Special Programme on Africa - Publications
Here is a list of all English language publications produced by the Special Programme on Africa. Each title includes a brief description of its contents with an indication of whether the publication can be downloaded directly or can be ordered by e-mail.
How to order a publication?
Publications may be downloaded from this page if available in electronic form or ordered through Amnesty International’s e-mail contact service: spa [at] amnesty [dot] nl.
Please state your full name and address and/or information about your organization and the number of copies you require; we would be grateful if you could also add a brief note explaining the reason for your order.
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.
Haki Zetu, ESC rights in Practice, A Handbook
This is a new series of handbooks, still in the making. It is a practical guide for local NGOs and CBOs working with local communities to realise their economic, social and cultural rights. Like UKWELI, it is a main book with general information and a series of booklets on specific ESC rights. The Main Book part 1 provides basic information about human rights, ESC rights, obligations of states and non-state actors and some current efforts to improve ESC rights. Part 2 provides a general framework and a step-by-step plan for working with ESC rights (engaging with communities, gathering information, monitoring and engaging with government and non-state actors, regional and international actors).
Separate booklets are being developed for most recognized ESC rights, and all of them contain sections on understanding the situation and the right itself (a.o. how it is enshrined in covenants and laws), and on actions to realise the right (incl. checklists and other tools):
Other booklets are being developed on the right to health, the right to education, the right to work and livelihoods, and possibly more. Booklets on specific rights can only be used in conjunction with the Main Book. Comments and suggestions are welcome and can be sent to spa [at] amnesty [dot] nl
Copyright Amnesty NL 2010