Watch Beleidsplan

FY20 – 2019/2020

Updated March 2020

INDEX

I. Introduction 2 II. Mission Statement 2 III. Core Values 2 IV. Objectives 3 V. Methodology 3 VI. Achievements 4 VII. Evaluation 4 VIII. Beneficiaries 5 IX. in The Netherlands 5 X. Fundraising 6 XI. Managing Funds 6

I. INTRODUCTION Human Rights Watch is a non-profit, nongovernmental human rights organization made up of around 493 staff members around the globe, representing 78 nationalities, based in 78 cities. Our staff includes experts on some 90 countries we cover – human rights lawyers, journalists, and academics from a wealth of backgrounds and nationalities. Established in 1978, Human Rights Watch is known for its accurate fact-finding, impartial reporting, and targeted advocacy, often in partnership with local human rights groups. Watch a video about Human Rights Watch and how we work.

II. MISSION STATEMENT Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice. Human Rights Watch is an independent, international organization that works as part of a vibrant movement to uphold human dignity and advance the cause of human rights for all.

III. CORE VALUES Human Rights Watch is:

• Committed to our mission of defending human rights worldwide. Our work is guided by international human rights standards, humanitarian law, and respect for the dignity of each human being. • Independent. To ensure our independence, we do not accept government funds, directly or indirectly, or support from any private funder that could compromise our objectivity and independence. We do not embrace political causes and are strictly non-partisan. We maintain neutrality in conflict situations, refraining from commenting from who should be in power, but pushing all parties to uphold human rights and obey the rule of law. • Factual, accurate, and ethical in our fact-finding. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and fairness. We seek out multiple perspectives to develop an in-depth, analytic understanding of the situations we report on. We carry a sense of responsibility for the victims and witnesses who have shared their experiences with us. • Focused on impact. We consider our work a success only when our actions lead to positive and lasting change. We are always on the lookout for new opportunities to advance our cause. We also are committed to working on difficult situations, where long-term attention is required to bring about justice. • Dedicated to amplifying the voices of local partners and being part of a vibrant international human rights movement. We work closely with a broad range of local and international civil society actors to maximize our joint impact. We speak out against attacks on civil society and defend the political space within which the broader human rights movement operates. We work to complement the role of humanitarian aid groups, who often cannot raise systemic rights abuses without compromising access to those who need their help.

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IV. OBJECTIVES By investigating human rights violations, exposing them in the media, and advocating for improvements, we seek to make a positive change in the world. In order to achieve this, we must be responsive and nimble and able to leap into action quickly to respond to breaking events and document human rights abuses as they are occurring. Our ultimate goal is to protect and promote human rights for all people, especially those most vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. We elevate the voices of those who do not have the power to speak for themselves. We fight for the vulnerable, and we engage the powerful in their defense.

V. METHODOLOGY Human Rights Watch investigates wrongdoing. Deep and careful research in 90 countries brings an unparalleled lens on human rights to the public. We stake our credibility on the facts we report, devoting great effort to ensuring the accuracy and fairness of every word we publish. Our researchers go to the site of violations to interview victims and witnesses, examine physical evidence, identify those responsible, and develop the most effective interventions. They use witness testimony paired with photos, video, forensic tools, technological evidence, statistical analysis, and satellite imagery—everything they can to piece together as complete and accurate a picture as possible.

Human Rights Watch exposes the facts widely, often as events unfold. Our reach is extensive, so that our research goes directly to people with the power to make a difference. We often collaborate with global outlets; there are daily some 140 media stories citing Human Rights Watch. We have a sophisticated in-house team that creates some 6,000 products annually in 60 languages with wide distribution, including to our more than 7 million social media followers.

Human Rights Watch presses those in and with power for rights respecting change. Our data and investigations are a means to an end. With advocates in key capitals across four continents, we have access to influential policymakers worldwide and convince them to use their influence to curb abuses. We focus on issues strategically, selecting projects where we can secure concrete change in people’s lives.

