Human rights are standard opportunities that all people should have, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, language, etc. Everyone should understand that they have the right to life, freedom from slavery and torture, and the ability to express their beliefs. Everyone has the right to education, to work and more. And no one should be discriminated against in any way.

International Law

The first document to proclaim forward thinking at the international level was the Charter of the United Nations, signed in San Francisco in the summer of 1945. On October 24 of that year the document entered into force, a date celebrated annually as UN Day.

The UN Charter is considered an instrument of international law, with signatory states bound to act in accordance with the principles of interstate cooperation enshrined therein:

1. The equality of all members of the UN.
2. Settlement of international disputes by peaceful means only.
3. Renunciation in interstate relations of the threat of force.
4. Non-interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state, etc.

The Charter is not a rigid document, it was amended in 1963, 1965 and 1973.

The International Court of Justice acts to resolve disputes arising between states in accordance with the UN Charter.

Only States may be parties to cases before the Court.

The judicial body consists of 15 independent judges with impeccable reputation and qualification, not more than one representative per State.

The seat of the Court is traditionally considered to be The Hague, but if necessary judicial hearings can also take place in other places.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was proclaimed in Paris on December 10, 1948, to protect the individual interests of citizens. The document was initiated by the UN General Assembly, and representatives of most cultural traditions from all regions of the world took part in its drafting. The Declaration became a legal standard to which all peoples should aspire, and over the years it has been translated into over 500 languages.

The UDHR outlines the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens, and has been recognized as one of the most significant documents in the history of mankind. Already in its preamble, it states that the dignity and equality of human beings is the foundation of justice and freedom. Tyranny and oppression can lead to rebellion, and to prevent this from happening, citizens must be protected by the rule of law. And relations between nations must develop in a friendly way, etc.

The 30 articles of the UDHR list basic rights and freedoms, the observance of which should lead to the improvement of people’s lives and social progress. Here are some of them.

• All human beings are born free and equal.
• This does not depend on race, color, nationality, religion, sex, property status, political opinion, or other differences.
• Every human being has the right to life, freedom, and should not be enslaved.
• Torture, humiliation, punishment, and discrimination are unacceptable.
• All are equal before the law and can expect a defense, a fair public trial and a hearing, no one may be detained without cause.
• The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, he cannot receive a harsher punishment than that in effect at the time of the crime.
• No one may invade privacy, home, correspondence, honor and reputation.
• Everyone may move freely in his own country, leave it and return to it, and take refuge in another country, as long as his actions are not contrary to the UN Charter.
• No one can be arbitrarily deprived of his citizenship.
• The institution of marriage is protected by the state, and men and women have equal rights.
• No one may be deprived of his property without cause.
• Everyone may freely choose his or her religion, political beliefs, and participate in social organizations.
• Every person may participate in government by himself or through elected representatives, who shall be elected by fair and open voting.
• Every member of society has the right to work and to fair pay for it, as well as full recreation (e.g. to play in Dutch online casinos without registration https://onlinecasinopoint.nl/).
• Everyone is guaranteed social security, decent medical care, education, etc.

All rights and freedoms are exercised in accordance with the principles of the UN.

What does the Human Rights Act do

Some countries have special laws devoted to human rights. Such a law came into effect in 2000 in the UK, it consists of a series of Articles, each explaining a different “right.”

The UK has decided that the state must guarantee the interests of its citizens through its own legislation. The Human Rights Act makes it possible to obtain justice in a British court without going to the ECtHR.

All government agencies are obliged to respect and protect human rights.

Every article of the Act is borrowed from the European Convention on Human Rights and mentions the basic natural, political, civil and other freedoms on which a democratic society relies. And judges try to pass sentences in accordance with the Convention.

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It is a set of forms of human activity that are oriented towards solving the tasks set before society. And this orientation is conscious. Not only forms of human activity are important, but also their content. Social activity is involvement in the life of society, which is manifested in different ways. For some people it is higher, for others it is lower. Much depends on the social status of citizens, personal qualities of character.

