Photo: ISHR
On 1 May, ISHR hosted a launch event to present its new online course focused on the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and gathered live feedback from civil society organisations ahead of the 83rd Ordinary Session in Banjul, The Gambia.
Despite a significant increase in civil society organisations’ participation in the last few years, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) remains under-used by human rights defenders and activists, due to a lack of awareness and knowledge regarding for instance Communications, State Reporting Procedures, Special Mechanisms etc. It is to fill this gap that the International Service for Human Rights collaborated with people and organisations who defend rights in Africa to create a dedicated online, self-paced free module on how to engage with the ACHPR.
After an online launch, ISHR took the opportunity of the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission held in-person in Banjul in order to present, test and receive feedback from first-hand users about this tool.
Human rights defenders go to the ACHPR but they don’t know where to start. This module is an opportunity to establish clear and meaningful advocacy goals, and even for ourselves, who engage constantly, to be reminded of the procedures.Joseph Bikanda, DefendDefenders
Moderated by Antoine Tremblay from ISHR, the event started with an entertaining quiz to test the knowledge of the participants on the African Commission with questions such as: ‘Who can submit a Communication?’, ‘What are the tasks of the Special Mechanisms?’ or ‘Do you need consultative status to participate and engage with the ACHPR?’ (if you’re not sure about the answers, take the course here). Salomé Boucif, ISHR’s Training & Advocacy Support Manager, then explained how to better use and disseminate the course depending on the resources available, knowledge, country situation and gave advice on how to make the best of it.
Joseph Bikanda, coordinator of the Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network (and a member of our need assessment process in building the module) talked more generally about the need for civil society organisations in all the regions in Africa to engage in this unique space to achieve advocacy objectives and work in coalition with fellows NGOs. He stressed that capacity development activities like this tool were essential to sustain defenders’ participation, enhance advocacy and even refresh the knowledge of those present in the space for a long time. He also highlighted the importance of the simplicity of the tool, and the diversification of resources.
Many thanks to ISHR for proposing this and congratulations on the launch of such an important resource. As adults and busy workers, it is important to ensure that we engage with a user-friendly content which can be taken on independently.A participant from REDHAC
Participants exchanged on lived experiences at the African Commission and ISHR gathered first opinions and potential ideas for improvements, before a forthcoming translation into French. Participants congratulated ISHR for launching this timely and needed resource and praised the efforts put in the creation of additional pedagogical handouts, such as scenarios and short guidance on how to organise a side event.
Participants shared their willingness to disseminate the tool and also suggested having offline versions of the content and a developed section on the implementation of the resolutions voted, a crucial step after a long-term advocacy plan. Finally, they all added that they would value a space in which they could add their own experience such as a feedback form.
ISHR reiterates its gratitude to the audience for the meaningful discussions and hopes that many human rights defenders will benefit from this new e-learning resource.
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