Changes

These committees monitored human rights compliance of government and groups inside these continents. In the 1980s the organization heavily scrutinized the [[Region Doctrine]], they also denounced the [[United States]] aiding of anti-[[communist]] fighters in [[Latin America]].  

These committees monitored human rights compliance of government and groups inside these continents. In the 1980s the organization heavily scrutinized the [[Region Doctrine]], they also denounced the [[United States]] aiding of anti-[[communist]] fighters in [[Latin America]].  

Jeri Laber, one of the founders of HRW, stated, "Americas Watch reports … were eagerly read in the United States by people who deplored the Reagan policies." <ref>Discover the Networks, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6258</ref>  

Jeri Laber, one of the founders of HRW, stated, "Americas Watch reports … were eagerly read in the United States by people who deplored the Reagan policies." <ref>Discover the Networks, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6258</ref>  

Critics claimed that Human Rights Watch painted a bad picture of the freedom fighters in Latin America, while glossing over the abuses of their communist governments.  In 1980, [[Turkey]] began a major [[military]] campaign against a [[Kurdish]] terrorist group, the [[PKK]]. HRW documented the violations caused by the Turkish forces in their efforts, highlighting the abuses in the justice system, and use of [[torture]] by the government. In 1994 HRW’s “African Watch” covered the [[genocide]] in [[Rwanda]].,<ref>Human Rights Watch, “Rawanda”,1994, https://www.hrw.org/reports/1995/WR95/AFRICA-08.htm#P397_139563</ref>  Their work documenting the atrocities in the region later won them praise from Karel Kovanda, the [[Czech Republic]]'s ambassador to the [[United Nations]], who stated in 2004, “I already knew the track record of Human Rights Watch in its work in my own country. I had every reason to believe that the organization was equally meticulous and well-informed on Rwanda.”<ref>Karel Kovanda, Czech ambassador to the [[United Nations]], 2004,http://hrw.org/about/what_they_say.html</ref>

Critics claimed that Human Rights Watch painted a bad picture of the freedom fighters in Latin America, while glossing over the abuses of their communist governments.  In 1980, [[Turkey]] began a major [[military]] campaign against a [[Kurdish]] terrorist group, the [[PKK]]. HRW documented the violations caused by the Turkish forces in their efforts, highlighting the abuses in the justice system, and use of [[torture]] by the government. In 1994 HRW's “African Watch” covered the [[genocide]] in [[Rwanda]].,<ref>Human Rights Watch, “Rawanda”,1994, https://www.hrw.org/reports/1995/WR95/AFRICA-08.htm#P397_139563</ref>  Their work documenting the atrocities in the region later won them praise from Karel Kovanda, the [[Czech Republic]]'s ambassador to the [[United Nations]], who stated in 2004, “I already knew the track record of Human Rights Watch in its work in my own country. I had every reason to believe that the organization was equally meticulous and well-informed on Rwanda.”<ref>Karel Kovanda, Czech ambassador to the [[United Nations]], 2004,http://hrw.org/about/what_they_say.html</ref>

===1998-2006===

===1998-2006===

===2006-2007===

===2006-2007===

In 2006, HRW greatly criticized [[Israel]]’s defense against the terrorist group [[Hezbollah]]. They created a report entitled, “Israel's Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in Lebanon.” <ref>“Israel's Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in Lebanon.” Human Rights Watch, August 2006, http://hrw.org/reports/2006/lebanon0806/lebanon0806web.pdf</ref>

In 2006, HRW greatly criticized [[Israel]]’s defense against the terrorist group [[Hezbollah]]. They created a report entitled, “Israel's Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in Lebanon.” <ref>“Israel's Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in Lebanon.” Human Rights Watch, August 2006, http://hrw.org/reports/2006/lebanon0806/lebanon0806web.pdf</ref>

Critics also stated that HRW also defended the terrorist organization. In a 2006 report they stated that there was no evidence of Hezbollah’s use of civilians as human shields, this was obviously not true.<ref>Alan Dershowitz,[ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-dershowitz/the-human-rights-watch-_b_27701.html “The "Human Rights Watch" Watch, Installment 1”]</ref>

Critics also stated that HRW also defended the terrorist organization. In a 2006 report they stated that there was no evidence of Hezbollah's use of civilians as human shields, this was obviously not true.<ref>Alan Dershowitz,[ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-dershowitz/the-human-rights-watch-_b_27701.html “The "Human Rights Watch" Watch, Installment 1”]</ref>

HRW started campaigning for the United States to intervene in Darfur, Sudan, to end the atrocities committed in the region. Over its years, HRW has been embraced by the left, well being deplored by conservatives and supporters of Israel. HRW wrote president, [[George Bush]], and asked him to release prisoners that he was holding in “secret prisons”, they also called on him to stop the use of [[Guantanamo Bay]] as a U.S. [[prison]] for captured [[terrorist]]. The organization’s director, Kenneth Roth, claimed that the United States has lost its credibility on human rights.  "The trend is bleak, but not irreversible," <ref>Kenneth Roth, Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/11/AR2007011101658.html</ref> Roth stated in a report in 2007. The organizations credibility has been brought into serious question.   

