The Montana Human Rights Network is a grassroots, membership-based organization of over 1,500 members and seven local groups. The Network’s mission is to promote democratic values such as pluralism, equality and justice; to challenge bigotry and intolerance; and to organize communities to speak out in support of democratic principles and institutions.

In 2006 the Network carried out its Help Raise Montana Project, which sought to change the character of the public debate about living wages and used human rights in advancing a ballot measure to increase the minimum wage in Montana. In partnership with the Center for Human Rights Education, the Network developed a “train the trainer” model on how to use human rights in state-based organizing and the specific ballot measure.

The Network also organized a state-wide tour of rallies and concerts that used a human rights frame to promote an increase in the minimum wage. In November the ballot initiative passed with over seventy percent seventy percent of the popular vote. The Network will continue its work on economic human rights by raising the issue of universal healthcare as a basic human right. It is committed to changing the terms of the debate over healthcare by using the framework provided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Network will support bills to advance the cause of universal healthcare during the 2007 legislature, and will both develop a broad-based coalition and offer training on using human rights to win a healthcare ballot initiative.