Advocacy
Advocacy includes initiatives aimed at exerting political or social influence on behalf of a particular group in order to stand up for its interests. Through advocacy, a person or organization can stand up for the interests of minorities, children or women, for example.
Advocacy can include conducting advertising campaigns, conducting research, conducting petitions and surveys, providing information and lectures, political lobbying campaigns and providing legal support. Possible goals include influencing political decision-making, putting certain issues on the political agenda, ensuring minorities are heard, creating social awareness, influencing public opinion, and driving conversations and discussions.
Thus, social and charitable organizations primarily engaged in advocacy do not so much provide material aid, but primarily help groups to stand up for their rights and interests. A very well-known organization focused on advocacy is Amnesty International.
