Members

Uganda

Justice and Peace Commission, Gulu Archdiocese

Union Pour la Paix Permanente, DR Congo

Community Recovery Network

Foundation for Human Rights Initiatives (FHRI)

FHRI is an independent, non-governmental, non-partisan and not-for-profit human rights advocacy organization established in December 1991.  FHRI's vision is to build a strong and democratic human rights culture as foundation for peace, stability, democracy, social justice and sustainable development in Uganda. The mission is to enhance the knowledge, respect and observance of human rights, promote exchange of information and best practices through training, education, research, advocacy and strategic partnerships.

FHRI strategic approach undertakes research, monitoring, documentation and advocacy on a variety of human rights issues; publishes human rights literature; conducts workshops and seminars on basic law, human rights and related subjects; avails human rights information and advocates for penal reform, legislative reform, judicial independence through prison visits, training, dialogue and policy analysis; undertakes campaigns for better administration of justice, and respect for the rights of vulnerable groups of people. Since its inception, FHRI has been able to successfully implement relevant programmes and is currently implementing its fifth strategic plan titled: ‘From Theory to Practice: Advancing the Human Rights Agenda in Uganda’ (2006 – 2008)’.

The above human rights principles are implemented at a national level in the following projects;

Rights Monitoring and Policy Advocacy: The project aims at monitoring and documenting human rights practices in order to promote dialogue and respect for human rights and democratic development. It also aims at improving criminal justice policy and ensures zero tolerance for practices of torture and impunity in penal institutions.

Access to Justice: This project aims at promoting justice for the poor through public interest litigation, legislative advocacy and free legal assistance to victims of human rights abuse and vulnerable groups, share best practices in the administration of justice and make effective use of the law to enhance human rights advocacy.

Education and Training: The project promotes citizen awareness of human rights values and obligations and builds capacity of grassroots associations to undertake human rights advocacy. Through this project, FHRI publishes training manuals, carries out human rights education, hosts radio talk shows and engages local governments on upholding state responsibility.

Paralegal Advisory Services (PAS): PAS seeks to improve the understanding of principles and procedures of the formal criminal justice system by both users and the criminal justice agencies.

Democracy Resource Centre: The centre is a reference and research facility on human rights and democracy related topics.

Reparation of Torture Survivors Project: The project aims at ensuring remedies and reparation for survivors of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment.

Right to Life: The project seeks to bring about the abolition of the death penalty in Uganda through public campaigning, litigation, training and the encouragement of progressive jurisprudence.

FHRI is the Uganda focal point for the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network.

Contact details
Foundation For Human Rights Initiative (FHRI)
Human Rights House
Plot 1853, Block 15, Lulume Road, Nsambya
P.O Box 11027
Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256 414 510263/510267
Mobile:+256 752 791 963
Fax: +256 414 510498
Email: fhri@starcom.co.ug , fhri@spacenet.co.ug, fhri@fhri.or.ug
Website: http://www.fhri.or.ug

Human Rights Network-Uganda (HURINET-U)

Human Rights Network-Uganda (HURINET-U) is an independent, non-partisan, non stock, non political and a non governmental organization mandated to coordinate the activities of different Human Rights Organizations through sharing information & resources, through educating the masses & the Government and also through increasing the capacities of those NGOs & other Institutions involved in the defence of human dignity. In 1993, a group of eight (8) Human Rights Organizations had HURINET-U established and registered in 1994.
HURINET-U being a Network of various Human Rights Organizations has grown over the years with its membership rising from the initial eight (8) to thirty two (32) as its stands today. The main objective of the Network is promoting and protecting Human Rights as provided for in the Regional and International instruments that Uganda is party to and the Constitution of Uganda.

Vision
A society free from human rights abuse.

Mission
To foster the promotion, protection and respect of human rights in Uganda through linking and strengthening the capacity of member organizations at national, regional and international levels.

Objectives

1. To promote and protect human rights as provided for in the regional and international instruments that Uganda is party to and as provided in the constitution of Uganda;
2. To encourage close collaboration and networking among human rights organizations in Uganda;
3. To encourage optimum sharing of information and resources both human and material among human rights organizations in Uganda;
4. To continually assess a collective impact in  the Ugandan society occasioned by several programs of human rights organizations in Uganda;
5. To build the professional capacity of human rights organisations though training, research and technical skills acquisition;
6. To adopt strategies necessary for an effective and coordinated human rights advocacy in the country;
7. To develop policy guide lines for the effective, proper, transparent and accountable conduct of human rights organisations in Uganda;
8. To provide a frame work for regional collaboration and exchange; for the sharing of experiences and strategies and the analysis of specific needed advocacy skills thus making human rights organisations more effective in the   on-going human rights education and information;

In pursuit of its mission, HURINET-U has three programme areas.
1. Research, Information Exchange and Advocacy
2. Capacity Building and Network Development
3. Human Rights Fund.

