Advocacy

We undertake and support human rights advocacy at the international and domestic levels, engaging with treaty bodies, governments and other key stakeholders
 
 

Creating Major Advocacy Tools 

Boy in South Kardofan, Sudan We publish powerful tools such as our comprehensive country and thematic reports which are used by the Trust and others working to advancing equality to advocate at national, regional and international levels. 
 
For example, our report In Search of Confluence: Addressing Discrimination and Inequality in Sudan which argues that inequality is the root cause of the past and current conflict in Sudan, has been broadly accepted by the international community. The UN Human Rights Committee, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights have endorsed its findings and recommendations, particularly in respect to inter-ethnic relations, sexual violence in conflict and the adoption of comprehensive equality law. 

International Advocacy 

The Trust presents its research at the UN in GenevaOur international advocacy uses procedures to subject states to scrutiny. In order to do this effectively we make regular submissions to the Human Rights Council and to UN Treaty Bodies, providing evidence on patterns of discrimination and an analysis of equality laws and policies in different countries. 

Our submissions have proved effective in influencing these bodies to ask questions and make recommendations to states, helping to increase the scrutiny of measures which advance equality. 


Each year we make around 20 - 25 submissions relating to equality on countries ranging from Azerbaijan to the United Kingdom. 

National Advocacy

Co-Director of the Trust, Jim Fitzgerald presents findings from the Trust's major report addressing discrimination in MoldovaWe provide practical, financial and strategic support to our partners at the domestic level. Together we engage directly with national governments and parliaments to promote improved legal and policy frameworks related to equality. 

We strengthen civil society movements working to combat discrimination and promote equality. To do this, we support equality movement coalitions and help to develop and implement advocacy strategies in a wide range of countries. 

  • In 2014 our sustained advocacy in Ukraine contributed to the adoption of a law which provided LGBT individuals with the chance to stand up to discrimination in employment. 
  • In November 2015 we held a highly successful public event on the administrative detention of female victims of domestic violence held in “protective custody” in Jordan, which was attended by civil society, parliamentarians and those working in the detention system. Two weeks later, it was announced that the Council of Ministers had approved the building of shelters for women at risk of violence. 
  • In Kenya, we successfully established a coalition of over 60 organisations to campaign for legal reform on equality. We provided training, facilitated an expert working group and supported engagement with the government. This work laid the foundations for the establishment of a national human rights institution focused on combatting all forms of discrimination.