What social activity can give a person

Social activity can give a person a lot. It is difficult to imagine a full life without it. Social activity of young people is usually higher than that of the elderly.

It promotes self-development, because in the process of communication people learn something new for themselves. They have an interest in new things, a desire to learn something. This is an effective way to improve themselves and their own life, to develop personal qualities, professional skills, cognitive functions. Without self-development, degradation is inevitable.

The concept of personal social activity involves moving forward, improving skills. Communication helps people become better, improve in their profession. Social activity is also important for those who want to realize themselves in creativity.

The opportunity to make new acquaintances should also not be forgotten. Without social activity, it is simply impossible. A person’s wide social circle shows that he is an interesting person, that people around him are attracted to him.

The advantage of social activity is also that it contributes to the emotional discharge. People who are used to sharing problems with others, do not keep everything inside, it is easier for them to cope with difficult situations. They get sick much less often than those who are used to experiencing all alone. Emotional release, obtained in the course of social activity, contributes to an improvement in mood.

How to be socially active

Social activity can be done in many different ways.

Obtaining new knowledge

The simplest of these is to gain new knowledge. Learning almost always involves communication. The maximum social activity is demonstrated by students. The life of modern youth involves constant movement forward, new acquaintances.

But this does not mean that people of more mature age do not have opportunities for social activity. Some do it at the stage of training organized by the company.

Another possible option for social activity is to communicate with people who have similar interests. In such cases, there are always topics for conversation.

It is noteworthy that distance learning provides almost as many opportunities for social activity as what happens offline.

Friendliness toward random people

It is important to show friendliness to random people – this is also a form of social activity. Those who easily strike up conversations with strangers have a much easier life. During such casual conversations one can learn many new and interesting things. Exchange opinions, get advice. Talk can be in transport on the way to work, at the station and the airport. You can do it both in real life and on the Internet. The main thing is not to be afraid to strike up a conversation first.

Reconnect with old friends

Many people regret that they have lost contact with old friends, but after all, nothing prevents them from reconnecting. If you want to, you can do it at any time. Do not be afraid to be rejected, especially if old friends gave up not because of quarrels, but because of life circumstances. This is usually the case with former classmates and classmates when people are sent to different cities. Write to the person you often remember, even if he does not answer, that’s okay, you should at least try, because you have nothing to lose from this. The best way to do this is in social networks. The right person is easy to find through common acquaintances.

Getting to know your neighbors

Getting to know your neighbors can also be considered a social activity. It is recommended to do this immediately after moving into a new house or apartment. It is not for nothing they say that you should first find out who the neighbors are and only then buy a property. If the people are good, they will always come to the aid in a difficult situation that can happen to anyone. You have to go to your neighbors on various occasions, it is important to maintain contact with them. Such social activity will benefit both parties. Sometimes people living next door get so close that they even celebrate holidays together, share their concerns and solve problems together. All this becomes possible with close communication, the desire to interact.

Participation in Public Events and Organizations

One of the best ways to be socially active is to participate in community events and organizations. This could be an election, a city day, or a sporting event. You can try to organize one of these events or participate in an entertainment program, such as performing on stage. Many people willingly take part in concentrations, thereby demonstrating high social activity. It is not even necessary to be a creative person, the main thing is to have a desire.

Social activity should be supported at any age, it is the basis of our life. Loneliness is not good for anyone. Shut down in itself is not acceptable. Take part in social processes to the maximum, do not forget that you are a full member of society. Do not neglect contacts with others, when the opportunity arises. Social activity benefits people of all professions and ages.

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One of the most important components of a stable and prosperous state of society is calm on the streets, in public places, and the proper state of public order. The degree of importance of this issue for modern society can be evidenced by the totality of the efforts undertaken by various states. Therefore, it is no accident that the efforts of the state, society, and the individual are aimed at maintaining public order.

At the state level, protection of public order is carried out by a system of special bodies. But along with the active efforts of such bodies, public participation in this process, whose representatives actively cooperate with state authorities, is becoming increasingly important. Such cooperation seems to be more effective than the adoption of “hard” laws. For this purpose, various public associations are created, citizens unite in order to ensure proper order on the streets, protection of public order. Interaction of the state and institutions of civil society is an indicator of democratic development, it shows the interrelation and interdependence of the state and public subjects.

