Human Rights Organisations -Clovek V Tisni

“The individuals who make up People in Need could lead safe and comfortable lives in Prague, but instead they work in Kosovo, Chechnya and other places where help is most needed. The work that they do may just be some of the best worldwide. They are a small organization with no bureaucratic waste; they just deliver direct and efficient humanitarian assistant. These are heroes of our time, and I have a deep regard for them.”

Susan Sonntag

Writer and journalist, died in 2004

1. Introduction

For my paper I have chosen to describe and offer my thoughts on a Czech-based foundation called People in Need (Ð"ЊlovÐ"›k v tÐ"­sni). I believe is is one one of the best examples of the rising civil society in this country and it clearly shows that people are becoming aware of the need to help those who suffer. The work of the People in Need also demonstrates that effective humanitarian aid can be provided by a small regional NGO and that this can be done at times even more efficiently than it is by some transnational networks.

2. History and Nature of the Organization

People in Need (PIN) is a Czech organization which provides aid and development assisstence and works at promoting the human rights’ cause and democratic freedom. The organization provides help both inside and outside the country. The main focus of their work in the Czech Republic and Slovakia lies on administering social integration programs and serving as an educational body. PIN is one of the largest organizations of its kind in post-communist Europe and since its foundation it has administered projects in thirty-seven countries.

The history of People in Need dates back to 1992, when its founders administered first aid projects aimed at people in need. At that time the organization was called The People’s Newspaper Foundation. In 1994 the name was changed to People in Need Foundation and in 1999 it was registered as a non-governmental not-for-profit organization.

Today, PIN is an active member of Alliance 2015, the Czech Forum for Development Cooperation, the European Union Monitoring Center, Eurostep and with Concord. It is registered with USAID as an international private voluntary organization.

3. Organizational structure and Finance

The organization has three statutory bodies: the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board and the Director. The Executive Board has three members and is presided by a President. The members are in office for three years and are appointed and recalled by the founders. No member can stay in office for more than two consecutive terms. The Executive Board convenes at least twice per year In the decision-making process the Board votes by simple majority and at least two thirds of its members must be present. The Executive Board is responsible for the creation and amendments to the organization’s statutes, for controlling the allocation of donations and funds and for approving the President’s decisions.

The Supervisory Board is the control body of the Organization and it has three members. It is especially responsible for reviewing the Organization’s annual accounts and for ensuring that the Organization conducts its activities in complience with current legal norms.

The Director manages the organization’s daily operations. He/she is appointed by the Executive Board and acts on behalf of the Organization. PIN also has its Secretariat, which manages the daily administrative services.

The Organization also entails a Friends� Club, which is established by the Executive Board. Anyone interested in the Organisation may join the Friends� Club provided that they pay the annual fee that is later used for various humanitarian puposes. Members of this Club have various advantages, among others they may suggest proposals to the Organization’s activity.

PIN as a not-for-profit organization has to constantly search for available resources. The most significant sources of funding are UN and IOM (International Organization for Migration), other foundations and NGO’s, EU Founding Sources, Czech Television and from individual donations. PIN is also funded by the government of the Czech Republic and by the government-funded donors. The issues that PIN deals with are not as delicate that it would need to refrain from government funding. Mostly it provides social and humanitarian aid and in the Czech Republic it also carries out functions that the government could (social integrity programms, helping the Roma minority...).

In the year 2005 PIN operated with a budget of € 10, 857, 749.

4. Issue Areas

Social Integration Programs

The foundation started providing social integration services in 1999. These programs are carried out in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and are provided by the field social workers. PIN is trying to combat and prevent the so-called „new poverty“. It works with people who are living in slums, ussually are long-term unemployed and totally dependent on the welfare benefits. Especially the Roma minority is directly affected by the „new poverty“. PIN provides the already mentioned field work, as well as legal assisstance, employment advisory and management of job vacancies, open clubs and out-of-school programs. Currently PIN is working on two projects, the POLIS project and the RAXEN project. The POLIS project provides complex services and counselling for people in danger of social exclusion and for employees of institutions working and entering into contact with socially excluded people. The aim of the RAXEN project is to provide information concerning the manifestations of racism to the European Racism and Xenophobia Information Network, which then coordinates the actions to combat this phenomenon.

Relief and Development

The first time PIN sent huamanitarian help to a foreign country was fourteen years ago and the help headed to Nagorno Karabach. Since then, PIN largely expanded its activities and has to date provided humanitarian and development help in twenty-nine countries. The foundation exclusively delivers humanitarian assisstance. It provides emergency and relief help after natural disasters and military conflicts as well as it offers long-term development projects.