Another primary function of IHRDA is to provide current information regarding human rights issues and policies in African to human rights workers through regular publications. IHRDA recognizes that the evolution and development of the African human rights system is severely limited by the inaccessibility of information. Therefore, IHRDA purposely designs its publications to be a useful tool for lawyers and other human rights workers.
The publications of IHRDA are vast in topic. One of their most widely recognized publications is the African Human Rights Caselaw Analyser (discussed in more detail in a previous post). Other publication topics include past human rights case decisions, the potential role of an African Court on Human Rights, specific case requirements (admissibility) of the African Commission on Human and People's Rights, and the human rights commitments of specific African countries. Summaries of each of these publications are available on the IHRDA website, along with purchasing information for some of the materials.
Source:
http://www.ihrda.org/publications/
Monday, April 1, 2013
Snapshot: IHRDA Workshops
One of IHRDA's primary functions is to provide training to human rights workers. IHRDA seeks to inform human rights workers of the tools available to them when working on human rights cases, specifically the provisions of the African Commission on Human and People's Rights (ACmHPR) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC). IHRDA also seeks to educate human rights workers as to the mechanisms of the African Committee on Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC).
IHRDA's workshops service individuals developing both national and continental human rights cases. Currently IHRDA offers workshops in four categories:
- African Human Rights Procedures
- The Gambia Legal Capacity Building Project
- Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
- Children's Rights
The content of the workshops in each of these categories can be explored further via the IHRDA website. Additionally, IHRDA has published reports of the curriculum and proceedings of these workshops, in so doing giving human rights workers and lawyers yet another resource.
**As a side note, I think I'm going to need to start a list of the acronyms associated with African human rights law and organizations. The majority of the websites used for research merely give the appropriate acronyms instead of the full organization name which can be very confusing for the reader! **
Source:
http://www.ihrda.org/workshops/
IHRDA's workshops service individuals developing both national and continental human rights cases. Currently IHRDA offers workshops in four categories:
- African Human Rights Procedures
- The Gambia Legal Capacity Building Project
- Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
- Children's Rights
The content of the workshops in each of these categories can be explored further via the IHRDA website. Additionally, IHRDA has published reports of the curriculum and proceedings of these workshops, in so doing giving human rights workers and lawyers yet another resource.
**As a side note, I think I'm going to need to start a list of the acronyms associated with African human rights law and organizations. The majority of the websites used for research merely give the appropriate acronyms instead of the full organization name which can be very confusing for the reader! **
Source:
http://www.ihrda.org/workshops/
Snapshot: The Coalition for an Effective African Court
Founded in May 2003, the Coalition for an Effective African Court (ACC) is an organization comprised of NGOs, individuals, and independent domestic human rights institutions (e.g. NHRIs -- see below) seeking to promote human rights protection in Africa through the establishment of the African Court on Human and People's Rights. The main goal of ACC is to persuade African nations to ratify the establishment of the Court. Secondarily, ACC exists to ensure the fair and transparent election of judges to the Court, to encourage the participation of civil society in the Court, and to provide technical support to the Court (as well as the Court's parent institution - the African Union). To achieve its aims, ACC acts primarily through the publication of research and policy proposals, as well as the creation of programs designed to raise awareness of human rights issues.
Through the lobbying efforts of ACC, the African Court on Human and People's Rights was ratified by eight states in 2005, enabling the establishment of the Court. Shortly after, seven other states ratified the protocol creating the Court - also through the work of ACC. More recently, the African Union has sought to merge the African Court on Human and People's Rights with the AU Court of Justice. ACC is been heavily involved in drafting recommendations for the successful merger of these two entities.
ACC is managed by an executive committee consisting of nine positions: a chairperson, a secretariat, coordinator, and focal point and liaison advisers. As a member organization, IHRDA currently serve as the focal point on national human rights institutions (NHRIs). Similarly, IHRDA was the chairperson of the executive committee from 2007-2008. As the focal point for NHRIs, IHRDA is responsible for supporting the functioning of NHRIs (e.g. technical assistance), creating and maintaining a strong network between ACC members, and enabling the mission of the ACC. Through its support of NHRIs, IHRDA hopes to make the African Court on Human and People's Rights more accessible to all African citizens and increase the credibility of the Court as a continental enforcer of human rights. In this focal point role, IHRDA also works closely with the Secretariat of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions to further increase the involvement of NHRIs in the regional human rights system.
Source:
http://www.ihrda.org/our-programmes/ihrda-and-acc/
Through the lobbying efforts of ACC, the African Court on Human and People's Rights was ratified by eight states in 2005, enabling the establishment of the Court. Shortly after, seven other states ratified the protocol creating the Court - also through the work of ACC. More recently, the African Union has sought to merge the African Court on Human and People's Rights with the AU Court of Justice. ACC is been heavily involved in drafting recommendations for the successful merger of these two entities.
