Volunteers
Volunteers
Human Rights Advocates
Order for Restoring Peace on Earth - O. R. P. E.
Helping Restore Peace on Earth
Together We can Make a Difference – More than a single Individual or Group can do on their Own
It is our belief that the best way to effect change in an organization, community, nation, and our world is through the power of creative collaboration and through the empowering of transformational leaders. That's why we equip leaders expected to be strong enough and wise enough to assume the role of agents of change and build partnerships between businesses, NGOs, governments, and individuals everywhere to work faster, leaner, and better; to find solutions that last; and to transform lives and communities from what they are today to what they can be, tomorrow.
We're trying to work hard on frameworks deemed to produce positive outcomes. Whether it's improving the lives of people living in poverty become economic self-sufficient, increasing opportunity for emotionally distressed and underprivileged peoples, reducing childhood exploitation and preventable diseases and human rights abuses, creating economic opportunity and grow, or empowering new generation of leaders expected to be strong enough and wise enough to advocate, implement policies, and effect change that deemed to foster peace, liberty and justice, we keep score by the way we commit and engage ourselves for the defense of causes of those who can't assert their own fundamental rights.
What has started as one man's drive to help remove a dictator who has ruled Angola for more than 38 years grew quickly into an organization committed to helping people realize their full potential. Because the greatest thing you and I can do together is give others the chance to live their life out of fear of persecutions when they express their opinions against a policy that they believe as violating their fundamental rights.
Edward-T Moises,
Advocate
How Orpe Human Rights Advocates' actions Can Impact Lives and Communities?
Influence Change in a Nation Where Rule of law is Weak
Why Orpe Human Rights Advocates has a concern in influencing change in a nation where rule of law is weak?
Before we can explain the reasons why, it might be wise to first clarify the concept of "rule of law" itself and at the same time, illustrates the reasons why weak rule of law nations are not interested in promoting rule of law in their ruling systems despite of the existence of such provisions in their respective Constitutions.
What makes up the rule of law? In 1215, King John of England signed the Magna Carta (or Great Charter) of which its article 39 has a provision that states: "No freemen shall be taken or imprisoned or dissented or exiled or in any way destroyed, nor will we go upon him nor send upon him, except by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land". Magna carta recognizes that a person’s fate should not be in the hands of a single individual. It demands that a judgment against a person be made in accordance with the law. Magna Carta planted the seeds for the concept of due process as it developed first in England, and then in the United States. Due process means that everyone is entitled to a fair and impartial hearing to determine their legal rights. In Federalist Paper No. 51 (1788), James Madison’s quote gets at the heart of the problem that has observed that even a government of law is ultimately “administered by men over men.” The framers of the U.S. Constitution addressed this problem by dividing power among the different branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial). This framework for government, known as the separation of powers, ensures that no one person is able to gain absolute power and stand above the law. Each branch of our government has some level of control or oversight over the actions of the other branches. This is a recognized principle of international law which applies to all recognized states by the United Nations. Unfortunately, even in this new era where the concept of democracy is generically invoked in the constitutions of some nations, rulers still believe to dispose the right of being above the law. Here is where Orpe Human Rights Advocates intervenes.
We equip fearless and civil rights lawyers with transformational know-how and support those fearless civil rights legal experts who demonstrate abilities of challenging ruling regimes and their rulers regarding their unconstitutional behaviors that violate customary international law. We also empower new generation of leaders expected to be strong enough and wise enough to advocate, implement policies, and effect change deemed to foster peace, liberty and justice and transform organizations, communities, nations and our world for the benefice of people.
For example, in a rogue state like Angola, society is greatly weakened by judicial systems in which certain citizens are above the law, while others are victimized by unfair processes or inadequate access to justice. Under corrupt or inefficient justice systems, the poor and other disenfranchised are granted less access to justice, court proceedings are long and unproductive, and delay soften disable the court system. Defendants may spend years in jail before even going to trial, while gross offenders of human rights too often escape punishment. Impunity of those who rule the country is what constitute the reality of the regime.
The ineffectiveness of rule of law is also a matter of national security. Crime and corruption that result when the rule of law is not effective can be costly. According to a corruption and crime study by Center for Strategic and International Studies, a corrupt or inefficient justice sector can slow economic development, undermine the strength and credibility of democratic institutions, and erode the social capital necessary for development. For example, economists with the World Bank estimate that Latin America’s average per capita income would be 25 percent higher if it had a crime rate comparable to the typical crime rate in the rest of the world.
By helping countries to establish just and effective legal systems, the United States is able to strengthen democracies in the region, increase their legitimacy in the eyes of citizens, and bolster support for their democratic institutions.
