WUNRN
Paving Pathways for Justice & Accountability: Human Rights Tools for
Diaspora Communities
Author: The Advocates for Human Rights
Direct Link to Full 452-Page 2014 Publication: http://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/uploads/paving_pathways_2014_3.pdf
People in diaspora communities have an
increasingly important global role to play as a bridge between individuals,
governments, and international legal and political mechanisms. Diaspora communities are a critical link in
creating change – from within the country, as well as from without – in social
institutions and structures to hold governments accountable and promote the
full realization of human rights.
The purpose of this publication is to provide
practical tools and step-by-step guidance for diaspora community groups and
individuals who want to use human rights monitoring, documentation, and advocacy
in their work to change policy and improve human rights conditions in their
countries of origin. The contents of this manual have been shaped by the
requests for assistance and guidance that The Advocates routinely receives from
diaspora communities, as well as by input from human rights defenders in the
Global South. The manual is designed to
aid advocates of all backgrounds and experiences. With background information, key questions to
consider, case examples, templates, and practitioners’ tips, this manual
provides tools to combat human rights abuses and promote the full realization
of human rights.
Paving Pathways to
Justice & Accountability: Human Rights Tools for Diaspora Communities provides a full menu of useful
resources that are grounded in the daily work of human rights defenders like
The Advocates for Human Rights. While
this manual was created to facilitate the inclusion of diaspora voices in
efforts to hold governments accountable for human rights, we hope that it will
also benefit and be used by human rights defenders and civil society
organizations throughout the world.
Chapter 2: Human Rights
Background
Chapter 4: Additional Monitoring
Tools
Chapter 6: Documentation: Writing
the Report
Chapter 9: Advocacy at the United
Nations
Chapter 10: Advocacy at Regional
Human Rights Mechanisms
Chapter 11: Building Capacity to
Be Effective Human Rights Advocates
Appendix C: Best Practices: Using
Popular Social Media Platforms for Effective Human Rights Advocacy
Appendix D: Tips for Navigating
Social Media Platforms
Appendix E: Sample Press Release
Appendix F: Diaspora Ministries
Appendix G: Resources for
Advocacy on Business Practices and Human Rights
Appendix H: National Human Rights
Institutions
Appendix I: Complaint Mechanisms
Appendix J: Human Rights Council
Complaint Procedure Form
Appendix K: UN and Regional
Special Procedures
Appendix L: Checklist for Shadow
Reporting to the UN and Regional Human Rights Mechanisms
Appendix M: 10 Steps to Writing a
Shadow Report
Appendix N: OHCHR Fact Sheet on
CEDAW Communications
Appendix O: CEDAW Communication
Template
Appendix P: African Commission
Shadow Report Template