Introduction:

The International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) and its national branches are independent non-governmental human rights organisations (NGOs) which bases their work on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed by the United Nations on 10 December 1948. The ISHR seeks to promote international understanding and tolerance in all areas of culture and society. It is a non-profit organisation, independent of all political parties, governments or religious groups. It acts according to the philosophy that the realisation of human rights and the improvement of social conditions cannot be pursued by use of force. ISHR was founded in order to support individuals who share this principle and, consequently, strive non-violently for their rights.

The ISHR is working as a membership organisation with approximately 30.000 members in 26 states worldwide. The International Society for Human Rights has observatory status at the European Council in Brussels and ECOSOC status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The ISHR is mainly financed by membership fees and private donations and largely cooperates with different human rights organisations.

The main topics of the work of the ISHR are:

1. Support of persons, who are persecuted, imprisoned and discriminated because of their religious and/ or political beliefs,

2.Public relations in human rights issues,

3.Education in human rights issues for persons, who live in states, which are at present in a phase of transformation towards democracy,

4.Humanitarian aid.
The ISHR has monitored and criticised the human rights situation in many countries since its foundation in 1972. Several countries with a bad human rights record, especially the Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China, Vietnam and North Korea have been under observation from the beginning. Cuba has been under observation since 1977. Unfortunately, there has always been every reason to criticise their human rights records.