Group advocacy

Our three client groups - detainees, ex-detainees and dependents - require distinctly different approaches to advocacy. Our advocacy programs for ex-detainees and dependents are not restricted by deprivation of liberty and require individual approaches. Advocacy programs for current detainees though are far more complex…

Respect the Right To…

As detailed in the resources section, each of our detainee advocacy programs focuses on respecting a particular facet of detainees’ human rights - as expressed in one of the Nelson Mandela Rules (NMRs)

There are 122 NMRs but we are majoring on advocating around just ten of them. The ten we have chosen have close links to our raison d’être - holistic health and wellbeing - and are applicable to all the places of detention (PoD) within which we serve.

In devising each advocacy program, we ask ourselves four questions:

1. What’s the reality of the situation?

2. What is the most applicable NMR rule?

3. To which factors relating to this rule could we respond?

4. How could we respect the spirit of the rule?

   • We document suffering that we feel is directly attributable to the reality, and we post publicity about the benefits of aspiring to the NMR in question.

   • We demonstrate the identified responses to the rule.

   • We discuss the subject in a matter-of-fact, non-chastising style, always being sensitive to the culture within which we are working.

Why not read about each program?

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:8-9