advocacy Hear it!

advocacy Definition

ad·vo·cacy (ad′və kə sē)

noun

the act of advocating, or speaking or writing in support (of something)

Etymology: ME & OFr advocacie < ML advocatia < L advocatus: see advocate

advocacy Synonyms

advocacy

n.

support, promotion, backing, espousal; see aid 1.

advocacy Law Definition

n

Active support for a legal cause by argument and persuasion.
Advocacy Hacker Definition
Generally, a type of problem solving designed to protect the personal and legal rights of individuals so that they can live a dignified existence. Many types of advocacy exist, with system advocacy being used to change systems and to promote social causes, and with legislative advocacy being used to change laws. Regardless of type, effective advocacy generally involves a broad-based approach to problem solving.

With regard to advocacy and digital world issues, three organizations have become recognized for their efforts in this regard: the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF); the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC); and the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT).

The EFF is a modern group of freedom fighters who argue that if the United States’ Founding Fathers had anticipated the digital frontier, they would have put a clause in the Constitution for protecting individuals’ rights online. Thus, the EFF is a group of lawyers, technologists, ­volunteers, and visionaries who challenge legislative measures threatening basic human rights with online activities.

EPIC, a public interest research center housed in Washington, D.C., was established in 1994. EPIC’s purpose is to focus the public’s attention on civil liberties issues in the information age and to protect privacy, the First Amendment, and values inherent in the Constitution. EPIC publishes an email and online newsletter on topics related to civil liberties in the information age. EPIC also cites reports and books on privacy, open government, free speech, and other topics on civil liberties issues.

The CDT promotes digital age democratic values and constitutional liberties, and for this reason, its members have expertise in law, technology, and policy. The CDT seeks practical solutions to improve free expression and privacy in worldwide communications technologies. Moreover, the CDT is dedicated to bringing together segments interested in the future of the Internet. Recent topics of interest to the CDT include the Child Online Protection Act (COPA), the use of spyware, and Spam.

See Also: Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT); Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF); Internet; Privacy; Privacy Laws; Spam; Spyware.

Electronic Frontier Foundation. About EFF. [Online, August 9, 2004.] Electronic Frontier Foundation Website. http://www.eff.org/about/; Electronic Frontier Foundation. Our Mission: With Digital Rights and Freedom For All. [Online, July 5, 2004.] Electronic Frontier Foundation Website. http://www.eff.org/mission.php; Head Injury Hotline. Advocacy Skills. [Online, 1998.] Seattle, Washington Brain Injury Resource Center Website. http://www.headinjury.com/advocacy.htm.
advocacy Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • streamline: English Version DTI consultation Strengthen and streamline consumer advocacy - 10 May 2006 The government is consulting on consumer representation and redress.
  • counsel: Peterborough Children and Young People's Center Provides services for children and young people which include counseling, advocacy, advice and peer support.

Modifies a noun

  • organization: Also included is a list of self advocacy organizations contacted.
  • journalism: Yet in reporting both the causes and aftermath of the 1994 massacres advocacy journalism gave rise to its own problems.
  • group: Now let's say the Linux advocacy group has been taken over by people I don't like.
  • campaign: Assist trade union advocacy campaigns in support of poverty reduction.
  • service: He also talked about the growth of advocacy services brought into effect by the recent Scottish Mental Health Act.
  • role: Visually impaired people will be placed at the center of Vocaleyes ' work, which will include an advocacy role.

Adjective modifier

  • Independent: Independent advocacy is a good way to support people to develop their own opinions, aspirations and their confidence in these.
  • passionate: These radical insights brought him to a passionate advocacy of Turner, another spirit in advance of his era.
  • independent: The right to independent advocacy promised to patients in the draft bill has gone.
  • collective: To facilitate the sharing of good practice across the institution through personal and collective advocacy.
  • mental: I met him for the first time on the Internet about 7 years ago, on a mailing list devoted to mental health advocacy.

Preposition: on

  • behalf: Through these programs, Reprieve engages in high impact, frontline advocacy on behalf of people facing the death penalty.

Noun used with modifier

  • self: Workers on the advice line can also prepare a self advocacy letter to social services expressing your concerns.
  • citizen: Here are the stories of two of our twelve citizen advocacy partnerships.
  • helmet: This is the helmet advocacy program of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association.
  • consumer: The New Labor government is uniquely sensitive to lobbying by consumer advocacy groups.
  • mediation: Participating in Mediation focused on mediation advocacy and was led by Peter Crossley.
  • gender: Some also have legal rights support for women and engage in gender advocacy.