Therefore, empowering transformational leaders and civil rights lawyers not only supports the idea of democracy for which the U.S. stands, it actually aids the mechanics of democracy, as well, ensures that justice functions effectively and transparently. A desire to support and strengthen democracy in the region is not the Orpe Human Rights’ only motivation to work with those countries to help them establish the rule of law, however. Other factors that would benefit the United States including commercial interests, security matters, and humanitarian concerns. Countries with more effective and equitable justice systems provide more stable and attractive environments for investment, as they provide legal protections for investors. Increased investment invigorates local economies, promotes economic growth, and creates a favorable environment for U.S. investors. Establishing the rule of law also helps to fight crime more effectively, and in the process improve security in those countries and throughout the region.
In the new environment of security concerns and the War on Terror, the stability of the African Saharan must be a high priority for the United States, especially as it recognizes that, in the post-Cold War environment, “the greatest threats to U.S. interests at home and abroad stem not from conquering states, but from failing ones.” In short, for the United States to prosper and be secure, other states must prosper and be secure. Supporting the rule of law is one way to make the region safer for all.
Edward-T Moises
Empower a New Generation of Strong enough and Wise enough Leaders Expected to Effect Change
People including Christians have developed reservation about the theory of “ambition for leadership” pertaining to ethical leadership. There is always unsecured answer about the assurance of whether there is no transgression of divine law for a christian to have an ambition for leadership. While their fear correspond to the King Solomon’s theory that advising us that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” after all, “is it not better for the position to seek out the person instead of the person seek the position?”Has not the ambition caused the downfall of numerous otherwise great leaders, people who fell victim to the last infirmity of noble minds?” Shakespeare expressed a profound truth when his character Wosley said to the great English general: “Crownwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition, but that sin fell the angels, how can a man made with the image of his Maker, hope to profit by’t?”
While human being must renounce to a certain kinds of ambitions and rid them off from their lives, it must also be acknowledgeable that other ambitions or audacity are nobles, worthy, and honorable if they exercised to comply with divine law and done so for the glory of God.
Therefore, under the supervision of the United States Institute of Leadership and Diplomacy, a division of Orpe Human Rights Advocates, we empower and equip a new generation of transformational leaders who are expected to be strong enough and wise enough to advocate, implement policies policies expected to promote the spirit of peace, liberty and justice, and transform organizations, communities, nations, and our world for the benefice of people.
The program equips new generation of transformational leadership with tools such as the practice of principles and character traits of an ethical transformational leader. These tools are designed to develop leader in the six characteristics traits that identify most ethical transformational leader:
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They lead others into their own encounters with the Most High. One of the most effective things about Jesus’ lifestyle was that He didn’t switch into another mode to introduce His disciples to the reality of God. Whether standing in the synagogue or picking wheat along the path, interacting with the Father was so natural that others around Him could not help but do the same. Whether a transformational leader is training a new employee or working through a difficult conflict resolution, his followers will discover their own connection to God more deeply in the process.
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They lead others to discover their own purpose and identity. Ethical transformational leadership is characterized by great generosity. A transformational leader genuinely wants others to fully discover who they were made to be. Workplace issues and strategic development become tools to help followers discover their own identity and overcome obstacles standing in their way. People functioning in an area of their created identity and strength will always be more productive than those who are simply trying to fill a position or role.
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They lead others into transformation—not just production. When the goal is self- growth and health, production will always be a natural outcome. People function at their peak when they function out of identity. Helping your followers discover that their own transformation can happen on the job will engender loyalty and a high level of morale. Transformational leadership fosters passion in those who follow. Passion is the ingredient that moves people and organizations from production to transformational impact.
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They impact their atmosphere. While we may not stop a tempest with our words, transformational leaders recognize that they can change the “temperature” of a room, interaction, or relationship. Changing the atmosphere is like casting vision, only it is immediate. When there is tension, fear, or apathy, a transformational leader can transform the immediate power of these storms and restore vision, vitality and hope. A transformational leader can fill a room with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and gentleness, even while speaking hard things.
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They help people see old things in new ways. Many people are stuck not in their circumstances, but in their perspectives and paradigms. The word “repent” means “to think differently, or to think in a different way.” Jesus called people to look again at old realities through new eyes. Changing ways of thinking always precedes meaningful change.
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They gain a following because of who they are—not because of a position they hold. Transformational leaders can be found in secular organizations, in the same way managers and organizational leaders can be found in religious ones. Transformational leaders influence more than they direct, and they inspire more than they instruct. They intuitively recognize that they are serving something—and Someone—larger than themselves and their own interests.
Empower Lives and Families Living in Poverty Become Economic Self-sufficient
People living in poverty, an increasing number of whom are women and children, face deprivation, exclusion, insecurity and voice-lessness: interrelated issues that add up to powerlessness. This vicious cycle of poverty, which is the result of policies and actions by state and non-state actors, must be countered with the virtuous circle of human rights.
