This NGO bases itself, I claim, not primarily on its technical expertise but on its moral tenets. In science, we have a group of individuals supporting one another, world-wide, in an endeavour whose success depends upon placing the truth ahead of personal advantage. Not all succeed in doing this, but all are agreed in its necessity. In science, truth must take precedence not only over individual advantage, but also over 'group advantage' - sectional interests such as nationality, creed or ethnicity. Our championing of human rights puts to rest the notion that what we are offering is primarily technical expertise.
Technical expertise has nothing directly to do with human rights.
Our community's voyage of self-discovery is not over. I believe that it will lead us to a more active support of democracy, wherever it is threatened. That notion would have seemed preposterous when I began my life as a scientist. But no longer. Today, Academies of Science use their influence around the world in support of human rights.