Training of Human Rights Defenders
Human Rights Defenders (HRD’s) are an integral constituency for the work of the Commission. However, KNCHR’s observation is that many times HRD’s lack the capacity to undertake advocacy and other work. Furthermore, most HRDs have, in their activism, demonstrated a lack of understanding of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. Most HRDs further do not have sufficient training or understanding of matters of laws of the land; and the applicable conventions of protection.  This pits them against the State particularly the law enforcement agencies who normally arrest them for allegedly acting outside the law. The HRDs might then be subjected to other forms of abuse during the criminal justice processes. Additionally, the work of HRD’s is sometimes not understood by the public who in many cases do not support their work.

To address the above problem, the KNCHR will build the capacity of HRD’s both at individual and institutional levels through trainings, seminars, conferences and consultative meetings.  The capacity building training will be preceded by a training needs assessment and a mapping exercise. The KNCHR expects that the HRDs will be equipped with the prerequisite legal and advocacy skills to enable them undertake their work more effectively and safely.

As an intermediate outcome, the KNCHR anticipates that HRDs will make use of the knowledge gained from this project to effectively and safely protect human rights and avoid endangering their lives and property as well as their families. Further KNCHR anticipates that HRD’s will comply with the law to advocate for rights; and that there will be reduced victimization and animosity between the justice mechanism and the HRDs. The project assumes that HRDs will be willing to utilize the knowledge gained; that criminal justice actors /judiciary will have a formal recognition of the work of HRDs and HRD’s will have respect for the rule of law; and that parliament will enact laws for better protection of HRD’s. An appropriate selection criterion will be made by the Commission in ensuring that the project reaches out to deserving human rights defenders (individual and institutional).