The Governance and Rights Unit provides support to the International Rescue Committee’s programmes in Protection, Rule of Law, Civil Society Development and Community Driven Reconstruction.
Governance and Rights programmes are implemented in emergencies, protracted relief settings and situations of return and reconstruction.
The Governance and Rights Unit is focused on addressing the less tangible aspects of conflict; the loss of trust and dignity, the restriction on freedom of choice and action, the reduced sense of belonging to one’s own community, the devastating impact of discrimination and a prevailing sense of insecurity. The programmes we support focus on:
The people who are affected by conflict: by empowering people to solve their own problems.
The process of how things are done in a given context: by ensuring that the needs of all groups, regardless of gender, age or ethnicity, are taken into account within local decision making processes and that people understand and trust the processes by which decisions are made.
Understanding the dynamics of power: by working to ensure that processes of power at community and government levels recognise that all members of society have equal rights, that must be respected and realised.
The Governance and Rights Unit is based out of the London office where the Head and Technical Unit Assistant are based. There are also Technical Unit staff based in the New York office, in Bujumbura and in Addis Abada.
Protection
IRC’s protection work seeks to safeguard the human rights and well-being of people affected by conflict—whether they are refugees fleeing across international borders, internally displaced within their own country, or returning home after conflict. Activities are designed to look at whether people’s rights are being met, and if not, taking action to ensure they are. Protection programmes typically focus on safeguarding the legal and physical security of refugees and includes activities such as ensuring access to registration, clarification of legal status, improving security in camp settings, raising awareness of the rights and responsibilities of refugees and IDPs, building the capacity of authorities to fulfil their obligations and ensuring that returns are voluntary and conducted under safe conditions and with dignity.
Easing the transition home
Now that the peace process between the LRA and the government of Uganda is underway, displaced communities in Northern Uganda are beginning to think about returning home to areas that were once rife with violence. The IRC is working to smooth this transition by providing affected-communities with the information they need to make an informed decision on relocating. This includes information on the security situation and the living conditions they can expect to find, as well as on the assistance and services such as schools and hospitals that will be available when they finally get back home.
Rule of Law
The Governance & Rights Unit also works to improve access to justice and rule of law in communities where IRC works. The main emphasis of this work is on supporting national institutions and laws that are consistent with international standards. We are also working to improve complementary indigenous processes. These contribute to improved safety, security and access to justice for individuals in conflict-affected communities.
Civil Society Development
A functioning civil society is vital for a healthy society, where rights are not abused, the State is accountable to its citizens for its actions, basic services are provided and the private sector is regulated. Through Civil Society Development (CSD) programmes, IRC seeks to strengthen the capacities and contributions of non-state and not-for-profit institutions responding to communities’ needs and to reinforce the role of the civil society sector in rebuilding a functioning society. Often in environments where IRC works, civil society organizations (CSOs) serve their constituencies through provision of basic services and access to information and services. IRC programmes work to ensure that the actions of these CSOs and the impact of their initiatives on conflict-affected communities are maximized through organizational and technical capacity-building.
Supporting local organisations
Supporting the growth and capacity of local organisations is key to the long term development of a region. In Chechnya and North Ossetia, for example, we provide support and training to 12 local organisations which are responsible for a range of activities in areas such as health, water and youth development. In order to help these organizations better serve their constituencies, individual strengthening plans are created for each organisation, addressing topics such as financial management, programme design, public relations and sound organisational management.
Community Driven Reconstruction
Community Driven Reconstruction (CDR) is rooted in the notion that people affected by conflict should be actors in the development process rather than passive receivers of aid. It is a methodology that allows communities to be drivers and owners of their reconstruction and recovery. IRC works with a community to establish and build the capacity of a representative community development committee (CDC). This CDC works with the local community to identify and prioritize their needs for reconstruction and recovery. If possible the CDC is provided with block grants and are responsible for overseeing the implementation of the prioritized projects. This process ensures that the priority needs of the community are met; communities are provided with the skills to affect change and address local issues; and the interaction that takes place within the community on decision making and project execution helps rebuild social relationships damaged by war.
Building relationships in Afghanistan
The IRC has worked with 950 villages across the fiercely conservative tribal belt stretching south-east from Kabul. These efforts, as well as focusing on the reconstruction of physical infrastructure, aim to rebuild political legitimacy and relationships between ethnic groups. Bitter rivals have, for the first time, learned to work together for their communities. A wartime commander commented, “Where commanders used to fight and command people, now they advise and help people…instead of causing problems, now they communicate, consult, and solve problems”.
