Day of Fighting Injustice - 2021

                Two months ago, precisely on 23rd of August was celebrated in Brazil, the day of fighting injustice. We all must defend justice, because when there is some injustice happening for so long, a dangerous precedent can happen, destroying democracy, undermining rule of law and fundamental human rights. So, the public trust in our institutions is severely harmed. Besides, when there is not justice, the abuses tend to grow and spreading and affecting many more people. So if you have witnessed any violation of human rights, record it and help fight injustice. You should help to do justice, because if not you can be the next victim.  I have been fighting for justice, democracy and human rights for so many years and intend keep this work for more years ahead. I'll never give up to make Brazil a better country, more democratic, fairer, and where human rights are truly respected. The systematic violations, the impunity, the daily bullying in the mainstream media, the threats online and offline exist to do the victims give up to fight for their rights and reparations. Besides the violations, the systematic abuses, the daily humiliation and the impunity can have a dehumanizing effect in the population, trying us accept what can not be accepted, do not let this happen to you, the solidarity and the emphaty are the essence of the human beings. We all should recognize who have courage to defend our human rights including our political rights. Because always there are costs to do this, so help who is losing to defend your right.  This post is a summary of three articles. The first was published at https://www.hrc.org/news/we-are-stronger-together-fighting-injustice-takes-a-united-front. The second was published at https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/your-voice/opinion/article/3059862/dont-underestimate-or-dismiss-power-social-media. The third was published at   https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2019/09/human-rights-in-age-of-social-media-big-data-and-ai

                Six inspiring Americans, each with their own unique story and reason to speak out, have combined their voices to create a united video message of hope. Gold Star father Khizr Khan, transgender Sarah McBride, dreamer Astrid Silva, "Mother of the Movement" Lucia McBath, disability rights activist Anastasia Somoza, and Karla Ortiz, the 12-year-old of undocumented parents who shared her fears of her family's separation and deportation. Their messages of courage and compassion in the face of adversity stood out. There is a need to remember their voices of resilience, and find strength in their calls for solidarity. "We are seeing difficult times that many of us never expected", said Silva. Nevertheless, Silva's desire to defend immigrant rights and join others fighting for equality eclipses her fears and desire to give up. Never be disheartened because the majority of Americans stand with us. The goodness and decency of America is many fold greater than hate and prejudice displayed by a few." said Khan. McBath echoes Khan's optimism despite the state of uncertainty faced by many groups fighting for their rights. As an anti-gun violence advocate and mother of Jordan Davis, the 17-year-old boy fatally shot simply for playing loud music, McBath gains strength through other gun violence survivors and thousands of fellow activists fighting against injustice. "I believe in the power of people to stand up for their freedoms, for justice and equal opportunities. Never forget how valuable you are in your own struggle." said McBath. McBath, like the other six other activists featured in the video, believes that no matter the cause, it is important for all those advocating for justice to unite and come together as one. "The fight for justice for all only happens when our sleeves are rolled up and hands extended to others that are needed to fortify the movement. We are stronger together." said McBath.                                                                                                                    