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VI. ACHIEVEMENTS Our methodology has yielded significant impact:

• In addition to our Nobel-prize winning coalition work on the international landmine ban, we built political support for an international treaty banning cluster munitions, which are indiscriminate weapons that frequently maim or kill civilians. • We wrote the definitive history of the genocide in Rwanda and testified as expert witnesses at the international tribunal where those responsible for atrocities are being tried. • We made a strong case for establishing a permanent court to prosecute the most heinous crimes in the world. We played a lead role in the founding of the International Criminal Court.

We have earned a reputation as a leading human rights defender because of our ability to take on a broad spectrum of human rights concerns—from discrimination to genocide. We work to mainstream the rights of marginalized people and include them in the larger human rights framework, including women; children; lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual people; people with disabilities; and victims of abuses related to the environment.

VII. EVALUATION Human Rights Watch is committed to rigorous, transparent, and consistent self-evaluation. When looking at our own impact, we determine whether or not we have met our goals to bring about positive change for those facing human rights violations. We consider input on our progress from key interlocutors, local human rights partners, and critics. We gauge how effectively we have allocated our resources. To ensure that we reach the highest standards of accuracy and objectivity in our research and achieve the greatest impact from our advocacy, we engage in self-evaluation throughout the year.

If abuses we have investigated and reported decrease, our work has been successful. Often, since it takes a great deal of time to bring entrenched human rights abuses to an end, we consider interim criteria for evaluation. These include:

• Whether we have succeeded in generating prominent press coverage about the government’s abuses. • Whether other governments and institutions have acted on these revelations by protesting the abuses or exerting diplomatic or economic pressure on the abusive government. • Whether we have succeeded in building or protecting outspoken indigenous opposition to the abuses. • Whether the abusive government has seen it necessary to engage with us—ideally by beginning a constructive dialogue but even, ironically, by denouncing us (since that shows that we have hit a raw nerve and are being taken into account). • Whether the abusive government adopts and implements new policies aimed at ending abuses. • Whether the abuses we have investigated and reported on decrease or come to an end.

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VIII. BENEFICIARIES The primary beneficiaries of Human Rights Watch’s work are victims of human rights abuses or those at risk of abuse. Local non-profit organizations and civil society actors also benefit from our work as we seek to protect their rights to operate freely and to improve the human rights environment in which they work. We use our reputation as an internationally respected human rights organization to amplify the voices of local and regional civil society actors by connecting them with policymakers or funders to whom they may not otherwise have access.

As one of our target audiences, policymakers are well served by our timely reporting and advocacy. They often call on us for analysis in complex and fast-moving situations such as the refugee crisis in Europe. Our work elucidates complex situations from a human rights perspective, bringing to light little-known rights abuses and providing policymakers with concrete, realistic recommendations to address abuses. Media outlets also frequently turn to us for our analysis and insight on human rights stories. Our increasing use of multimedia plays a helpful role for media outlets, many of whom have had their foreign reporting budgets cut, by providing pre-packaged products—such as video, audio clips and photo essays—that can be easily incorporated into their programming.

IX. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH IN THE NETHERLANDS Stichting Human Rights Watch Nederland was founded in November 1996. It has ANBI charity status in the Netherlands and is part of the international Human Rights Watch organization. The general goal of the Stichting is to defend human rights and support the work of Human Rights Watch, as follows: a. Protecting human rights around the world in times of war and peace by documenting violations, publishing the findings, and using this information to stop the violations and prevent violations in the future; and b. Undertaking any other educational, humanitarian, literary, or scientific activities in this context.

In January 2009, the Netherlands Committee of Human Rights Watch was founded, a group of volunteers who support the office through fundraising, outreach, and advocacy initiatives. In September 2010, Human Rights Watch opened its Netherlands office in order to support the work of Human Rights Watch worldwide, as well as to intensify its advocacy on key global human rights issues. Currently the staff in the Netherlands office consists of a senior researcher for our Asia division, a Deputy European Media Director, a senior operations administrator and three development staff working on fundraising, outreach, and advocacy in the Netherlands.

