Strengthening the role and action of national NGOs
Human Dignity strengthens the participation of national NGOs in regional and international human rights protection mechanisms so that they can better monitor the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights at the national level.
United Nations and African human rights mechanisms recognise the essential role of NGOs and provide opportunities for them to submit information and participate in their sessions. Human Dignity supports national NGOs in making use of these opportunities to raise their concerns and put forward their recommendations.
Human Dignity also promotes networking and the exchange of experiences among NGOs. With this aim, in 2017 it established the Platform for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Africa (ESCR Platform), which today operates as an informal network of African NGOs committed to the promotion and protection of ESCR. For more information about the Platform, please contact us at info@hdignity.org.
WE PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT to NATIONAL NGOs in the drafting and submission of information and alternative reports to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, the UN Human Rights Council other relevant mechanisms.
Alternative reports promote change by ensuring that the concluding observations and recommendations to governments made by the Committee/African Commission reflect the current situation of a particular country.
These recommendations, in turn, provide the basis for action for NGOs and other actors, including National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), to improve the respect, protection and realisation of human rights on a national level.
WE FACILITATE AND COORDINATE AFRICAN NGOs PARTICIPATION IN SESSIONS OF AFRICAN AND INTERNATIONAL MECHANISMS
We support our partners' trips to Geneva and Banjul so that they can present their concerns.
We notably organise private briefings with expert members of the Committee on ESC rights and the Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
WE MONITOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY UN AND AFRICAN MECHANISMS
We organise country missions and seminars in States recently reviewed by UN and African human rights mechanisms to discuss measures needed to fully implement recommandations.
Together with national partners, we draft follow-up report outlining the progress and further efforts to be made to fully implement economic, social and cultural rights.
For more information on the main mechanisms monitoring the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights, click HERE