Many people are critical of social media, but they should acknowledge the benefit it has brought to society. Social media can reach a large audience in a short period of time, for instance. Because of this, much unjust suffering around the world have been brought to light. In October 2017, reality star Kim Kardashian retweeted a post that detailed the story of Alice Marie Johnson, a woman sentenced to life in prison after she was convicted of drug trafficking. (many felt the sentence was far too harsh for the crime, considering she wasn't the leader of the operation, and it was her first offence.) She had spent more than 20 years behind bars by the time Kardashian had retweeted the post. In May 2018, Kardashian approached U.S. President Donald Trump to ask him to grant Alice clemency. This was granted in June 2018, and she was finally released. This case is indicative of the power of social media. Sceptics ought to have faith in our generation's ability to judge the information that is presented to them. Don't assume everything you read is real, and look for reputable sources before share a story. Others might argue that we should not try to interfere with the judicial system. The case of Alice Johnson became known because the justice system failed her. Professional advice was sought before Kardashian met Trump regarding Alice Johnson, whose case was reviewed thoroughly before clemency was granted. Social media is important in helping to uncover injustice. There are, however, many cases that have not had the attention they deserve. What, or who, determines which case gets brought to light? Buzzfeed News said that the British Home Office, which is responsible for immigration, security, law and order, often only fast track cases that attract negative publicity to authorities. How is that fair to people in similar situations who don't get any attention? Until the proper solution happens, we will have to rely on social media to fight, one case at a time. It might seem like a small step but it can bring giant changes to someone's life.                                                                                                                                                  In just a few years, digital tech have allowed faster mobilization in response to humanitarian crises, better documentation of crimes, and more accessible platforms for organizing peaceful demonstrations around the world. However, while social media and big data can be powerful tools for anticipating, analyzing, and responding to human rights concerns, these tech also pose unprecedented challenges. Social media has been weaponized to spread disinformation and promote and incite violence. And websites and apps are continuously collecting data on their users. Often without them being aware of it, or of how and where their personal information is being used or stored. "Human rights provides a basis for restraining the worst intrusions and violations of the digital world, and promoting its best," said U.N. Special Rapporteur on the protection of the right to freedom of expression and professor of law at the University of California in Irvine, David Kaye. He adds, "not in some kind of vague... sense of what human rights might be, but in the specifics of human rights law. Although Americans tend to think of rights as guaranteed by the constitution, international treaties bind countries around the world to uphold rights such as privacy, freedom of expression, and nondiscrimination. How do we get from holding states accountable to holding digital companies accountable? There is a huge space to work in this foundation of human rights thinking to make it relevant to the companies, to make it relevant to governments, who regulate companies." The proliferation of cell phones around the world has also empowered civil rights advocates to record and report instances of abuses and advocate for change. Despite the good that digital tech can bring to human rights work, they can interfere with this work as well. Governments and private surveillance comapnies hired by adversaries are employing digital tools and data collection to thwart human rights activists. We have a lot of hard work ahead to articulate in a compelling way how digital governance applies with respect to freedom of expression and right to privacy. It's going to be a cross-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder process.