Let us note that similar organizations are created and carry out their activities in foreign countries as well. For example, in the USA there is a large number of different public organizations, the activities of which are aimed at protecting public order. These organizations can be formed according to the area of residence, production interests and even “according to race in white and black neighborhoods.

These organizations were especially active at the local, neighborhood level, and they were created in a variety of forms: volunteer police organizations made up of citizens-volunteers (US Volunteer Police, British Volunteer Police), “neighborhood” crime control organizations, “neighborhood watch”, “security brigades”, “grab-ass” type organizations, “Guardian Angel Alliance”, etc. Among the many such organizations are “safety brigades,” the “guardian angel union,” and “neighborhood” crime-fighting organizations.

Voluntary community organizations formed according to the neighborhood principle, i.e. according to the place of residence of the organization’s members, are the “safety brigades” in Philadelphia. These organizations are formed on a voluntary basis and have several advantages over other such formations.

First, security brigades patrol the streets on a daily basis. A special feature of the watch is the rule that the “security brigades” patrol only on streets known to them, they do not invade an unfamiliar neighborhood. This contributes to more effective patrolling, since the members of the “security brigades” know their street, their house and their courtyard very well and can signal to the police any breaches of public order in good time.

Second, team members are equipped with mobile communication with the police. This makes it possible not only to report and prevent an offense in time, but also to summon police officers when members themselves are in danger.

Third, it is not the responsibility of the “security brigades” to apprehend the offender, but only to report information about the nature and location of the offenses to the police department. When an offender is on the move, members of “security brigades” may report information to police officers until “a signal is received from the police that the person of interest has entered the zone of visibility.

Such approaches to organizing the activities of “security brigades” are the most expedient, since they exclude the use of any powers of authority by public organizations, thus minimizing the risk to their lives and health.

An indisputable advantage of the activity of these organizations is the practice of generalizing positive experience of their activity. In particular, representatives meet once a month at the police station of their area to summarize positive experiences, develop general directions and determine prospects for the future.

The experience of brigades in the United States shows that community organizations staffed by the district principle have a number of advantages. In addition, the absence of state-authoritative powers in the activity of such organizations reduces the risk to life and health of their participants.

In foreign countries the public organizations, completed at the place of residence, they consist of neighbors in an apartment house effectively carry out their activity. These are the so-called “neighborhood organizations” created within the framework of the “Neighborhood Watch” program, actively supported and stimulated by the police to participate in such activities8.

It is worth noting that the prototype of such organizations as supervision, which are local groups carrying out their activities within one house or street, were voluntary people’s druzhiny. The legal regulation of the activity of “neighborhood watch” type organizations is based on the principles of legality, voluntariness, persuasion, and the absence of state-authoritative powers. Their activities are aimed at creating “neighborhood” organizations that supervise the state of public order in the territory entrusted to them.

Researchers who study this type of organizations compare their scale and prevalence by the degree of public impact with the environmental movement. The effectiveness and popularity of these public organizations among the population is clearly evidenced by their number, for example, in the United States – more than 100,000 thousand such organizations. They are formed from citizens-enthusiasts who are willing to “take on this troublesome but necessary task. The members of the organization themselves determine “who will coordinate their actions, who will contact the police, who will receive general information about the state of local crime and bring it to the residents, in what form, etc.”

In this regard, along with patrolling, “neighborhood organizations” inform the police about violations of public order, report information of a “criminal nature,” creating a calmer situation in their territory, in their neighborhood.

In turn, police officers provide citizens with printed materials containing information on the prevention of offenses.

Thus, “neighborhood watch” organizations are formed at the place of residence of citizens on the basis of the principles of legality, voluntariness, persuasion, absence of state-authoritative powers. These principles represent the basis of legal regulation of their activities.

However, such principles may not apply to the activities of some public organizations in foreign countries, as they have the right to use the powers of authority, in particular, to make civil arrests. The Union of Guardian Angels, which makes civil arrests of people who have committed crimes, is one of these organizations.

