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Advocacy

EHAHRDP deploys a comprehensive media strategy to raise the profiles and the visibility of HRDs in the region including Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) and members of other marginalized groups to ensure the respect of their rights and access to justice in cases of violations. Through media, lobbying and campaigning, the organisation puts its weight behind the men and women risking their lives in the defense of the rights of others. An effective strategy is deployed to increase the profile of HRDs particularly defenders working under threat in a situation of armed conflict and their work across the East and Horn of Africa region. Regional solidarity is promoted as well as information shared and awareness raised on relevant issues across a variety of technological mediums. A wide base of contacts has been built with the media to reinforce and institutionalize networking with journalists. These are utilised when press statements are issued when a defender or groups are under threat in any country of the region.  Public media campaigns are undertaken to increase the recognition of their contributions and work region-wide.  This campaigning and awareness rising, throughout the region is a vital component in the on-going countering of public perceptions of HRDs and their work. It will provide stronger legitimacy to their work, strengthen understanding of their crucial advocacy role and enhance a longer-term change in public opinion.
The organisation also lobbies national, regional and international policy and decision makers on the protection of HRDs in accordance with international human rights standards. EHAHRDP’s observer status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and pending application for observer status with the UN Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) are an important avenue of engagement. Further efforts are made to engage with authorities and relevant institutions on national level such as Parliament and National Human Rights Commissions in the advancement of HRDs rights. A comprehensive strategy is to target policy change and the strengthening of enforcement mechanisms for a better protection of HRDs. An involvement of strong allies such as Amnesty International, International Service for Human Rights, Front Line etc. is to lend further strength to the organisation’s efforts.

• The publishing of timely appeals when human rights defenders come under attack in their respective countries has greatly increased the awareness amongst a range of audiences of the current plight of HRDs in the sub-region. EHAHRDP has so far published at least 85 statements on violations of HRDs’ rights within the region. This form of campaign seeks to initiate action that puts necessary pressure on Governments violating the rights of HRDs and bring about opportunities for redress.
• The organisation has written letters of petition directed particularly to the Eritrean and the Ethiopian Governments over their continued infringement on the rights of HRDs.
• During the 40th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights that was held in November 2006 in Banjul, The Gambia,  EHAHRDP obtained observer status at the Commission (Ref. ACHPR/L PROM/NGO/OBS/359/JB). Since then EHAHRDP has attended all the subsequent meetings and has produced reports both for the Commission and for the parallel NGO forum event. EHAHRDP has also released a series of country resolutions during these meetings which have helped to inform NGO forum resolutions. Reports
• EHAHRDP has also participated throughout the institutional building period of the UN Human Rights Council. The Executive Director, Hassan Shire Sheikh, has participated in both formal and informal sessions and advocacy activities at the Council. In the first half of 2008 EHAHRDP played a prominent role in a regional campaign aimed at preventing the election of Egypt as the President of the Council and also on an international campaign which sought to prevent the re-election of Sri Lanka onto the Council. Both campaigns, which included the sending of campaign letters to African Heads of States and UN representatives and which were signed onto by other 42 African NGOs from over 20 different states, and received significant attention. Neither Egypt nor Sri Lanka were selected. EHAHRDP also organised a Parallel Event on the Human Rights Situation in Somalia at the 7th Session of the Council with several of its partners, notably Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the National Union of Somali Journalists.
• A significant part of advocacy activities carried out by EHAHRDP since the beginning of 2008 have focussed on seeking to raise awareness of the situation in Somalia and Kenya where there has been a significant deterioration in the situation facing HRDs. On top of the release of numerous press statements, some of the other activities undertaken have been a day of solidarity for Kenya rally that was co-organised with Amnesty International in Kampala and a press event in Nairobi.
• Bringing an end to impunity in the region and establishing independent and impartial accountability mechanisms has been one of the areas on which all our present campaigns have focussed on.