Since its founding, the Dutch team has strengthened relations with Dutch donors, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and multiple members of parliament, among others. Human Rights Watch Netherlands also bolsters domestic press coverage of human rights issues by preparing and distributing materials tailored to the Dutch media. Human Rights Watch’s research, findings, and recommendations are covered weekly by leading Dutch news outlets, including by NOS Journaal and Nieuwsuur. In addition, our researchers and advocates are frequently interviewed by a large variety of national news outlets, including Trouw, de Volkskrant, NRC, and Telegraaf.

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The core activities of Stichting Human Rights Watch Nederland are development and outreach. The main outreach event in the Netherlands is the annual Human Rights Weekend. This informative three-day event at the intersection of human rights and art takes place in January or February at De Balie in Amsterdam. The target audience is the general Dutch public, aimed at ensuring a diverse group of visitors attending the weekend. The program includes compelling and exclusive human rights films of high artistic quality, which are being complemented by debates, master classes and other forms of art, such as theatre, photography and music. The topics being discussed are of an urgent and recent nature. Past topics included , refugees, justice, democracy, front-line journalism and fragile states. Geographically, the weekend covers diverse parts of the world, from to Iran and the Netherlands to North Korea.

The main development or fundraising event in the Netherlands is the annual Voices for Justice Annual Dinner. This event includes speeches and an auction. The revenue raised during the dinner supports the organization’s work worldwide and constitutes a significant part of the funds generated by the Dutch office. In addition to organizing the successful Voices for Justice Annual Dinners, the Dutch team regularly hosts smaller donor cultivation events with existing and prospective donors. These events, as well as the daily activities of the development team, have secured a significant amount of funding over the years. Donors include individuals, organizations, trusts, and foundations. The closest partner in the Netherlands is the Dutch Postcode Lottery, which has been supporting the organization since 2009.

X. FUNDRAISING In order to maintain its independence, Human Rights Watch does not accept government funding. Our work is supported entirely by private donations from a diverse, influential, and vibrant international community of supporters, including the Human Rights Watch Council— a network of roughly 1,000 philanthropists, investors, and influencers.

Human Rights Watch’s fundraising strategy is informed and guided by its program. Just as our programmatic work enlists top-level advocacy targets who can effect change (presidents, foreign ministers, party or rebel group leaders, legislators, and others in positions that allow them to directly make a difference), so is our fundraising strategy designed to target donors who can most dramatically impact the organization. We strive to keep our fundraising budget to less than 18 percent of the total budget, investing frugally but smartly into our fundraising operations. As our program colleagues have come to learn, such a strategy—reaching out to the few who can advance the cause most effectively—gives us the best results and represents the most efficient use of resources.

XI. MANAGING FUNDS Please find on the next pages the statement of activities, revenues and expenses of Human Rights Watch for fiscal year FY19 ending June 30, 2019.