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Public organizations are also being formed to preserve what they consider to be the constitutional rights of Americans. For example, the National Rifle Association was founded in 1871 to protect the right to own firearms, as well as to provide firearms training for police and self-defense courses, improve firearm safety, improve shooting techniques, and promote hunting in the United States.

Today, the National Rifle Association is better known as one of the main political forces advocating for reducing restrictions on gun ownership and defending Second Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution. The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, on the other hand, works to pass and enforce federal and state laws, regulations, and public policies that would provide stricter controls on gun use and ownership.

Both of these organizations, along with thousands of other civic organizations, play an important role in the gun control debate currently underway in the United States following the tragedy that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, late last year.

Many civil society organizations, especially those that advocate for civil liberties, are devoting a great deal of attention to criticizing our authorities. The American Civil Liberties Union is a prime example. The purpose of this organization is to defend and preserve the rights and freedoms of the individual, as enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and in American laws.

Representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union work daily in courts, legislatures, and with the public to protect and preserve individual rights and freedoms.

Civil Liberties Union (CLU) civil society organizations oversee the actions of the government. Civil rights organizations in the U.S. monitor elections and campaign promises, investigate and expose corruption, and actively advocate on behalf of minority communities.

One function of NGOs is court monitoring, where U.S. citizens monitor decisions.
For example, WATCH, a Minnesota NGO, describes its purpose as improving the efficiency and responsiveness of the court system in cases of violence against women and children. This organization is a member of the National Association of Judicial Monitoring Programs, which provides training and materials to organizations in various states.

Because the U.S. Constitution guarantees openness of the courts to the public, members of community-based organizations that monitor the courts have no difficulty accessing the courts and observing what is going on in a court case.

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Another common activity for civic organizations is to defend the interests of the people of their constituencies in institutions, legislatures, and electoral bodies at all levels of government. Large civic organizations use their voter mobilization and fundraising capabilities to influence policy. For example, the American Association of Retired Persons is a non-profit, non-governmental organization for people of retirement age. It has 37 million members.

The association informs its members about legislation affecting their retirement living conditions, such as health care, Social Security and pension laws. The organization also advocates for its members with service companies, helping them get discounts based on their limited retirement budgets, and provides services such as retirement plans. It also lobbies state and national governments on the issues its members care most about, such as health care and health insurance laws.

According to the association’s 2011 annual report, the organization encouraged its members to reach out to their representatives in Congress during the deficit-reduction budget debate there. More than 8 million members sent letters and e-mails, made phone calls and signed petitions demanding that Congress not cut individual welfare benefits in the final version of the state budget. In this way, civic organizations are able to influence policy by shaping public debate on issues of public interest.

MomsRising is another example of this type of community organization. I know MomsRising well because my wife Donna Norton helped found the organization, which now has over 1 million members. MomsRising seeks to improve the economic security of families and end discrimination against women and mothers. MomsRising directs its efforts to organize grassroots action from below to lobby lawmakers and amplify women’s voices in the national media.

When we lived in the United States, Donna regularly went to Capitol Hill to talk to members of Congress about paramount maternal issues and concerns: affordable health care, parental leave, child welfare, flexible work schedules and equal pay. She relayed appeals and life stories directly to elected officials. CBOs can check to see if elected leaders are hearing their voices and the opinions of their constituencies. A civic organization is able to provide this important service to its members who live in different parts of the country and are unable to come to Congress in person.

Distinguishing between political and nonpolitical activities

There are many different types of civic organizations in the U.S., including charities, welfare organizations, labor unions, business unions, and political organizations. Non-profit organizations that devote their resources to charitable, religious or educational purposes are eligible to claim tax exemption under section 501(C)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. These organizations can engage in a wide range of advocacy issues, but they are limited in lobbying and are prohibited from engaging in any political activity regardless of or against a candidate for public office.