ACC is managed by an executive committee consisting of nine positions: a chairperson, a secretariat, coordinator, and focal point and liaison advisers. As a member organization, IHRDA currently serve as the focal point on national human rights institutions (NHRIs). Similarly, IHRDA was the chairperson of the executive committee from 2007-2008. As the focal point for NHRIs, IHRDA is responsible for supporting the functioning of NHRIs (e.g. technical assistance), creating and maintaining a strong network between ACC members, and enabling the mission of the ACC. Through its support of NHRIs, IHRDA hopes to make the African Court on Human and People's Rights more accessible to all African citizens and increase the credibility of the Court as a continental enforcer of human rights. In this focal point role, IHRDA also works closely with the Secretariat of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions to further increase the involvement of NHRIs in the regional human rights system.
Source:
http://www.ihrda.org/our-programmes/ihrda-and-acc/
Fun Facts
As my research continues into the role of the IHRDA in human rights advocacy in Africa, here a some interesting facts regarding the organization:
- IHRDA is currently engaged in human rights cases in the following countries: Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and Angola.
- IHRDA has previously also worked in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Swaziland, Liberia, the Gambia, and Mauritania.
- IHRDA seeks to strengthen human rights policy in Africa through 3 main functions:
- offering free legal counsel to human rights victims
- providing training seminars to human rights workers
- publishing information on current human rights issues and policies in Africa
- IHRDA is a member of the Coalition for an Effective African Court (ACC)
- In October 2012, IHRDA was recognized by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Right (ACHPR) for its efforts to promote and protect human rights, receiving the 2nd place award for human rights NGOs.
- The current African human rights framework rests on the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, established on October 21, 1986. Since then, IHRDA has consistently encouraged the African Union to more effectively monitor domestic compliance with this Charter.
Sources:
http://www.ihrda.org/our-programmes/
http://www.ihrda.org/2012/10/ihrda-awarded-first-runner-up-for-achpr-human-rights-ngo-prize/
http://www.ihrda.org/2012/10/ihrda-statement-in-commemoration-of-the-african-human-rights-day/
- IHRDA is currently engaged in human rights cases in the following countries: Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and Angola.
- IHRDA has previously also worked in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Swaziland, Liberia, the Gambia, and Mauritania.
- IHRDA seeks to strengthen human rights policy in Africa through 3 main functions:
- offering free legal counsel to human rights victims
- providing training seminars to human rights workers
- publishing information on current human rights issues and policies in Africa
- IHRDA is a member of the Coalition for an Effective African Court (ACC)
- In October 2012, IHRDA was recognized by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Right (ACHPR) for its efforts to promote and protect human rights, receiving the 2nd place award for human rights NGOs.
- The current African human rights framework rests on the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, established on October 21, 1986. Since then, IHRDA has consistently encouraged the African Union to more effectively monitor domestic compliance with this Charter.
Sources:
http://www.ihrda.org/our-programmes/
http://www.ihrda.org/2012/10/ihrda-awarded-first-runner-up-for-achpr-human-rights-ngo-prize/
http://www.ihrda.org/2012/10/ihrda-statement-in-commemoration-of-the-african-human-rights-day/
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Snapshot: African Human Rights Case Law Analyser
The African Human Rights Case Law Analyser is a tool provided by IHRDA that provides comprehensive access to African human rights laws, norms, and case decisions. Through this database, IHRDA seeks to aid research regarding human rights law in Africa, as well as increase general understanding of human rights judicial mechanisms.
The Case Law Analyser contains cases from six regional judicial institutions:
The African Human Rights Case Law Analyser is co-sponsored by IHRDA, Human Rights Information and Documentation Systems (HURIDOCS), and Open Society Foundations.
Sources:
http://caselaw.ihrda.org/acmhpr/
http://caselaw.ihrda.org/instruments/
The Case Law Analyser contains cases from six regional judicial institutions:
- African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
- African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
- African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights
- ECOWAS Community Court of Justice
- SADC Tribunal
- The East African Court of Justice
The African Human Rights Case Law Analyser is co-sponsored by IHRDA, Human Rights Information and Documentation Systems (HURIDOCS), and Open Society Foundations.
Sources:
http://caselaw.ihrda.org/acmhpr/
http://caselaw.ihrda.org/instruments/
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Snapshot: Legal Defense Fund
One apparatus of IHRDA's legal aid program is the Legal Defense Fund. The Legal Defense Fund provides monetary support to persons and groups who bring cases before the African Commission on Human and People's Rights. Through an application process, these individuals and groups can obtain funding for expenses related to the case, such as travel and accommodation.
