Strengthening the capacity of the togolese HRD for active participation in the UPR of Togo in October 2011 by that mechanism.
Indeed in 2011 Octrobre Togo will be reviewed on the situation of human rights by the new mechanism established by the Council of Human Rights called Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
This mechanism is intended to review the HR situation in the 192 states of the United Nations and to make recommendations relevant to the countries examined in order to make improvements in HR and Democracy .
Held at FOPADESC in Lome from 27 to 29 July 2010, this workshop gathered 32 participants from the five economic regions of Togo (Maritime, Central, Plateaux, Savannah, Kara) and from Lomé, working on various themes. Morever, a member of the National Commission of Human Rights, one from the Ministry of Human Rights and another from High Commission of Human Rights took part in the meeting. Two experts from the International Service for Human Rights have provided the training modules focused on African and UN mechanisms. Emphasis was placed on UPR with shared experiences of other countries already examined, such as Niger and Côte d’Ivoire.
A Strategy for the participation of Togolese civil society to the UPR and a timetable of actions to achieve have been developed by the participants. This strategy outlines the actions that civil society is planning to conduct before, during and after the Review of Togo in October 2011. These activities range from collecting information to develop reports from the civil society, lobbying and advocacy activities so to take into account the recommendations of the civil society by the Human Rights Council.
The participants from the 5 Economic Regions and from Lomé stands for the Focal Points of UPR-TOGO. However, given the limited funding for a wider participation of civil society in this workshop of Lome, all the actors of human rights of each region and Lomé should incorporate the Focal Points established for synergy and dynamic work in order to create a committee responsible for writing the Report of the civil society on the Human Rights situation in Togo. The workshop ended with a call to all Togolese human rights defenders to contribute to the success of drafting a national report of a worthy civil society setting up a committee to monitor implementation of the strategy adopted.
For information related to the participation of the Togolese civil society to the UPR in 2011, please contact Ms. Confort Lambon-Kabissa: ctddh@yahoo.fr / kconfort@yahoo.fr
---------------------------------
Lomé 07/19/2010: Launch of the training workshop.
Learning the functioning and the use of regional and international systems of protection of human rights to protect oneself and defend the valuable work of human rights defenders. That is the objective of the training of trainers workshop which is being held this Monday, July 19, 2010 at Novela Star in Lome. Initiated by the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) in partnership with the West African Human Rights Defenders Network (ROADDH/WAHRDN), the workshop brings together some thirty members of national coalitions of the Network.
Human rights defenders play a key role in the promotion and protection of human rights. They work to raise awareness of human rights, monitor and document violations of human rights.
The training is organised in a bid to strengthen the capacities of national coalitions in the seizure of human rights protection mechanisms, as well as the implementation of advocacy and lobbying activities in the sub-region.
The Coordinator of the WAHRDN Mr. Diallo Abdoul GADIRY, welcomed the hosts and the participants to the workshop and introduced the objectives of the meeting.
He recalled the conditions trhough which the participants from the 16 member coalitions was preselected.
He then thanked the Togolese authorities and the president of the National Commission of Human Rights who always worked alongside the West African Human Rights Defenders Network to strenghten the advocacy and the protection of Human rights.
Mr. VOULE Clément, the representative of International Service of Human Rights wished a warm welcome to the participants and brought to mind the objectives of the workshop. He thanked the Ford Foundation for its financial support for the organization of this training.
He said, the activities of protection and promotion of Human Rights Defenders goes back to 2005. A key objective of the ISHR is to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of all human beings. Thus, the mandate of the ISHR in the sub region is to promote, protect and defend the rights of Human rights defenders first, then take necessary measures to legitimate the work of Human rights defenders.
He said, he hopes that the participants will make of the training a model by increasing their engagement with the mechanisms of protection.
Mr. KUNTE Koffi, president of the National Commisssion of Human Rights, said that this workshop is a realization of the efforts made since the start of the democratization process in Togo and wished the participants to take best part of this training.
Mrs. Leonardina Wilson de Souza, Minister of Human Rights, consolidation of democracy and civic education, welcomed the participants and emphasized that the choice of Togo to host this workshop is not a coincidence. She said that the government and the civil society strives by various means to consolidate the achievements in the field by strengthening the rule of law and democracy.
