how to get closer to the people & field work boštjan vernik Šetinc, advocate of the principle...
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How to get closer to the people & field work
Boštjan Vernik Šetinc,
Advocate of the Principle of Equality (EOO)
www.zagovornik.net
The working methods to get closer?
The worst way is to wait for petitions to come over.
Discrimination is a taboo. If feeds on misunderstanding, lack of knowledge, ignorance, denial, hate...
We have to dig it out! It is not popular to spread the word! It is often a strugle! It is a long way run!
Prevention / curativeProactive / reactive
Organisation of the field work?
Meeting clients on the spot (advertising in the local media in advance, interviews and accepting complaints, meeting local authorities, press conference, events).
Researching (investigating)the right to access documentationgetting the evidence,collaboration with NGOs (i.e. situation testing)
Legal obligations
POSEBNOPOROČILO
TRENINGI
MEDNARODNOSODELOVANJE
NOVITWINNING
PROMOCIJA
MREŽENJE
CROOMB
ECHR
ESC
ICERD
CEDAW
CRPD
ICCPRICESCR
ILO
Yourapproa
ch
Communication strategy?
A complex issue demands an integral approach.
Do we – specialised bodies - need a general communication strategy?
How we understand ourselves? What we are? What can we become? What do we want to become?How do others see us?How should we act to be seen the way we want to be seen?
Open questions?
How to approach different working methods i.e. with different cases?How to approach the offender (“feed them with a spoon”)?If, when should we take action ex officio?
How and when to act on systemic level? How to attract petitioners from particular groups?
How to approach criticism or even public attacks, attempts to undermine our independence? How to approach media? Do we need to adjust to different audiences, and if yes, which of them are crucial? How to efficiently send out our massage?
From removing discriminatory obstacles, to providing accessibility
Accessibility
Physical P. Impairments: disability, older people, sick peopleMobility: a car, bycicle, funds for travelling... Organisational (local) units: large countries or very low mobility
Communication Post, telephone, fax, e-mail, skype, voice massages, TV showsensor impairments: Braille, sign language, deaf-blind, induction loops...“foreign” languagesMental impairments: simple reading...
Are we open enough to adjust to other needs?
Visibility: what is good and what is wrong?
Being a professional authority, a relevant public figure, an opinion maker?
Best prevention: providing information
leaflets, newsletters, reports, publications
TV show, media adverts
web page - a living instrument, but what about the poor, the elderly, the less educated... twitter, facebook...
PR
How can we make a step forward?
Awareness raising
Trainings
Providing guidance and advice: sharing knowledge (empowerment, capacity building, aliances)
Networking
Employment –non-discrimination, integration or even diversity management? Where do you advertise? Who do you target or at least invite? Do you need special skills?
How do you manage complaints against your work, feed back, follow up: do you realy care?
What is expected from the Advocate?
POSEBNOPOROČILO
TRENINGI
MEDNARODNOSODELOVANJE
NOVITWINNING
PROMOCIJA
MREŽENJE
Z
Annual report
?
?
??
?
?
advise
DELOVANJE VARUHA Antidiskriminacijski oddelek
REACTIVE
Cases
Assitance with other remedies
Follow up
Advise
PROACTIVE
PR
Promotion
Trainings
Networking
Monitoring,Analises
Broader questions
Recomend. Proposals
Guidance
The work of the Advocate
Strategy: cyclic work
Promotion & trainings
Monitoring & research
Cases & general issues
The trainings
“Tell me and I will forget, show me and I might remember, let me do it and I will understand”.
• study of the subject in situ: facing prejudice, fears, stereotypes • stories and practices you would othervise never had herd of • making people understand: make them feel it on their own skin: it is
also about emotions.• completely interactive methods
I strongly believe this is the best way: one has to face him/herself first to understand his behaviour, the perception of the others, then only he can understand the mechanisms of evil social practices and becomes willing to counteract discrimination.
The trainings
It is always (also) personal.
• Self Perception• Group Identities• Perception of the other• Stereotypes• Impact of Prejudice• Structural and institutional discrimination• Definitions of Discrimination
Conclusion
Justice must be seen to be done.
It is very much the same with the equality.
How can we be(come) a role model?
Hvala! Xваља! Köszönöm!Grazie! Dankeschön! Fala /
Parikejrav! Sajë! Thank you! Merci!
Boštjan Vernik Šetinc,
Advocate of the Principle of Equality (EOO)
www.zagovornik.net