

These organizations were especially active at the local, neighborhood level, and they were created in a variety of forms: volunteer police organizations made up of citizens-volunteers (US Volunteer Police, British Volunteer Police), “neighborhood” crime control organizations, “neighborhood watch”, “security brigades”, “grab-ass” type organizations, “Guardian Angel Alliance”, etc. Among the many such organizations are “safety brigades,” the “guardian angel union,” and “neighborhood” crime-fighting organizations.

Voluntary community organizations formed according to the neighborhood principle, i.e. according to the place of residence of the organization’s members, are the “safety brigades” in Philadelphia. These organizations are formed on a voluntary basis and have several advantages over other such formations.

First, security brigades patrol the streets on a daily basis. A special feature of the watch is the rule that the “security brigades” patrol only on streets known to them, they do not invade an unfamiliar neighborhood. This contributes to more effective patrolling, since the members of the “security brigades” know their street, their house and their courtyard very well and can signal to the police any breaches of public order in good time.

Second, team members are equipped with mobile communication with the police. This makes it possible not only to report and prevent an offense in time, but also to summon police officers when members themselves are in danger.

Third, it is not the responsibility of the “security brigades” to apprehend the offender, but only to report information about the nature and location of the offenses to the police department. When an offender is on the move, members of “security brigades” may report information to police officers until “a signal is received from the police that the person of interest has entered the zone of visibility.

Such approaches to organizing the activities of “security brigades” are the most expedient, since they exclude the use of any powers of authority by public organizations, thus minimizing the risk to their lives and health.

An indisputable advantage of the activity of these organizations is the practice of generalizing positive experience of their activity. In particular, representatives meet once a month at the police station of their area to summarize positive experiences, develop general directions and determine prospects for the future.

The experience of brigades in the United States shows that community organizations staffed by the district principle have a number of advantages. In addition, the absence of state-authoritative powers in the activity of such organizations reduces the risk to life and health of their participants.

In foreign countries the public organizations, completed at the place of residence, they consist of neighbors in an apartment house effectively carry out their activity. These are the so-called “neighborhood organizations” created within the framework of the “Neighborhood Watch” program, actively supported and stimulated by the police to participate in such activities8.

It is worth noting that the prototype of such organizations as supervision, which are local groups carrying out their activities within one house or street, were voluntary people’s druzhiny. The legal regulation of the activity of “neighborhood watch” type organizations is based on the principles of legality, voluntariness, persuasion, and the absence of state-authoritative powers. Their activities are aimed at creating “neighborhood” organizations that supervise the state of public order in the territory entrusted to them.

Researchers who study this type of organizations compare their scale and prevalence by the degree of public impact with the environmental movement. The effectiveness and popularity of these public organizations among the population is clearly evidenced by their number, for example, in the United States – more than 100,000 thousand such organizations. They are formed from citizens-enthusiasts who are willing to “take on this troublesome but necessary task. The members of the organization themselves determine “who will coordinate their actions, who will contact the police, who will receive general information about the state of local crime and bring it to the residents, in what form, etc.”

In this regard, along with patrolling, “neighborhood organizations” inform the police about violations of public order, report information of a “criminal nature,” creating a calmer situation in their territory, in their neighborhood.

In turn, police officers provide citizens with printed materials containing information on the prevention of offenses.

Thus, “neighborhood watch” organizations are formed at the place of residence of citizens on the basis of the principles of legality, voluntariness, persuasion, absence of state-authoritative powers. These principles represent the basis of legal regulation of their activities.

However, such principles may not apply to the activities of some public organizations in foreign countries, as they have the right to use the powers of authority, in particular, to make civil arrests. The Union of Guardian Angels, which makes civil arrests of people who have committed crimes, is one of these organizations.

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Public organizations are also being formed to preserve what they consider to be the constitutional rights of Americans. For example, the National Rifle Association was founded in 1871 to protect the right to own firearms, as well as to provide firearms training for police and self-defense courses, improve firearm safety, improve shooting techniques, and promote hunting in the United States.

Today, the National Rifle Association is better known as one of the main political forces advocating for reducing restrictions on gun ownership and defending Second Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution. The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, on the other hand, works to pass and enforce federal and state laws, regulations, and public policies that would provide stricter controls on gun use and ownership.

Both of these organizations, along with thousands of other civic organizations, play an important role in the gun control debate currently underway in the United States following the tragedy that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, late last year.

Many civil society organizations, especially those that advocate for civil liberties, are devoting a great deal of attention to criticizing our authorities. The American Civil Liberties Union is a prime example. The purpose of this organization is to defend and preserve the rights and freedoms of the individual, as enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and in American laws.

Representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union work daily in courts, legislatures, and with the public to protect and preserve individual rights and freedoms.

Civil Liberties Union (CLU) civil society organizations oversee the actions of the government. Civil rights organizations in the U.S. monitor elections and campaign promises, investigate and expose corruption, and actively advocate on behalf of minority communities.

One function of NGOs is court monitoring, where U.S. citizens monitor decisions.
For example, WATCH, a Minnesota NGO, describes its purpose as improving the efficiency and responsiveness of the court system in cases of violence against women and children. This organization is a member of the National Association of Judicial Monitoring Programs, which provides training and materials to organizations in various states.

