Human Rights Defenders trained in Security Management
Soleterre-strategie di pace ONLUS in partnership with Defend-Defenders undertook a training on risk assessment and security management for Ugandan Human rights defenders from 3rd – 7th April 2017 in Arua District at Desert Breeze Hotel. The training that was attended by 32 Human rights defenders aimed at providing participants with the capacity to professionally assess their security risks and develop adequate response and prevention measures for improved security and protection of defenders and their organizations by undertaking context analysis, conducting risks assessment, analyzing and reacting to threats and security incidents, developing preventive and reactive security measures as well as Drafting organizational security plans and policy. The participants were thus equipped with skills needed to draw up and implement a comprehensive personal and organizational security plan.
This training was organized within the project: At Human Rights Defenders’ side in Uganda – At HRDs’ side, supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the overall objective of the project is to contribute to the protection of the rights of HRDs in Uganda, improving the conditions in which they have to operate.
Instead of providing standardized security advice, Soleterre and DefendDefenders believe that human rights defenders need to have the tools to analyze their working environment, assess their risks and develop strategies to increase their capacities to manage these risks with the ultimate aim to continue their work and protect the rights of others. This is especially in line with the recent office break in of different NGOs in Uganda including most recently, Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF), Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ), Human Rights Network Uganda (HURINET), Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), DefendDefenders, Anti – Corruption Coalition Uganda, Action Aid International among others. This has created a wave of fear in the NGO movement as sometimes these thefts are not given the full investigations they deserve. The training of human right defenders contributes to the improvement of the universal respect for human rights and to a safer environment for Human Rights Defenders by enhancing their protection and security.
As an outcome of the training, Participants committed to transfer knowledge to their colleagues in the sector, improving security management at organizational level and developing organizational security plans.
Soleterre-strategie di pace ONLUS is an NGO duly registered under the laws of the Republic of Italy and recognized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Soleterre works operates India, Ukraine, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa Republic and Uganda. Soleterre is a member of Uganda National NGO Forum.
