Effective Human Rights Advocacy:
Human Rights Monitoring
What is Monitoring?
What is monitoring?
Monitoring is the collection,
verification, and use of
information about human rights
violations.
Monitors use a systematic approach to
collect, verify, and analyze
information to identify violations of
human rights.
What is monitoring?
•
•
•
•
•
Interviews
Background research
Analysis of legislation
Case law review
Observations
Monitoring is a first step to making
change happen:
Monitoring
Documentation
Advocacy
CHANGE
Fact-finding
Analysis of findings,
recommendations,
and report-writing
Legal reform
Laws, policies and
practices
UN advocacy
Trainings
Why monitor?
A. To help victims
B. To pressure governments to apply international
human rights standards
C. To undertake domestic legal actions
D. To put pressure on government to do or stop
doing something
E. To influence public policy
F. To raise awareness of abuses
G. To provide early warning of human rights
violations
Human rights monitors seek to identify and investigate the gap
between the international standards
and those standards in reality.
What monitoring can reveal
A. Problems in language of the law (de jure)
B. Problems in language of the law and poor
practice
C. Poor practices, law is silent
D. Poor practices, law is neutral
Monitoring
Report and
recommendations
Domestic
legal reform
New policies
and protocols
Trainings
UN advocacy
Human Rights Monitoring Principles
Human Rights Monitoring Principles
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Do no harm
Maintain confidentiality
Maintain security
Know the standards
Respect the mandate
Exercise good
judgment
Respect the authorities
Be credible
•
•
•
•
•
•
Be transparent
Know the context
Be patient and
persistent
Seek consultation
Be impartial and
objective
Maintain sensitivity
OTHER PRINCIPLES:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
Be credible
Be transparent
Know the context
Be patient and persistent
Seek consultation
Be impartial and objective
Maintain sensitivity
MAINTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY
How do you “maintain
confidentiality” in the
following situation?
How do you maintain confidentiality?
You are interviewing a human rights activist
who works with victims. After the interview,
she invites you to have coffee. She asks you
what the interviewees have been saying to you.
She says that knowing what they are saying will
help her focus her human rights message and
strengthen her advocacy on behalf of victims.
MAINTAIN SECURITY
A. Check-in with a team leader or other
member regularly and after each interview
B. Avoid taking risks that may place the team
member or others’ safety in jeopardy
C. Carry a cell phone
D. Travel in pairs or teams, especially in unsafe
areas
E. Keep interview notes secure.
Example of a
Monitoring Methodology
The Advocates’ Domestic Violence
Monitoring Methodology
1. Determine what info is needed and how to
obtain it
2. Outline international legal obligations
3. Recruit and train researchers
4. Conduct background research
5. Research organization of legal system
6. Research relevant laws
DV Monitoring Methodology, cont’d
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Conduct fact-finding interviews
Organize and finalize interview notes
Analyze findings from interviews
Review records and written materials
Draft report and recommendations
Use report for education and advocacy
Interviewees
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
Ministries, officials, and parliamentarians
Police officers
Lawyers
Judges (civil and penal)
Prosecutors
Social services and/or child protection
Health care and/or forensic doctors
NGOs and advocates
Victims
Activity: Human Rights Monitoring and You
Step-by-Step Guide to
Human Rights Monitoring
Human Rights Monitoring Steps
STEP 1: PRIORITIZE – Plan Project
Determine Objectives
KEY CONSIDERATIONS:
Need - Is there a need for a monitoring project?
Goal - What do we hope to accomplish through the monitoring project?
Focus - What right, group, or area will the project focus on?
Consultation - How can rights-holders and others inform our project?
STEP 1: PRIORITIZE – Plan Project
Develop Approach
KEY CONSIDERATIONS:
Capacity - What is our capacity in terms of time, expertise, money,
infrastructure, and technology?
Timeframe – What length of time are we willing to commit to the project?
Training – Who is on our monitoring team and how will we train them?
Implementation - How can others inform our project?