Because the U.S. Constitution guarantees openness of the courts to the public, members of community-based organizations that monitor the courts have no difficulty accessing the courts and observing what is going on in a court case.

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I have also been asked recently whether foreign NGOs work in the U.S. and whether American NGOs receive funding from abroad. The answer to both questions is yes. Foreign civil society organizations working in the United States range from the German Goethe Institute, which promotes German and German studies abroad and encourages international cultural exchanges, to the network of Confucius Institutes, which provides information on Chinese education, culture, economy and society. Another example is the Hitachi Foundation, based in Japan, which focuses on strengthening communities in the U.S. through programs such as the Business and Jobs program aimed at improving the lives of underserved Americans.

Since 2007, the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) has supported key lobbying actions in favor of abolishing the death penalty in Illinois and Maryland. The European Commission acts as one of the largest donors of development projects in the world, and dozens of American civil society organizations submit project proposals to the European Commission for funding. All of Germany’s party institutes also work in the U.S. International human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch, which has five offices in the US, and Amnesty International, which has six offices in the US, publish reports on the human rights situation in the US.

An individual does not need to be a U.S. citizen to register an NGO in the United States. Registration requirements vary from state to state, but no government permission is required to register an NGO. Foreign-funded organizations have no special restrictions on their activities. They can hold meetings and publish materials in free form. They do not have to report to the federal authorities, if they pay taxes. NCOs have the right to receive funding from abroad and work with foreign governments to achieve their goals. NCOs are not required to report on outreach work, recruitment and staffing to the authorities, and the authorities do not seek to influence foreign-funded NCO offices.

However, foreign nationals cannot fund political campaigns or parties unless those nationals are “lawful permanent residents.
Some citizens and organizations, if they are representatives of a foreign entity, must register with the Department of Justice and submit program information and financial records under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA for short). The term “agent” is the key term in this law-it means that the organization or citizen is conducting its activities under the instruction of and on behalf of a foreign entity.

Simply receiving funds does not qualify a party as a foreign agent. Foreign entities can be foreign governments, foreign political parties, individual citizens or foreign organizations (excluding U.S. citizens), or organizations operating under the laws of a foreign country or conducting their principal activities in a foreign country. Many of the organizations registered in the United States as “foreign agents” are companies that directly and openly represent foreign governments (usually lobbyists).

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Since the earliest days of U.S. history, which began 234 years ago, Americans have volunteered in a variety of actions to promote the country’s well-being and make life easier for those who are struggling. This year, for the first time, the federal government released “Public Life in America,” a report that describes how much U.S. residents remain committed to civic principles in both big and small ways by participating in formal organizations and in other ways.

The study, conducted by the Corporation for National and Local Community Service and the National Conference on Citizenship, showed a significant increase in volunteerism in the U.S. in 2009, when the country and the world were in economic crisis.

“Americans participate in community service both formally and informally,” said Lamonica Shelton of the Corporation for National and Local Community Service. – This is very important because we need to broaden perceptions of people’s participation in America’s problems. It’s not just about formal participation through organizations, but it’s about people just getting together in their neighborhoods and working on issues.”

National Conference on Citizenship staffer Michael Wieser notes that the report reveals three main areas of community action. “When times are tough, Americans come together to solve problems in their communities,” he says. – “They embrace problems rather than walk away from them, even though the task of making ends meet is becoming more urgent than it was a few years ago.

“Second, we learned that community action is contagious,” Wieser continues. – The report clearly shows that people who participate in one type of community activity – no matter how informal – tend to get involved in more formal volunteering. Third, we learned that the Civic Health Assessment we adopted is the very first step toward greater participation.”

According to Lamonica Shelton, the study revealed several indicators that show who is more likely to spend their time and talents volunteering. “If a person participates in one of the many forms of civic community activity that we focused on in the Public Life in America report, the chances of them getting involved in other activities goes up,” she explains. – It’s a cycle that’s gaining momentum: if a person is involved in volunteerism, they’re more likely to be involved in elections, and if people interact informally with their neighbors, they’re more likely to be involved in local civic organizations.

The number of Internet users in the U.S. is high and growing. It may seem that the World Wide Web distracts people from real and personal interaction with others. However, in terms of community service and civic participation, according to Michael Wieser, this understanding may be wrong. “The Internet is a tool that brings people together,” he says. – Eventually they can meet and work together face to face. Then they’ll work personally and closely together to solve community problems or work together in an organization. So the Internet is likely to help people find other people with similar interests. It can help overcome certain complexes. And at the end of the day, it helps them become what they want to become, which is to work together for the good of their community.”

Research on civic participation in the United States has been done in the past. Lamonica Shelton explains the specifics of the current study. “Previous work has examined the formal ways people participate through formal organizations,” she says. – “In our report, Public Life in America, we looked beyond volunteering. We looked at other aspects of community service, at informal activities, like when you work together with your neighbors to solve a problem. But then we also looked at other key areas, such as political activity, participation in groups, access to information about current events, and social connections.”

The report also noted the high level of community engagement among military veterans, as well as the role of corporations, many of which incorporate community engagement into their business strategy.

The “Public Life in America” report found that 63.4 million Americans were involved in at least one community organization in 2009. About 20 million people worked with others to solve specific problems. Six in 10 Americans provided services to their neighbors.

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