Documenting the Violations of Women’s Human Rights During Armed Conflict: A Tool for Advocacy and Sustainable Peace Building

Isis-WICCE’S 2004/5 Exchange Programme Institute.

Training Announcement/ Call for Applications

About Isis-WICCE

Isis-WICCE is a global, action oriented resource centre based in Kampala, Uganda. It exists to promote justice and the empowerment of women globally through documenting violations of women’s human rights, and facilitating the exchange of information and skills to strengthen women’s capacities, visibility, and potential. This is done through the production and exchange of information, the promotion of ideas, solidarity actions, and networking.

The Exchange Programme Institute

Isis-WICCE’s has been running annual Exchange Programme Institutes since 1984. These institutes offer women activists working in the area of human rights, armed conflict and peace building issues, an opportunity to spend time working on specific themes, and developing skills in using the human rights framework for advocacy purposes.

The theme for the 2004 Institute is: Documenting the Violations of Women’s Human Rights During Armed Conflict: A Tool for Advocacy and Sustainable Peace Building.

The Institute will focus on developing the skills of women in understanding human rights and documenting the experiences of women in situations of armed conflict using the human rights framework. It also aims to improve on women’s advocacy skills for the promotion and protection of women’s human rights and conflict transformation. Active participation in this institute will enable the selected women to contribute more meaningfully in advocating for women’s human rights and building sustainable peace at the community, national, regional, and international level. The Institute is facilitated by experienced, well-known and respected professionals and human rights experts.

The Exchange Programme Institute runs in three phases: The Training, Plan Implementation, and Report Back Phases.

i) The Training phase will take in Kampala, Uganda from Monday, August 23 to Friday, September 3, 2004. Participants are expected to arrive on Sunday, August 22, and depart on Saturday, September 4, 2004. During this period, participants will share experiences on the situation of women’s human rights in their countries, and receive training in International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law. Considerable time will be spent on investigation and documentation of human rights violations, and the skills needed for collecting information from survivors of human rights abuses. Participants will also have an opportunity to visit a relevant area in Uganda, and to share the lessons learnt with policy makers and members of the Uganda civil society. Plans of action will be drawn at the end of the training. These will be based on the training received at the Institute, and are meant to enable the participant to put the skills learnt into practice.

Each participant is expected to come to the Institute with a report of the human rights situation in her country, and how it affects women.

ii) The Plan Implementation phase takes place in the participants’ home countries, and lasts between 8-10 months. Participants carry out their plans of action drawn out during the Training phase. The action plans relate to a specific human rights issue affecting women in a situation of armed conflict that needs to be documented. This phase will require the support of the participants’ organizations, as it entails the participants going out in the field and collecting relevant information for their project. There is a small budget towards the activities of the plan of action, and Isis-WICCE collaborates with sending organizations to fundraise any top-up funds the participant might need to accomplish the task.

iii) The Report Back phase lasts for two weeks in an identified country. The participants come together to share reports of their documentation. Participants are helped to sharpen their advocacy skills, and lay new strategies on how they can use the documentation for advocacy, redress and social justice.

Terms and Conditions of Participation:

i. Then participant must be seconded by her organisation/ sending group, and have a contract of at least two years. This group should be working actively on issues of human rights, armed conflict, or peace building, especially as they concern women.

ii. The sending group should have regular programmes or meetings through which the experience of the Exchange Programme can benefit other women. The group should also have a clear commitment to the follow-up activities the participant will have chosen to do.

iii. The Exchange Institute takes place over an extended period of time, part of it away from home and in a different culture. The participants must, therefore, be open to a different way of life, food and weather. A positive attitude towards adapting to different circumstances, culture, food and people, is the best way of making the most of such a potentially rewarding experience. Only women who are interested in cross-cultural exchanges and are easily adaptable are encouraged to apply.

iv. Financial considerations:

Isis-WICCE will be responsible for:

· Tuition fees
· A return economy-class air ticket
· Accommodation and meals
· Airport transfer to the venue of the institute.
· Very minimal start-off funds for the plan of action drawn during the Training Phase.
· Medical insurance during the Training and Report back Phases. Regrettably, because of the terms and conditions of the insurance cover, Isis-WICCE is unable to cover the following: expenses related to pregnancy beyond SIX months, dental care, and provision of spectacles. These are the responsibility of the participant herself.

