HREA conducted a two-day introductory training workshop on June 29-30 for staff of the Commonwealth Secretariat at its headquarters in London (United Kingdom). The aim was to increase capacity in implementing a human rights-based approach in the Commonwealth’s programming.
Thirty participants from all divisions of the Commonwealth Secretariat were introduced to human rights concepts and instruments, human rights mechanisms and human rights-based approaches. HREA trainers Peter Dixon and Felisa Tibbitts facilitated hands-on interactive sessions on tools for planning, monitoring and evaluation, sectoral and thematic-based frameworks and policies and other aspects of the human rights-based approach to development and democracy programming.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 countries that support each other and work together towards shared goals in democracy and development. The world’s largest and smallest, richest and poorest countries make up the Commonwealth and are home to two billion citizens of all faiths and ethnicities – over half of whom are 25 or under. Member countries span six continents and oceans from Africa (18) to Asia (8), the Americas (2), the Caribbean (12), Europe (3) and the South Pacific (10). The 275 staff members of the Commonwealth Secretariat execute plans agreed to by Commonwealth Heads of Government through technical assistance, advice and policy development.