Totalitarianism
A totalitarian government is one that forcibly suppresses political, religious, or social belief other than its own. Common methods of suppression by totalitarian regimes include imprisonment and forced labor.
The following are examples of campaigns against totalitarianism around the world:
ASIA
Laogai Research Foundation
Learn about the work of this nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting information about China’s vast system of forced-labor camps.
Human Rights Watch
Read about the situation in China and Tibet in Human Rights Watch World Report 2001: China and Tibet: Human Rights Developments
EUROPE/ CENTRAL ASIA
Human Rights Watch
“My brother happened to be passing by and challenged him as to why the police were arresting journalists. He replied by hitting my brother with a police truncheon, yelling that “that was the least they deserved.”
- Haxhi Balliu, the Elbasan correspondent for the daily Dita
Read more in The Cost Of Speech: Violations Of Media Freedom In Albania (Human Rights Watch Report, June 2002).
UNITED STATES and WORLDWIDE
Speak Truth to Power
Meet Speak Truth to Power’s Human Rights Defenders struggling agains totalitarianism and abuses around the world:
- Harry Wu, China survived two decades in Chinese prison camps and is the foremost critic of the Chinese Laogai labor camp system.
- Doan Viet Hoat, Vietnam is known as the “Sakharov of Vietnam.” He spent 21 years in Vietnamese prisons because he advocated for democracy. His thoughtful and eloquent writings stirred debate among Vietnamese intellectuals and the world community alike.
- Wei Jingsheng, China endured nearly 20 years in Chinese prisons for his outspoken criticism of Deng Xiaoping and for his advocacy of democracy.
- Guillaume Ngefa Atondoko, Democratic Republic of Congo works to expose and hold to international standards Hutus, Tutsis and other factions in Congo, (formerly Zaire), making him an enemy to almost everyone with political power and a hero to human rights advocates.
Where have people faced similar issues in the past?
- Constitution Hill
South Africa - Corporación Parque por la Paz Villa Grimaldi
Chile - Gulag Museum at Perm-36
Russia - Mednoe Memorial Complex
Russia - Memoria Abierta
Argentina - Terezín Memorial
Czech Republic