Community-based organizations that do not wish to have their lobbying activities restricted may register as social welfare organizations under section 501 (C) (4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations from donors to such organizations are not exempt from taxation. Moreover, these organizations may engage in partisan political campaigning, but only as a secondary activity. A helpful explanation of the differences between these categories of organizations can be found here.

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I have also been asked recently whether foreign NGOs work in the U.S. and whether American NGOs receive funding from abroad. The answer to both questions is yes. Foreign civil society organizations working in the United States range from the German Goethe Institute, which promotes German and German studies abroad and encourages international cultural exchanges, to the network of Confucius Institutes, which provides information on Chinese education, culture, economy and society. Another example is the Hitachi Foundation, based in Japan, which focuses on strengthening communities in the U.S. through programs such as the Business and Jobs program aimed at improving the lives of underserved Americans.

Since 2007, the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) has supported key lobbying actions in favor of abolishing the death penalty in Illinois and Maryland. The European Commission acts as one of the largest donors of development projects in the world, and dozens of American civil society organizations submit project proposals to the European Commission for funding. All of Germany’s party institutes also work in the U.S. International human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch, which has five offices in the US, and Amnesty International, which has six offices in the US, publish reports on the human rights situation in the US.

An individual does not need to be a U.S. citizen to register an NGO in the United States. Registration requirements vary from state to state, but no government permission is required to register an NGO. Foreign-funded organizations have no special restrictions on their activities. They can hold meetings and publish materials in free form. They do not have to report to the federal authorities, if they pay taxes. NCOs have the right to receive funding from abroad and work with foreign governments to achieve their goals. NCOs are not required to report on outreach work, recruitment and staffing to the authorities, and the authorities do not seek to influence foreign-funded NCO offices.

However, foreign nationals cannot fund political campaigns or parties unless those nationals are “lawful permanent residents.
Some citizens and organizations, if they are representatives of a foreign entity, must register with the Department of Justice and submit program information and financial records under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA for short). The term “agent” is the key term in this law-it means that the organization or citizen is conducting its activities under the instruction of and on behalf of a foreign entity.

Simply receiving funds does not qualify a party as a foreign agent. Foreign entities can be foreign governments, foreign political parties, individual citizens or foreign organizations (excluding U.S. citizens), or organizations operating under the laws of a foreign country or conducting their principal activities in a foreign country. Many of the organizations registered in the United States as “foreign agents” are companies that directly and openly represent foreign governments (usually lobbyists).

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Recently there has been a lot of talk – in the press, on social networks, and at rallies – about civil society and non-governmental organizations. They often refer to the situation of NGOs in the United States. In the spirit of strengthening mutual understanding between our two countries, I would like to provide information about the role of civil society organizations in the United States.
American civil society organizations have been around for a long time, in fact they predate the United States government. Settlers who came to America were self-organizing and forming nongovernmental organizations long before the United States gained its independence.

• In his distinguished two-volume treatise on American life, published in 1835-1840 and entitled Democracy in America, the famous French politician Alexis de Tocqueville noted the following: “As soon as a few people in the United States come up with some idea which they wish to promote, they begin to seek each other, and as soon as they succeed in making contact with each other, they unite. From that point on they are no longer loners, but a visible force whose work is an example to others and whose words will be heard.
• There are about 1.5 million community organizations in the United States today. These independent voluntary unions of people help assert individual freedom while maintaining a sustainable social order. We call it “civil society,” but that term does not capture the diversity of organizations, the momentum and energy of citizens who come together to solve a social problem or meet a pressing need. Though strangers start a movement toward a common goal, they often come from the same neighborhood, church, union, business partnership, or youth group. They interact with each other, negotiate, resolve disagreements, fight for a common cause, and try to convince society and government of their rightness – all without any control from the state. In this way, civil society cultivates unity and solidarity through the activism of citizens.
• Through non-governmental organizations Americans unite to solve local problems, such as road safety for children, reducing crime, improving schools (in the U.S. local governments are responsible for education), increasing transparency in local government, etc. CBOs also work on national issues such as health care reform and immigration law reform. Some U.S. civic organizations attempt to address global issues, such as the Association for Arms Control and the Global Women’s Fund.

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