She drawn the attention by saying that West African Human Rights Defenders Network fits perfectly in this new dynamic because of the concern of its leaders to strengthen the capacity of its focal points.
According to the Minister, the opportunity is particularly conducive to emphasize the role that imcombe NGOs and civil society in educating people to take ownership of the republican civic values could encourage the entrenchment of peace, human rights culture and the strengthening of continental unity.
During this five-days- workshop, the training will focus mainly on:
1- The seizure of human rights protection mechanisms, primarily those related to the rights of human rights defenders, in Africa and at the level of the United Nations;
2 - The increased and effective use of strategies for lobbying and advocacy activities at national, regional and international levels, to engage the states in the sub-region in the implementation of its international and regional commitments in the field of human rights.
Participants will receive four papers on the theme of the seminar that will be given by resource persons.
--------------------------------------
This mechanism is intended to review the HR situation in the 192 states of the United Nations and to make recommendations relevant to the countries examined in order to make improvements in HR and Democracy .
Held at FOPADESC in Lome from 27 to 29 July 2010, this workshop gathered 32 participants from the five economic regions of Togo (Maritime, Central, Plateaux, Savannah, Kara) and from Lomé, working on various themes. Morever, a member of the National Commission of Human Rights, one from the Ministry of Human Rights and another from High Commission of Human Rights took part in the meeting. Two experts from the International Service for Human Rights have provided the training modules focused on African and UN mechanisms. Emphasis was placed on UPR with shared experiences of other countries already examined, such as Niger and Côte d’Ivoire.A Strategy for the participation of Togolese civil society to the UPR and a timetable of actions to achieve have been developed by the participants. This strategy outlines the actions that civil society is planning to conduct before, during and after the Review of Togo in October 2011. These activities range from collecting information to develop reports from the civil society, lobbying and advocacy activities so to take into account the recommendations of the civil society by the Human Rights Council.
The participants from the 5 Economic Regions and from Lomé stands for the Focal Points of UPR-TOGO. However, given the limited funding for a wider participation of civil society in this workshop of Lome, all the actors of human rights of each region and Lomé should incorporate the Focal Points established for synergy and dynamic work in order to create a committee responsible for writing the Report of the civil society on the Human Rights situation in Togo. The workshop ended with a call to all Togolese human rights defenders to contribute to the success of drafting a national report of a worthy civil society setting up a committee to monitor implementation of the strategy adopted.
For information related to the participation of the Togolese civil society to the UPR in 2011, please contact Ms. Confort Lambon-Kabissa: ctddh@yahoo.fr / kconfort@yahoo.fr
---------------------------------
Lomé 07/19/2010: Launch of the training workshop.
Learning the functioning and the use of regional and international systems of protection of human rights to protect oneself and defend the valuable work of human rights defenders. That is the objective of the training of trainers workshop which is being held this Monday, July 19, 2010 at Novela Star in Lome. Initiated by the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) in partnership with the West African Human Rights Defenders Network (ROADDH/WAHRDN), the workshop brings together some thirty members of national coalitions of the Network.
Human rights defenders play a key role in the promotion and protection of human rights. They work to raise awareness of human rights, monitor and document violations of human rights.
The training is organised in a bid to strengthen the capacities of national coalitions in the seizure of human rights protection mechanisms, as well as the implementation of advocacy and lobbying activities in the sub-region.
The Coordinator of the WAHRDN Mr. Diallo Abdoul GADIRY, welcomed the hosts and the participants to the workshop and introduced the objectives of the meeting. He recalled the conditions trhough which the participants from the 16 member coalitions was preselected.
He then thanked the Togolese authorities and the president of the National Commission of Human Rights who always worked alongside the West African Human Rights Defenders Network to strenghten the advocacy and the protection of Human rights.
Mr. VOULE Clément, the representative of International Service of Human Rights wished a warm welcome to the participants and brought to mind the objectives of the workshop. He thanked the Ford Foundation for its financial support for the organization of this training.He said, the activities of protection and promotion of Human Rights Defenders goes back to 2005. A key objective of the ISHR is to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of all human beings. Thus, the mandate of the ISHR in the sub region is to promote, protect and defend the rights of Human rights defenders first, then take necessary measures to legitimate the work of Human rights defenders.
