helsinki citizens assembly yep presentation
TRANSCRIPT
8/8/2019 Helsinki Citizens Assembly YEP Presentation
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Helsinki Citizens¶ Assembly /
YEP Presentation
11 January 2011
hCa Premises
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Question 1:How to struck a balance
betweenfocus and inclusiveness?
In other words, how to create more profound output (research,
publication, training, monitoring, advocacy) without compromising
inclusiveness in thematic areas;
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Sub-questions for Q1:
How to produce more profound information?
How to better communicate outputs (reports, policy briefs, etc.) with thelarger audience (journalists, social media, youth)?
How to be more active beyond funded project schemes?
How to balance funding >> organisation agenda relationship intoorganisation agenda >> funding.
Question 1:
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Question 2:
How to organise hCas
organisational/administrativestructure in anticipation of
expanding resources?
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Question 2:
Sub-questions for Q2:
C
hanging the residence,Re-thinking of the human resources,
Re-thinking of job definitions,
Prioritizing the organisational needs.
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What is hCa?A general description
The Helsinki Citizens' Assembly defines an international network of
citizens¶ organizations dedicated to peace, democracy and human rights in
Europe. Its structure can best be described as a network of networks, as
branch organisations around Europe are loosely but friendly connected toeach other.
Network
HCA Armenia
ADP-Zid Montenegro
AEC-HCA France
HCA Azerbaidjan
HCA Banja Luka
HCA Moldova
HCA Nagorno-Karabakh
HCA Turkey
HCA UKIKV-PAX CHRISTI
Netherlands
ORC-HCA Tuzla
YHRM
YHRM Berlin
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What is hCa?A general description
Different branches of hCa share the aims to;
± introduce the basic rights and freedoms accepted in
international agreements and outlined by universalstandards into daily life,
± to promote peaceful processes for the resolution of problems through mutual understanding dialogue andpeace,
± to improve pluralist democratic bodies and civilsociety initiatives,
± to ensure the supremacy of law and to defend aneconomic system that promotes the well-being of humanlife and the environment.
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What is hCa?Story of ³Helsinki´ «
Helsinki Accords (1975),
a diplomatic agreement
Between 35 states For creating conditions
favorable to peace in
Europe
The word "Helsinki" refers
to the historic significance
of this agreement.
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What is hCa?Story of ³Helsinki´ «
On the one hand HelsinkiAccords was a diplomatic
agreement betweenstates.
Groundwork for the laterOrganization for Securityand Cooperation in Europe(OSCE)
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What is hCa?Story of ³Helsinki´ «
On the other hand, the civilrights portion of the agreement
became a manifesto of thedissident and liberal movement
Basis for the works of theInternational Helsinki Federationand Human Rights Watch.
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What is hCa?Core values of hCa
Citizen asthe subject
is at the
heart!
power to
the people
«through
nurturing
peace and
democracy in
daily life
practices.
The aim is toempowersolidarity
amongcitizens
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What is hCa?Founding hCa in Turkey
Founded in 1993. War between Turkish army and PKK at
its peak.
State of emergency regime on theeastern part of the country
A coercive regime to keep the rest of thesociety uninformed and unaware of what is going in the east.
Little space for public debate ondemocracy within the grey areas of democracy, human rights and peace .
The severity of violence left twooptions; either with us or against us!
.
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What is hCa?The role of hCa in 90s political climate
Founders are prominent intellectuals
People from the leftist movement prior to 1980military coup
A safe haven for debating peace, democracy,human rights.
Holding dialogues between conflicting nationalgroups and helping both sides listen to the other.
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What it is not Explanation Examples What it is
It is not a grassroots
organisation
Does not work directly withgroups facing violations andproblems
Human Rights Association:http://www.ihd.org.tr/english/
KAMER:
http://www.kamer.org.tr/eng/default.asp
LGBT organisations: Lambda,KaosGL
But it works in direct
contact with the local
grassroots organisations.
It is not a
campaigns/monitorin
g/advocacy
organisation
Does not take up on anissue, carry it to the publicagenda and make advocacyon multiple levels.
