H U M A N R I G H T S H O U S E NETWORK Annual Report 2007 The Human Rights House Network Mission The Human Rights House Network’s mission is to protect, strengthen and support human rights organisations locally, and unite them in an international network of Human Rights Houses. UGANDA KENYA RUSSIA BELARUS AZERBAIJAN POLAND ENGLAND NORWAY NORWAY BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA MACEDONIA CROATIA KAMPALA NAIROBI MOSCOW VILNIUS BAKU WARSAW LONDON OSLO BERGEN SARAJEVO SKOPJE ZAGREB Human Rights Center for Law and Human Rights Not specifi ed Citizen´s Labor Rights Helsinki Committee Article 19 International Society American Field Service Helsinki Committee for Macedonian Women’s B.a.B.e Network Uganda Research International Network Group for security reasons Protection League in Poland for Health and Bergen Human Rights in Rights Centre Women´s Human Rights Bosnia and Herzegovina – Shelter Centre Human Rights Group Refugee Law Project Child Rights Advisory Independent International Society Helsinki Foundation English PEN Norwegian Helsinki Médicins Sans Women and Society First Children’s Croatian and Psychiatric Human Rights for Human Rights Committee Frontières Embassy in the World Helsinki Commitee Legal Center Association of Russia – Azerbaijan – Megjashi for Human Rights Federation of Women Coalition on Violence Moscow Center for Azerbaijan Young Young Journalists’ Index on Censorship Norwegian P.E.N Egil Rafto House Renesansa Association for Croatian Law Center Lawyers against Women Prison Reform Lawyers Union Association Foundation Democratic Initiatives “POLIS” Hope After Rape Federation of Moscow Helsinki Democracy, Viridarium Group Norwegian Tibet The Rafto Serb Civic Council Helsinki Committee for Women Lawyers Group Human Rights and Committee Foundation Human Rights in the Media Monitor Republic of Macedonia Women´s International Kenya Human Rights Mother’s Rights Women´s Association The Association The Norwegian Aung San Suu Foundation Movement Against Cross Exchange Commission Foundation for Rational Initiative 33 Burma Committee Kyi’s Room CURE Disability Development – Polio Plus Uganda Women´s People Against Organization Center for “EL” The Norwegian Council Changemaker Network Torture “Right to Life and Development Program for the Rights of Human Dignity” Kurdish People Greenwatch Release Regional Organization Azerbaijan Human Nansen Dialog Project Political Prisoners “Non-violence Rights Center International” African Center for the Regional Organization Society for Human Rights House Rehabilitation and Treatment “Right of Child” Humanitarian Foundation of Torture Victims Research Legal Aid Project Social Partnership Association for Foundation Protection of Women´s Rights Public Defender Union of the Soldiers´ Association Mothers Commitees – Uganda of Russia Legal Aid Clinic www.humanrightshouse.org The Human Rights House Network Strategies • Networking and capacity building: strengthen human rights defenders and their work. • Human Rights Houses: build sustainable institutions. • Lobbying, advocacy: generate political support for human rights defenders and organisations. • Fundraising: secure financial stability for the Human Rights House Network UGANDA KENYA RUSSIA BELARUS AZERBAIJAN POLAND ENGLAND NORWAY NORWAY BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA MACEDONIA CROATIA KAMPALA NAIROBI MOSCOW VILNIUS BAKU WARSAW LONDON OSLO BERGEN SARAJEVO SKOPJE ZAGREB Human Rights Center for Law and Human Rights Not specifi ed Citizen´s Labor Rights Helsinki Committee Article 19 International Society American Field Service Helsinki Committee for Macedonian Women’s B.a.B.e Network Uganda Research International Network Group for security reasons Protection League in Poland for Health and Bergen Human Rights in Rights Centre Women´s Human Rights Bosnia and Herzegovina – Shelter Centre Human Rights Group Refugee Law Project Child Rights Advisory Independent International Society Helsinki Foundation English PEN Norwegian Helsinki Médicins Sans Women and Society First Children’s Croatian and Psychiatric Human Rights for Human Rights Committee Frontières Embassy in the World Helsinki Commitee Legal Center Association of Russia – Azerbaijan – Megjashi for Human Rights Federation of Women Coalition on Violence Moscow Center for Azerbaijan Young Young Journalists’ Index on Censorship Norwegian P.E.N Egil Rafto House Renesansa Association for Croatian Law Center Lawyers against Women Prison Reform Lawyers Union Association Foundation Democratic Initiatives “POLIS” Hope After Rape Federation of Moscow Helsinki Democracy, Viridarium Group Norwegian Tibet The Rafto Serb Civic Council Helsinki Committee for Women Lawyers Group Human Rights and Committee Foundation Human Rights in the Media Monitor Republic of Macedonia Women´s