Human Rights Watch: From Cold War to Global Watchdog

The provided text offers a comprehensive overview of Human Rights Watch (HRW), detailing its evolution from a Cold War-era monitor to a global advocacy powerhouse. It traces the organization's origins as Helsinki Watch in 1978, its strategic expansion into various "Watch Committees" throughout the 1980s to counter accusations of bias, and its consolidation into Human Rights Watch in 1988. The sources highlight HRW's landmark campaigns, such as the effort to ban landmines and its pivotal role in establishing the International Criminal Court, demonstrating its shift from merely documenting abuses to actively shaping international law and norms. Furthermore, the text examines HRW's adaptation to 21st-century challenges, including the "war on terror" and the expansion of its thematic mandates to encompass issues like LGBT rights, business and human rights, and climate change, while also addressing persistent criticisms regarding its alleged biases, funding controversies, and methodological integrity.

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