Greenpeace:http://www.greenpeace.org/turkey/tr/
Nature Association:http://www.dogadernegi.org/
Amnesty International Turkey:
http://www.amnesty.org.tr/ai/
But it forms ad-hoc
alliances
It is not a
campaigns/monitorin
g/advocacy
organisation
Does not implementtechnical trainings onmanagement, organisationalor fund-raising issues
Civil Society Development Centre:http://www.stgm.org.tr/en
stanbul Bilgi Univesity, NGO Training and Research Centre:
http://stk.bilgi.edu.tr/
But it does
implement trainings
on collective...
It is not a charity NGODoes not provide services or
distribute material aid.
Deniz Feneri Association:
http://www.denizfeneri.org.tr/english.aspxThe Foundation forHuman Rightsand Freedoms andHumanitarianRelief:http://www.ihh.org.tr/anasayfa/en/
It is not a closed think
tank
Does not do strictly policy
oriented research andrelated advocacy
Turkish Economic and Social
StudiesF
oundation:http://www.tesev.org.tr/
But it does generate
ideas through itsaffiliates associates
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How does hCa operate?Board of Directors:
Sets the overall agenda.
Important decisions are
brought to its attention.
Does not have an
interventionist approach
on the implementation of general activities.
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How does hCa operate?Secretariat
9 working staff: 3 full time, 6 part time.
1 general coordinator part time
3 project officers full time
2 project officers part time
2 finance officers part time
1 volunteer and organisations officer part time
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How does hCa operate?Members
hCa has 193 official members.
Founding members are the
intellectual celebrities of
Turkey. No strong membership base.
Yearly fee is requested every
year.
hCa does not pay strong
attention to the formality of
membership relations.
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How does hCa operate?Funding
All financial resource are received
from grant applications for the
implementation of proposed projectactivities.
The period for projects range most
of the time from 1 to 3 years.
Case by case small grants arecommon for one-time events or in
support of larger grants.
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How does hCa operate?Project cycle management
Dependence on
external projects for
funding All staff responsible
from all phases of PCM
PCM is a bureaucratic
burden Thematic constraints
Competitive
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How does hCa operate?Volunteers
There is a pooling of
volunteers from which
help is asked on an ad-hocbasis.
Recently started a flexible
internship scheme
Job description usually
loosely defined
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What does hCa do?Topography of hCa Activities
Subject area Topic
Human rights andcitizenship
Freedom of expressionRight to assemblyJustice system
actical innovation in human rights
Freedom from torture and ill treatmentRights of womenRefugee rights
Democratization andsociety
Citizen participationLocal governance
Rights of minorities
and multiculturalism
Right to native language
Rights of Roman peopleDiscrimination
Religion and secularismMinority rights
Civic approaches in
conflict areas
Solidarity with Bosnia (1993)
Kurdish- urkish conflicturkey Armenia
YouthBalkans and Caucasus
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T p of ti iti L l of u
Sy si s/c f r c s:* * * * *
ls:
* * * * * t l s:* * * * *
W rki ti s:* * * * *
Summer sc ls:* * * * *
ublic ti
* * * eport/r esearc :* *
Tr ai i /coac i :* *
vocacy/loby:*
What does hCa do?Topography of hCa Activities
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What does hCa do?Periodization of hCa Activity:
1990s and early 2000s
±Series of roundtables, panels, working meetings, summerschools were held and books published
±Political climate of severe pressure. HCA role as a safe haven
deemed very important. ±Lively civil dialogue between intellectuals and activists fromamongst different groups.
±Advocacy and training activities were existent but minimal.Reports mostly prepared as editorial work.
±HCA staff as a catalyst for finding the right agenda and theright people, consistent with the role of hCa within givenpolitical climate.
