While Amnesty International is still the international flagship campaigner for human rights, the internet has given rise to "more nimble" organisations that are having considerable success on smaller stages according to researcher Damien Spry.
Spry looks at the way modern communications have changed strategies in the fight for human rights in a new book launched in December, 'Doing the Rights Thing: approaches to human rights and campaigning'.
The book considers Amnesty International's long-term, universalising approach - based on international human rights principles - alongside smaller, local campaigns focused on concrete political outcomes such as the 2006 refugee rights campaigns by A Just Australia, Chilout and GetUp.
"Amnesty remains the model for international action on human rights issues, but the success of a group like Chilout - formed for the specific purpose of releasing children from mandatory detention in Australia - shows there are other ways to generate localised public support and action," Spry said.
The book is published by the UTS Shopfront Monograph Series and available online through the UTS ePress [http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/dspace/handle/2100/506]
Damien Spry signs copies of his publication, Doing the Rights Thing: approaches to human rights and campaigning', at the launch hosted by Amnesty International Australia and Shopfront on International Human Rights Day, 10 December 2007. Photo: Jaime Koh.