Applications for funding from the Legal Defense Fund are reviewed on an annual basis and must meet two key criteria:
-- the applicant must be a citizen of a country belonging to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) or be a national of Cameroon, Chad, or Mauritania
-- the applicant must have a recognized case before the African Commission on Human and People's Rights
IHRDA also provides examples of persons or groups who have successfully received funding from the Legal Defense Fund in the past. In 2005, 18 individuals from Southern Cameroon received $12,940 from the Fund during their case to obtain rights to equality and self determination in Cameroon. In another Cameroonian case, a group of victims of electoral violence received $18,421 over the span of 2004-2006 as they pursued the right to a fair trial.
The Legal Defense Fund of the IHRDA is a mechanism by which the IHRDA can provide tangible aid to those seeking protection of their human rights from the regional commission. It is through such programs that IHRDA is supporting advocating for human rights and supporting human rights organizations in Africa.
The Fund receives a significant portion of its funding from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).
Sources:
http://www.ihrda.org/legal-defence-fund/
Applications for funding from the Legal Defense Fund are reviewed on an annual basis and must meet two key criteria:
-- the applicant must be a citizen of a country belonging to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) or be a national of Cameroon, Chad, or Mauritania
-- the applicant must have a recognized case before the African Commission on Human and People's Rights
IHRDA also provides examples of persons or groups who have successfully received funding from the Legal Defense Fund in the past. In 2005, 18 individuals from Southern Cameroon received $12,940 from the Fund during their case to obtain rights to equality and self determination in Cameroon. In another Cameroonian case, a group of victims of electoral violence received $18,421 over the span of 2004-2006 as they pursued the right to a fair trial.
The Legal Defense Fund of the IHRDA is a mechanism by which the IHRDA can provide tangible aid to those seeking protection of their human rights from the regional commission. It is through such programs that IHRDA is supporting advocating for human rights and supporting human rights organizations in Africa.
The Fund receives a significant portion of its funding from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).
Sources:
http://www.ihrda.org/legal-defence-fund/
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Snapshot: Legal Aid
Here is an interesting graphic provided by IHRDA describing their legal work throughout the African continent:
Tune in Next Week:
IHRDA's Legal Defense Fund (http://www.ihrda.org/legal-defence-fund/)
Sources:
http://www.ihrda.org/cases/
Thursday, February 14, 2013
This post is brought to you by....
The Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA)! Well, not necessarily brought to you by -- it is certainly not paying for the production of this post! :P But, this blog entry is certainly about the work of IHRDA as I continue my quest for an organization to center this research project on.
As with last week, the research behind this post involved the casting of many fishing lines...most of which turned up empty. Through the International Federation for Human Rights website, I found a convenient map of human rights NGOs located all through out Africa. However, I encountered the same issue I mentioned in my last post --> many of these websites contained broken links, had not been updated in several years, and generally lacked basic information about the NGO. Sigh. So I retreated to my good old standby: Google. Which is how I miraculously came across the IHRDA, and so far, the research possibilities centered on this organization are looking promising.
www.ihrda.org
IHRDA is an organization headquartered in the Gambia that seeks to increase the effectiveness and availability of the human rights protections provided through the African Union. To do so, IHRDA focuses on educating and training local communities on how to use the provisions of these legal mechanisms to defend their human rights.
IHRDA was founded in 1998 by two human rights lawyers from the Secretariat of the African Commission on Human and People's Rights. The staff of the organization today represent seven different African countries, illustrating the pan-African nature of the organization. I am drawn to studying this organization because it is a clear example of the effectiveness and presence of African NGOs in Africa, as opposed to the over-studied presence of Western organizations on the continent.
More information on this organization coming soon!
Sources:
www.ihrda.org/our-history/
www.ihrda.org/staff
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_Human_Rights_and_Development_in_Africa_%8IHRDA%29 (though I am ashamed to admit it....I promise that wikipedia will not be in my final bibliography! :P)
As with last week, the research behind this post involved the casting of many fishing lines...most of which turned up empty. Through the International Federation for Human Rights website, I found a convenient map of human rights NGOs located all through out Africa. However, I encountered the same issue I mentioned in my last post --> many of these websites contained broken links, had not been updated in several years, and generally lacked basic information about the NGO. Sigh. So I retreated to my good old standby: Google. Which is how I miraculously came across the IHRDA, and so far, the research possibilities centered on this organization are looking promising.
www.ihrda.org
IHRDA is an organization headquartered in the Gambia that seeks to increase the effectiveness and availability of the human rights protections provided through the African Union. To do so, IHRDA focuses on educating and training local communities on how to use the provisions of these legal mechanisms to defend their human rights.