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What does hCa do?Periodization of hCa Activity:
A sample of projects and activities from the period;
± Peace Initiative for Kurdish Question: Conference / book,1992
± Democracy Report: Report / 1993 ± Attention! Our Rights: Guide book on rights / 1993
± Where does Europe End?: Symposium / book, Ankara, 1993
± State-Religion Relationship in Turkey: Living Together:
Symposium / book, 1994 ± Refugees in the Year for Tolerance: Symposium on
Expectations from Non-governmental Organizations, 1996
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What does hCa do?Periodization of hCa Activity:
A sample of projects and activities from the period;
± Freedom of Expression: panels series / conference / apolicy framework report, 1998
± Freedom of Association in Turkey: series of panels /
conference / a policy framework report, 2000-2001 ± Political Criteria in the EU Process: international roundtable
meeting, stanbul, 2003 ± Civic Approaches towards Conflict and Youth Participation:
international summer school, Çanakkale, 1997
± Civil Approaches towards Conflicts for a World with Peace,international summer school, Çanakkale, 2000
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What does hCa do?Periodization of hCa Activity:
In 2000s: ± Turkey in a process of transition to liberal democracy. ± In a political climate where public debate on issues of basic
rights and freedoms is relatively open, free, and diverse. ± Mushrooming of NGOs on a diversity of themes, localities
and organisational structures. ± hCa has been orienting its focus into more issue based
agendas
± This new leaning in thematic focus not accompanied withnew working methods. Still, advocacy/training activitiesand thematic expertise are limited.
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A sample of projects and activities from the period;
Human Rights Education: training, in partnership with SabanciUniversity and Amnesty International, stanbul, 2002-2003.
Guideline Information for NGOs: Booklet Set, 2003
Language Rights during EU Process: international panels /roundtable meeting / documentary / book / stanbul, 2003.
New Tactics in Human Rights: international symposium / working
meetings / cross trainings/ report / inventory book, 2003-2004 Woman's Handbook: Our Rights in the Laws: conference / book,
2006
Gamats Gamats Yava Yava International Summer School for
Youth from Armenia and Turkey: summer school, 2006
What does hCa do?Periodization of hCa Activity:
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A sample of projects and activities from the period;
Roma in Turkey: We Are Here!: series of local panels / training / capacitybuilding / conference / book, 2008
Strategic Mapping of Torture in Turkey: trainings / interactive web-tool /innovation / network analysis / conference / book, 2008
Refugee Advocacy and Support Program: legal aid / training / advocacy /report, 2005 today.
Practices of Secularism in Daily Life: roundtable meetings / internationalpanel / report, 2009-2010
Black Sea Peace-building Network: roundtable meetings, 2009-2010
Mapping Discrimination in Turkey; field-work / roundtable meetings /tool development / innovation / network analysis, 2009-2010
What does hCa do?Periodization of hCa Activity:
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Q1. How to struck a balance between
inclusiveness and focus?Activities: Does hCa use
it?
If not, does hCa
want to use it?
Discuss on how to
improve.
Arts Ocassionally to
support main
events
It wants to use it
more then
occassionally.
Q1
Capacity building Yes, but not in
the sense of
technical
assistance
ants to improve a
little more.
Q1
Policy advocacy Not to the level
we aspire
ants to improve. Q1
Community organising
/ campaigning
No No
Direct services RASP does it hCa main office
does not.
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How to produce more profound information on field of activity?
How to be more active beyond funded project schemes?
How to balance funding >> organisation agenda relationship intoorganisation agenda >> funding.
How to better communicate outputs (reports, policy briefs, etc.)with the larger audience (journalists, social media, youth)?
Question 1: How to struck a balance
between focus and inclusiveness?
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Q2. How to organise hCas
organisational/administrative structure?
It is anticipated that inMarch 2001, Medicine
Sans Frontier will beincluded into hCas
organisational structurebringing in its own
share of financial andhuman resources.
It is also anticipatedthat a mix of big and
small scale projectgrants will be awardedduring spring 2011,increasing financial
resources.
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Question 2: How to organise hCas organisational /
administrative structure in anticipation of
expanding resources?
Sub-questions for Q2:
Changing the residence,
Re-thinking of the human resources,
Re-thinking of job definitions,
Prioritizing the organisational needs.
8/8/2019 Helsinki Citizens Assembly YEP Presentation
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Thanks