Good practices in upstream human rights-based strategies
In order to get a good image of what 'upstream' means in terms of human rights-based development, equalinrights provides you with good practice examples that explain how human rights-based strategies have been used in different contexts. The format in which these good practice examples are presented is borrowed from the New Tactics in Human Rights project, a website constructed by the Centre for Victims of Torture. By sharing New Tactics, a community of exchange has been developed. Equalinrights highly stimulates organisations to exchange their experiences in the advancement of human rights-based development.
Good Practice 1:
Using Parallel Reporting to Press for Realisation of Economical, Social and Cultural Rights in Brazil
Organisation or name of the people who used this Tactic:
Plataforma DhESC (ESCR Platform), Brazil
Introduction:
This example is about civil society parallel reporting to United Nations treaty bodies, in this case to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR). A parallel report (also called a shadow, alternative or counter report) is a report written by organisations and people representing the civil society of a country. This report focuses on the government‘s compliance with its human rights obligations under a specific international treaty it is a party to. In this case it is the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966 (ICESCR) The report is a mechanism for monitoring, awareness raising, community mobilisation and advocacy.
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Good Practice 2:
Independent People’s Tribunals to Redress Human Rights and Environmental Rights Violations in India
Organisation or name of the people who used this Tactic:
Human Rights Law Network, India
Introduction:
This strategy provides an alternative forum in which human rights violations and environmental justice concerns can be voiced, allowing affected peoples an opportunity to bring public attention to their struggles. The Indian People’s Tribunal on Environment and Human Rights (IPT) acts as an alternative court, a “people’s court,” which conducts investigations on a wide range of human rights and environmental violations and issues recommendations for redressal.
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