Why get involved?

All over the world, different organisations and communities are developing creative, innovative and ingenious strategies to overcome violations of their human rights. Many are working in very similar areas, facing similar obstacles at the community level. Unfortunately, there‘s too often not only a vacuum of knowledge on what others are doing on the ground, but also an unnecessary sense of isolation.

Exchanging creative ways in which you have tackled injustices, may benefit those in other parts of the world, seeking to do the same. Also, you may find out that you are not the only one working against certain violations or limitations, challenging your community. You may find innovative strategies that you could translate to your own situation. You may see how your work at a local or national level could complement and strengthen another groups‘ work – and vice versa. In other words, exchange provides a way to engage and to work towards more effective solutions.

How can you share your experiences and learn from others?

Besides simply including yourself in a network list (see also our links page), there are many ways to actively engage in discussions and the exchange of experiences. Some options are listed below.

1. Join the New Tactics in Human Rights Project

This project was set up by the Center for Torture Victims. It promotes tactical innovation and strategic thinking within the international human rights community, using and exchanging as broad a range of tactics as possible. It starts from the premise that strategic and tactical thinking is an effective means to expand options and possibilities of what can be done to advance human rights and end persistent human rights problems. Many valuable innovations exist, yet are not well known outside their regions. The New Tactics project seeks to change that!

On the New Tactics website, you will find practical tools to advance your own strategy. By providing about 150 “tacticts” to review, the website offers resources on innovative ways to respond to the dynamics of your local context (over 500 have been researched in total!). The tactics are an overview of effective strategies that organisations have used to advance their human rights struggle. For every case, there‘s information on the theoretical and practical profile, the organisation involved, and the classification of the tactic – depending intervention type, specific goals, and targeted sector of society.

If you know about an innovative tactic being used - in the public, private or voluntary sector, anywhere in the world - let them know! Please use the Share a tactic form on the New Tactics for Human Rights website and share your creative human rights efforts.

2. Join or create a D-Group

D-groups is an online home for groups and communities interested in international development. It provides online tools and services needed to support the activities of a team, a group, a network, a partnership or a community. It‘s a place to find groups who are interested in the same topics in international development as you. Therefore, D-groups provides an environment which is simple, non-commercial, respectful of privacy, and targeted at low bandwidth users in the South. The partnership currently supports 1961 groups, containing nearly 70,000 members and over 30,000 resources. Equalinrights is currently creating a D-Group for discussions and exchanges on the application of the HRBA and related fields. Check this page regularly for updates and information! Learn more about D-Groups  and how to use it  

3. Join equalinrights‘ database of resource persons

Are you looking for a resource person to assist your organisation in order integrate a human rights-based strategy into your work? Or are you looking to share your HRBD experiences and knowledge with others? Look no more! Equalinrights has created a database exactly for this purpose. Get in touch with us with details of what you are seeking or to find out how you can become involved