Based on more than 10 years experience in the region, DIHR has developed a five year West Africa Strategy to be implemented from 2007-2011. The general objective of this strategy is to strengthen institutional capacity and the ability of human rights stakeholders in West Africa to respect, promote and protect national and international human rights standards. After a context analysis and consultations with key stakeholders in the region, four intervention areas have been identified:
1. Capacity building of key human rights actors (national human rights institutions, human rights ministries / directions, ministries of justice, human rights NGOs / networks)
2. Family law
3. Security
4. Human rights education and documentation
DIHR will focus geographically on Sahel countries including Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali. DIHR will also pursue activities in Benin.
Partners and Donors in West Africa
Partners:
Benin
Chaire Unesco des droits de la personne et de la démocratie - Université d’Abomey Calavi : http://portal.unesco.org/education/fr/ev.php
Burkina Faso
MPDH (The Ministry for Promotion and Protection for Human Rights): www.mpdh.gov.bf
Mali:
The legal aid organization “ DEME SO ”
Niger :
ANDDH (Association Nigérienne pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme)
ENAM (Ecole Nationale d’Administration et de la Magistrature)
FNIS (Forces Nationales d’Intervention et de Sécurité)
The Ministry of Justice
The National Police
Strategic alliances :
UNDP in Niger: www.pnud.ne
Rights and Democracy in Canada: www.dd-rd.ca
Donors:
The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: www.um.dk
French Cooperation in Niger: www.ambafrance-ne.org
Rights & Democracy in Canada: www.dd-rd.ca
Regional Activities
The Dakar Conference on Human Rights Mandates and National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa was held from 29 January to 2 February 2007. This regional conference attempted to clarify and define the roles and obligations of State actors, national human rights institutions, civil society, and the judiciary in the promotion and protection of human rights.
In November 2007 in Cotonou, Benin, a course was held for civil society organizations on human rights mandates and internal good governance. This course was held in collaboration with the UNESCO Chaire and was designed to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations in West Africa for a better promotion and protection of human rights.
A regional research forum on family and human rights in francophone West African countries was held that the Law Faculty in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from the 25-28 February 2008. This forum facilitated academic exchange on substantial, methodological and strategic issues related to family and human rights and established a regional research platform in the region.
Research partnership program (2007-2008): DIHR invites, for two consecutive years, researchers from West Africa to Copenhagen to work on family law, juvenile justice, and corporate social responsibility