HRW started campaigning for the United States to intervene in Darfur, Sudan, to end the atrocities committed in the region. Over its years, HRW has been embraced by the left, well being deplored by conservatives and supporters of Israel. HRW wrote president, [[George Bush]], and asked him to release prisoners that he was holding in “secret prisons”, they also called on him to stop the use of [[Guantanamo Bay]] as a U.S. [[prison]] for captured [[terrorist]]. The organization's director, Kenneth Roth, claimed that the United States has lost its credibility on human rights.  "The trend is bleak, but not irreversible," <ref>Kenneth Roth, Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/11/AR2007011101658.html</ref> Roth stated in a report in 2007. The organizations credibility has been brought into serious question.   

==Founders==

==Founders==

|[[Aryeh Neier]]

|[[Aryeh Neier]]

|Founder

|Founder

|Neier worked 15 years at the liberal [[American Civil Liberties Union]] (ACLU). He currently serves as President of the [[Open Society Institute (OSI)]], a foundation funded by liberal [[George Soros]], who was also OSI’s founder.<ref>“Open Society Institute”, Discover the Networks, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/funderprofile.asp?fndid=5181&category=79</ref> Neier was co-founder of [[Students for a Democratic Society]] in 1959 while he was acting Director of the [[League for Industrial Democracy]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z5_hgLHYUiwC&pg=PR20|last1=Neier|first1=Aryeh|title=Taking Liberties: Four Decades in the Struggle for Rights|date=2003|publisher=Public Affairs/Perseus Books |location=Cambridge, MA|isbn=1586482912|pages=Introduction:xx|quote=As director of LID, I decided to try to invigorate its student division.  One step in that direction was to rename it.}}</ref>  

|Neier worked 15 years at the liberal [[American Civil Liberties Union]] (ACLU). He currently serves as President of the [[Open Society Institute (OSI)]], a foundation funded by liberal [[George Soros]], who was also OSI's founder.<ref>“Open Society Institute”, Discover the Networks, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/funderprofile.asp?fndid=5181&category=79</ref> Neier was co-founder of [[Students for a Democratic Society]] in 1959 while he was acting Director of the [[League for Industrial Democracy]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z5_hgLHYUiwC&pg=PR20|last1=Neier|first1=Aryeh|title=Taking Liberties: Four Decades in the Struggle for Rights|date=2003|publisher=Public Affairs/Perseus Books |location=Cambridge, MA|isbn=1586482912|pages=Introduction:xx|quote=As director of LID, I decided to try to invigorate its student division.  One step in that direction was to rename it.}}</ref>  

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===Leadership===

===Leadership===

Human Rights Watch consists of a Board of Directors and chairmen from five continents, along with three other boards which cover specific issues.<ref>Human Rights Watch Board and Committee’s, https://www.hrw.org/about/info/board.html</ref> Each board consists of chairmen and co-chairmen, with exception of the board on “Terrorism and Counterterrorism.” The smallest board, “Terrorism and Counterterrorism,” consist of eight members, while the largest board consists of over forty members. Although the organization composed of 190 full-time employees’, they also hire part-time employee’s, bringing the number to 255 working employee's working  for the organization

Human Rights Watch consists of a Board of Directors and chairmen from five continents, along with three other boards which cover specific issues.<ref>Human Rights Watch Board and Committee’s, https://www.hrw.org/about/info/board.html</ref> Each board consists of chairmen and co-chairmen, with exception of the board on “Terrorism and Counterterrorism.” The smallest board, “Terrorism and Counterterrorism,” consist of eight members, while the largest board consists of over forty members. Although the organization composed of 190 full-time employees’, they also hire part-time employee's, bringing the number to 255 working employee's working  for the organization

.<ref>Human Rights Watch, “Frequently Asked Questions”  

.<ref>Human Rights Watch, “Frequently Asked Questions”  

https://www.hrw.org/about/faq/</ref> HRW also has a ‘Counsel’, which can be joined by giving donations to the organization (usually $5,000), the counsel remains primarily symbolic. While this list of counsel members used to be confidential; it is now since open to the public.<ref>“Who’s Behind Human Rights Watch,”(2004), http://web.inter.nl.net/users/Paul.Treanor/HRW.html</ref> The organizations main leadership role is held by the executive director. This position has been held, since 1993, by Kenneth Roth, a graduate of [[Yale Law School]], [[Brown University]], and former prosecutor.<ref>HRW website, Kenneth Roth, https://www.hrw.org/about/bios/kroth.htm</ref>[[Bill O'Reilly]] called Roth, the “stand up man” for the organization, his job includes talking to the media and overseeing the organizations operations.<ref>O’Reilly Factor, 2004,  https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,138990,00.html</ref>  

https://www.hrw.org/about/faq/</ref> HRW also has a ‘Counsel’, which can be joined by giving donations to the organization (usually $5,000), the counsel remains primarily symbolic. While this list of counsel members used to be confidential; it is now since open to the public.<ref>“Who’s Behind Human Rights Watch,”(2004), http://web.inter.nl.net/users/Paul.Treanor/HRW.html</ref> The organizations main leadership role is held by the executive director. This position has been held, since 1993, by Kenneth Roth, a graduate of [[Yale Law School]], [[Brown University]], and former prosecutor.<ref>HRW website, Kenneth Roth, https://www.hrw.org/about/bios/kroth.htm</ref>[[Bill O'Reilly]] called Roth, the “stand up man” for the organization, his job includes talking to the media and overseeing the organizations operations.<ref>O’Reilly Factor, 2004,  https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,138990,00.html</ref>  

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.”  

