CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR TRAINING ON PARTICIPATING IN AND ENGAGING WITH THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES RIGHTS

Civil society actors are key agents for change at international, regional, national and local levels as they contribute to monitor the application of international human rights standards, follow-up of the implementation of judgments, decisions and recommendations of African regional human rights mechanisms, contribute to the strengthening of States’ capacity to ensure implementation of human rights standards amongst others. Most of the NGOs have limited knowledge about the international Human Rights System as well as the regional, especially the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and its Mechanisms. This has no doubt limited their engagement and impact, in many instances.

Are you a civil society actor, a representative from an African civil society organisation or international organisation from or working on Africa? Then this training is for you. The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, the International Service for Human Rights and OHCHR/EARO with support from the Ford Foundation are organising a training to equip human rights defenders with the knowledge and skills to integrate the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (“the ACHPR”) into their existing work at the national level in a strategic manner, and provides an opportunity for participants to prepare for and engage in lobbying and advocacy activities at the ACHPR with the aim to effect change back home at the national level. .

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of the training is to equip human rights defenders with the knowledge and skills to integrate the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (“the ACHPR”) into their existing work at the national level in a strategic manner, and provides an opportunity for participants to prepare for and engage in lobbying and advocacy activities at the ACHPR with the aim to effect change back home at the national level. .

Date & Venue

15 - 16 October, 2022 – Banjul, The Gambia

Course Content and Methodology

The course will be conducted in English and would comprise general lectures and discussion, debates, case studies, etc on the following broad themes:

- an introduction to the African Human Rights System and Mechanisms;

- status of Human Rights and Democracy in Africa;

-the United Nations Human Rights System;

- networking, Advocacy and Lobbying Strategies, human rights monitoring and reporting; .

Expected Outcomes

At the end of the course, participants would be:
  • ● Acquire knowledge and skills on the relevant regional and international human rights instruments and processes to enhance their engagemen;
  • ● Learn more about the work of the ACHPR and how to engage strategically with its mechanisms;;
  • ● Strengthen their practical knowledge in advocacy and lobbying strategy with human rights mechanisms through case studies
  • ● Collectively discuss human rights trends in Africa;
  • ● Meet and learn from defenders from all around Africa working on a range of human rights issues;

Languages:

English and French are the languages of the Training with available simultaneous interpretation facilities.

Participants:

Representatives from African Civil Society Organisations, International NGOs from Africa

SELECTION

Only selected applicants will be contacted. There will be a limited number of full scholarships available, to include flights, accommodation, conference package, sustenance for the 2 days and visas. Otherwise, participants are expected to meet their flight and accommodation costs while the organisers will meet the participation cost of applicant's sustenance and conference package for the 2 days and visa. . All applications should be submitted online. Deadline: 4 October, 2022.

APPLICATIONS OPEN