Joseph Wemakor builds capacity on regional and international human rights systems in Tanzania

Renowned Ghanaian journalist and human rights activist, Joseph Kobla Wemakor, has been recognized as part of the recently selected thirty African renowned activists to undergo a 3-day (October 13–15, 2023) intensive training on regional and international human rights systems in Arusha, Tanzania. 

The “African Human Rights Training of Trainers on the Participation in and Engagement with the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights” is an initiative of  the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) with support from the African Commission for Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner and the Open Society Foundations including other partners.

It seeks to build the capacity of the selected participants, including by offering them the opportunity to participate in and engage with the regional human rights mechanisms in Africa.

The goal, according to Hannah Forster, Executive Director of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS), is to strengthen existing partnerships between NGOs, CSOs, journalists, and human rights defenders and the African Commission of Human and People’s Rights in order to advance and defend human rights in Africa.

Wemakor is one of only two Ghanaians among the 30 participants chosen from 23 nations on the African continent to receive this exceptional opportunity.

The beneficiaries, according to the Training and Advocacy Support Manager of the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), Salomé Boucif, were carefully selected out of a pool of over 2,000 applications received for entries.

This initiative reinforces the continuing commitment across the African continent to bolstering the capacities and knowledge of human rights activists in navigating regional and global human rights mechanisms.

Joseph Kobla Wemakor is renowned in Ghana and beyond for his tireless work in advocating for human rights and equality.

As the founder of Human Rights Reporters Ghana, Wemakor has persistently campaigned against human trafficking, child abuse, discrimination, and other fundamental human rights violations in Ghana.

His selection for this prestigious training in Tanzania signifies not only Wemakor’s impact as a human rights activist but also his potential to advance the cause on a broader African platform.

The comprehensive training in Tanzania focused on providing activists with in-depth knowledge about the African Human Rights System, United Nations Human Rights System, and the application of various international human rights instruments.

Such tangible skills and understanding are instrumental in ensuring activists like Wemakor are well equipped to advocate for and protect human rights within their respective countries and on a regional scale.

Regional and International human rights instruments such as the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) provide a framework for activists to advocate for human rights. The training in Tanzania, therefore, works towards enhancing the activist’s expertise on the effective usage of these instruments in their advocacy work.

The training was further designed to foster a collaborative environment among the participating activists, paving the way for an intercountry networking platform. This initiative inculcates a lively discourse on human rights issues, consequently contributing to the overall human rights movement in Africa.

Wemakor’s inclusion in this select group is a significant milestone in his human rights advocacy journey.

Equipped with enhanced knowledge and understanding of the regional and international human rights systems, he is now poised to increase his impact in pushing for tangible and meaningful social change in Ghana and across Africa.

This initiative ultimately signifies a step towards a more informed, connected, and empowered group of human rights activists in Africa.

As they continue to fight for justice, equality, and human dignity amidst various challenges, their role remains crucial in the advancement of human rights in Africa.

While in Tanzania, Wemakor is also expected to participate in the NGOs Forum which will be held from 16th-18th October as well as the Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) from 20th to 24th October 2023.

In order to identify responses and adopt strategies for the promotion and protection of human rights on the continent, the African and international NGOs community can network and share updates on the human rights situations in Africa through the NGOs Forum.

Participating in the ACHPR Ordinary Sessions, according to the organizers, will also give participants a hands-on taste of the Commission’s work.

Over a hundred human rights organizations from Africa and beyond are expected to participate in the forum. Eminent activists and subject-matter experts who work on African human rights issues will serve as resources.

The African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) will also organize the 42nd African Human Rights Book Fair, which will run simultaneously with the Forum.

The Book Fair enables NGOs to network and initiate or renew the exchange of materials and information, as well as to publish their activities.

Participants in the forum are expected to actively participate in the Book Fair by displaying publications or documentaries of their organizations.

Source:Ghana24.org

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