Global monitor: Human Rights Watch

Since its inception, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has been involved in a variety of actions designed to throw light on all facets of human rights abuse, its core aims being respect for international law and the pursuit of international justice. That it has been at times thwarted in these aims is a result of many elements present in the international system; that it faces new challenges in the wake of the events of September 11, 2001, and their aftermath is obvious. How it now deals with them, and whether or not HRW can itself shape the policy agenda, are questions that remain open.