Make human rights mechanisms work for WASH
On the 10th of December in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). That’s why on the 10th of December we celebrate Human Rights Day.
Our work at Simavi is women-centred, we aim for sustainable change and we put human rights at the heart of our work. We want more people to get involved with Human Rights and use their voice to influence human rights monitoring processes. That's why we - in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam (Amsterdam Law School) - developed a lecture series on human rights.
Launch event
The Human Rights Lecture Series were launched on December 9th with the interactive online event 'Make human rights mechanisms work for WASH'.
During the event Speakers from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the University of Amsterdam and civil society organisations (CSOs) Uttaran and WEMNET discussed the advantages and challenges for increased involvement of WASH CSOs in human rights mechanisms.
Take your time to re-watch the event or to read up on the presentations that were given.
Presentation Periodic review and de role of CSOS
This presentation contains information on generally how the Universal Periodic Review works, and the role of CSOs within it. In addition to highlighting some key findings from an internal study on the Universal Periodic Reviw recommendations related to the human rights to water and sanitation.
By Alisa Clarke, from the UPR Branch, OHCHR
How WEMNET uses the Universal Periodic Review
This presentation informs about WEMNET, how the organization works on water and more specifically WASH issues and how they use the Universal Periodic Review.
By Venex Watebawa, WEMNET, Uganda
The lecture series: engage with Human Rights mechanisms
How much do we really know about Human Rights? About how they came to be, who they aim to protect and what economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights Human Rights laws entitle us to? You can learn this, in the new Human Rights Lecture Series. And there is more, you can also learn:
- What Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights are
- What Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Human Rights are
- How the implementation of human rights treaties is monitored
- What the Universal Periodic Review is
- What Happens during the Universal Periodic Review
- And How civil society organisations can interact with UPR
The series take you on a 7-step journey (each video between 15-20 min) in understanding human rights and engaging with human right mechanisms.