STEP 2: FACT-FIND – Gather info
STEP 2: FACT-FIND – Gather info
General and Special
Instruments
Global and Regional
Instruments
Binding and Nonbinding Instruments
STEP 2: FACT-FIND – Gather info
STEP 2: FACT-FIND – Gather info
Document
Review
Process
Observation
Mapping
STEP 2: FACT-FIND – Gather info
Interviews
Focus Groups
Video
Testimonials
STEP 2: FACT-FIND – Gather info
Surveys
Media
Monitoring
Interviews
STEP 3: DOCUMENT – Analyze Info
Draw Conclusions
KEY STEPS:
A. List themes emerging from findings
B. Read and re-read the data and information
C. Data analysis
D. Break findings down to the conceptual level
E. Maximize validity and reliability
STEP 3: DOCUMENT – Analyze Info
Share Findings
KEY STEPS:
A. Develop Outline
B. Write Report
C. Draft Recommendations
D. Review
E. Final Steps
STEP 3: DOCUMENT – Analyze Info
REMEMBER BIG PICTURE
Show there is a protected right
Show how violation relates to your target group/individual
Show clearly the responsibility of the state or other authority
Identify and evaluate possible solutions
Present results in appropriate format
STEP 4: ADVOCATE – Use Info






Public Education
Media Advocacy
Lobbying and Legislative Advocacy
Litigation
Domestic Human Rights Complaints
Advocacy Before International Bodies
INTERVIEW PROTOCOL
General Considerations
A. Will not always have ideal conditions for
interviews
B. Use your judgment on how to deviate from
the guidelines
C. Take advantage of all opportunities to
gather information
Interview Conditions
A. 2 people per interview
1. Lead interviewer
2. Note taker
B. Taking notes: laptops v. notepaper?
C. 1-2 interviewees at a time is ideal
Interview Conditions
A. Have as few people as possible in the room
B. Interview in a place where you can ensure
confidentiality
C. Consider setup of the room and seating
arrangement
D. Make sure no interruptions
Conduct during Interview
A. Maintain eye contact with interviewee
B. Avoid judgmental or evaluative remarks or
expressions
C. Be patient
D. Do not interrupt speaker
E. Do not push interviewee.
1. If sensitive issue, return to it later
F. Know when to stop
Beginning the Interview
A. Note interviewee names, titles, organization, city,
contact info date, interviewers present
B. Introductory statement
1.
2.
3.
Mandate of project
Explain how info will be used
Explain what you can and cannot do with info or the case
(do not raise expectations
C. Assure interviewee of confidentiality to best of your
ability
D. Establish basic rapport
Interview Questions
A. Open-ended questions
B. Begin with non-controversial and less sensitive
questions
C. Ask for clarification of anything you don’t
understand
D. Avoid leading questions
E. Ask questions in concise language (no lingo or
slang)
F. Victims
1.
Let them tell story chronologically; get details as
needed
Interview Questions
A. Be prepared to deviate from the question set
B. Be as thorough as possible
1.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Treat each interview as though last and only chance with
interviewee
Do not ask questions outside project mandate
Ask interviewee to spell out names as needed
Do not show disbelief or anger about answers
Stories: details, details, details!
Seek Additional Information
A. Ask interviewee for others to interview
B. Ask for relevant documents
1. Police reports, news articles, etc.
C. Include in notes your observations where
relevant (interviewee nervous, etc.)
Ending the Interview
A. Allow notetaker chance to ask follow-up
questions
B. Ask if interviewee has anything else to add
C. Allow interviewee to ask you questions
D. Reassure interviewee about confidentiality
E. Reiterate mandate and how info will be
used
F. Ensure you have contact info for follow-up
questions
After the Interview
A. Write up and finalize your notes asap (that
day or week if possible)
B. Add any notes about credibility or
observations
C. Organize your documents and business
cards collected
D. Identify any follow-up
E. De-brief with team members to avoid
secondary traumatization
Practical Tips for Interviews
A.
B.
C.
D.
Build rapport and be patient
Avoid judgment or evaluation in the interview
Do not interrupt or push the interviewee
Obtain as much relevant data and details as you
can
E. Ask questions to clarify
F. Ask questions in a different way if having trouble
getting an answer
G. Use your observation skills
Interviewing Trauma Survivors &
Avoiding Secondary Traumatization
Video
Interviewing Trauma Survivors and
Avoiding Secondary Traumatization
VIDEO: Allison Beckman and Patty Shannon,
Center for Victims of Torture
http://faegrebd.mediasite.com/mediasite/Play/
8d39a6ffcc5140638a1add2777d567d91d
MOCK INTERVIEW
Mock Interview
A. VIDEO: Mock Interview with Liberian
Statement giver (begin at minute 40)
http://faegrebd.mediasite.com/mediasite/Play/
1494cbef96b9428aa311f09cdd4966661d