STRATEGIC PLAN
There are great conviction that human right which has now gradually is being transformed into citizens’ rights through the process of mainstreaming can interplay with development and democratic factors. It is being suggested that development as a big issue in the continent must interplay with democracy in the field of human rights. It was concluded that all these issues output must results in the development of the people of the continent.
This project was given a breath of life in 2014 when HURIDAC was established with a three years’ work-plan to stabilise it. Since the initial focus of the organisation is going to be in Nigeria, the decision was taken to register the organisation in Nigeria and to conform to the Nigeria Law. However, it is a regional organisation with a spectrum covering West Africa in the initial stage.
HURIDAC within the incubating period of three years drew strength from different experts in the continent to formed the Leadership council , while it sort committed Nigerians to sit on its Trustee Board. Also within this period, an office was opened in Lagos, staff recruited and entry point programmes on election and human
rights was initiated.
This STRATEGIC Plan is the first in the history of organisation, a five years plan that posit the organisation in a strategic position to use the medium of ‘advocacy’; ‘Capacity Building ‘ and ‘Policy and Legal reform’ to advance the issues of Environment , Rule of Laws and; Election and Human Rights.
HURIDAC will continue to partner with International organisations on the issue of environmental protection. A protective mechanism that mainstream development at the core of building a friendly environment.
The Rule of law remain an important focus area for the organisation, however, this focus is about adopting a bottom –top approach in ensuring compliance to the rule of law by authorities and equip the masses with the necessary information to make them engaged with law enforcement officers. It is our believes that prison, mostly has been overlooked on many occasions and putting a bit of a focus on prison is a rights step in the rights direction.
The organisation aspire to continue the link it has drawn between human rights and elections. It is of the view that the ‘Rights to vote’ is critical and its protection should be an important battle the continent should fight. Protecting the right to vote will ensure that the people will determine who rules them, which invariably will make government to invest in development that will ensure the trust of people to vote them back to power.
This document also contained the administrative tools that the organisation has adopted to ensure the management of its various programmes and projects. It contains accountability and management procedures.
As the vision of the organisation depicts that HURIDAC aspire to be a foremost regional organisation that will network and advocate on legal , policy and behavioural changes that enhance human and citizens rights as well as nature sustainability in West Africa, which in turn encourages the actualisation of democratic rights and sustainable development goals. This strategic plan is the road map toward achieving this aspiration.
Ayodele Ameen
Executive Director
HURIDAC’S THEORY OF CHANGE
HURIDAC will work with our partners in order to attract the attentions of the experts in environmental protection. We will also look out to attract possible funding in order to implement environmental protection projects
The windows of opportunity depends on various countries, generally effort of recent government in West Africa in fighting corruption also have a positive impact in reinstituting rule of law as the norm. The donors demand for transparency and support for criminal justice system also plays a positive impact in projecting the rule of law. International support for rule of law regime becomes an inceptive for government in West Africa to promote the rule of law. The effort of rule of law in preventing conflict also plays a supporting role. The major inceptive is the outcome of rule of law compliance which is justice for all.
How will HURIDAC respond to achieve its desired outcome
HURIDAC’s responses to the problem around elections and human rights would be in two folds:
(1) To continue to monitor elections and ensure that citizens’ rights are protected, we will do this by:
(I) Working with and training observers on integrating rights language to the observation checklist.
(ii) We will do proper analyses of every aspect of citizens’ rights and develop programmes on how to further improve their protection.
(iii) We take legal action in severe situation to discourage impunity and develop culture of respect.
(2) We will also take preventive action by:
(i) Working with political parties to train and create a framework for citizens’ rights officer at the local, state level.
(ii) Working with political parties to create a peace and conflict forum at the local and state level to prevent electoral violence and address electoral conflict
(b) What are some barriers from achieving the desired outcome
It is important to note the politicians inceptives to win at all cost will be a major barrier that will prevent them to play by the rules, by so doing proper civic education is crucial as well as accountability will serve as disincentive for them to continue on the path violence
OPERATIONAL PLAN
1 Environmental Protection
Under the environmental protection, the projects to focus on will include:
(i) CI-Nigeria Project
(ii) CI-Gambia Project
(iii) Environmental Litigation Case
(iv) Environmental Initiatives
2, Rule of Law
Under the Rule of Law, the projects to focus on will include:
(i) Legal Clinic in Prisons
(ii) Human Rights Training for Prison Officials
(iii) Para Legal Training for Informal Sector
(iv) Pro Bono National Interest Case
3 Elections and Human Rights
Under the Election and Human Rights, the projects to focus on will include:
(i) Election Monitoring
(ii) INEC Observation Status
(iii) Sierra Leone Election
(iv) Political Parties Engagement Project
(v) Human Rights Awareness Around Election
(vi) Capacity Building for Journalists for Monitoring Human Rights around Elections
In line with the vision and mandates of HURIDAC, the goals of the organisation have been identified as follow:
Goal 1: Environmental Protection
Under this goal, we will work to ensure that:
(i) The environmental laws in our target countries not only meet internationals standards, but are also implementable.
