E-Discussion Series for the advancement of HRBD

Equalinrights conducts annual series of online discussions which aim to be a forum of sharing and exchange between practitioners on topics that are important to the advancement of human rights-based development (HRBD). The HRBD series is designed to engage practitioners from around the globe in an interactive way to share and build their knowledge, experience and practice on these central questions. In 2007 a total four E-Discussions took place; practitioners from different continents and backgrounds gathered online for one-day debates on issues related to HRBD. Below you see an overview of the sessions that were hold. In 2008 we plan to hold a further series and invite participation.

2008 Series

In 2008, we are initiating a process to foster increased understanding, interaction and learning for practitioners around implementing HRBD. We aim to do this more through on-going and sustainable modes of interaction rather than one-off facilitation. We also focus more on facilitating exchange, learning and documentation of practices and experiences amongst practitioners themselves. We will provide opportunities for practitioners to connect with each other online and face-to-face, to participate in various learning and action processes, and to document, analyse and exchange with others on their practices and experiences.

Equalinrights will start this new programme on implementing human rights-based development through a series of online discussions. The discussions will explore issues and challenges around HRBD. The timetable and registration form are attached. We hope that as many of you as possible will participate in at least one discussion: one of the major gaps you have helped bring to our attention is the lack of opportunity for practitioners working in the field to interact with others in similar fields, and to share and learn through practice.

Discussion Topic	Overview	Facilitator	Event Date
Child Rights Programming	Strategies to adopt a (child) rights based approach in organizations. The aim of this discussion would be to share experiences of those who took the challenge and what lessons they learnt from the challenge. There is also need to find out the precondition for success and the suggestions that can be made to colleagues in other organisation to get on board and influence the culture.	Wout Visser, War Child	15 April 2008
The Law and Human Rights Based Development (HRBD)	While the law should be used as an instrument of the people, it is rarely used as such. The complex legal language and inaccessible mechanisms mean that it is often out of reach for communities demanding justice. The is discussion aims to bring together development and human rights practitioners, lawyers and non-lawyers to consider the ways and means to enable people to integrate the law into their everyday work, as a tool to raise awareness of rights, to support calls for accountability, to use existing mechanisms and to call for reform to make legal forums participatory and accessible allowing justice for all.	Joanne Coysh, Equalinrights	29 April 2008
Innovative methodologies for Human Rights Learning	Many practitioners have called for consideration of alternate methodologies for human rights learning, their components and effectiveness, and identification of common elements necessary for HRL. This discussion is to provide a forum where participants can share their knowledge, experiences and information about practices and research where innovative methodologies for learning and action have been implemented.	Emma Sydenham Equalinrights	13 May 2008
Connecting micro upstream work to macro level advocacy processes	Human rights are being taken up in diverse and creative ways at the local level: however often the underlying causes of the problems are, at least partially, elsewhere. How can we ensure that human rights priorities, action and outcomes at the local level feeds into and influences national, regional and international advocacy processes for change? How can local voices better participate in and influence the process to ensure their fundamental needs are on the agenda and redressed? This forum will draw on participant‘s experiences and ideas on these issues, and explore how we can contribute more effectively to this.	Joanne Coysh, Equalinrights	20 May 2008

 

To register for an online discussion please complete the registration form and return to coysh@equalinrights.org 

2007 Series

11 December 2007: How can we build a network of practitioners engaged learning: sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and developing strategies?

On the 11 December 2008, seven persons and consultants were engaged in a one-day online discussion on grassroots participation in policy-making. As a guideline for the discussion, the following questions were posed:

1. What do we mean by a network of practitioners?

2. How do we share knowledge across contexts?

3. How can we develop reflective and innovative practice?

It was a small and productive exchange by e-mail and on Skype chat where given the time constraints of the participants largely posed as an introductory chat about these important issues. The discussion was proposed in order to gain an insight into the value of having an interactive global network of practitioners from various disciplines from around the world. Read the discussion report >> 

30 July 2007: Grassroots participation in policy-making

On the 30^th of July, twelve resource persons and consultants were engaged in a one-day online discussion on grassroots participation in policy-making. As a guideline for the discussion, the following questions were posed:

1. Have human rights-based strategies been successful in ensuring more grassroots voices are heard and listened to during local and national policy development processes?
2. What are best practices and innovative tactics we can share with one another to ensure this happens more widely?
3. And working from examples where this has not been the case, what can we do differently to better support broad-based participation in policy formulation?