The sending group is responsible for:

· All expenses of the nominee within her country related to obtaining passports, vaccinations, transportation and communication within the country of origin.
· Extra personal expenses of the nominee incurred during the programme (personal photocopying, telephone calls, tourist trips).

PLEASE SEE APPLICATION FORM

Isis-WICCE’S 2004/5 International Exchange Institute

APPLICATION FORM

PART A: To Be Filled In By The Sending Group

1. a) Name of the Sending Group:

b) Name of the person in charge:

c) Address of the organisation (Postal and Physical address):

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Telephone: ………………………………………………………
Fax: ………………………………………………………
E-mail: ………………………………………………………

2. a) Briefly describe the organisation’s history, mission and activities:

3. a) Why do you feel that Isis-WICCE’s Exchange Programme Institute will be useful to your organisation?

4. a) Name of the nominee:

b) How long has she been with the organisation?

c) Her present position:

d) Briefly describe her responsibilities in the organisation:

e) Why is she the most suitable nominee?

PART B: To be Filled in by the Nominee

1. PERSONAL DETAILS

a) Name:

b) Address (Postal and street address):
………………………………………………………
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Telephone number: …………………………………………………
Fax number: …………………………………………………..
E-mail: ……………………………………………………

c) Nationality:

d) Date of Birth:

e) Passport Number: Valid until:

2. NEXT OF KIN: (In case of Emergency)

Name:

Address:

Phone: (office, home, and mobile phone)

E-Mail:

3. EDUCATION AND OTHER BACKGROUND

a) Please indicate your educational qualifications:

Period Training Qualification

b) Please indicate your employment experience:

Period Organisation/Group Position

c) Please indicate your language proficiency:

Language Reading Writing Speaking
English
French
Others: Please specify

d) Please indicate any international conferences or workshops you have attended in the last three years that are relevant to the theme of the Institute:

e) Please indicate your experience of working in the area of human rights or advocacy

f) What are the most important attributes you have (or your organization has) that you feel will add value to Isis-WICCE’s Exchange Programme Institute?

g) How do you hope to use the knowledge, skills, and contacts you will acquire as a result of your participation in the institute?

h) Have you suffered from any of the following conditions?

Condition Yes/no When? Condition Yes/no When?
Hypertension: Malaria:
Heart Disease: Jaundice
Tuberculosis: Diabetes

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Please return this form along with:
- 1 reference letter from a women's group your organisation networks with.
- Your curriculum vitae.
- Medical certificate.
- A recent passport size photograph.
- Annual Report, and other information about your organisation and its work.
- The name, address and phone number of an organisation that Isis-WICCE can contact for reference.

Sending filled forms: Applications, along with relevant information should reach Isis-WICCE by 10th June, 2004, addressed to:
The Exchange Programme Coordinator,
Isis-WICCE, Plot 32, Bukoto Street, Kamwokya
P.O. Box 4934, Kampala, Uganda.
Tel: 256 41 543 953 Fax: 256-41-543954; e-mail: [email protected]

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

We, the undersigned, declare that the above information is true. We have read and understood the Terms and Conditions for participation in the Isis-WICCE Exchange Programme's Annual Institute for 2004/ 2005, and agree to abide by them. Should our selected nominee leave the programme prematurely without the written consent of the Exchange Programme Coordinator and Director of Isis-WICCE, we agree to reimburse Isis-WICCE the total expenses incurred for our participation in the programme.

CEO of sending group: ............................

Signature: ……………………………

Date:..............................................

Official Stamp of the sending group:
Name of nominee:......................................

Nominee's Signature: .................................

Date:...................................................