ADVOCATING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

What is Advocacy? Advocacy means working for change It involves actions aimed at changing a current situation. Persuasive communication and targeted actions in support of a cause or issue that seek to change policies, positions, and programs

Why is Advocacy important? To encourage change in a situation in your community To create awareness or sensitive communities (incl. Governments or policy makers) about an issue To bring about action or a reaction about a situation or an issue Educate, communicate and to transfer knowledge on a situation

We advocate because getting the science right is only half the battle

What is Lobbying? The act of attempting to influence business andactinfluencebusiness government leaders to create legislation or conduct an activity that will help a particular organisationovernmentleaderscreatelegislationconduct activityorganisation To lobby means to influence or persuade public officials to take a desired action usually to pass (or defeat) legislation – Generally U.S. Term Most professional lobbyists do not really sell “influence” but rather “access” In our work environment of development, we advocate and not ‘lobby’ WHY? Donors do not like the use of this term in funding proposals as it has heavy political connotations, so it is a big NO! NO!

Components of Advocacy Speaking out by public speeches, writing and/or action (demonstrations, die ins, ect…) Promoting welfare and social justice through intense action through thorough planning Involves direct and indirect costs – human, materials development and time An attitude of care towards other and different players Understanding and gauging when to act Negotiating consensus with various stakeholders

Types of Advocacy Community advocacy / System advocacy Mediation and lobbying Agencies for hearing complaints and grievances, e.g. Rregulatory agencies – a watchdog Human rights-based and non-judgmental Media as an Advocacy Tool (i.e. twitter as a Tool) Participate in legislative action Working with print and electronic media Taking mass action to challenge decision makers to solve a problem

Examples of how you can advocate for change Advocacy activities may take many different forms, such as: –Speaking to decision makers to persuade them to change policies and programmes –For example, making a presentation as a community on the benefits of integrated services –Bringing court cases to challenge discriminatory laws and policies. For example, challenging a government’s policy of forced adherence to TB medication, without provision of food security (KELIN’s case – Video)

Example: Demonstrations ….

Why do we need advocacy for Human Rights in the field of HIV/AIDS? It is an accepted international principle that responses to HIV/AIDS and TB ought to be based on human rights “Realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all is essential to reduce vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. Respect for the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS drives an effective response.” (2001) United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS

Why do we need to advocate for HIV/AIDS The International Guidelines set out the human rights obligations of governments However in a 2011/14 ARASA Human Rights Report on the extent to which SADC countries were responding to HIV/AIDS in a rights based fashion, it was found: –Many countries were only paying lip service to these principles –Much work is to be done if we are to ensure that responses to HIV are based on human rights As human rights activists, we need to develop advocacy plans to change governmental and other responses to HIV to ensure they are respect basic human rights

What is an advocacy plan? An advocacy plan is made up of: Advocacy agenda The issue you are advocating around (for example, the development of a national HIV testing policy) that is based on human rights principles Advocacy strategy The activities that will be undertaken as part of the advocacy plan (for example, lobbying the health ministry by writing to them motivating the adoption of a national testing policy)

How to develop an advocacy plan? An advocacy plan is a plan of action done through issue mapping It aims at: –Describing something that needs to be changed – the problem –Setting out the changes that are needed to deal with the problem –Describing the steps that will be taken to bring about this change

How do you develop an advocacy agenda? Choose an issue to advocate for: –Select a problem that needs to be addressed –Research the problem –Identify the main issues underlying the problem –Identify the objectives of an advocacy campaign In other words, what changes you could realistically achieve or what would be the goal of your advocacy activities?

What is issue mapping? Ideas on paper Pooling knowledge Identifying knowledge Gaps Actors / Power Connections Quick and dirty How/when/where to intervene Aligning thinking

Starting point = Central problem

Champions, chasers etc champions converts chasers challengers Change- phobics Change this way

Examples: advocacy plan Issue: Prisoners do not have access to condoms in prisons and therefore cannot protect themselves against HIV – policy change issue Issue: HIV pregnant women were reporting that they were being coercively sterilised when presenting at health care facilities to give birth – legislative change issue through case law Issue: The Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is not being adequately funded, leading to Round 11 being cancelled

Examples: advocacy agenda Advocating for: -A change in the budget spending of our national governments… more fund for health required so advocates -Monitor national budgets increased funding from international and multi- lateral donors - Advocating for change in national spending, less to military budgets and more funds for health care

How do you develop an advocacy strategy? Identify the activities that must be undertaken to achieve your advocacy objectives/goals Ask: –Who has the power to change the problem as they will be the targets of your campaign? –What resources will be needed for the campaign? –Who can we collaborate with? –What activities need to be undertaken? –Short, medium and long terms goals

Why is research important in an advocacy strategy? Harnessing Expert Knowledge (know what you are doing and who are you targeting, what you need to get to your goal) Creating / Utilising Established Centres Identifying Needs in Consultation with Affected Groups Formulating Research Agenda Getting your FACTS right / Evidence-based advocacy Research informed by Activism & vice versa

Example: advocacy strategy – HIV positive women being forcibly sterilised Target market segmentation Health facilities from which cases have been reported District and National officials National AIDS Councils / MoH Resources Funding for research studies on the matter, travel costs to meet with officials, community stakeholders and victims for interviews Cost of litigation (if this is route taken) Partners Other human rights NGOs, religious leaders, development partners Activities Desktop research of case law, legal research on how to approach the issue / Press briefings/ launching mass litigation

What are the Barriers to advocacy Campaigns? Leaders who want to have financial gains Poor political leadership on issues of HIV/AIDS Laws and policies that does not allow peaceful demonstrations and targeted at human rights activists Advocacy takes years…not a short term solution Sometimes you do not get the intended result; e.g. forced sterilisation cases in Namibia Fighting over resources by civil society organisations leading to segregated activism Use of the same tactics and having weak campaigns

Importance of continued monitoring and evaluation The importance of keeping checks and balances of the your plan Ensuring that you have continuous risk management (from lessons learnt) Changing the direction of your campaigns as the context changes Need for innovative messaging and campaigns outputs that are ever changing to keep it relevant to various target markets

Messaging is KEY! The Importance of MESSAGING ‘ A ‘message’ is a concise and persuasive statement about your advocacy goal, that captures what you want to achieve Develop messages and choose an appropriate delivery format (i.e. texts, posters, t-shirts,flyers, stickers..etc) Identify specific audiences and tailor message format and content for maximum impact

Thank you!!