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Nepal: NHRC develops new training course for human rights defenders

Graphic: Participants at the NHRC's training program for human rights defenders

The Commission has developed a structured course of instruction to support human rights defenders working at the grass roots level in Nepal.

The National Human Rights Commission has developed a structured course of instruction to support human rights defenders working at the grass roots level in Nepal.

The three-part program, delivered over five days, introduces human rights defenders to:

  • Foundation human rights issues, as well as the national and international system for promoting and protecting human rights
  • The rights of specific vulnerable groups in Nepal , including women, children and minority groups
  • Human rights issues 'on the ground', through field visits to prisons, detention centres, children's homes and other places.

The course also discusses the role and functions of human rights defenders, human rights protection mechanisms, human rights dialogue and advocacy and a human rights-based approach to development.

In addition, participants develop skills in report-writing to assist them document human rights violations.

A recent training course conducted by the Commission brought together 26 human rights defenders from 11 districts across Nepal, representing a broad range of NGOs and civil society organisations.

The Commission will also shortly host a national conference that aims to bring together human right defenders and strengthen their professional networks.

Detailed information about the Course of Instruction for Human Rights Defenders is available at: http://www.nhrcnepal.org/papers.php.

Date: 12 April 2012


Image credits

  1. Participants at the NHRC's training program for human rights defenders - National Human Rights Commission of Nepal