International Observatory of Human Rights explained

Type:Non-profit
INGO
Headquarters:London,
United Kingdom
Key People:Valerie Peay
Fields:Press freedom, Refugee Advocacy campaigns, research, advocacy, web TV
Homepage:observatoryihr.org

The International Observatory of Human Rights (also known as IOHR) is a London-based non-governmental organization focused on exposing human rights violations.[1] It runs a TV channel dedicated to human rights campaigns, the first of its kind, via the netgem.tv interactive platform.[2]

Profile

Established in November 2017, IOHR has focused on a number of themes relating to prisoners of conscience, arbitrary detentions, the refugee crisis, the challenges of extremism and radicalism, social injustice, and violations of international law. It has also been active on the subject of media freedoms and minority rights.[3] [4] [5] It is a nonprofit organization based in the United Kingdom.[6]

The IOHR was founded by Valerie Peay, who also serves as its director.[7] Peay is also a Trustee Director of the Royal Caledonian Educational Trust in Scotland.[8]

Recent campaigns

  1. BeARefugeeSponsor

IOHR launched the #BeARefugeeSponsor campaign to call for the expansion of the UK Community Sponsorship of the Syrian Refugees scheme.[9] In August 2018, IOHR held a third event in its #BeARefugeeSponsor series with the aunt of Alan Kurdi, highlighting the benefits of Community Sponsorship and the Canadian experience.[10] Matthew Ryder, London's Deputy Mayor for Social Integration, Social Mobility and Community Engagement lent his support to their appeal.[11]

  1. NotBornARadical

IOHR launched the "Not Born A Radical" campaign to address causes of radicalisation and provide progressive platform for educating and empowering the youth, and engaging returning fighters, prisoners and family members.[12] [13] [14] It has hosted events at King's College London[15] and the University of Rostock.[16]

  1. FreeRouhaniHostages

IOHR has sought to highlight the case of a growing number of dual citizens who have been incarcerated on return visits to their native Iran. In June 2018 IOHR partnered with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in inviting Mrs. Vida Mehrannia, the wife of imprisoned Iranian-Swedish professor Dr Ahmad Reza Jalali, to Brussels and Strasbourg to appeal for an urgent intervention from diplomats and members of the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe the week before President Hassan Rouhani's visit to Europe.[17] [18] [19]

IOHR TV

IOHR launched IOHR TV, a video content channel, in January 2019 to optimise its campaigning activities.[20] It also broadcasts stories on the IOHR website. The format of video material often comprises one-on-one interviews with guests to discuss topical issues. Output also includes content from IOHR events.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alan Kurdi's aunt stops in Halifax for book tour The Chronicle Herald. www.thechronicleherald.ca. en. 2019-05-28.
  2. News: First human rights TV channel vows to "give a voice to voiceless". 2019-01-15. Reuters. 2019-05-28. en.
  3. Web site: UN Secretary-General calls on Myanmar to pardon and release imprisoned Reuters reporters. Tobitt. Charlotte. 2018-09-26. Press Gazette. en-US. 2019-05-28.
  4. Web site: Protest held in London against oppression of Uighurs. Yeni. Şafak. Yeni Şafak.
  5. Web site: London event discusses oppression of Uighur Muslims. www.aa.com.tr.
  6. Web site: INTERNATIONAL OBSERVATORY OF HUMAN RIGHTS LIMITED - Overview (free company information from Companies House). beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. en. 2018-04-05.
  7. Web site: 'Iran gebruikt mensen met dubbele nationaliteit als onderhandelingsmiddel'. MO*.
  8. Web site: Royal Caledonian Education Trust: Scotland's Armed Forces Children's charity – » About us – RCET Team. Digital. Connect. www.rcet.org.uk. en. 2018-04-05.
  9. Web site: Is the UK playing its part with refugee resettlement?. Woods. Al. 21 June 2018. Flux Magazine. en-US. 2019-05-28.
  10. Web site: 'Ik bleek de wind te zijn die Abdullahs gezin de zee op had gedreven'. Sadeghi. Bahram. 2018-09-17. de Volkskrant. nl-NL. 2019-05-28.
  11. Web site: Thank you to @observatoryihr Director Valerie Peay, @CitizensUK and others for a moving evening at the National Liberal Club, hosting #TamiKurdi @noursakr6 and Syrian families sharing their accounts of fleeing war and finding refuge. #BeaRefugeeSponsorpic.twitter.com/WUCnfu3WHw. Matthew. Ryder. 15 August 2018.
  12. Web site: Grandparents of baby born to UK jihadist killed in Syria want him to come home. Davidson. Tom. 2019-02-22. mirror. 2019-05-28.
  13. Web site: Grandparents of boy born to jihadist fighter in Syria beg for his return to UK. 2019-02-28. Metro. en-US. 2019-05-28.
  14. Web site: BBC Two - Victoria Derbyshire, 22/02/2019. BBC.
  15. Web site: Countering radicalisation and safeguarding human rights. 2018-04-27. European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. en. 2019-05-28.
  16. Web site: Forscher in Rostock: Kämpferin oder gute Ehefrau svz.de. svz. 24 September 2018 . 2019-05-28.
  17. Web site: Wife of VUB guest lecturer dr. Ahmadreza Djalali meets top Flemish and European policymakers. 2018-06-25. VUB Today. en. 2019-05-28.
  18. Web site: J'attends de la Belgique et de l'Europe qu'elles arrivent à annuler la peine de mort de mon mari. Libre.be. La. 2018-06-26. www.lalibre.be. fr. 2019-05-28.
  19. Web site: Wife of Tehran death-row lecturer in Brussels. News. Flanders. 2018-06-26. vrtnws.be. en. 2019-05-28.
  20. Web site: UK gets world's first human rights TV channel to 'give a voice to voiceless'. 2019-01-18. Metro. en-US. 2019-05-28.