CHRDA builds the capacity of community leaders to monitor, document and report human rights in Buea
3 min read
The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA), a Cameroonian based human rights organisation headed by Barrister Agbor Nkongho have organised a Capacity Building Workshop for community Leaders in the South West Region to Monitor, Document and Report Human Rights Violations.
Over 50 participants attended the training including representatives of civil society organisations and religious and traditional leaders. The training was on human rights monitoring, documenting and reporting. The training took place from 4 to 6 May 2022 in Buea. The community leaders were drawn from various divisions in the South West Region.
Barrister Agbor Nkongho, the president of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, while speaking to the press, emphasised that there is a growing need for the protection of human rights defenders. according to him, the security of each and every human rights defender is themselves. Given the risk involved in monitoring, documenting and reporting human rights violations, there is a need for the capacity of these defenders to strengthen, Barrister Agbor Balla reiterated.
As published on their official website, the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa establishes that the event was part of the ongoing project on “Improving Human Rights Protection in the Conflict-Affected Regions of Cameroon”.the same website confirmed that the said project will be implemented from 2022 to 2024 in the Northwest, South-West and the Northern Regions.
CHRDA is co-implementing this project with the Network of Human Rights Defenders in Central Africa (REDHAC) and is co-funded by the European Union.
Context of the Training
Within the framework its efforts towards contributing to the promotion and protection of human rights in Cameroon, the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) will be undertaking a series of trainings and workshops across the conflict-affected regions of the North-West, South-West and Far the North, amongst other activities. These will be done in close collaboration with our partner, Réseau des Défenseurs des Droits Humains en Afrique Centrale (REDHAC). These activities form part of the European Union co-funded action on “Improving human rights protection in the conflict-affected regions of Cameroon.”
This training is geared towards enhancing the capacity of community leaders in contributing towards the larger human rights protection framework. The work done by community leaders in monitoring human rights violations within their local communities enables and strengthens the reporting of human rights violations and subsequent prosecutions.
We encourage close collaboration between community leaders and the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) in ensuring that human rights violations/abuses done in communities are reporting to the appropriate quarters, in order to inform and enhance the advocacy capacity of stakeholders to influence decision-making strategies.
Expected Results of Training
After the training, it is expected that:
- Community leaders will be able to adequately monitor, document and report human rights violations/abuses within their communities.
- Community leaders will work towards transferring knowledge acquired to others within the local communities.
- Community leaders will be able to safely monitor and document human rights violations/abuses during conflict.
- Community leaders will establish links of contact with CHRDA
- Community leaders will be able to monitor, document and transmit information on conflict-related human rights violations to CHRDA.
Participants
50 participants (25 male and 25 female)
– Religious leaders
– Women leaders
– Youth leaders
Read the original publication from their website HERE
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