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STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES UNAUDITED For the fiscal year ended 30 June 2019 USD € (1.14)* WITHOUT DONOR WITH DONOR TOTALS WITHOUT DONOR WITH DONOR TOTALS PUBLIC SUPPORT AND REVENUE RESTRICTIONS RESTRICTIONS 2019 FY RESTRICTIONS RESTRICTIONS 2019 FY Public Support Contributions and grants 7,592,241 56,390,971 63,983,212 6,645,240 49,357,171 56,002,411 Contributed Services and Properties revenue 4,237,565 — 4,237,565 3,709,002 — 3,709,002 Special events 20,767,565 — 20,767,565 18,177,170 — 18,177,17 Less: direct cost of special events (3,526,750) — (3,526,750) (3,086,849) — (3,086,849) Total Public Support 29,070,621 56,390,971 85,461,592 25,444,563 49,357,171 74,801,734 Revenue Net investment income (loss) (227,740) (378,997) (606,737) 199,333 331,724 531,057 Publications 16,512 — 16,512 14,452 — 14,452 Change in value of beneficial interest in split-interest agreements (201,735) — (201,735) Other 229,724 — 229,724 201,070 — 201,070 Total Revenue (183,239) (378,997) (562,236) (160,383) (331,724) (492,107) Net assets released from restrictions 61,327,877 (61,327,877) 0 53,678,283 (53,678,283) — Total Public Support and Revenue 90,215,259 (5,315,903) 84,899,356 78,962,463 (4,652,836) 74,309,627 EXPENSES Program Services Africa 8,288,083 — 8,288,083 7,254,288 — 7,254,288 Americas 2,923,308 — 2,923,308 2,558,676 — 2,558,676 Asia 7,852,699 — 7,852,699 6,873,210 — 6,873,210 Europe and Central Asia 5,848,752 — 5,848,752 5,119,221 — 5,119,221 Middle East and North Africa 6,969,945 — 6,969,945 6,100,565 — 6,100,565 United States 3,676,889 — 3,676,889 3,218,261 — 3,218,261 Children’s Rights 3,283,251 — 3,283,251 2,873,722 — 2,873,722 LGBT 1,987,259 — 1,987,259 1,739,383 — 1,739,383 International Justice 2,515,736 — 2,515,736 2,201,941 — 2,201,941 Women’s Rights 3,586,134 — 3,586,134 3,138,826 — 3,138,826 Other Programs 15,845,412 — 15,845,412 13,868,970 — 13,868,970 Total Program Services 62,777,468 — 62,777,468 54,947,063 — 54,947,063 Supporting Services Management and general 9,850,567 — 9,850,567 8,621,879 — 8,621,879 Fundraising 16,469,600 — 16,469,600 14,415,302 — 14,415,302 Total Supporting Services 26,320,167 — 26,320,167 23,037,181 — 23,037,181 Total Expenses 89,097,635 — 89,097,635 77,984,243 — 77,984,243 Change in Net Assets before foreign currency translation (loss) gain 1,117,624 (5,315,903) (4,198,279) 978,220 (4,652,836) (3,674,616) Cummulative Translation Adjustment (89,316) (197,652) (286,968) (78,175) (172,998) (251.174) Change in Net Assets 1.028.308 (5,513,555) (4,485,247) 900,044 (4,825,834) (3,925,790) Net Assets: Beginning of Year 18,903,491 204,529,890 223,433,381 16,545,607 179,018,317 195,563,924 End of Year 19,931,799 199,016,335 218,948,134 17,445,651 174,192,483 191,638,134

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION For the fiscal year ended 30 June 2019 USD € (1.16)* ASSETS 2019 FY 2019 FY Cash and cash equivalents 43,624,583 37,685,532 Investments 150,902,909 130,358,985 Contributions receivable, net 24,527,887 21,188,660 Prepaid expenses and other assets 3,082,084 2,662,489 Fixed assets, net 7,278,779 6,287,846 Total Assets 229,416,242 198,183,512 Liabilities and Net Assets Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued expenses 8,590,114 7,420,656 Deferred rent 1,877,994 1,622,324 Total Liabilities 10,468,108 9,042,980 Commitments and contingencies Net Assets Without Donor Restrictions 19,931,799 17,218,284 With Donor Restrictions 199,016,335 171,922,248 Total Net Assets 218,948,134 189,140,532 Total Liabilities and Net Assets 229,416,242 198,183,512

A complete version of the Human Rights Watch financial statements for the fiscal year ended 30 June 2019 is available at:HRW.org/financials

*Financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2019 were translated to Euros using a blended rate derived by Human Rights Watch.This method is not in accordance with US GAAP and has not been audited. FY19 Expense FY2019Allocations Expense Allocations 70.5% Program (Research) 62,777,468 11.1% Management and General Support 9,850,567

18.5% Fundraising18.5% 16,469,600 89,097,635

11.1%

70.5%

Program (Research) Management and General Support Fundraising

For our most recent financial statements and annual reports please visit https://www.hrw.org/financials