POLICY PLAN FOR YEAR 2001 - 2002
Political initiatives and advocacy
ISHHR encourages political initiatives and petitions for advocacy from our members, both individual and organizations. In accordance with the mission of ISHHR, the Executive Council is willing to consider political initiatives and petitions for advocacy that identify ways of addressing the following areas:
1) Human rights violations - past, present, and future
We seek to bring to the attention of the international community the existence of human rights violations that have occurred in the past, are ongoing in the present, or may become active in the future. Initiatives that seek to identify past, present, and future human rights violations must also include recommendations for specific interventions that
Recognizing that organized violence is increasingly used as means of pursuing political, economic, and military goals, the ISHHR supports all efforts to bring accountability to past and present human rights violations. We believe this to be essential both for identifying and preventing human rights violations, and for the successful treatment of those who are survivors of organized violence.
2) Psychosocial intervention and community reconstruction
The major shift in the professional paradigm in the area of trauma, human rights violations and health directs our attention and focus towards interventions at a community level with the aim of strengthening coping abilities and resilience of those affected by human rights’ violations.
Developing models and methods for
3) Treatment of the sequelae of human rights violations
A major focus of the activities of ISHHR is on the health consequences of gross human rights violations. Therefore, we encourage initiatives that
Through political resolutions and petitions of advocacy, the ISHHR seeks to increase the volume and effectiveness of individual and institutional members through adding the voices of our organization as a whole.
Organizational structure
Council and Executive committee:
Secretariat:
Regional structure:
Members:
Contact with membership
Newsletter:
Regional initiatives:
Special interest groups:
Outreaching information
Web:
Journal:
Projects and collaboration with other organizations
Collaborating with international agencies and organizations have high priority.
The Declaration of Cooperation regarding Mental Health of Refugees, Displaced and other Populations affected by Conflict and Post-conflict situations and the Tools for Rapid Assessment, a Community oriented assessment, has been adopted by ISHHR. This opens up for a stronger and more regular collaboration with WHO, something which has high priority in the Society.
An agreement of collaboration between Red Cross / Red Crescent (Federation Reference Centre for Psychological Support) and ISHHR has been made and this collaboration must be developed. This is based on ISHHRs rich resources regarding professionals with a community approach perspective who may be included and invited in as resource personal in training and intervention within the Red Cross/Red Crescent context.
A more regular contact with UNHCR should be developed. The system of international protection must be defended and this is one of the reasons for a closer contact between our organizations.
UNDP. The new strategies for work described by the UNDP affiliates, with more emphasis on building on existing community resources and structure may open for more concrete collaboration both with regard to training of health personnel and meetings.
ECOSOC. A formal application from ISHHR will be forwarded.
Regular contact with IRCT both centrally and in the regions may prevent double work and a strengthening of local and available resources.
VII th Conference
The conference venue for our VIIth Conference will be Palestine.
Economy and Fundraising
Membership fees constitute the basis of our economy. A strengthening of this will strengthen our organization.
ISHHR will work on a project model implying that overhead for infrastructural expenses will be available. Different projects may be developed on a regional as well as on a central level.
1. human rights violations - past, present and future
2. psychosocial intervention and community reconstruction
3. treatment of the sequelae of human rights violations
a) address the consequences of past violations (impunity, oppression of minorities, internal and external displacement of refugees, and so on)
b) eliminate human rights violations in ongoing conflicts
c) identify and reduce the potential for human rights violations in future conflicts
a) Mobilizing local resources in destabilised communities
b) Interventions as part of the general community action
c) Assessing mental health needs
d) Providing assistance to exposed groups, in particular vulnerable groups
a) evaluate current methods of treatment of survivors of organized violence
b) research new methods of treatment of survivors of organized violence
c) propose ways of assisting, caring for and supporting survivors of gross human rights violations
d) mobilize support for professionals who are active in the care and treatment of survivors of human rights violations (primarily petitions of advocacy)
The council will consist of 9 members, 5 of whom constitute an executive committee with frequent contact. The council will consist of 5 regional representatives and 4 will be designated other tasks and responsibilities. Each council member covers a special area – for instance, regional work, newsletter, treasurer, project responsible etc. The council will have available a group of senior members of the society, for instance honorary president, honorary members, and others who are willing to assist the association on a consultative basis.
ISHHR’s secretariat will concentrate on running daily tasks at the secretariat:
- membership overview
- correspondence
- daily economy
- facilitate information between members and regions
Council members should be regarded as regional representatives and each of them will establish a regional council as close collaborators. This will secure a regular contact within the region and most of the initiatives should develop on a regional level but with regular contact with and support both from the executive committee, the council in general and other regional groups. This point in the policy plan will be suggested formulated as part of the rulings of ISHHR at the next AGM.
ISHHR will work for an increased membership - both individual and group memberships.
A newsletter sent out two times a year will secure some contact between the members. Regional reports should always be part of this as should information regarding other initiatives of ISHHR. The newsletter will be made both in paper version and electronic.
The regional councils should each present working plans and future directions and in collaboration with secretariat and Executive committee work on relevant initiatives in the region regarding our main political concerns. Training and meetings may be part of this.
An idea to form special interest groups should be developed further. The first move was taken at the VI conference.
ISHHR’s web page was created and made functional during the year 2000. We must develop a more complete page, link it to other organizations, networks etc. A plan for a more comprehensive use of the Web will be worked out – this may include an electronic journal, a new website with information on health and human rights, and a place where the special interests groups may communicate.
A regular paper journal will not be given priority but plans for developing an electronic journal and arena for discussion will be worked with in the next period.