IHRDA was founded in 1998 by two human rights lawyers from the Secretariat of the African Commission on Human and People's Rights. The staff of the organization today represent seven different African countries, illustrating the pan-African nature of the organization. I am drawn to studying this organization because it is a clear example of the effectiveness and presence of African NGOs in Africa, as opposed to the over-studied presence of Western organizations on the continent.
More information on this organization coming soon!
Sources:
www.ihrda.org/our-history/
www.ihrda.org/staff
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_Human_Rights_and_Development_in_Africa_%8IHRDA%29 (though I am ashamed to admit it....I promise that wikipedia will not be in my final bibliography! :P)
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Endless Possibilities
As I have been researching possible organizations to focus on for the duration of this project, it has become evident the vast number of human rights organizations there are to choose from! By doing just a basic Google search, I discovered dozens of websites that contain long lists of human rights organizations that are active in Africa. However, several of these organizations' websites are either defunct or severely lacking in information. This is actually a trend that I have noticed while doing other research related to Africa: African internet resources are remarkably less reliable and less informative than internet resources in developed countries. As such, I am beginning to re-think my decision to research a grassroots African organization as I am worried that I will not be able to find enough information for this project if I do so.
That being said, here are two of the organizations I came across that fit within my parameters for this project discussed in my previous post:
1) International Federation for Human Rights
The International Federation for Human Rights (IFHR) is an umbrella organization for 164 regional human rights organizations located around the world. The IFHR consists of several forums, such as a congress, secretariat, executive body, etc.
2) African Court on Human and People's Rights
The African Court on Human and People's Rights is a judicial body under the African Union that measures member states' compliance with the human rights standards of the African Union. While studying a judicial perspective on human rights protection would be a fascinating project, the court technically qualifies as an intergovernmental organization and is therefore outside the scope of this class (nongovernmental organizations).
The quest continues for a human rights organization to study for this project! Another update coming soon.
That being said, here are two of the organizations I came across that fit within my parameters for this project discussed in my previous post:
1) International Federation for Human Rights
The International Federation for Human Rights (IFHR) is an umbrella organization for 164 regional human rights organizations located around the world. The IFHR consists of several forums, such as a congress, secretariat, executive body, etc.
2) African Court on Human and People's Rights
The African Court on Human and People's Rights is a judicial body under the African Union that measures member states' compliance with the human rights standards of the African Union. While studying a judicial perspective on human rights protection would be a fascinating project, the court technically qualifies as an intergovernmental organization and is therefore outside the scope of this class (nongovernmental organizations).
The quest continues for a human rights organization to study for this project! Another update coming soon.
Friday, February 1, 2013
The Beginning
While I have had a personal blog for a few years, this is my first attempt at blogging more formally. As part of a class project, this blog is dedicated to my research and discoveries regarding the work of NGOs in human rights advocacy. When one thinks of "human rights organizations", a few big names come to mind immediately: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the UN Human Rights Council (technically not an NGO, but you get the idea). But there is so much more being done to advocate for and defend human rights. So much more than what these organizations could accomplish on their own. Through the research recorded in this blog, I hope to narrow in on one organization that is truly making a difference in the lives of those in its region, but may go unnoticed in the vast sea of human rights organizations.
My particular region of interest is Africa, however I am open to researching organizations that operate in other regions of the world as well. In my opinion, NGOs are the most effective when they truly engage in the lives of the people they serve -- utilizing the capabilities and knowledge of the local population. For this reason, I am interesting in finding a more localized organization. However, organizations that are too narrowly focused begin to encounter difficulties as well -- a topic of discussion I'm sure I will discuss at length in future posts! (In short, organizations that are focused on a very localized region often lose sight of the bigger picture of aid worker -- a picture of which they are a part. It can also lead to decreased communication between organizations and increased inefficiency and redundancy in programs.)
Please join me on my journey as I begin to explore the world of human rights organizations!
My particular region of interest is Africa, however I am open to researching organizations that operate in other regions of the world as well. In my opinion, NGOs are the most effective when they truly engage in the lives of the people they serve -- utilizing the capabilities and knowledge of the local population. For this reason, I am interesting in finding a more localized organization. However, organizations that are too narrowly focused begin to encounter difficulties as well -- a topic of discussion I'm sure I will discuss at length in future posts! (In short, organizations that are focused on a very localized region often lose sight of the bigger picture of aid worker -- a picture of which they are a part. It can also lead to decreased communication between organizations and increased inefficiency and redundancy in programs.)
Please join me on my journey as I begin to explore the world of human rights organizations!
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