International Kenya Human Rights Mother’s Rights Women´s Association The Association The Norwegian Aung San Suu Foundation Movement Against Cross Exchange Commission Foundation for Rational Initiative 33 Burma Committee Kyi’s Room CURE Disability Development – Polio Plus Uganda Women´s People Against Organization Center for “EL” The Norwegian Council Changemaker Network Torture “Right to Life and Development Program for the Rights of Human Dignity” Kurdish People Greenwatch Release Regional Organization Azerbaijan Human Nansen Dialog Project Political Prisoners “Non-violence Rights Center International” African Center for the Regional Organization Society for Human Rights House Rehabilitation and Treatment “Right of Child” Humanitarian Foundation of Torture Victims Research Legal Aid Project Social Partnership Association for Foundation Protection of Women´s Rights Public Defender Union of the Soldiers´ Association Mothers Commitees – Uganda of Russia Legal Aid Clinic www.humanrightshouse.org Ndifuna Mohammed is the National Coordinator of the Human Rights Network Uganda. This network has linked its 32 human rights organisations to the HRH Network and works to establish a Human Rights House locally. Mohammed represents East and Horn of Africa in the HRH Network’s Advisory Board. “...the importance of networks and networking cannot be over-emphasised” "Networking creates a greater willingness In contexts like this, the importance of networks and of all parties to be part of a human conduit networking cannot be over-emphasised. Luckily, there are efforts in the region to create and strengthen human to serve as energy and resource to one rights networks. Indeed, a number of collaborative initia- another. Sometimes you will give more tives have emerged, particularly in the areas of training, than you receive and sometimes you will technical exchanges and advocacy. HRHN continues to get back more than you give. It's not about play a crucial catalytic role to strengthen networking and the development of an ethos for sustainable networks in keeping score." the region. HRHN helps strengthen the willingness of Chris London, Manhattan Society members of other networks to remain part of a conduit through which the many benefits of networking are rea- Civil society organisations easily recognize the signifi- lised. Encouraging coalition building is bound to further cance of networks as they increase access to resources, all networks and networking processes. enhance efficiency and allow for specialization. They provide solidarity and support, reduce costs and dupli- cation of efforts, and increase visibility and credibility while reducing risk and isolation. Compared to its counterparts in Europe, USA and Asia, civil society in East Africa is young. It remains belea- guered by competition for limited resources. Inadequate skills and hostile political environments combine to increase the risks run by human rights defenders in carrying out their legitimate work. NGOs in general, and human rights organisations in particular, find that their operating space is shrinking, particularly in situations of violent conflict, where excesses are directed against them with impunity. Human Rights Houses are working communities where human rights organisations cooperate to support and strengthen human rights. These local communities are united in an international network called the Human Rights House Network (HRHN). An International Advisory Board that consists of one member from each region in the Network is responsible for its strategic development. Its mandate and composition was formalized in March. Lars A. Christensen Srdjan Dizdarevic Ndifuna Mohammed Henderson Mullin Liubov Vinogradova Chairperson of the Norwegian President of the Helsinki Commit- National Coordinator of HURI- Managing Director of Index on International representative of Board of the HRH Foundation tee in Bosnia and Herzegovina NET Uganda Censorship, London the Russian Research Centre for Human Rights An external evaluation has concluded that the The Network’s secretariat is the Human Human Rights House Network: Rights House Foundation (HRHF), located • Increases solidarity and moral support between at the Norwegian Human Rights House in the members. Oslo, founded in 1989 (see page 30). Its • Increases visibility for the local human rights organisations. work is governed both by the International • Improves service for victims of human rights violations. Advisory Board and the Norwegian Board. • Increases legitimacy and credibility on the national level. The manual ‘Establishing a Human Rights Maria Dahle • Improves access to international partners and funding. House’ is available in English, Russian, • Increases protection and stability for the human Secretary of the Boards, Spanish, Turkish, and Azeri