People in diaspora communities have an increasingly important global role to play as a bridge between individuals, governments, and international legal and political mechanisms. Diaspora communities are a critical link in creating change - from within the country, as well as from without - in social institutions and structures to hold governments accountable and promote the full realization of human rights.

The publication provided practical tools and step-by-step guidance for diaspora community groups and individuals who want to use human rights monitoring, documentation, and advocacy in their work to change policy and improve human rights conditions in their countries of origin. The contents of this manual have been shaped by the requests for assistance and guidance that The Advocates routinely receives from diaspora communities, as well as by input from human rights defenders in the Global South. The manual is designed to aid advocates of all backgrounds and experiences. With background information, key questions to consider, case examples, templates, and practitioners' tips, this manual provides tools to combat human rights abuses and promote the full realization of human rights.

Researched and written by The Advocates for Human Rights in 2014, Paving Pathways for Justice & Accountability: Human Rights Tools for Diaspora Communities provides a full menu of useful resources that are grounded in the daily work of human rights defenders. While this manual was created to facilitate the inclusion of diaspora voices in efforts to hold governments accountable for human rights, we hope that it will also benefit and be used by human rights defenders and civil society organizations throughout the world.