He said, he hopes that the participants will make of the training a model by increasing their engagement with the mechanisms of protection.
Mr. KUNTE Koffi, president of the National Commisssion of Human Rights, said that this workshop is a realization of the efforts made since the start of the democratization process in Togo and wished the participants to take best part of this training.Mrs. Leonardina Wilson de Souza, Minister of Human Rights, consolidation of democracy and civic education, welcomed the participants and emphasized that the choice of Togo to host this workshop is not a coincidence. She said that the government and the civil society strives by various means to consolidate the achievements in the field by strengthening the rule of law and democracy.
She drawn the attention by saying that West African Human Rights Defenders Network fits perfectly in this new dynamic because of the concern of its leaders to strengthen the capacity of its focal points.
According to the Minister, the opportunity is particularly conducive to emphasize the role that imcombe NGOs and civil society in educating people to take ownership of the republican civic values could encourage the entrenchment of peace, human rights culture and the strengthening of continental unity.
During this five-days- workshop, the training will focus mainly on:
1- The seizure of human rights protection mechanisms, primarily those related to the rights of human rights defenders, in Africa and at the level of the United Nations;
2 - The increased and effective use of strategies for lobbying and advocacy activities at national, regional and international levels, to engage the states in the sub-region in the implementation of its international and regional commitments in the field of human rights.
Participants will receive four papers on the theme of the seminar that will be given by resource persons.
--------------------------------------
Publushed on 05/31/2010/ changed 06/22/2010
The International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
and the West African Human Rights Defenders Network (WAHRDN)
are pleased to announce a
Training of trainers workshop on human rights defenders
protection mechanisms.
----------------------------------
Lomé, 19-23 July 2010.
The International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), in partnership with the West African Human Rights Defenders Network (WAHRDN), is organizing, in the framework of its capacity-building activities, a training of trainers workshop for the members of the national coalitions of the Network.
The objective of the training is to strengthen the capacities of national coalitions in the seizure of human rights protection mechanisms, as well as the implementation of advocacy and lobbying activities in the sub-region. After completing the training, participants will constitute the focal points of the Network for the implementation of these activities.
The training will be held in Lomé from 19 to 23 July 2010 and will focus on:
1- The seizure of human rights protection mechanisms, primarily those related to the rights of human rights defenders, in Africa and at the level of the United Nations;
2 - The increased and effective use of strategies for lobbying and advocacy activities at national, regional and international levels, to engage the states in the sub-region in the implementation of its international and regional commitments in the field of human rights.
National coalitions are invited to submit at least the applications of 3 of their members in accordance with the selection criteria and taking into account the terms of reference of the focal points (see the application process below).
--------------------------
APPLICATION PROCESS
National coalitions are invited to submit AT LEAST the applications of 3 of their members in accordance with the selection criteria (I) and taking into account the terms of reference of the focal points below (II).
Please note that if less than 3 applications are received from one national coalition, they may not be considered for selection. The Secretariat will select among applicants those who will participate in the workshop.
I. SELECTION CRITERIA
Selection will be based on gender; women candidates are encouraged and preferred, if eligible.
Applicants must:
• Have knowledge of human rights and be familiar with the legal lexicon used,
• Have already attended training on the mechanisms of protection of human rights,
• Have already attended a training workshop as a trainer,
• Occupy a function related to training or advocacy within the organization,
• Have experience in advocacy or lobbying activities,
• Have good writing skills for reports and press releases, and
• Have a good command of English or French; strong notions in the other language will be an asset.
Each applicant must submit:
• A resume not older than 3 months;
• A letter of recommendation from the organization/coalition responsible;
• A letter of commitment to the organization/coalition representative on sending reports after training.
NB: Successful applicants must commit to send progress reports on their activities as focal point of the Network after the training to the Secretariat of the ROADDH / WAHRDN for fear of seeing their organization excluded from any future training.
II. TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE FOCAL POINTS
After completing the training, participants will have become the focal points of the West African Human Rights Defenders Network (the Network) at the level of the country they will be in charge with. Their mandate consists in seizing human rights defenders protection mechanisms and implementing lobbying and advocacy activities. As such, they are the resource person of the Network and national coalitions in relation to these activities.
At the level of the national coalition, and in contact with the Secretariat of the Network, the focal point:
• will seize human rights protection mechanisms, and as such,
o will address urgent calls to special mechanisms, and
o will prepare communications that will consequently be forwarded to the Network for submission to the relevant body,
• will document human rights violations with a view to seizing protection mechanisms and to submitting the biannual report to the Network,
• will undertake lobbying and advocacy activities with national and international bodies, in the countries they will be in charge with. As such, they will take over lobbying activities from the Network at the level of the country they are in charge with, and
• will prepare press releases that will be disseminated either by the national coalition or by the Secretariat of the Network.
Vis-à-vis the Secretariat of the Network, the focal point:
• will take over the lobbying and advocacy activities from the Network at the level of the country they are in charge with,
• will submit two reports annually to the Secretariat of the Network, and preferably at least one month before each session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights and the NGO Forum, and
• will inform the Network of the developments in the situation of human rights in the country they are in charge with; the seizure of human rights mechanisms; and the issuance of press releases.
The focal point may be involved in training activities in lobbying and advocacy at the national level, as well as thematic research conducted by the Network.
In order to assist the focal points in the successful realization of their mission, the Secretariat of the Network, within the limits of its possibilities, will disseminate the information sent by focal points to the whole Network, so as to ensure a good communication among focal points and national coalitions. The Secretariat of the Network will also provide the focal points with the information necessary to their mission.
Preparatory activities of the focal point during the training workshop
During the training, participants will develop an action plan outlining the actions they intend to take to achieve the objectives set in his/her terms of reference.
For further notice, please contact the regional secretariat (Write to the responsible for the administration of the secretariat: s.fiaty@westafricadefenders.org or to the program officer: nkounkou@westafricadefenders.org).
-------------------------
NOTICE TO THE COALITIONS
and the West African Human Rights Defenders Network (WAHRDN)
are pleased to announce a
Training of trainers workshop on human rights defenders
protection mechanisms.
----------------------------------
Lomé, 19-23 July 2010.
The International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), in partnership with the West African Human Rights Defenders Network (WAHRDN), is organizing, in the framework of its capacity-building activities, a training of trainers workshop for the members of the national coalitions of the Network.
The objective of the training is to strengthen the capacities of national coalitions in the seizure of human rights protection mechanisms, as well as the implementation of advocacy and lobbying activities in the sub-region. After completing the training, participants will constitute the focal points of the Network for the implementation of these activities.
The training will be held in Lomé from 19 to 23 July 2010 and will focus on:
1- The seizure of human rights protection mechanisms, primarily those related to the rights of human rights defenders, in Africa and at the level of the United Nations;
2 - The increased and effective use of strategies for lobbying and advocacy activities at national, regional and international levels, to engage the states in the sub-region in the implementation of its international and regional commitments in the field of human rights.
National coalitions are invited to submit at least the applications of 3 of their members in accordance with the selection criteria and taking into account the terms of reference of the focal points (see the application process below).
--------------------------
APPLICATION PROCESS
National coalitions are invited to submit AT LEAST the applications of 3 of their members in accordance with the selection criteria (I) and taking into account the terms of reference of the focal points below (II).
Please note that if less than 3 applications are received from one national coalition, they may not be considered for selection. The Secretariat will select among applicants those who will participate in the workshop.
I. SELECTION CRITERIA
Selection will be based on gender; women candidates are encouraged and preferred, if eligible.
Applicants must:
• Have knowledge of human rights and be familiar with the legal lexicon used,
• Have already attended training on the mechanisms of protection of human rights,
• Have already attended a training workshop as a trainer,
• Occupy a function related to training or advocacy within the organization,
• Have experience in advocacy or lobbying activities,
• Have good writing skills for reports and press releases, and
• Have a good command of English or French; strong notions in the other language will be an asset.