Therefore, Orpe Human Rights Advocates works at local and national levels, particularly in the poorer parts areas and, at international level on:
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Freedom, transparency and information to ensure the voice of the poor is heard and effective, including their right to organize. To this end, Orpe Human Rights Advocates has built a framework of partnership with organizations such as Amnesty international, Human Rights Watch and other non-profit organizations that focus their activities on promoting the dignity of unprivileged people.
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Non-discrimination and inclusion, through law and other means to break the link between violence, including gender and sexuality based violence and exploitation of children, discrimination and poverty.
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Protection from grave human rights abuses that impoverish people, including corruption and other abuses perpetrated by state and non-state actors, including economic actors.
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Investment of human and financial resources in the rights to health, housing, decent livelihood and education.
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Empowering people, including indigenous peoples, living in poverty to know and claim their rights, and hold state and non-state actors accountable.
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The absolute ban on slavery to be upheld without exception.
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Recognizing and supporting women as agent of change in the struggle to end the human rights abuses that drive and deepen poverty.
Envision solutions that move forward Lives and communities from what they are today to what they can be, tomorrow
Solutions to poverty are not singular. There should be coalition of efforts that involve cooperation between governments, NGOs, businesses, and individuals and those who are in the state of being relieved from the state of poverty. OHRA has established a set of programs that respond to a solution to this infernal circle of poverty. OHRA has developed strategic programs deemed to move out lives and communities living in poverty from poverty to the economic self-sufficient by exploring the following strategic programs: 1) capacity building in a targeted area of economic industry; 2) empowering with the culture of entrepreneurship and helping respondent become job creator; 3) imparting new generation of leaders with transformational tools to allow them become the agents of change endowed with strength and wisdom to advocate and implement policies deemed to transform organizations, communities, nations, and our world for the benefice of people.
All of the above stated solutions were designed within the goal of transforming lives and communities from what they are today to what they can be, tomorrow.
We're trying to work hard on frameworks expected to produce positive outcomes. Whether it's improving the lives of people living in poverty become economic self-sufficient, increasing opportunity for emotionally distressed and underprivileged people.
Advocate & Bring Those who Engage in Human Rights Abuse to Justice
We believe that a duty belong to women and men of all stripes to defend the rights of those who cannot assert their own fundamental rights. Human rights in the United States comprise of a series of rights which are legally protected by the Constitution of the United States, of which include the amendments, state constitutions, rights conferred by treaty and customary international law, and enacted legislatively through Congress, state legislatures, and state referenda and citizen's initiatives.
While federal courts in the United States have jurisdiction over international human rights law as a federal question, arising under international law, which is part of the law of the United States, in many countries ruled by unethical kings human rights law is not viewed as a mean of coercion that creates rights and obligations to them. It's viewed by the dictators as an instrument of international conspiracy intended to reduce their authority and freedom of causing physical and psychological harms to their own citizens. This is the case of what is happening in Angola, Burma, Democratic of Republic of Congo, North Korea, Russia, and other related rogue states nations. In these states, political opponents, journalists, activists, priests, even civilians populations are being subjected to arbitrary arrests and imprisonments, tortures, and persecutions. Restriction on freedom of expression and deprivation on freedom of assembly are what characterize the traits of such kind of regimes. Most often conditions in prisons are horrific. For example, the case of so-called Angolan democracy. Angola is a multi-party democracy that hides behind it a pure communism regime where its leadership has strong ties and privileged diplomatic relationship with rogue states such as North Korea.
Furthermore, as the violence by states and non-state actors abroad, including armed groups, is taking a devastating toll on human rights, gender based violence continues to be one of the most widespread human rights abuses: civilians particularly women and children are deliberately targeted in conflict. As the race for the resources and the proliferation of arms and weak states intensify conflicts, the negative human rights consequences of armed conflict on civilian populations cannot be overstated. The more entrenched conflicts continue become, the harder it is for civilian to survive and recover from their consequences. In post-conflict societies, lives continue to be devastated by trauma, violence, economic uncertainty and lack of access to justice.
We advocate and work with advocacy groups and civil right lawyers and create frameworks and strategies that would help bring violators of human rights to justice. It is the case of what happened former Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos who has ruled the country for more tan 38 years. Orpe Human Rights Advocates has established the framework that has resulted in Mr. Eduardo Tusamba Moises to bring a civil complaint against Jose Eduardo Dos Santos for crime against humanity in the United District Court of Maryland. This case is referenced under Moises vs. Dos Santos (case# 15-3609). As a result of the pressures exercised within the scope of this case, the former dictator Angolan President was obligated to release the 17 activists arbitrary arrested, tortured and imprisoned under the grounds of defamation. The complaint has also required the President to step down and not to run for the office the 2017 term to avoid criminal prosecution before the international criminal court. As a result of such ultimatum, the former Angolan dictator who has ruled the country for about 40 years has decided to step down, choosing his defense Minister to replace him. We aware that the new President represents a continuation of same political philosophy as its predecessor since the new president still under the banner of the political party of the Popular Movement of Liberation of Angola (MPLA) which took control of the country since 1975 through present. Orpe Human Rights Advocates will continue to advocate for the purpose of effecting political and social change and make sure that the power has been restored to its citizens and stead of remaining in hands of minority who rule the country.
