Skip to main content
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Human rights training and capacity-building for indigenous people

A broader strategic approach would have made it possible to go beyond factual information and to use the meetings and trainings organized to identify local intervention strategies effective in a range of settings. The participating indigenous people asked for very functional tools related to the mechanisms they must follow when there are claims of or action linked to human rights abuses. If possible, these tools should take also into consideration the diversity of languages and dialects of Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, and Peru.
Project Partner
International Indian Treaty Council
Project Description
The project aimed to expand the awareness of and ability of indigenous groups to use international human rights standards and mechanisms. The project particularly targeted skilled community leaders who could replicate the training courses. Ultimately the grantee sought to build the indigenous peoples’ ability to participate and organize themselves so that they could challenge discrimination and oppression. The training of trainers succeeded in empowering community leaders and increasing their knowledge of international instruments for the defense of their rights, of which they were previously unaware. Methodological and pedagogical support for disseminating human rights knowledge in indigenous communities was, however, not provided and there is no evidence of any analysis being made of the results and lessons learned during the training, which would contributed to the sustainability of the project and the future usefulness of the training documents.
Evaluation Date
August 2010
Theme
Country