(ii) Nationals must develop policies to ensure that the protected rights are not infringed upon by government official or non-state actors. These policies must meet international standards.
(iii) We advocate and raise awareness on the need for a behavioural change in compliance with the laws and policies.
(iv) We identify foreign donor organisations that can render technical assistance in solving the environmental challenges identified.
To achieve this goal, we will work on:
(i) Collaboration with the various government MDAs, NGOs and expertise in order to identify the various environmental problems facing our target country.
(ii) Ensuring effective collaboration among the government MDAs that have similar mandates on environmental issues.
(iii) Engaging and lobbying the policy makers, legislators and other stakeholders towards provision of enabling environments in solving environmental problems.
(iv) Partnering with donor organisations whose focal area is on environmental sustainability.
(v) Exploring the provisions of the national laws and international treaties and to what extent they have been implemented.
Goal 2: Rule of Law
Under this goal, we will work to ensure that:
(i) Rule of law is the core of government operation and are sacrosanct.
(ii) Countries accede to international treaties and develop friendly human rights laws.
(iii) Countries develop policies to ensure compliance to international and national laws which are aimed at benefiting the citizens.
(iv) We will advocate and raise awareness on the need for a behavioural change on issues such as respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights of all. We will work with the informal sectors.
To achieve this goal, we will work on:
(i) Sensitization of the informal sector on the laws governing their operations or means of livelihood.
(ii) Organising capacity building sessions for the government officials that are saddled with the responsibilities of protecting the people that are under detention.
(iii) Offering pro bono services for the people whose human rights are being threatened.
Goal 3: Election and Human Rights
Under this goal, we will work to ensure that:
(i) Human right issues are well protected during electioneering processes.
(ii) Those who abuse human rights during the elections are prosecuted under the provisions of the relevant laws.
To achieve this goal, we will work on:
(i) Sensitization of the election stakeholders on the issues that constitute human right abuse during the elections and the various dangers attached to them.
(ii) Collaborate with the government apparatus that are saddled with the responsibility of monitoring elections.
(iii) Approach judicial mechanism to seek justice for victims and survivors
Goal 4: Legal and Policy reforms remain the driver of our work
Under this goal, we will work to ensure that:
(i) We will drive our work using the platform of legal and policy reform;
(ii) We will use treaties obligations and constitutional requirement to hold state and non-state parties accountable;
(iii) We will engage with the UPR to give voice to the voiceless in the communities and provide deprived communities with international platform and listening ears.
(iv) We will seek redress trough the national, regional and international courts as well other international oversights institutions.
(v) We will seek reforms from government, corporation and non-governmental stakeholders.
(vi) We will continue to operate in an environment where freedom of expression can be guaranteed.
To achieve this goal:
(i) We will put pressure on government to respect their international treaties obligations;
(ii) We will activate public interest case to ensure decision that will ensure legal reforms;
(iii) We will evaluate, review and reform government policies in order to conform with international standards.
Goal 5: Advocacy, Capacity building and Communication are the tools of our work
Under this goal, we will work to ensure that:
(i) We will campaign on the changes we want to bring;
(ii) We will engage with all stakeholders to seek buy-in into this change;
(iii) We will publish the process and outcome of our work;
(iv) We will strengthen ourselves in order to put us at a position to achieve our deliverables.
To achieve this goal:
(i) We will build the capacity of our partners;
(ii) We will use the social media to publicise our work and call for actions;
(iii) We will be transparent and publish the summary of our work.
Goal 6: Digital Management
Under this goal, we will work to ensure that:
(i) The operations of the organisation are powered by the recent communication technologies.
(ii) Strengthen the external and internal communications of the organisation.
(iii) We will build the capacity of partners and stakeholders to adopt digital mechanism in their operation.
(iv) We will mainstream digital mechanism into all our operations and projects.
To achieve this goal, we will work on:
(i) Adoption of ICT-based technologies in driving the vision, mandate and the projects of the organisation.
(ii) There is a cordial synergy between the organisation and other partners on any programme that the organisation is involved in.
Goal 7: Fundraising Drive
Under this goal, we will work to ensure that:
(i) The organisation is financially viable.
(ii) The organisation’s credibility, accountability, transparency and profile will drive its funding basket.
(iii) The organisation is creative to pursue other legal funding sources beyond the traditional donor sources.
To achieve this goal, we will work on:
(i) Exploring various funding windows in order to finance the projects of the organisation.
(ii) Collaboration with the international donor organisations in order to support the government in addressing some of the challenges identified.
(iii) Building a funding support network directly with the public.
Goal 8: Media Profiling
Under this goal, we will work to ensure that:
(i) The activities of the organisation receive media attention.
(ii) The corporate image of the organisation is very encouraging.
(iii) The media will be used as medium for education, awareness and advocacy on human rights.
(iv) We are creative to use the social media to drive the organisation campaign and programmes.
To achieve this goal, we will work on:
(i) Regular featuring of the organisation’s programmes and projects on the media platforms.
(ii) Publication of organisation’s opinions or project outputs through writing of articles, press releases, newsletters, etc.
(iii) Organising periodic social media events