Association for Civil Rights in Israel
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel was created in 1972 as an independent, non-partisan not-for-profit organization with the mission of protecting human rights and civil rights in Israel and the territories under its control. ACRI is Israel's oldest and largest human rights organization. Headquartered in Tel Aviv, with offices in Jerusalem, and Nazareth, the organization promotes transparency and accountability in government.
ACRI has been accused by critics, including former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, of defending terrorists.
History
Established in 1972, ACRI views itself as being "committed to promoting the universality of human rights and defending the human rights and civil liberties of all, regardless of religion, nationality, gender, ethnicity, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background." The association established its views based on the basic rights recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, and the values in Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel.In 1981, ACRI instituted a human rights award to be given to "individuals and organizations that have made a outstanding contribution to the advancement of human rights in Israel". The award was renamed in 1983 as the "Emil Grunzweig Human Rights Award."
In 2009, ACRI organized what has become an annual "Human Rights March" to mark International Human Rights Day in Tel Aviv.
Activity
ACRI's Legal Department argues cases before the Supreme Court of Israel, and also seeks redress before district and labor courts, government ministries, and Knesset committees.ACRI's Education Department conducts human rights training programs, produces educational curricula in Hebrew and Arabic, and organizes conferences and lectures on human rights education. Additionally, ACRI operates a program on International Humanitarian Law and offers IHL educational workshops to social activists, students, educators, youth movement counselors, and students at pre-military academies to "enhance the participants’ knowledge of IHL, and to provide opportunities for discussion and for developing their positions on the issues involved."
ACRI publishes reports and information leaflets; organizes lectures, conferences, film screenings and other public and community events covering a wide range of human rights issues; and runs a public hotline to assist people whose rights have been infringed.
Internationally, ACRI submits shadow reports and provides information to UN committees and representatives regarding Israel’s compliance with its human rights obligations; meets with foreign diplomats and government representatives; participates in international conferences and NGO networks; and raises awareness of human rights issues by generating ongoing international media coverage.
ACRI focus on issues pertaining to Arab Minority Rights, Anti-Democratic Initiatives, Freedom of Expression, LGBT Rights, East Jerusalem, Human Rights Defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Migrant Workers, Child Rights, Negev Bedouins, Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Right to Health, Women's Rights, and the Right to Housing.
ACRI deals also with freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate. The association has initiated many legal actions to establish the right to demonstrate and the rights of demonstrators.
Criticism
Though ACRI does not identify itself politically, activities of the association has been criticized as assisting organizations that harm Israel's national security. Such criticism was made by prime-minister Yitzhak Rabin over an appeal about exiling 400 Hamas activists to Lebanon in 1992. Rabin Called ACRI - "Association for Rights of Hamas". On the other side of the political spectrum, right-wing activists have called it "Association for Palestinian Civil Rights".In November 2017, Education Minister Naftali Bennett cancelled a conference to be held in cooperation with ACRI following a letter sent by a group of bereaved families accusing ACRI of defending terrorists. ACRI denied the allegations and stated that it does not defend terrorists during their criminal proceedings, rather only in regards to their rights in prison and matters of citizenship and residency.
The Emil Grunzweig human rights award
The Emil Grunzweig Human Rights Award is awarded annually by Association for Civil Rights in Israel to "individuals and organizations that have made a outstanding contribution to the advancement of human rights in Israel". The award was established in 1981 as an initiative by Professor Jacob Lorch, but was renamed in 1983 after the murder of activist Emil Grunzweig by a grenade thrown by a right-wing Israeli extremist during a Peace Now demonstration against the war in Lebanon.List of recipients
Recipients of the award have included:| Year | Recipient | Title/Occupation | Contribution |
| 1981 | Gabriel Stern | Journalist for Al Hamishmar | For "expanding awareness of the need to safeguard the basic liberties of all citizens." |
| 1982 | Yehuda Litani | Ha'aretz reporter in the Occupied Territories | For "covering the IDF-administered territories highlighting the situation of the residents of those territories to the Israeli public." |
| 1982 | Dr. Robert Walsh | A Jewish journalist in Germany | "For his contribution to defending the rights of Jews during the beginning of the Nazi regime , after his aliyah in 1938, … fight for civil rights, especially those of non-Jews." |
| 1983 | Lieutenant Colonel Dov Yermiya | Peace Activist | For his activities promoting the welfare of civilians in Lebanon; this was the first year the award was named after Emil Grunzweig. |
| 1984 | Moshe Negbi | Editor of the radio program "Din U'Dvarim" | For his program which serves as "the sole media platform that consistently covers new legislative acts and landmark court rulings" and which has "introduced the general public to the subject, and has deepened their awareness of the importance of civil liberties and democratic values." |