In 2006, HRW released a 50-page report, "Fatal Strikes: Israel's Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in [[Lebanon]]," which covered civilians deaths they claimed were caused by Israel in their conflict with the terrorist group [[Hezbollah]]. Israel stated that the many of the deaths were caused by Hezbollah’s use of civilian areas and human shields. HRW stated that there was no evidence that Hezbollah used human shields, but this notion was widely known as untrue. While focusing on Israel’s “indiscriminate bombing”, HRW failed to report significantly on Hezbollah’s launching of 2,000 rockets at civilian areas. HRW criticized Israel’s building of a fence in the [[West Bank]], calling it part of an "illegal" land grab.<ref>NGO Monitor, 2005, http://www.ngo-monitor.org/archives/news/HRWLetter-NYSun.htm</ref> [[Anthony Weiner]], a Democrat Congressman, was shocked at the idiosyncrasy of the charges, he stated, "Given that the security fence has inarguably reduced [[terrorism]] and death by would-be Palestinian bombers, it seems any organization truly concerned about human rights should be supporting [[Israel]]'s right to construct it”.<ref>NGO Monitor, 2005, http://www.ngo-monitor.org/archives/news/HRWLetter-NYSun.htm</ref> Even a liberal newsmagazine, [[The New Republic]], could not resist the slant of HRW coverage<ref>Rosa Brooks on Criticism of Human Rights Watch, Kevin Jon Heller, http://www.opiniojuris.org/posts/1157149379.shtml</ref>

In 2006, HRW released a 50-page report, "Fatal Strikes: Israel's Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in [[Lebanon]]," which covered civilians deaths they claimed were caused by Israel in their conflict with the terrorist group [[Hezbollah]]. Israel stated that the many of the deaths were caused by Hezbollah's use of civilian areas and human shields. HRW stated that there was no evidence that Hezbollah used human shields, but this notion was widely known as untrue. While focusing on Israel's “indiscriminate bombing”, HRW failed to report significantly on Hezbollah's launching of 2,000 rockets at civilian areas. HRW criticized Israel's building of a fence in the [[West Bank]], calling it part of an "illegal" land grab.<ref>NGO Monitor, 2005, http://www.ngo-monitor.org/archives/news/HRWLetter-NYSun.htm</ref> [[Anthony Weiner]], a Democrat Congressman, was shocked at the idiosyncrasy of the charges, he stated, "Given that the security fence has inarguably reduced [[terrorism]] and death by would-be Palestinian bombers, it seems any organization truly concerned about human rights should be supporting [[Israel]]'s right to construct it”.<ref>NGO Monitor, 2005, http://www.ngo-monitor.org/archives/news/HRWLetter-NYSun.htm</ref> Even a liberal newsmagazine, [[The New Republic]], could not resist the slant of HRW coverage<ref>Rosa Brooks on Criticism of Human Rights Watch, Kevin Jon Heller, http://www.opiniojuris.org/posts/1157149379.shtml</ref>

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In a 2006, HRW fights for Congress to enact reforms to U.S. immigration law to guarantee respect for the human rights and labor rights of non-citizens. These reforms should include measures that end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-positive individuals.<ref>[https://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/05/02/usdom13290.htm U.S. Immigration Law Inhumane to Same-Sex Couples] HRW, MAY 2, 2006</ref>

In a 2006, HRW fights for Congress to enact reforms to U.S. immigration law to guarantee respect for the human rights and labor rights of non-citizens. These reforms should include measures that end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-positive individuals.<ref>[https://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/05/02/usdom13290.htm U.S. Immigration Law Inhumane to Same-Sex Couples] HRW, MAY 2, 2006</ref>

In conjunction with the UN Human Rights Committee, HRW applauded the Colombia’s Constitutional Court's decision "to extend pension benefits to same-sex partners sets an example for other countries in achieving equality for all." <ref>[http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,HRW,,COL,,480db5ae2,0.html Colombia: Court Extends Benefits to Same-Sex Couples] UN Refugee Agency, April 18, 2008</ref>

In conjunction with the UN Human Rights Committee, HRW applauded the Colombia's Constitutional Court's decision "to extend pension benefits to same-sex partners sets an example for other countries in achieving equality for all." <ref>[http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,HRW,,COL,,480db5ae2,0.html Colombia: Court Extends Benefits to Same-Sex Couples] UN Refugee Agency, April 18, 2008</ref>

===Gitmo Detainees===

===Gitmo Detainees===