It was a lively exchange by e-mail and on Skype chat where all the questions posed were touched upon. Overall it was felt that the human rights based strategies have moved in a positive direction but the full extent of its impact needs to be seen. Read the discussion report >>

23 July 2007: Human dignity - in collaboration with PWESCR

On the 23rd of July 2007, thirteen resource persons and consultants were engaged in a one-day online discussion of what dignity means in the context of human rights-based development. The day started off with the following questions:

1. What is dignity?
2. Is dignity universal or individualistic?

3. What is the utility for a concept of dignity in social justice work?

4. What are measurable manifestations in life that tell us whether dignity is realized in a particular context?

5. What measurements constitute failure?

6. What is the role of the State in ensuring right to dignity for all?

This is event was hosted by equalinrights in collaboration with the Programme on Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (PWESCR), a new international initiative in the area of gender and economic, social and cultural rights (ESCR). To gain conceptual clarity and to learn from experiences globally, PWESCR is facilitating several e-discussions on the Right to Dignity in 2007. Read the discussion report >>

23 July 2007: Human dignity - in collaboration with PWESCR

On the 23rd of July 2007, thirteen resource persons and consultants were engaged in a one-day online discussion of what dignity means in the context of human rights-based development. The day started off

with the following questions:

1. What is dignity?
2. Is dignity universal or individualistic?

3. What is the utility for a concept of dignity in social justice work?

4. What are measurable manifestations in life that tell us whether dignity is realized in a particular context?

5. What measurements constitute failure?

6. What is the role of the State in ensuring right to dignity for all?

This is event was hosted by equalinrights in collaboration with the Programme on Women’s Economic,

Social and Cultural Rights (PWESCR), a new international initiative in the area of gender and economic,

social and cultural rights (ESCR). To gain conceptual clarity and to learn from experiences globally,

PWESCR is facilitating several e-discussions on the Right to Dignity in 2007.

Read the discussion report >>

15 June 2007: North - South relations in the advancement of HRBD

On the 15th of June 2007, eight resource persons came together online to debate North-South

relationships in the advancement of human rights-based development.  Many international

development agencies and donor institutions have affirmed their commitment to human rights-based

 development and demand similar commitment from Southern partners. Yet despite intense focus

 on what this means for Southern programmes and processes, there is less clarity on its implications

 for Northern institutions themselves. How are Northern institutions adapting to the HRBA? Have

 Southern organisations experienced shifts in their relationships with Northern partners?

 Are there more opportunities for open dialogue on the challenges of organisational change,

 for example, or on funding policies? Less? How can Southern practitioners and

organisations support Northern processes of change?

The discussion was facilitated by Ravi Karkara (Save the Children) who wrote a report of the

 day, assisted by rapporteur Megan Brown (equalinrights).Read the discussion report >>

14 June 2007: Grassroots empowerment and child rights movement

On the 14th of June 2007, eleven resource persons from equalinrights’ online database

 engaged in an online discussion on grassroots empowerment and the child rights

movement. The following questions were the focus of this one-day debate:

1. How can we help promote grassroots empowerment that integrates all community

members, including marginalized groups such as women, children or minorities?

2. In particular, what lessons can we learn from the child rights movement, which has seen

successes overcoming traditional attitudes towards children and children’s role in the community?

3. Can rights-based strategies used by child rights practitioners be successfully adapted to other

issues, such as gender equity?

The discussion was facilitated by Upala Devi Banerjee (UNESCO) who wrote a report of the day,

assisted by rapporteur Megan Brown (equalinrights). Read the discussion report >>