| 1985 | Baruch Meiri | Journalist for Ma'ariv | For covering "precisely those strata of society that are weaker among us" and for his articles that "indeed uplift the hearts of the oppressed." |
| 1986 | Prof. Yitzhak Zamir | Former Attorney General | For each of his actions as Attorney General which were "rooted in a deep inner conviction of the primacy of the rule of law," and "for the consistent and sympathetic ear to human rights arguments demonstrated by the Attorney General and his staff." |
| 1987 | High Court Justice Zvi Berenson | Former Supreme Court Judge | For a "long list of rulings and determinations" which "laid down the foundations for proper governmental administration, as well as effective monitoring of that administration by the courts." |
| 1988 | Reporters covering the Occupied Territories | News Reporters | For "providing the Israeli public with up-to-date and accurate information, which is essential to the struggle for human rights" with regards to the Occupied Territories, following the outbreak of the First Intifada. |
| 1989 | Alice Shalvi | The founder of the Israel Women's Network | For founding the Israel Women's Network, and for her "important contribution in Israel to strengthening civil rights and women's rights in particular." |
| 1990 | Dr. Yitzhak Kadman | Head of the Israel National Council for the Child | For his work, particularly as Director and Founder of the National Council for the Child, serving as the "leading body that acts on behalf of the welfare of children in Israel." |
| 1991 | Dr. Lotta Saltzburger | A founder of HaMoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual | For her work with HaMoked dealing "on an ongoing basis with the adversity of daily life for numerous people living under military rule, by bringing individual cases before the authorities for clarification and resolution." |
| 1992 | Bassem Eid | The founder of the Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group | For standing "at the front lines of the struggle for human rights, both as a journalist and as a fieldworker and researcher for B'Tselem" and for never hesitating "to call out the Israeli authorities or the Palestinian organizations that bear direct or indirect responsibility for these abuses." |
| 1992 | Mr. James Ya'acov Rosenthal | Journalist | For his lifelong devotion to human rights. |
| 1993 | Eyal Simhoni | Former Director of the Execution Office | For his work as Director of the Execution Office and as a private attorney attempting to ensure due process for debtors referred to the Execution Office. |
| 1994 | Yitzhak Clinton Bailey | Campaigner for Bedouin rights | For "his extensive range of activities and many years of work to preserve the dignity, uplift the spirit, and help the members of Israel's Bedouin tribes to realize their rights." |
| 1995 | Women Against Violence | A foundation for aid to women and girls victims of violence in the Arab sector | For "the organization's work to provide counseling and support for female victims of violence and to protect women and girls from violence and injury by establishing shelters," as well as "work to promote equality between women and men, both on the familial and societal level" by developing "a discourse and culture of human rights in Israeli society, especially among the Arab sector." |
| 1996 | Gideon Levy | Ha'aretz journalist | "For his firm stance on human rights and respect for human dignity, especially of the oppressed and persecuted, regardless of nationality or religion. And for his impressive articles, which are written with exceptional style and grace and have awakened the nations conscience and call for a correction of its wrongs." |
| 1997 | Community Advocacy | A legal organization that assists residents of impoverished neighborhoods in obtaining their rights | "For recruiting and supervising numerous volunteers to train neighborhood residents to demand and exercise their social and economic rights, and for mediating between residents in order to build a better society that meets their common goals." |
| 1997 | The Juarish Family | Parents of Ali Muhammad Ibrahim Juarish | For agreeing to donate the organs of their son, killed by Israeli Defence Forces fire, to recipients both Jewish and Arab. |
| 1998 | Kav LaOved | Worker's Hotline | For "taking on the mission of defending the rights of workers, who are unable to stand up on their own for their individual and collective rights" and for "standing beside these workers with guidance and encouragement, and showing concern for their basic human needs." |
| 1998 | Major General Aluf Hareven | Former Intelligence Office and Foreign Ministry Official | "For devoting his life to the struggle for human dignity and human rights." |
| 1998 | Shulamit Aloni | Former Member of the Knesset and Cabinet Member | For serving as "an enthusiastic and tireless warrior for civil and human rights." |
| 1999 | Physicians for Human Rights - Israel and its founder Ruchama Marton | An organization devoted to the right of all to adequate health services | For activities to "safeguard the right to health, both physical and mental, and for protecting the well-being of the needy, the tortured, and the oppressed in Israel and in the Occupied Territories." |
| 2000 | Dr. Joseph Algazi | Ha'aretz journalist | "For devoting his journalistic work to protecting and promoting human rights, and for the many years he has spent visiting the homes of the helpless, the persecuted, and the bereft, and for awakening the public conscience to hear their plight." |
| 2001 | Hotline for Refugees and Migrants | An organization striving to preserve the rights of migrant workers, victims of human trafficking, and asylum seekers | For helping "to protect the rights of migrant workers by operating an advisory hotline, visiting detention facilities, and providing free legal aid," and for operating "as an advocacy group, seeking to influence public opinion and government policy." |
