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Equalinrights is an international non-governmental organisation that is based in the Netherlands. It operated as a project of the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights for its initial two years (August 2005 - August 2007) and as a foundation in the Netherlands from September 2007.
It was established in August 2005 to redress core gaps identified
- The dominance of downstream human rights practices,
- The lack of understanding of how human rights can be effectively used in development,
- Poor understanding of “upstream” and
- The inadequate number and capacity of practitioners to support effective learning processes to enable communities to better assert their human rights.
Strategy 2008 - 2010
From late 2007 to early 2008, equalinrights has engaged in a process of external and internal assessment of its work, diverse group brainstorming sessions, and organisational reflection in order to develop a new strategy to move it into consolidation and continue to work towards achievement of its goals. The Staff and Steering Committee have now finalised the strategic direction for 2008-2010, which builds solidly on equalinrights‘ work in its initial two years.
The new strategy focuses equalinrights on supporting and promoting upstream realisation of human rights through effective learning processes. This builds on the critical gaps that triggered the creation of equalinrights and were confirmed during the initial two years of operation. The strategy will be implemented through two primary programmes, Innovative practices for human rights-based development (HRBD) and Transformative learning for human rights. Within these programmes equalinrights will cultivate the network of Northern and Southern HRBD practitioners we have engaged with in the first two years, initiate and facilitate innovative learning processes, support documentation of learning processes and practice, and bring local experience and knowledge to the wider development and human rights field.
The core activities of equalinrights then are as follows:
- To strengthen a diverse and active network of human rights-based development practitioners
The heart of equalinrights‘ work is fostering a network of able and motivated practitioners engaged in shared learning and innovative action for community-driven realisation of human rights. Equalinrights aims to strengthen practitioners‘ individual capacities and stimulate them to facilitate more, and more effective, learning processes and strategies within their organisations, networks and communities struggling against poverty.
- Initiate, facilitate and support learning processes for upstream realisation of human rights
We will use diverse methods of exchange and learning to achieve our objectives, particularly the evolving model, Communities of Practice (CoPs). In CoPs, practitioners engage in a continual cycle of learning and action in local community settings, while feeding in and out of exchange and dialogue with fellow practitioners through online and face-face gatherings. This provides an efficient means to interact and connect with people where they are and foster empowering locally-driven processes. CoPs reinforce equalinrights‘ role as a facilitator and channel for learning and connections, while maintaining a light and efficient organisational structure.
- Document practices and pool resources
Equalinrights documents the learning from processes we participate in directly, and stimulates other practitioners to document innovative practices and experiences. This systematises learning and advances common understanding of processes and conditions that can trigger transformation and social change, and also builds a resource of upstream human rights practices.
- Bring local experiences and knowledge to the wider development and human rights community
Equalinrights raises awareness amongst the development and human rights community through dialogue, exchanges and participation in forums on learning processes for upstream human rights practice.
We will share more shortly on the programmes referred to and equalinrights' planning for 2008.
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