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Youth and
Peace Education (YPE) |
JUSTICE LENS
WANEP believes that the respect of human
rights should be central to the pursuit of sustainable development,
peace and justice in Africa. It is in this spirit that WANEP is
developing a programmatic area that is building a platform of synergy
between the fields of human rights and peacebuilding.
The knowledge and integration of human rights into peacebuilding is
fundamental to WANEP’s vision of establishing a regional early warning
and conflict prevention mechanism in West-Africa. Mounting human rights
violations are widely acknowledged as early warning signs of imminent
conflict, thus serving as indicators for communities or states in
distress. The occurrence and frequency of human rights violations signal
the need for timely intervention and constructive methods to address
violations. Human rights strategies such as fact-finding, reporting,
advocacy and monitoring are critical to effective early warning and
conflict prevention.
WANEP early warning and conflict prevention program with ECOWAS will
engage its networks and member organizations at national levels to
collect open source, reliable and valid information to be fed in the
early warning mechanism.
The conception of this program was informed by a study conducted by
WANEP in 2003 with the support of the European Union (EU) through
CORDAID. A consultant was hired for 9 months to map and survey the
current relationships between peacebuilding and human rights
organizations in West-Africa. Some of the objectives of the study were
to:
Assess the operational relationship between human rights and
peacebuilding organizations in West Africa, as well as their ability or
willingness to participate in regional collaborative programs;
Support longer-term efforts of human rights organizations to promote the
culture of peace, justice and reconciliation through offering
appropriate training in justice and peacebuilding concepts and skills
through the West Africa Peacebuilding Institute (WAPI).
The consultant mapped human rights organizations in three countries:
Senegal, Guinea Bissau, and Sierra Leone. Additionally, a case study was
done on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) to
identify its role in building lasting peace in West-Africa.
The study recommended synergy between human rights and peacebuilding
organizations at country and regional levels to share experiences and
strengthen each other’s capacities. The study also confirmed that peace
and justice should be integrated to build a West Africa where human
security is imperative and development and fundamental rights are no
longer mere rhetoric.
The aim of the Justice Lens Program is to build a strategic coalition
between the fields of human rights and peacebuilding to achieve
development goals, and facilitate democracy and good governance in a
sub-region where lasting peace and human security are paramount.
Specific goals and objectives will be established in each country.
Comprehensive methods and evaluations for charting progress and results
will also be put in place. Gender analysis and gender disaggregated data
will be integrated thoroughly in the program.
Objectives
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To create a
platform of collaboration between human rights and peacebuilding
actors.
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Build the capacity
of WANEP’s network member organizations in the rights-based approach
to peacebuilding.
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Mainstream human
rights approach into the regional Early Warning and conflict
prevention Mechanism.
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Create awareness on
human security through research and publication.
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Expected
Program Results
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Peacebuilding
practitioners will acquire better understanding of human rights
concepts, standards and mechanisms to strengthen their work
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Human rights actors
will learn conflict resolution techniques.
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Peacebuilding
practitioners increasingly use the rights-based approach to
peacebuilding.
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Enhanced conflict
early warning and conflict prevention mechanism in the sub region.
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More public
enlightenment about fundamental rights through peace education
integrated with human rights education.
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Peacebuilding CSOs
develop skills in human rights monitoring and reporting.
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Foster an
environment conducive to human security
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Planned Activities
Regional Consultation, Networking and Advocacy
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Hold regional
consultations with human rights and peacebuilding CSOs to identify
emerging issues and intervention strategies in West Africa
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Facilitate the
direct engagement of member organizations with key human rights
institutions in Africa and internationally
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Direct engagement
with decision-makers through formal meetings at national, regional
levels.
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Engage with human
rights organizations at the African NGOs Forum, African Commission
Sessions and other relevant fora.
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Develop strategies
to strengthen information-sharing, collaboration and networking
between human and peacebuilding organizations.
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Collaboration with
human rights institutions within ECOWAS, the AU and the UN.
Capacity building
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Organize workshops
on human rights for ECOWAS early warning and conflict prevention
unit, ECOWAS Zonal Bureau heads and other relevant CSOs.
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Train field
monitors in fact-finding missions, analysis and reporting.
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Train on thematic
issues such as Women’s Rights, Security Council Resolution 1325,
Gender Mainstreaming, the African Human Rights System, Children’s
Rights, etc.
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Develop training
modules on peacebuilding and human rights for the West African
Peacebuilding Institute (WAPI)
Research and Publication
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Hold a consultation
to select theme and potential writers.
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Identify editors
and other relevant contributors for the journal.
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Undertake field
research.
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Select thematic
areas.
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Publish and
disseminate
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JLP
QUICK LINKS
Objectives
Expected Program Results
Planned Activities
UPCOMING EVENTS
Consultative Meeting of
Peacebuilding, Human Rights and Media Organisations
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