inform, influence and demand efforts from established organizations and relevant authorities. Objective GHRD has formulated the following objectives in order to fulfil its mission: To fight against the violation of human rights of minority groups, particularly in those areas and populations where structural help or global attention of the world has not been given; To provide refugee centre assistance and humanitarian aid to those who lack elementary basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter and proper sanitary conditions; To develop, stimulate and enhance human rights awareness in a national and international perspective, through means of education. History GHRD was officially founded after The Hague 2003 International Conference on Human Rights, which was sub-themed Human Rights of Refugees and Victims of Ethnic and Religious Violence. At the end of the conference a gap in the human rights work was spotted: human rights of minorities. The establishment of GHRD was supported by a broad spectrum of over a 150 selected participants of national and international human rights organisations from all over the world. The memorandum of association, which was agreed upon unanimously and signed by all participating parties, provides the structure of this international organisation. At the time of its establishment, the Board was led by Sradhanand Sital who still is the chairman of the organisation. When it was first established, GHRD had no official office and worked solely on a voluntary basis. Meetings were held at the founders’ living-rooms and activities were conducted by a small group of dedicated people. In September 2005, the organisation opened its head-office in The Hague at Javastraat and employed the first paid staff. In the building, GHRD was neighbour of United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Also in 2005, GHRD promoted a four-day congress at the City Hall of the Hague. The congress was titled GHRD reaches for the future and brought together some 120 experts in the field of human rights. Amongst the speakers were Dutch Human Rights Ambassador Mr. P. de Klerk, and the Mayor of The Hague Mr. W. Deetman. In 2006 the founders had already some contacts in South-Asia and it was easier to start acting in the region. Moreover, the South-Asia region fulfilled the mission/vision of GHRD, as the violations of human rights of minorities did not hit the headlines nor were they on top of the political agenda. Headquarters GHRD head-office