Group advocacy
Advocacy for detainees is often done best as group work…
Respect the rules
Mandela knew all about prisons
Nelson Mandela Rules
Each of our detainee advocacy programs focuses on respecting a particular facet of detainees’ human rights, as expressed in a particular one of the 122 Nelson Mandela Rules (NMRs).
Program creation
In devising each group advocacy program, we ask ourselves four questions:
What’s the reality of the situation?
What is the most applicable NMR rule?
To which factors relating to this rule could we respond?
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.
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