In both United States and abroad, we work within national political, economic and social structures to bring policies, practices and laws into compliance with international standards.
Your voice will make a difference in restoring hope to emotionally distressed, underprivileged, and victims of human rights abuses.
Envision Crises Intervention & Prevention Frameworks of Stability for the Benefit of Emotionally Distressed
As a crisis intervention and prevention charity focused on the defense of the causes of those who cannot assert their own fundamental rights, our thoughts are with lives and families facing eviction, homelessness, and victims of human rights abuses we are working on the projects of implementing frameworks of social and psychological support of those individuals and families faced with eviction. We also are involved in the research of solutions regarding the causes, effects and possible remedies to eviction and homelessness.
Contribute in the research deemed to reduce the Causes of the Eviction and homelessness in the United States?
Eviction leads to homelessness, but homelessness is not always the consequence of eviction. Homelessness may be a result of past mistake, behavioral patterns, unemployment, sickness, dependency while the cause of the eviction in the United States is not always related to behavioral patterns, or past mistakes. It is clear that the cause of eviction can be explained in the following way: "people are supposed to spend no more than 30 percent of their income on their housing, but more than 20 million renters in the United States spent at least that percentage in 2015". For comparison, this makes more than half of all the renters in the United States cost-burdened renters, meaning that they are much more vulnerable to economic shocks because of the increased extent to which such incidents can affect their ability to maintain their housing. In significant part, this trend can be attributed to how the cost of housing has been rising throughout the United States without a corresponding rise in the income of housing consumers. For example, the costs of homes for sale rose by 48.6 percent between 2011 and 2016, while the costs of homes for rent rose by 19.4 percent between the same period of time. In contrast, the median household income in the United States was $50,054 in 2011 and $56,516 in 2015, meaning that it has failed to match the same rate of increase barring the improbable scenario of a massive increase in 2016 that has somehow managed to fail to make the news. Summed up, these numbers make it clear that the eviction problem in the U.S. housing market is not vanishing on its own but instead becoming worse and worse as time passes, suggesting that something needs to be done about it sooner rather than later to prevent its potential consequences from coming to pass.
We can Do Something to Reduce Eviction Problem?
Dealing with eviction problem will be much easier said than done because it is a multi-faceted problem in need of a multi-faceted solution. For example, U.S. cities on the two coasts are seeing increases in their housing costs because there is insufficient housing for all of the people who want to live in them, thus making existing housing more and more unaffordable for their current residents. As a result, it should be possible to alleviate the worst of the problem in those regions by increasing the amount of housing that is available within them, whether by setting aside more space for housing development or by encouraging real estate developers to engage in housing development with the use of tailored incentives. In contrast, the Rust Belt has more than enough housing for people who want to live there, but suffers from the fact that its residents have had stagnant wages for some time now. Theoretically, an economic resurgence could be what it needs to alleviate its eviction problem, but under the circumstances, the expansion of government benefits is much likelier to produce the desired results while remaining implementable so long as there is sufficient political will to push such a program. Other examples of potential solutions range from informing more people about potential sources of assistance to providing increased legal counsel to those who are facing formal eviction, which may or may not prove useful in all of the housing markets that can be found throughout the United States.
On a final note, it should be mentioned that the eviction problem seems to hit some demographics much harder than others, meaning that an examination of their needs and circumstances could prove valuable insight into potential methods for combating the problem. For example, the same cycle of poverty that is responsible for sending a disproportionate number of black men to the prison system seems to be responsible for evicting a disproportionate number of black women as well, which has the same effect of perpetuating the problem over the course of generations. Furthermore, immigrants to the United States seem to be affected more as well, which is unfortunate but unsurprising because of how they have fewer resources to overcome such challenges.
Take Action, Yes We Can Solve the Eviction Problem
It remains to be seen whether the eviction problem in the U.S. housing market will be either solved sometime in the near future or permitted to continue until it becomes bad enough that something has to be done about it. Whatever the case, it is clear that it will take a concerted effort from not just governments but also businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other stakeholders to overcome because it is so entrenched in the current state of things, meaning that less serious efforts might be able to provide some short-term relief but no more than that.