Understand Corruption and How to Curb It

               This post is a summary of the book with the title above published in 2021 at   https://www.u4.no/publications/understanding-corruption-and-how-to-curb-it.pdf

               The cost of corruption greatly exceeds the sum of bribes paid, funds misappropriated, and taxes avoided. Corruption hampers development. It increases inequality, impedes growth, undermines the legitimacy of governments, and weakens the public's trust in democracy. It impacts everything from learning outcomes in schools to climate change. Yet billions of people live in highly corrupt societies, with more than two-thirds of countries scoring below 50 points on Transparency International's 2020 Corruption Index. Over the past decades, the focus on corruption has steadily increased. Academic research on corruption has taken off as development actors have made tackling corruption an explicit policy objective. Protests and polls show that corruption is also a major concern for citizens. Yet significantly and sustainably reducing corruption has proved difficult. According to collective action theory, when corruption is widespread and accepted, the practice will persist due to lack of trust, misperceptions, and free riding. Individuals will continue to participate in corruption if they expect that others will do so as well. Collective action problems can also stop people from demanding change or holding powerful figures to account for acts of corruption. Unless individuals can trust that enough people will take a stand together and that genuine change is possible, they are unlikely to act. When a collective action problem is present, technical anti-corruption solutions will not be enough. People's expectations and levels of trust need to be altered. Coordination and cooperation will also be key. In some cases, corruption is not only widespread, but systemic. Systemic corruption is generally characterised by three dimensions: 1) Multi-actor organisation - Systems require coordination among multiple actors. In the case of corrupt systems, each corrupt act is perpetuated not only by two individuals but by a set of actors often connected in a network. The level of organisation can be loose or tight, and the scale of coordination will also vary. 2) Partial institutionalisation - The functioning of a system is not reinvented for each action but is underpinned by rules that can be explicit or implicit. Systemic corruption means that each act reflects informal rules that define how corrupt actors interact. 3) A broader rationale - A key quality of systems is that they tend to have some internal reinforcement mechanism that sustains them, or at least prevents quick disintegration. In corrupt systems the purpose of corruption may be, in part, to serve political functions rather than only private gains. Corruption becomes deeply rooted and self-reinforcing. In contexts of systemic corruption, all drivers of corruption will, to varying degrees, likely be present. Curbing corruption is immensely difficult. It also takes time. The instiutions, laws, practices, and norms of the world's least corrupt countries evolved over decades. An assessment of impact also needs to consider the context in which anti-corruption efforts are being implemented. It is far more difficult to reduce corruption in fragile states and in countries where corruption is not only high but systemic. Those who benefit from corruption have an incentive to both enhance their gains and undermine anti-corruption efforts. Quantitative and qualitative studies of countries, cities, ministries, and sectors that have achieved significant reductions in corruption have identified some potential pathways to success. The feasibility of reform is determined in part by whether there is an enabling environment. In many cases, the focus need to be on laying the groundwork for future anti-corruption efforts. In regimes where leaders are unwilling to address corruption, interventions that build demand for good governance, empower citizens, strengthen civil society and the private sector are potential entry points. When corruption is deeply entrenched or systemic, it has to be recognised and dealt with as such. Treating corruption as if it were individual bad acts will not work. The system underpinning corruption needs to be understood and either altered, co-opted, or countered. Changing from a high- to a low-corruption society takes time. The process is never complete. There is always a potential for backsliding and backlash. Maintaining the momentum is crucial. Momentum is essential for both simple and complex changes. The passage of a freedom of information law, for example, may lead to an increase in transparency. But over time there is a risk that bucreaucrats find ways to block unwanted inquiries. Citizen demand for good governance and a well-functioning judiciary are a necessary complement. Human agency and political will are essential factors for reform. Many of the contemporary anti-corruption success cases were spearheaded by top politicians, among others, the current president of Rwanda, Paul Kagane, the former prime minister of Estonia, Mart Laar, and the former mayor of La Paz, Ronald MacLean Abaroa. Committed groups inside and outside the government have an important role in pressing for change. They may pay a high price for their commitment, however. Reformists can be fired, transferred, arrested, threatened, and even in extreme cases, killed. A combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches to anti-corruption may be the most sustainable path to reform. Grassroots and civil society were behind the right to information legislation in India and the 'clean record' bill in Brazil. Quantitative studies indicate that anti-corruption tools such as party finance legislation, autonomous anti-corruption agencies, whistle-blower protection, supreme audit institutions, and laws criminalising corruption as a special offence have, on their own, little impact. Adequate law is the starting point, not the end. Top- down approaches are more likely to be effective when there is a commitment from those in power to address corruption. To tackle corruption, we need to understand it. The identification needs to be broad and deep, as well as context-specific and feasibility-sensitive. Such an inquiry involves exploring collective determinants of corrupt behaviour, the legal and institutional frameworks and practices. The identification should also identify possible entry points and map which stakeholders are for or against reform, why they hold those positions. An understanding of political will and power dynamics is also essential. Encouragingly, there is a trend towards more robust analysis of corruption. Political analyses may identify a lack of political will without digging more deeply into the many layers of incentives, rules and constraints that characterise the host country's institutional make-up. An anti-corruption intervention should: 1) be sufficient anchored and led by local stakeholders, including powerful individuals where possible. 2) Be based on a strong theory of change, including an understanding of the complexity of corruption and anti-corruption. 3) Be based on a deep, context-specific understanding of the drivers and enablers of corruption, as well as the wider political economy. 4) Draw on local knowledge, including marginalised voices. 5) Make use of the anti-corruption literature. 6) Employ a tailored, multi-faceted, multi-stakeholder approach. 6) Complement ongoing efforts and strategies. 7) Foster collaboration and coordination. 9) Contribute to addressing the underlying causes of corruption. 10) Employ a realistic time horizon and reslistic goal. 11) Anticipate unintended consequences and backlashes. 12) Allow for continuous adjustment while the intervention is underway. 13) Be implemented and funded by stakeholders genuinely committed to reform.

