The Colombian Ombudsperson's Office, led by Iris Marín Ortiz, has announced the creation of a working group on Human Rights Defenders and Social Leadership within the Ibero-American Federation of Ombudspersons. It’s an important step towards protecting human rights defenders and civil society leaders throughout the region. Marín Ortiz also stressed the urgent need for robust national policies and greater cooperation between ombudspersons and national human rights institutions. This initiative is possible thanks to the generous support of Germany.
08 Nov 2024We recently hosted the third session of our training-the-trainers programme that’s dedicated to enhancing the skills of representatives from civil society organizations, media, and parliamentary staff in North Macedonia. This recent session focused on theories and types of instructional design, equipping participants with crucial skills to develop effective training programs, curricula, and instructional frameworks. The goal is to strengthen democratic oversight by empowering civil society groups and journalists with advanced knowledge and skills to effectively disseminate information on security sector reform and governance across their organisations and networks.
07 Nov 2024Last week, DCAF was in New York with our partners in the United Nations for the release of the report, Towards equal opportunity for women in the defence sector. Based in part on DCAF’s extensive research on issues related to gender and security, the report highlights the ongoing under-representation of women in the armed forces, particularly in leadership and combat roles. It also celebrates notable progress and innovative practices in a number of countries that are serving to enhance women's meaningful participation in the armed forces.
06 Nov 2024DCAF was at the “Environmental, Social and Governance Global Leaders Conference” in Shanghai recently. One of the largest sustainability conferences in China, it brings together 800 representatives from the private sector, industry associations, think tanks, and government agencies. On behalf of the DCAF-ICRC project on business and human rights, we looked at responsible management of private sector security arrangements as a key pillar of responsible business practices especially for companies working in fragile and conflict-affected places.
31 Oct 2024DCAF assembled experts from Ukraine, Mali, and other conflict-affected states to discuss questions around SSR and its role in preventing and responding to gender-based violence and conflict-related sexual violence. Participants shared best practices, challenges, and insights from capacity-building efforts with security forces in their countries. Key takeaways included recommendations for better integration of the principles underlying the Women Peace, and Security agenda, and the need for reform initiatives with long-term, sustainable strategies. By fostering collaboration between international experts, we are one step closer to shaping more effective strategies for protecting civilians and preventing conflict-related sexual violence.
24 Oct 2024