Jack Healey - Current Work

Current Work

Healey has created Human Rights Action Center, a qualified non-profit 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, D.C.

Mission:

The Human Rights Action Center is a non-profit based out of Washington, D.C. that works on the issues of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Aung San Suu Kyi.

Using the arts and new technologies, they use creativity to develop new strategies to stop human rights abuses.

5 Main Goals:

1. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (more under Media)

Because less than 5% of the world knows of the existence of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and less than 1% has read the Declaration, HRAC campaigns to get governments to print this document into all passports. Healey believes that if the declaration is in all passports, it becomes accessible to all citizens of the world, and can be used in the fight to extend basic human rights to every man, woman and child.

Each year, Healey organizes events around the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. HRAC produced the 50th anniversary concert for the United Nations celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. At this concert, artists Wynton Marsalis and Luciano Pavarotti performed. For the 60th anniversary, last year, HRAC produced an animated version of this document as a way to connect with young people online.

2. Rightfully restore Aung San Suu Kyi to power in Burma. (more under Media Projects)

In 1991 Jack met with Michael Aris (husband of Aung San Suu Kyi) and promised his help in working to free Suu Kyi. In 1999 Healey met with Aung San Suu Kyi and again promised his support for her campaign. He works in conjunction with the US Campaign for Burma. Together they are raising global awareness about Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, the National League for Democracy and the people of Burma who are non-violently fighting against the power of the military Junta.

HRAC's Jack Healey also speaks regularly at forums for this cause and he serves as senior advisor to the US Campaign for Burma. In 2008, to promote the Burma: It Can’t Wait campaign and address Cyclone Nargis, Healey organized a press conference at the United Nations with actress/director Anjelica Huston.

HRAC also sponsored a concert for the Burmese cause in Bangkok in 1999 featuring Glen Phillips, Raven-Symoné and Breeze.

3. Create innovative, forceful, effective solutions to assist victims in protecting themselves.

In Northern Ireland, in 1995, Healey created the organization Families for Families, an organization that protected Irish families from police brutality by linking them directly with American families who pledged to bring media attention to any mistreatment of the Irish family by police.

4. Support growing human rights groups all over the world

HRAC arranged for the financing of rebuilding a factory in Bosnia, which now employs over 900 women.

HRAC has worked with the Human Rights Center in Haiti as a consultant, preparing a human rights campaign strategy for the organization, evaluating the effectiveness of the Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims in Haiti.

HRAC created Families for Families, an organization based in Ireland that protected families from the terrors of police brutality.

5. Create a fund to get people out of harm's way in exceptional human rights abuse cases.