ABSTRACT

Human rights gradually became internationalized through a series of international treaties, offering protections first in particular periods of war and crisis then, with a particular emphasis on certain groups, such as religious minorities and ethnic and national minorities. The cessation of colonialist rule fostered a sudden growth spurt in the number and capacity of governmental and nongovernmental human rights organizations. The percentage of these projects addressing women's human rights issues soared and, with rapid improvements in the Internet and other communications technology, local activists, in unprecedented numbers, finally had a voice in global human rights debates. Extending upon the example of violence against women, people find that organizations working on this issue at any level are increasingly making links with activists focusing on a range of complementary issues. Although the exact path cannot be charted, one thing is for sure: Local action is increasingly being linked to global change, and global change is relying more and more on local action.