Contact details
Plot 94, Old Kiira Rd., Ntinda
P.O. Box 21265 Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256-414-286923/285362
Fax: +256-414-286881
Email: info@hurinet.or.ug
Website: http://www.hurinet.or.ug

Human Rights Focus-Gulu

Kirewa Women’s Forum/Mifumi Project

Archdiocese of Tororo, in Partnership with Mifumi Project

Sexual Minorities Uganda

Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) human rights organization. SMUG was formed on March 3, 2004 as a coalition to organize all LGBTI organizations and to create one big strong LGBTI community in Uganda.
SMUG works on behalf of its member organizations, enforcing their activities and representing them on a much larger platform in a coordinated approach.

Vision
A liberated LGBTI people of Uganda.

Mission
To oversee and support member organizations to achieve their objectives aimed at LGBTI liberation.  As an umbrella organization, SMUG focuses on advocacy and coordination of efforts with local and international bodies.

SMUG's constituency is made of all LGBTI persons living in Uganda and belonging to registered member organizations. Our constituency is as diverse as the Ugandan society itself. This implies that sexual minorities in Uganda are of different tribes, cultures, sex, and gender and vary in educational backgrounds, economic classes and creed. While there is a great diversity in educational and economic status, and gender identity and expression, SMUG currently has a more urban than rural constituency.

Contact details
P.O. Box 70208, Clock Tower, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: +256-312-294 859
Email: admin@sexualminoritiesuganda.com
Website: http://www.sexualminoritiesuganda.org

Kenya

Social Reform Centre

Habiba International Women & Youth Affairs

Independent Medico-Legal Unit

Amnesty International Kenya

 

Tanzania

Legal and Human Rights Centre

The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) has been operational since September 1995. It is a private, voluntary, non-profit and non-partisan organization registered under the Companies Ordinance Chapter 212 of the Laws of Tanzania as a Company without shares limited by guarantee. 
The organization was founded from a human rights project of the Tanzania Legal Education Trust (TANLET). 
The LHRC is mandated to operate throughout the country, Tanzania.  It has its head quarters in Dar es Salaam at Justice Lugakingira House - Kijitonyama, regional office in Arusha and two other Legal Aid Clinics in Dar es Salaam (Buguruni and Magomeni). 

Vision
The LHRC envisages a just and equitable society.

Mission
LHRC is a non-profit making, non-partisan non-governmental organization striving to empower the public, promote, reinforce and safeguard human rights and good governance in Tanzania.

Broad objective
The main objective of LHRC is to create legal and human rights awareness and empowerment among the general public and, in particular, the underprivileged sections of the society through legal and civic education, advocacy, research, follow up of human rights abuses and provision of legal aid.

Contact Details:
Executive Director,
Legal and Human Rights Centre [LHRC],
Justice Lugakingira House,
Kijitonyama – Dar es Salaam,
P. O. Box 75254,
Tel: +255 22 2773038/48,
Fax: +255 22 2773037,
E-mail: lhrc@humanrights.or.tz
Website : http://www.humanrights.or.tz

 

Zanzibar Legal Services

 

Sudan

South Sudan Law Society, Juba

SIHA Network of Women's Organisations in the Horn of Africa

Sudan Organization Against Torture (SOAT), UK/Sudan

Sudan Council of Churches

 

Ethiopia

Ethiopian Human Rights Council

African Initiatives for a Democratic World Order (AIDWO)

Kembatta Women’s Self Help Center

Action Professionals Association for the People (APAP)

Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association

Ethiopian Free Press Journalists Association

 

Djibouti

Ligue Djiboutienne des Droits Humains (LDDH)

La Ligue Djiboutienne des Droits Humains (LDDH) a été fondé le 9 mai 1999 dans un contexte de guerre civile dans le Nord et le Sud de notre pays. Le conflit civil opposait les forces gouvernementales aux rebelles du Frud-armé.
C’est pour dénoncer ces exactions contre les civils des zones du conflit de la part des troupes gouvernementales qu’un groupe de bénévoles animés de l’ardente conviction de défendre les droits humains et les libertés fondamentales a crée la LDDH.
Ce n’est qu’après la signature d’un accord de paix entre les rebelles et le gouvernement que la LDDH a obtenu son récépissé de légalisation en 2002.
Depuis cette date, bien que légale, elle est combattue par les autorités gouvernementales qui ne supportent pas sa nature indépendante et ses prises de positions courageuses pour la défense des droits humains.

La Ligue Djiboutienne des Droits Humains (LDDH) défend les syndicalistes indépendants, les femmes les réfugiés privés de leurs droits et les opposants arbitrairement harcelés ou détenus.
Ses contacts réguliers sont :
- la FIDH (Fédération internationale des Ligues des Droits de l’Homme basée à Paris);
- Amnesty international, basé à Londres ;
- L’UIDH (Union Interafricaine des Droits de l’Homme, basée à Ouagadougou) ;
- Front Line, basé à Dublin ;
- Le Réseau de l’EHARDP-net ;
- L’ARDHD (Association pour le Respect des Droits de l’Homme à Djibouti, basé à Paris.    