Each applicant must submit:
• A resume not older than 3 months;
• A letter of recommendation from the organization/coalition responsible;
• A letter of commitment to the organization/coalition representative on sending reports after training.
NB: Successful applicants must commit to send progress reports on their activities as focal point of the Network after the training to the Secretariat of the ROADDH / WAHRDN for fear of seeing their organization excluded from any future training.
II. TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE FOCAL POINTS
After completing the training, participants will have become the focal points of the West African Human Rights Defenders Network (the Network) at the level of the country they will be in charge with. Their mandate consists in seizing human rights defenders protection mechanisms and implementing lobbying and advocacy activities. As such, they are the resource person of the Network and national coalitions in relation to these activities.
At the level of the national coalition, and in contact with the Secretariat of the Network, the focal point:
• will seize human rights protection mechanisms, and as such,
o will address urgent calls to special mechanisms, and
o will prepare communications that will consequently be forwarded to the Network for submission to the relevant body,
• will document human rights violations with a view to seizing protection mechanisms and to submitting the biannual report to the Network,
• will undertake lobbying and advocacy activities with national and international bodies, in the countries they will be in charge with. As such, they will take over lobbying activities from the Network at the level of the country they are in charge with, and
• will prepare press releases that will be disseminated either by the national coalition or by the Secretariat of the Network.
Vis-à-vis the Secretariat of the Network, the focal point:
• will take over the lobbying and advocacy activities from the Network at the level of the country they are in charge with,
• will submit two reports annually to the Secretariat of the Network, and preferably at least one month before each session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights and the NGO Forum, and
• will inform the Network of the developments in the situation of human rights in the country they are in charge with; the seizure of human rights mechanisms; and the issuance of press releases.
The focal point may be involved in training activities in lobbying and advocacy at the national level, as well as thematic research conducted by the Network.
In order to assist the focal points in the successful realization of their mission, the Secretariat of the Network, within the limits of its possibilities, will disseminate the information sent by focal points to the whole Network, so as to ensure a good communication among focal points and national coalitions. The Secretariat of the Network will also provide the focal points with the information necessary to their mission.
Preparatory activities of the focal point during the training workshop
During the training, participants will develop an action plan outlining the actions they intend to take to achieve the objectives set in his/her terms of reference.
For further notice, please contact the regional secretariat (Write to the responsible for the administration of the secretariat: s.fiaty@westafricadefenders.org or to the program officer: nkounkou@westafricadefenders.org).
-------------------------
NOTICE TO THE COALITIONS
JULY 2010:
--- WORKSHOP FOR TRAINERS ---
The West African Human Rights Defenders Network (ROADDH/WAHRDN) is
organizing a Training of trainers workshop on the mechanisms of protection
of human rights defenders at the UN and African level. This workshop will be
organized in collaboration with the International Service for Human Rights
(ISHR) in July 2010.
Published 05/25/2010
--------------------------------
Conakry, 20-24 july 2009
| Strengthening capacity of human rights defenders from the WAHRDN. |
As part of its strenghtening capacity program started in 2005 with the West african human rights defenders, the
International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) in collaboration with the West African Human Rights Defenders Network (ROADDH/WAHRDN) organized from 20th to 24th July 2009 in Guinea, a workshop for human rights defenders from the west african countries and from the Union of the Mano River (Guinea, Sierra Leone , Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire).
This workshop is the fourth organized by the ISHR since 2005 and has focused on several issues, including:
- The support of the network's efforts to build the capacity of human rights defenders in the familiarization and use of UN mechanisms;
- The sharing of experiences and best practices on the promotion and protection of human rights;
- The implementation of strategies on specific themes such as the issue of women defenders and the involvement of human rights defenders in the electoral process.
Through the original aims, the organizers hoped to bring national coalitions to:
* Develop a better understanding of regional and international human rights;
* Identify specific areas of intervention guidelines for the EU to defender human rights;
* Identify specific activities that can support the work of human rights efenders during elections;
* Include gender in their national action plan to include specific items related to the issue of women defenders;
* Allow ROADDH / WAHRDN coordinate with national coalitions to present their reports to the mechanism of the UPR.
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