Advocacy and Communications
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Protest march by LWF Nepal and NNDSWO (advocacy
partner) in Kailali district against an unjust wage system. |
To challenge and respond to the root causes and consequences of human suffering, DWS works ecumenically with a rights-based approach to empower local communities to take responsibility for their own development and local advocacy, thus extending the multi-level capacity to address issues at local, national and international levels.
The LWF
Guiding Principles for Sustainable
Development (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) 
affirm that sustainable
development is people-centered, concerned
with the lives and well-being of people
("the whole person") in their
communities, rather than with narrow
economic indicators.
Empowerment of Local Communities
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"Forest owned by the local community." The community forestry committee
advocates sustainable use of trees. |
The DWS rights-based approach to development emphasizes support for local advocacy initiatives. This work includes political awareness education, community-based facilitation and institutional support regarding access to government and other jurisdictional structures. It also includes basic training and awareness raising in communities and among government authorities on the nature, enforcement and application of human rights.
With the goal of amplifying the voices and mobilizing the energies of local partners for greater participation in advocacy networks, local and international networks focus on identifying, studying and responding to key advocacy issues. A special challenge is to apply a rights based approach in emergencies when there are no governments to hold accountable. In such situations, use of the Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response has been very helpful.
Networking
Together with the LWF member churches, related agencies and other departments and offices within the LWF secretariat, DWS brings a multi-level capacity to address issues at national and international levels and to bring local experience into the international public policy debate. Importantly, local advocacy is linked with advocacy by the LWF, related agencies and other partners.
This networking is extended through participation in the EAA (Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance) and APRODEV, the association of WCC-related development organizations in Europe, which works with the European Union particularly in relation to development policy.
Advocacy and Communications Desk
One of the duties of the
Advocacy and Communications Desk within DWS
Geneva is to foster awareness, solidarity
and action in response to local and global
development and human rights injustices. In
line with the LWF
Guiding Principles for Sustainable
Development (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) , the desk implements and
facilitates holistic approaches to address
the inter-related dimensions of human
rights, gender, environment and
communication. The goal is to incorporate
into all field programs the capacities to
support and facilitate the local
identification of advocacy issues and
relevant networks, the assessment of
priorities and the taking of appropriate
action on the priority issues.
A related function is the interpretation and communication of programs in order to support initiatives of development, education, advocacy and fund raising.
Current examples of advocacy issues which inform local activities focus on key areas such as HIV/AIDS, women's and children's rights, peace and reconciliation in many country programs (such as Israel/Palestine and Rwanda), action against violence in all forms, trade inequalities and land rights.
For further information please contact:
DWS Director Rev. Eberhard Hitzler or Program Assistant Ms Catherine Feller.
