SPA Programme Outline

The Programme Outline provides an assessment of the human rights situation in Africa as well as of the human rights movement. This was produced in 2004. The outline sets out the aims, objectives and some guiding principles of the programme along with projects and activities for the period 2005 – 2009.

Handbook Ukweli

The Handbook Ukweli consists of a main handbook that identifies and defines steps for the research of human rights violations, along with seven accompanying booklets on monitoring and investigating specific types of human rights violations. The main handbook discusses principles of research, provides guidelines for interviewing and suggests strategies for tackling problems and challenges.

Booklets accompanying the Handbook Ukweli:
Each booklet is a practical guide for monitoring and investigating a specific type of violation, explaining when it is a human rights violation, how to monitor, how to investigate and how to assess information.

Monitoring and investigating:

• Political Killings
• Torture, Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, and Prison Conditions
• Sexual Violence
• Death in Custody
• Excessive Use of Force
• Human Rights Abuse in the Context of Armed Conflict
• Equipment used in Human Rights Abuses

Monitoring and Reporting Human Rights Violations

A Handbook for Community Activists. This short booklet is a basic version of the Ukweli series brought together in one booklet.

Ben ni Walen - Mobilising for human rights using participatory theatre

This Ben ni Walen guide presents seven participatory drama methods that incorporate seven human rights issues. The methods are presented as basic guidelines that can and should be adapted to the circumstances; the human rights issues are merely illustrative examples to demonstrate how the methods could be used.

The Facilitators’ Guide. Training on monitoring and documenting HRV

This guide is meant to assist trainers with structuring learning around the principles and strategies outlined in the Ukweli Handbook series. It is divided into 26 sessions, each of which includes the aim of the session, the learning objectives and a proposed method with an indicative timeframe. The guide is meant to be used as a menu rather than a rigid course outline. The approach is learner-centred and participative. It provides exercises to increase knowledge and understanding of human rights monitoring as well as to develop skills such as interviewing and report writing. The guide cannot be downloaded but hard copies can be ordered by experienced trainers who should explain in their request the reason for their order. A CD-Rom of the full text of the guide will be sent with the hard copy, allowing trainers to adapt the session plans.

Siniko. Towards a human rights culture in Africa

This is the Siniko manual for teachers and educators working with young people who want to introduce human rights into their educational practices. It is a basic introduction with advice on methodology, activities for older and younger children and ideas for action.

Mapping for human rights

This short guide seeks to provide a succinct and user-friendly explanation of what ‘mapping’ is and how it can be used in the development of strategies to combat human rights violations and abuses. It also includes a training session for those who may wish to share this skill with others.

Human Rights Volunteers in Liberia: Lessons learned

This document presents lessons learned from a four-year pilot project undertaken by the SPA in Liberia. The project sought to provide human rights training to community activists in rural communities in a (post)conflict environment.

ESC rights in Practice, A Handbook (draft)

This is a new series of handbooks, still in the making. It is meant to be a practical guide for local NGOs and CBOs working with local communities to realise their economic, social and cultural rights. Like UKWELI, it will be a core book with general information and a series of booklets on specific ESC rights. The core book and the booklet on The Right to Adequate Housing are now available in draft. Before final publication end 2009, these two books will be tested in Kenya. Comments and suggestions are welcome can be sent to p.vanderhorst@amnesty.nl before 20th September 2009.
Other booklets on specific rights to be expected are: the Right to Food, Water, Health, Education and Work/livelihood.