IHRTP 2014: Meeting the needs of human rights defenders

According to a survey of participants attending Equitas’ 2014 International Human Rights Training Program (IHRTP), 92 % of respondents felt that the program fully met their expectations of a human rights training program. Almost all of the respondents (99 %) felt that the teaching method used by Equitas – an approach that integrates knowledge of human rights and human rights education – allowed them to improve their ability to design and teach human rights education programs.

The vast majority of participants (97 %) said that they would recommend the training to their organization. The survey was completed by 75 of the 82 people who took part in the June 2014 IHRTP. Participants came from South and Southeast Asia (25), Africa and the Middle East (39), the Caribbean and Latin America (12), Central Europe and the former Soviet Union (5) and Canada (1).

The International Human Rights Training Program (IHRTP) is an annual three-week training program designed to strengthen the capacity of individuals and organizations to engage in effective human rights education (e.g., training, awareness campaigns, information dissemination and advocacy) aimed at building a global culture of human rights. The next IHRTP will be held in June 2015. Information on how to apply will be available on the web site at the end of September 2014.

From the Participants “The IHRTP has indeed exposed me to great knowledge and skills beyond my imagination. The content of the program was very resourceful for me and I am now equipped with different practical tools in HRE” said a participant from Uganda.

A participant from Algeria also commented: “This important training has allowed me to strengthen my knowledge of human rights education. I am now better able  to lead educational initiatives to bring about changes in my organization and on a greater scale in the future.”

This program is undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD), as well as support from Aimia.