Change in the Social Movement Ecosystem: A look at HRW
The field of social cause communications is far more vast and interdisciplinary than its title alludes to. In Communication for Social Change: Context, Social Movements and the Digital, author Pradip Ninan Thomas (2019) reassures readers that social cause communications efforts are always shaped by, “a context that includes preexisting institutions, social practices, cultures, power flows, hierarchies, and the quality of empowerment,” (p. 3). The inception of social cause communications is nearly impossible to pinpoint to one single instance, however the study and critique of these have been recorded since the mid- to late-20th century (Thomas, 2019, p. 5).
In social cause communications one key factor has shaped its evolution since our record of its occurrence and through the digital age: participation. These participatory efforts can range from small, community-based social change campaigns to globalized movements that gain most of their momentum via online platforms, the latter of which is a result of what Tufte (2017) posits as the, “transnationalization of social networks and civic engagement,” (p. 10).
According to Tuft, two schools of thought remain fundamental to the pedagogy and practice of communications for development and social change; these are the paradigm of ‘diffusion of innovation’ and the participatory paradigm (p. 11). Furthermore, these paradigms have been translated into multiple communications practices that have been implemented in varying scales all over the world: development communications (DevCom), communication for development (ComDev), and communication for social change (CFSC) (Tufte, 2017, pp. 12–15).
While each movement for social change has unique characteristics based on geographic location, cultural context and the dynamic of the institution being held accountable, one truth remains: when there is injustice, the people will speak. We just have to be willing to listen.
Such is the case for the international non governmental organization, Human Rights Watch. HRC was founded in 1978 as the Helsinki Watch, a nonprofit organization designed to, “ support the citizens groups formed throughout the Soviet bloc to monitor government compliance with the 1975 Helsinki Accords (Human Rights Watch, 2021).” In 1981, the organization expanded to Central America during the uprise and successive civil wars happening in the region at the time. In later years, HRC would expand to most regions of the world as a result of uncovering and publicizing other human rights violations from governments and other entities through mass media and combating them through direct communication with policy makers in these areas. The organization formally adopted their current name in 1988 to reflect their all-inclusive reach.
In its years of operation, HRW has been a crucial player in investigative journalism, research methodology, reporting and exposure of human rights violations on a global scale. As the development of new technologies allow for more intricate forms of investigation and reporting, HRW has positioned itself as one of the leading INGOs in addressing some of the most crucial human rights issues we face today. HRW has a robust archive of in-depth reports and a repertoire of documentary-style films, leveraging the power of digital movement for education, organizing, and impactful calls to action that challenge the status quo.
References
Roth, K. (2020, December 2). Our History — Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/about/our-history.
Thomas, P.N. (2019). Communication for social change: Context, social movements, and the digital. SAGE Publications India.
Tufte, T. (2017). Communication and social change: A citizen perspective. Politity, 1st ed.