50 Ways to Take Action

                 This post is a summary of an article published in 2020 at https://www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/50-Ways-to-Take-Action.pdf

                Art and movements have supported each other for as long as human beings have suffered through and fought against oppression. From struggles of indigenous uprising and the civil rights movement to current struggles against human rights abuses, people have used creativity to subvert censorship and the limitations placed upon them. Creative actions help us tell a story, raise awareness about a issue, and inspire others to join us. Use this guide to inspire you.   1) BANNER HANG - Hang a large banner in a prominent area of your city to disrupt the visual landscape.    2) CREATIVE BANNER DISPLAY - Utilize visuals that catch the eye and leave the passerby thinking about the message behind the visual.   3) VIDEO/IMAGE PROJECTION - You can turn the side of a building into a huge advertisement for your cause.    4) OCCUPY SPACE - Sit-in occupy a prominent area to push a target to act on the issue at hand. This also attract attention to the issues that you want to bring to light.    5) CREATIVE DISRUPTION - Disrupt spaces with large numbers of people wearing the same colored clothing.    6) THE POWER OF SYMBOLISM - Take one item and place many of the same in a public area.    7) PORTABLE MURALS - Create a mural on a makeshift wall made from cloth and a wooden frame. Place the mural in a prominent area and distribute leaflets while engaging in conversation.    8) FLASH MOB - Organizing mass action on short notice.    9) POLITICAL THEATRE - Stage an enactment of injustice in a prominent area in your area.    10) CREATIVE VIGIL - Bring people together in interactive actions.    11) CREATIVE PETITION DELIVERY - Give an abstract issue a physical and visual presence.    12) CHALKING - Get creative with messaging and bold, insightful visuals.    13) PREFIGURATIVE IMAGINATION - Collectively imagine/plan how it would be to live in a world you want to live in.    14) WALKING TOUR - Plan a walking tour around key sites.    15) COSTUMED LEAF-LETTING - Dress in symbolic wear and utilize short powerful messaging.    16) CAMPAIGN FOR A CITY/STATE RESOLUTION.    17) WORK WITH REPORTERS TO WRITE A HUMAN RIGHTS STORY.    18) ORGANIZE A PANEL DISCUSSION. 19) PUBLIC SPEECH ON A SQUARE.    20) FILM SCREENING.    21) HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERT.     22) ORGANIZE OR ATTEND A DEMONSTRATION     23) CALL OR SEND EMAILS TO ELECTED OFFICIALS.    24) VISIT YOUR LEGISLATORS.    25) PRESSURE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE POSITIONS.     26) HOST A WRITE-A-THON.     27) WRITING COMPETITION WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS.     28) WRITE SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT LETTERS.     29) CANVASS FOR SIGNATURE IN A PUBLIC PLACE.    30) CO-SPONSOR EVENTS WITH PARTNERS AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH LIKE-MINDED GROUPS.    31) HOST A COMMUNITY DISCUSSION AND INVITE ELECTED OFFICIALS.     32) HOST A TECH-IN TO PROVIDE EDUCATION ON THE ISSUE.     33) PARTICIPATE IN OR ORGANIZE A TWEET-IN.     34) CREATE A DIGITAL HUMAN RIGHTS SERIES SPECIFIC TO YOUR ISSUE. 35) CREATE A PODCAST OR FILMED NEWS FEATURE.