5 human rights NGOs fighting for people’s rights

SUPPORTING a human rights NGO is an effective way to help people across the country gain access to their basic rights. Human Rights Day is observed annually on December 10th and commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. It serves as a reminder of the essential principles that underpin the dignity, equality and rights of every individual. On this day, people worldwide come together to reflect on the progress made and the challenges that persist in the realm of human rights.

In India, as in many parts of the world, a human rights NGO plays a crucial role in advocating for and defending human rights. Any human rights NGO works tirelessly to address issues such as poverty, discrimination, gender inequality and social injustice. Supporting a human rights NGO provides a tangible way for individuals to contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights.

Here are 5 human rights NGOs you can support this Human Rights Day:

1. Support the rights of child sex trafficking victims 

Society for Participatory Integrated Development or SPID is a human rights NGO that rescues children who have been forced into prostitution. The NGO’s relentless efforts have resulted in the rescue of over 3,000 children from the perilous red-light districts. These rescued children are provided with home education and care, offering them a chance at a brighter future. The NGO’s founder is a seasoned social worker named Lalitha S.A. and has dedicated her life to the challenging task of rescuing children and women from the red-light area of the notorious GB Road in Delhi. While her efforts have successfully liberated many women, the exploitation of children, some as young as ten or twelve, remains a grave concern. 

SPID focuses on rescuing these vulnerable children, and Lalitha’s role is pivotal in ensuring their survival and safety. However, the current facility is limited and Lalitha envisions a larger, permanent location where more children can be rescued and given the love they deserve. Your support is crucial in helping Lalitha realize this vision. When you contribute to this human rights NGO, you directly aid in providing a safe haven for children who desperately need to escape the clutches of sex trafficking. To support this human rights NGO, you can donate here.

2. Support the rights of homeless elders begging for food

Manavlok is a human rights NGO that runs a project called Trupti Kitchen to feed 500 abandoned elderly individuals two nutritious meals daily. Operating in the drought-hit Marathwada region, this human rights NGO is confronted with a pressing issue, prompting a heartfelt call for support to expand its kitchen facilities to numerous villages in need. Manavlok is committed to eradicating hunger among senior citizens in areas where food is scarce. Currently operating in three drought-hit districts of Maharashtra, Trupti Kitchen cares for elderly citizens above 65 years who lack a source of income, individuals with disabilities, the destitute, widows and the elderly. 

The impact of the Trupti Kitchen program is evident, with community kitchens established after thorough studies in collaboration with Gram Panchayats, catering to the unique needs of each locality. Manavlok passionately expresses the organization’s commitment to providing not just meals but comprehensive care for the elderly in their final years. Many villages are reaching out to Manavlok for assistance in establishing community kitchens, highlighting the growing demand for their services. Your support becomes instrumental in realizing this vision, ensuring that Manavlok can extend its operations and continue making a profound difference in the lives of elderly individuals facing hunger and neglect. To support this human rights NGO, you can donate here.

3. Support the rights of acid attack survivors 

Acid Survivors Saahas Foundation is a human rights NGO that is spearheaded by the resilient acid attack survivor Daulat Bi Khan and provides acid attack survivors with support, shelter, counseling, job assistance, expenses for medical treatment and more. The NGO began with a humble mission of empowering acid attack survivors, recognizing them not as victims but as victors who have courageously faced the brutality of this crime. From its modest beginnings supporting 3 or 4 acid attack victims, this human rights NGO has expanded its reach and now covers over 50 survivors across four states in India, with its headquarters in Mumbai. 

The NGO supports women with medical treatments, medicinal requirements, ration and household needs, educational and employment assistance, rental aid and monthly distribution of funds. Daulat Bi Khan’s personal experience fuels the foundation’s commitment to providing comprehensive support to survivors.  Her call for support echoes in her plea for donations, urging individuals to come forward and stand with the NGO in providing a fresh start for survivors in need of urgent surgeries and support. Your generous donations can be a catalyst for change, offering a new lease on life for acid attack survivors under the compassionate care of Acid Survivors Saahas Foundation. To support this human rights NGO, you can donate here.

4. Support the rights of child labour victims 

Sahyog Care For You is a human rights NGO that rescues children working in factories where they are in life-threatening conditions. Because of the dangerous conditions, the children suffer from serious illnesses and that is in addition to the abuse and exploitation they face at the hands of people who seek to exploit them. The founder of Sahyog Care For You is Shekhar Mahajan who shares that “I am hurt and shaken to see people exploit children, even in restaurants, so I want to give children an opportunity to live a good life away from abuse and exploitation.” Shekhar and his NGO Sahyog Care For You have changed the lives of over 2 lakh children and have freed them from a life of abuse as child labourers and bonded labourers.

The NGO not only rescues children but also focuses on their rehabilitation, recognizing the long-lasting impact of child labor on their lives. Shekhar Mahajan passionately shares the motivation behind his commitment, emphasizing the need to change the narrative around child labour. As Sahyog Care For You continues to fight against the rampant issue of child labor across the country, this fundraiser plays a crucial role in supporting their noble cause and offering children a chance at a better life away from exploitation and deprivation. To support this human rights NGO, you can donate here.

5. Support the rights of the disabled to lead self-sufficient lives

Mitti Café is a human rights NGO that addresses the pressing issue of hunger and malnutrition among abandoned elderly individuals in villages and slums across India. The NGO provides experiential training and employment to adults with physical and intellectual disabilities and also champions inclusion and disability rights through its outreach initiatives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mitti Café’s remarkable team of warriors with disabilities showcased their resilience by cooking and serving over 2 million meals to vulnerable communities and homeless groups. Now, faced with the distressing reality of elderly people abandoned by their own families, the Mitti Café team has initiated the Karuna Meals program. This initiative provides cooked meals and dry rations to over 5,000 elderly individuals in urgent need of support.

Despite their own challenges, Mitti Café’s team of heroes, all persons with disabilities, has been working tirelessly to combat hunger and malnutrition among the elderly. The founder Ayesha Alam emphasizes the heartbreaking situations they’ve encountered in extremely backward villages, where senior citizens had not had a proper meal in days. The Karuna Meals team is composed entirely of persons with disabilities. They were once discriminated against by society but now they stand at the forefront of this humanitarian mission, showcasing the transformative power of collective compassion and action. To support this human rights NGO, you can donate here.

Human Rights Day serves as a poignant reminder that the fight for justice and equality is ongoing. By supporting and actively participating in the initiatives of a human rights NGO, individuals can contribute to creating a world where the fundamental rights of every person are respected and upheld. This Human Rights Day, support these 5 NGOs working to empower various groups of people across India.