Defending Human Rights: A Resource Book for Human

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Torture and trauma are life-altering experiences. A person’s ability to cope will depend on many things: individual temperament and coping capacity, availability of institutional and community support systems and the surrounding environment all play a very big role in the healing process. It is a sad truth that not everyone will be able to recover. Sometimes the damage done is too great. Not all environments are ideal for healing. It is extremely difficult to come to terms with traumatic experiences if one is still living in a society where massive human rights violations continue to take place. However, research shows that most people are able heal quite well if they have the necessary support, even in fragile and risky circumstances. It is also important to realize that healing may be a life-long process. There will be good times and then times when the memories live very close to the surface. Yet, if you realize that you are not alone, and that there is a caring community available to you in whatever configuration that is most suitable – whether through family, friends, spiritual leaders, co-workers, neighbours, other Human Rights Defenders or even the international community – then the work of healing and coming to terms with trauma can begin. Defending Human Rights: A Resource Book for Human Rights Defenders | 2nd Edition 27
Chapter 4 Advocacy Campaigns for Human Rights Campaign strategies, lobbying, and advocacy work can be used as tools by human rights defenders in their work to defend the rights of others. Campaigning aims at bringing about positive change, making people act on their commitments or to fulfil their duties and obligations. It can also be used to raise widespread awareness on a certain issue. This article seeks to provide a basic overview on how to design campaign strategies applicable to different issues and diverse organisational backgrounds. 19 Campaigning on human rights is an essential way to seek an end to human rights violations and redress for those whose rights have been violated. Individuals and communities may stand up for their own rights (see the recent growth in citizen activism) or others may campaign on their behalf, especially where groups lack awareness of their own rights or the influence to demand change. According to Article 1 of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, 20 “[E]veryone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national regional and international levels.” In effect, everyone has the right to campaign for the rights of others as well as their own. Planning a campaign In order to campaign successfully, objectives must be set depending on what change you want to bring about. These objectives must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound. To find out how specific and measurable your objectives are, you must ask first yourself what you hope and expect will be different after the campaign. 19 Original article by Carol Magambo with updates by Rachel Nicholson. 20 The Declaration’s full name is: Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. It can be accessed via the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: http:// www.ohchr.org/english/law/freedom.htm Secondly, research has to be carried out to inform your campaign strategy. Only a full understanding of the issues at stake will allow for an effective strategy to be developed. This allows you to define the problem you are trying to solve and to understand, for example, who is responsible for the violations and why are they happening. When researching you also must be able to answer questions like what is the message we are trying to communicate and what change do we want to see Why do we want this to change Who are we targeting – who are the stakeholders and duty bearers that have an influence on this issue How shall we do this and which means are we to use Is it going to be through the internet, telephone, media, lectures, debates demonstrations, exhibitions or preparation of a petition Where are we going to target our efforts Is it at the local, national, regional or international level And lastly when will the campaign take place When researching the campaign issues, one needs to establish the best way of achieving the objectives and what mixture to use of the different campaigning techniques which will be looked at later. A discussion within the campaign team on which methods to use will prove to be beneficial as advantages and disadvantages will have to be weighed. Here is an example of a specific campaign, going step-by-step through the research and planning process.: You are a civil society organisation in Uganda that wants to see the Domestic Relations Bill passed. You need to ask yourself, why do we want the Bill passed To accord women and men equality in matters relating to marriage, divorce and family property. Why has it not been passed so far Due to resistance from some sections of society. Who are the influential people in this context Parliamentarians, Ministers and staff of the Ministry of Gender. Ok, so how do we persuade them to act Can that be done through signing of petitions, demonstrations or public rallies, or would private 28 Defending Human Rights: A Resource Book for Human Rights Defenders | 2nd Edition
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