• Background
Tanzania Human Rights Defenders (THRDs) is an umbrella body of 17 Non Governmental Organizations whose representatives met in late 2010 in order to learn what constitutes of a human right defender, the rationale of having Human Rights Defenders as a united front, and eventually the opportunities and challenges in the Tanzanian circumstances. The THRD is an initiative to respond to the mother body namely the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP). The organization will work within the United Republic of Tanzania; Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.
• Vision
To have a free and a secure environment for HRDs
in Tanzania , to ensure that human rights of
defenders and of other citizens in the United Republic
of Tanzania are upheld and respected as stipulated in
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Mission
The THRD-Coalition strives to maximize the protection, respect and recognition of HRDs in Tanzania through advocacy, capacity building through training, awareness creation and connecting defenders with relevant regional and international bodies.
• Objectives
In furtherance of the above mission, the coalition delegates the mandate to the Secretariat and Board of Directors of the Coalition to supervise the operation of the Coalition with following objectives;
I. To Empower and Build the Capacity of HRDs in Tanzania,
II. To enhance the security and Protection of HRDs in this Country,
III. To advocate for the recognition of HRDs in this country through lobbying and advocacy work.
• Understanding Human Rights Defenders
The THRD-Coalition is a response to similar efforts that have been conducted in the East and Horn of Africa to defend the defenders. But in its entirety this is projection of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. The United Nations adopted the Declaration on the right and responsibility of individuals, groups and organs of society to promote and protect universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms on December 9, 1998, commonly known as the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
It marks a historic achievement in the struggle toward better protection of those at risk for carrying out legitimate human rights activities and is the first UN instrument that recognizes the importance and legitimacy of the work of human rights defenders, as well as their need for better protection.
The Declaration codifies the international standards that protect the activity of human rights defenders around the world. It recognizes the legitimacy of human rights activity and the need for this activity and those who carry it out to be protected. Under the Declaration, a human rights defender is anyone working for the promotion and protection of human rights. This broad definition encompasses professional as well as non-professional human rights workers, volunteers, journalists, lawyers and anyone else carrying out, even on an occasional basis, a human rights activity.
The Declaration articulates existing rights in a way that makes it easier to apply them to the situation of human rights defenders. It specifies how the rights contained in the major human rights instruments; including the right of free expression, association and assembly, apply to defenders. The Declaration outlines specific duties of states as well as the responsibility of everyone with regard to defending human rights.
The rights protected under the Declaration include the right to develop and discuss new human rights ideas and to advocate their acceptance; the right to criticise government bodies and agencies and to make proposals to improve their functioning; the right to provide legal assistance or other advice and assistance in defence of human rights; the right to observe trials; the right to unhindered access to and communication with non-governmental and intergovernmental organisations; the right to access resources for the purpose of protecting human rights, including the receipt of funds from abroad.
States have a responsibility to implement and respect all the provisions of the Declaration. In particular, states have the duty to protect human rights defenders against any violence, retaliation and intimidation as a consequence of their human rights work. The duty to protect is not limited to actions by state bodies and officials but extends to the actions of non-state actors, including corporations, religious groups and private individuals.
Thus the THRD-Coalition will be working in the frame work of accepted international mechanisms which have been established and adopted by other civilized nations whereby Tanzania is part and parcel to ensure good governance.
• The working framework
The following programmes were identified by the THRD during its final meeting in October 18 and 19 pending for the official launch on December 3, 2011.
1. Protection
The mechanisms will abide to the adoption of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders in 1998, whereby a number of initiatives will be taken, both at the national, regional and international, to increase the protection of defenders and contribute to the full implementation of the Declaration.
The coalition will design its security management system in order to ensure that there is a coordinated set of principals and procedures, and that they have adhered to the HRD formulae. This system will follow channels and directives from the central command by knowing exactly who is at risk, where, and after identifying these elements what follows is action. The Coalition will operate within the paradigm of its manual and protection policy.
All issues of protection will be handled by the protection desk that will be working in coordinating all issues of protection. A flow of information will maintain a channel namely contact from first person up to the zonal representative. Then information will go up to the protection desk focal person. Then from that point, that officer will have to convey a message to the secretariat which will decide on how to intervene. The information should be shared but intervention must be within 48 hours.
2. Advocacy
The Coalition conducts advocacy through networks focusing on and targeting particular audiences in order to gain support. These are human rights organizations and networks. A website and blogs have already been created, gathering all relevant public information on the activities of the different human rights defenders. The THRDs will also increase their visibility through documentation, press releases, studies, reports, statements, etc., as well as other actions like country visits, and institutional events.
THRDs will be discussing frequently with the government and other CSOs in order to let them have a better understanding of what human rights defenders do. There will be a creation of a HRD calendar to enhance the visibility of HRD actions to allow people to be more aware and appreciate their actions. In order to facilitate transnational advocacy networks, the network needs to have common values and principles, access to information and be able to effectively use that information, believe their efforts will cause change and effectively frame their values. By using facts, state and non-state actors can use that viable information to pressure human rights violators.
3. Capacity Building
The main activities to start with are; capacity building through training, starting with training of trainers to be followed by other ordinary members, awareness creation and connecting defenders with relevant regional and international bodies. Another activity will be creation of a database which will enhance in networking and information sharing. The database is a centre where Information can be retrieved and shared with other stakeholders. This is an internal database inside the coalition so other interested party can understand who is out there that need to share information with. The coalition has its fundraising strategy which aims at maintaining a stable financial capacity. Other activities in capacity building are translation of training materials to Kiswahili, the national language, writing publishing code of conduct, and training of other personnel in demand for our activities.
• Membership
Types of Membership:
(a) Full Membership
(b) Associate Membership
(c) Honorary Membership
Criteria for Application
(a) Full Membership
NGOs or individual wishing to be full members
shall submit an application in writing to
the Coordinator accompanied by:
(i) Individual should bring their CV/track records and thee letters of recommendations
(ii) CBO, FBO, CSO or a media outlet, should submit a Copy of its Constitution, operational plan and certificate of Registration;
(iii) A letter, proving that a person or the organization is engaged in activities compatible with the aims and objectives of the Coalition.
(b)The associate membership shall be by application
In writing to the Coordinator accompanied by:-
(i) Copy of certificate of Registration from the National Authority or any other relevant authority of the area in which the CBO or NGO is operating.
(ii) Proof that the organization is engaged in activities compatible with the aims and objectives of the Coalition.
(c) Honorary membership
This is by invitation and not by application.
Admission will be by invitation only by the Board of Directors
subject to their track record and;
(i) Demonstrated interests, merits and support of the voluntary sector work.
(ii) Commitment and inclination to quality of life transaction.
(iii) Qualification and ability to serve as a trustee.
(iv) Commands High Esteem in society.
(v) Ability to promote and protect the image of the Coalition in
and outside the region.
• Partnership Initiatives
The Coalition will maintain links with other bodies conducting similar activities namely; the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP),
the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights on human rights defenders, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT).
• Contact Addresses
Secretariat Headquarters
1. Coordinator
Mr Onesmo Olengurumwa
P.O.Box 75254
Tel: 255-717-082228, 255-754-425829 ,
255-783-172394
Office Email
Personal Email: olengurumwa2@yahoo.co.uk
opngurumwa@gmail.com
2. Director of Finance and Administration
Mr Elias Mhegera
P.O. Box 29588, DAR ES SALAAM
Tel: 255-754-826272, 255-715-076272,
255-732-826272
Office Email:
Personal Email: mhegeraelias@yahoo.com,
mhegera@gmail.com
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