Contact details:
Kassim Ali Dini
Project Officer
Quartier V
Boulevard de Gaulle
B.P. 74 Djibouti
Tel : +253 357-804, +253-812150
Fax: +(253) 358-007
Email : noel_lddh@yahoo.fr
Website : http://www.lddh-djibouti.org

Somalia/Somaliland

Somaliland National Human Rights Network, Hargeisa, Somaliland

Samotalis Coalition for Human Rights, Hargeisa, Somaliland

Isha Human Rights Organisation

Isha Human Rights Organization (IHRO)is a non-governmental, non political and non partisan, peace and devolvement organization committed to human rights and working with all communities in Somalia in general and marginalized and civil war torn regions of Bay Bakol, Gedo, Middle Juba as well as Lower Juba, Shabelle and Banadir with the mission of protecting and promoting of human rights in Somalia   
I.H.R.O was formally launched as national NGO in Baidoa town of Somalia on November 1999.     
The founders of the organization are dedicated Somali nationals (professionals and community members) working on human rights, peace and development.

IHRO activities include human rights education, facilitating training, community awareness campaign, open dialogue on human rights issues, celebration of International Days, especially those concerning human rights, investigation, documentation, monitoring and advocacy of the human rights violation cases, research on minority issues, monitoring of IDPs and prisons.

Contact details
Abukar Sheikh Yusuf
Chairperson
Email: abuusheik@hotmail.com

Nagaad Women's Coalition, Hargeisa, Somaliland

Peace & Human Rights Network, Mogadishu, Somalia

Social Life and Agricultural Development Organisation (SADO), Bardera, Somalia

Hiraan Women Action on Advocacy for Peace and Human Rights (HIWA) Somalia

Dr. Ismail Jumale Human Rights Organization (DIJRO), Mogadishu, Somalia

Coalition of Grassroots Women Organization (COGWO), Mogadishu, Somalia

WAWA (We Are Women Activists) Network, Puntland

National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), Mogadishu, Somalia

Justice Watch Association (JUWA), Mogadishu, Somalia

Somali Human Rights Defenders Network, Mogadishu, Somalia

 

Eritrea

Human Rights Concern Eritrea, UK

 

Rwanda

AJPRODHO

Ligue des Droits de la Personne (LDGL)

La LDGL, Ligue des Droits de la personne dans la région des Grands Lacs, est une organisation régionale créée en mai 1993 et constituée aujourd’hui par 25 organisations membres opérant au Burundi, en République Démocratique du Congo et au Rwanda et jouissant d’une renommée attestée dans le monde des ONGs dans la sous - région des Grands Lacs et dont le champs d’action couvre pratiquement tous les domaines d’intervention de la société civile.

Mission
La LDGL a pour mission de ’’défendre et de promouvoir les droits de l’homme et les libertés fondamentales en particulier dans les pays de la région des Grands Lacs’’.

Objectifs
Pour remplir sa mission, la Ligue se fixe les objectifs suivants:

• Favoriser la collaboration entre les associations de défense et de promotion des droits de la personne et des libertés fondamentales de la région des Grands Lacs ;
• Promouvoir le cadre déontologique des actions menées par les Ligues et Associations membres dans le domaine des droits de la personne et de la démocratie ;
• Concevoir des stratégies communes pour garantir la jouissance des droits fondamentaux et des libertés publiques ;
• Œuvrer pour le rapprochement des peuples de la région au de-là de toutes les barrières notamment frontalières, ethniques ou tribales, socio- confessionnelles ;
• Constituer un cadre d’échanges et de soutien mutuel entre les associations membres.
• Œuvrer pour l’émergence des Etats de droit dans la région des Grands Lacs

Strategies
Pour atteindre ces objectifs, la Ligue devra notamment:

• Collaborer étroitement avec d'autres associations et organismes nationaux, régionaux et internationaux ayant les mêmes objectifs ;
• Faire des plaidoyers auprès des gouvernements en vue du respect des conventions régionales et internationales relatives aux droits de la personne ;
• Dénoncer les différents cas de violations des droits et des libertés de la personne ;
• Mener des investigations relatives aux droits de la personne et formuler des recommandations ;
• Organiser des sessions notamment d’échanges d’expérience, de formation et d’évaluation des activités ;
• Organiser et assurer, dans la mesure du possible, une assistance juridique adéquate aux associations et personnes lésées ;
• Produire et diffuser des publications relatives à sa mission

Contact details
Kimii Hurura Street
P.O.Box 3042
Kigal i, Rwanda
Tel: +250-583686
Email: ldgl@rwanda1.com
Website: http://www.ldgl.org

LIPRODHOR

HAGURUKA

 

Burundi

ACAT

Association des Femmes Juristes du Burundi

STEB (Teachers Union)

APRODH

Ligue Iteka

 

International Members

Amnesty International, Africa Regional Office

Amnesty International Canadian Section

Amnesty International, Dutch Section

Amnesty International, International Secretariat, London

Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture

Centre for Refugee Studies, York University, Canada

Equality Now

Human Rights House, Norway

International Service for Human Rights, Switzerland

Peace Brigades International, Canada