* WORLD REFUGEE DAY * (pics!)
CHRR (Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation) MALAWI
Background
The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) is one of the leading local non profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organizations. It was founded in 1995 under the Trustees Incorporation Act of 1962 with its mission being to promote, protect and consolidate good governance in Malawi . The architects of the organization were the former exile students who had run away from the MCP dictatorial regime, and mounted force whilst outside to challenge the reigning violation of human rights.
The organization has an eleven – member board of trustees comprising individuals of high standing in the society, drawn from disciplines such as law, education, political science, business, and the academia. The board is responsible for policy making and general oversight, while the secretariat, which is headed by the Executive Director, runs the day – to–day activities.
The vision of CHRR is to create “a vibrant Malawian culture which embraces the values of democracy and human rights” . Our vision is of a region or Malawi where members of the society, individually or collectively are free to demand their rights without hindrance of any kind
The mission of CHRR is “to contribute towards the protection, promotion and consolidation of good governance by empowering rural and urban communities in Malawi , to increase their awareness of and exercise their rights, through research, education, advocacy and networking in order to realize human development.” CHRR aims to create an environment in which civil society is empowered to claim and enjoy human rights as unalienable rights and in which the resultant freer information flow and human rights monitoring strengthen democracy by enabling more informed citizen participation and responsibility.
CHRR's work is centered on five key programme areas namely; human rights monitoring, research and training, community safety and empowerment, HIV/AIDS and human rights. All the programme areas have a common thread of placing human rights and advocacy as the main thrusts. Gender as a cross cutting issue is mainstreamed in all the programmes and activities of CHRR.
• CHRR's Programme Areas
Programme A: Research and Training – where CHRR conducts researches on a number of areas or issues vis – a- vis gender based violence, rights of sex workers, human rights and good governance including women in politics, conflict resolution and peace and reconciliation. Similarly, CHRR provides capacity building in democracy, human rights and good governance. Under research and training programme, CHRR also implements projects on human rights monitoring, documenting and reporting. Human rights monitoring project seeks systematically monitor and document human rights violations. CHRR lobbies government on major policies and Bills that either limit or violation human rights such the Third Term Bill. Other components of this programme are counseling and advice, and litigation on specific issues.
Programme B: Community Safety and Empowerment – this is a network with the overall aim of contributing to community safety and empowerment. It focuses on contributing to elimination of gender-based violence, increasing awareness of basic human rights and responsibilities to safety, and enhances capacity to define and respond to issues of safety. This is achieved through radio programme, community debates/session, dance, drama and songs. Within the safety and empowerment programme, CHRR implements a project on HIV/AIDS and human rights. HIV/AIDS project uses a rights based approach to mitigating and addressing HIV/AIDS pandemic. Major focus is on the stigma and discrimination of HIV/AIDS infected and affected persons in hospitals, work places, schools, markets and community at large. CHRR believes lack of realisation that people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS subjects them to stigma and discrimination, and as such, using a rights approach would mitigate the problem.
Programme C: Capacity Building and Networking – under this programme CHRR endeavors to building the capacity of the organisation both in terms of acquiring fixed assets and developing skills of its staff. This is meant for purposes of sustainability and effective delivery of services. In addition, CHRR as much as possible network with local, regional and international networks with the view to share and learn from other institutions' experiences.