ID: 11268

Name:Umair khan

Section:D

Date:20/03/2021

Topic: Explain foundation of human rights.

Introduction:
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a non-profit organization that describes
itself as promoting and protecting human rights globally, with a focus on closed
societies. HRF organizes the Oslo Freedom Forum. The Human Rights Foundation
was founded in 2005 by Thor Halverson Mendoza, a Venezuelan film producer and
human rights advocate. The current chairman is Russian chess grandmaster Garry
Kasparov, and Javier El-Hage is the current chief legal officer. The foundation's head
office is in New York City.

Organization:
HRF's mission is to "unite people in the common cause of defending human rights
and promoting liberal democracy, to ensure that freedom is both preserved and
promoted".

HRF's website states that it adheres to the definition of human rights as put forth in
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976), believing that all
individuals are entitled to the right to speak freely, the right to worship in the
manner of their choice, the right to freely associate with those of like mind, the right
to acquire and dispose of property, the right to leave and enter their country, the
right to equal treatment and due process under law, the right to be able to
participate in the government of their country, freedom from arbitrary detainment
or exile, freedom from slavery and torture, and freedom from interference and
coercion in matters of conscience.

According to the New York Times, HRF "has helped smuggle activists out of
repressive countries, provided many with broader exposure and connected others
with prominent financiers and technologists".

The Council is currently chaired by chess Grandmaster Garry Kasparov.

Funding:
According to financial disclosures on its website, HRF donors include DNC Treasurer
Andrew Tobias, actor Kelsey Grammar, human rights campaigner Bill Browder,
actress Anne Archer, Harvard Professor Steven Pinker, Blockhain founder Brock
Pierce, actor Gary Sinise, Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, technology investor
Peter Thiel, and fashion designer Zang Toi. HRF has also received funds from
numerous foundations including the Arcus Foundation, the Greater New Orleans
Foundation, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, the Community Foundation of
Wyoming, the Combined Federal Campaign, the Sarah Scaife Foundation, the
Foundation for Democracy in Russia, the John Templeton Foundation, the Roger
Firestone Foundation, and the Vanguard Charitable Endowment.[non-primary
source needed] HRF is also supported by the Brin Wojcicki Foundation, which was
created by Google co-founder Sergey Brin and biotechnology analyst Anne Wojcicki.

Oslo Freedom Forum:

The Oslo Freedom Forum is an annual HRF conference in Oslo, Norway, supported by
several grant-giving institutions in Scandinavia and the United States through HRF.
Donors include Fritt Ord, the City of Oslo, the Thiel Foundation, the Norwegian
Helsinki Committee, the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amnesty
International Norway, Plan Norway, The Brin Wojcicki Foundation, Human Rights
House Foundation, and Ny Tid. The forum is funded in part by the municipality of
Oslo, the Norwegian Ministry of affairs, and the Fritt ord Foundation.

Aim:
The aim of the Foundation is to address the historical legacy of Apartheid, support
the transformation of South Africa and to build a human rights culture, using the
Constitution of South Africa as a tool. The members of the Supervisory Board of the
Foundation are prominent South Africans, and include representatives of the
Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the European Union. The
Board independently shapes the goals, strategies and direction of its programmers
and makes decisions on grant-making.