| 2002 | |||
| 2003 | Machsom Watch | An organization of Israeli women who monitor checkpoints | For "their steadfast monitoring of Israeli security forces at the checkpoints in the Occupied Territories during a period characterized by general apathy and desensitization to the human rights of Palestinians; for their interventions to prevent suffering and injury, which often saves human life; for their perseverance and dedication to alleviating the plights of Palestinians at checkpoints; and for building bridges between peoples and helping to maintain the humanity of Israeli society." |
| 2004 | Hannah Safran | Feminist and Peace Activist | For "her extensive activities aimed at promoting the status of women, protecting their rights, and achieving justice and equality; for her work to ensure the right to representation of all women, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or sexual orientation; for her contribution to the establishment of organizations committed to advancing the rights of women, social justice, and the defense of human rights; for her unwavering commitment to fighting all forms of social, economic, gender, and political oppression." |
| 2005 | Adva Center | Policy Analysis Institute | For its analysis and its "researchers' comprehensive and informative analyses of clearly presented data," without which "it would simply not be possible to criticize the government's policies and economic rhetoric, which serve to widen social gaps and severely threaten fundamental rights." |
| 2006 | |||
| 2007 | Kolech | The religious Zionist feminist movement | For proving "a source of inspiration for the entire women's movement in Israel," and for placing "a host of pertinent issues such as the troubles women face within the rabbinical courts." |
| 2008 | Breaking the Silence | An organization that collects and shares soldiers' testimony | For making "a bold and effective statement about the direct relationship between the daily practices of the occupation and the resulting abuse of human rights in the Territories," as well as "for its original contribution to and effective influence on the public discourse regarding the occupation; and for being one of the outstanding examples in recent years of a grassroots, civil society organization that is taking action in the face of the ongoing occupation." |
| 2008 | The Refugee Rights Clinic at Tel Aviv University | A Legal Clinic providing aid to asylum seekers and refugees | "For its partnership and leadership in the struggle to protect the human rights of asylum seekers and refugees in Israel, and for its unique ability to tap into academic forces and student energy in order to tackle this humanitarian crisis." |
| 2009 | Nir Katz | Social Activist and Youth Counselor | For his actions "guided by humanism and love," and for believing "in empowering and supporting others, especially young people, by providing them with the tools they needed to realize their potential so that they could contribute to society." |
| 2009 | Ruth and Paul Kedar of the Yesh Din | An organization for human rights | For demonstrating "strength, courage, and desire to work toward the safeguarding of democracy and toward a more for and just society," and for "a deep commitment to human rights, to accepting the other, and to helping those weaker and ourselves." |
| 2010 | Yehudit Tsur | Former judge of the Jerusalem District Court | For "numerous pioneering decisions have advanced the right to equality and combated discrimination against Mizrahi Jews, the LGBT community, and the ultra-Orthodox, among others." |
| 2010 | Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality and Oren Yiftachel | An organization which provides a framework for joint Jewish-Arab action and fights to promote a just solution for the Bedouin population | For standing "at the forefront of this struggle, both in the courts and in their courageous and steadfast stance with the residents." |
| 2011 | Keren Neubach | Journalist for Kol Israel | For placing "the institutionalized problems of Israeli society at the heart of the country's media discourse, including problems affecting disadvantaged groups whose voice cannot be heard elsewhere," and for exposing "the distortions of justice practiced by Israel's authorities at a time when many of her colleagues shun such stories." |
| 2011 | Tamar Pelleg Syrck | Human Rights Lawyer | For dedicating "her work over the past twenty-five years to representing Palestinians in the Occupied Territories," and for "her intense work in a place where there are so many egregious violations of human rights." |
| 2011 | Koach La Ovdim: Democratic Workers' Organization | Trade Union | For changing "the self-perception of the worker community in Israel, and the consciousness of the state, employers, and the general public regarding the deeper meaning of collective organization." |
| 2012 | Tag Meir | Civil Society group | |
| 2013 | Sari Bashi | Co-founder of Gisha |
Funding
| Name of Donor | Amount as Contributed | Year and Duration |
| New Israel Fund | $942,173 | 2011 over 12 months |
| New Israel Fund | $724,792 | 2010 over 12 months |
| New Israel Fund | $700,062 | 2008 over 12 months |
| The European Union | €200,000 | 2010 over 18 months |
| The European Union | €231,759 | 2009 over 24 months period |
| Sigrid Rausing Trust | £300,000 | 2011 over 36 months |
| War Child | 2009 | |
| Diakonia | 2011 |
As well as donations from individuals, foundations and other institutions.
International network
ACRI is a member of the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations, a network of 13 independent human rights organizations around the world with the aim of advancing human liberty in their respective countries. The American Civil Liberties Union is among the oldest of the 13.Representative publications
- --highlights recent political efforts to undermine gatekeepers of democracy and the Supreme Court of Israel among other efforts to curtail democracy and fundamental rights.