International organizations often organize advocacy and propaganda campaigns to bring about policy change. Again, we see a variety of forms, from which NGOs seek to choose the most appropriate, depending on the goal, the nature of the “object” and, of course, the resources available. Below are some common methods of influence.
Letter campaigns are a method used effectively by Amnesty International and other NGOs. Organizations “bombard” government officials with letters from thousands of their members around the world
Street actions or demonstrations with media coverage, which usually show interest in such events, can be used when organizations want to garner public support or bring something to public attention and “shame” the government.
The media will often continue to play an important role in lobbying practices, but now social media and the Internet are becoming increasingly important.
NGOs submit their “alternative” reports to the UN monitoring body, thus creating an overall picture of the reality of human rights in a given country.
In addition to demonstrations of support or public outcry, NGOs can also hold informal meetings or briefings for officials. Sometimes the mere threat of making something public is enough to bring about a change in policy or practice, as the story below shows. Where once tapes, posters, or faxes were used for this purpose, now electronic mailing and petition campaigns, Internet sites, blogs, and social media are used.
In general, the more support a campaign has from the public or other powerful institutions (another government, for example), the more likely it is that it will achieve its goals. Even if NGOs do not always use such support directly, pointing to the possibility of mobilizing a broad popular movement against a government is enough to make their voice heard.
Many human rights NGOs engage in public awareness or educational work, at least as one of their activities. Realizing that the general public is the basis of their support, NGOs try to reach individuals with as much information about human rights issues as possible. The more aware people are of these issues and of the methods of protecting human rights, the more likely they are to be respected, which in turn provides more opportunities to mobilize support for specific human rights violations. It is this support, real or potential, that underlies the success of NGOs in improving the legal environment.