UNPO recently hosted its second International Human Rights Training Programme SPEAKOUT! in the Hague, The Netherlands. Between 14-16 July, 25 human rights defenders participated in the three day interactive Training, which included representatives of the Mon in Burma, the Uyghurs of East Turkestan, the Oromo and Ogaden of Ethiopia, the Crimean Tatars in Ukraine, the Kurds in Iran, participants from Poland, Brazil, Bolivia as well as young Dutch professionals and diverse NGO staff members. The Training succeeded in challenging, teaching, and inspiring its participants to Speak Out for human rights and apply newly acquired skills back home.

The Training, in collaboration with the Municipality of The Hague, the Haëlla Foundation, the Netherlands Institute of International Relations (Clingendael), included an introduction to international human rights law, as well as practical training seminars on effective lobbying at the United Nations, creative nonviolent activism, human rights activism in the media, and financing human rights initiative. In addition to UNPO’s in-house trainers, workshops were also given by representatives from theUnited Network of Young Peacebuilders, Global Human Rights Defense, an Assistant to a Member of European Parliament and a PhD candidate at the Sciences Po in Paris.

Recognizing the city of The Hague as a metropolis for Peace and Justice, participants visited the International Criminal Court and The Netherlands Ministry for Foreign Affairs, where further discussion, dialogue and training took place. The programme concluded at the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a group brainstorm on future action plans for the individual campaigns of each participant.

We sincerely thank Clingendael, The City of The Hague and the Haëlla Foundation for their support. In particular, UNPO would like to thank Mr. Willem Post, International Advisor to the Mayor of The Hague, Ambassador Roberto Calzadilla Sarmiento, Bolivian Ambassador to The Netherlands, Dr. Anna Meijknecht, Board Member of the Netherlands Centre for Indigenous Peoples (NCIV) for their contributions as Guests of Honour. Above all, UNPO would like to congratulate all participants for an excellent training session.

SpeakOut! Programme

Wednesday 14 July
 
09h00        Arrival and Registration

09h30        Welcoming Remarks
                Mr. Willem Post, International Advisor to the Mayor of The Hague
                Mr. Marino Busdachin, UNPO General Secretary
                Dr. Anna Meijknecht, Board Member Netherlands Centre for Indigenous Peoples

10h30        Diplomatic Dialogue on Indigenous Governance
                Ambassador Roberto Sarmiento, Bolivian Ambassador to The Netherland

11h45        WORKSHOP 1.  Human Rights Mechanisms and The U.N.
                Ms. Amy O’Donnell, UNPO

13h45        Video Excerpt:  Expert Mechanism On the Rights of Indigenous People

14h00        WORKSHOP 2. Effective Lobbying- Representing Your Human Rights Issues 
                Ms. Maggie Murphy, UNPO

15h45        WORKSHOP 3. Using the Power of Networking
                Ms. Martine Alonso Marquis, European Parliament

18h00        Cocktail Hour
                Representatives for The Hague’s Judicial, Social and Diplomatic Circle

Thursday 15 July

09h00        WORKSHOP 4. Using the Media to Raise Human Rights Awareness
                Mr. Andrew Swan, UNPO    

11h15        WORKSHOP 5. Part I- Innovative Nonviolent Activism and Advocacy
                Mr. Menno Ettema, United Network of Young Peacebuilders

13h45        Part II Innovatie Nonviolent Activism and Advocacy

15h15        WORKSHOP 6. Financing Human Rights Initiatives- EU Funding
                Ms. Anna Innocenti, Global Human Rights Defense

18h30        Movie Debate and Exchange:
                Praying the Devil Back to Hell

Friday 16 July
 
09h30        International Criminal Court: Guided Tour and Interactive Commentary

13h30        Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
                Mr. Jochem de Groot, Policy Officer Human Rights Department
                Mr. Edwin Keijzer, UN Human Rights Coordinator

15h30        Action Proposal Plans and Evaluations

17h00        Closing Ceremony

For more information about SPEAKOUT! please contact Ms. Caroline de Bruin  at the UNPO Office of the General Secretary
Tel: +31(0)70 3646 504
cdebruin [at] unpo.org – www.unpo.org
Laan van Meerdervoort 70
2517 AN The Hague – The Netherlands

To download the report, please click on the link in the right column.