Tunisia: 13 young advocates from the Middle East and North Africa complete CIHRS civil society youth leadership program
Press Statement
On May 23, 2017, the Human Rights Education Program at the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies concluded its youth leadership program for civil society organizations in the Middle East and North Africa. Thirteen young people active in civil society in six Arab nations – Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia -participated in the eight-day program, held in Tunis.
Participants discussed the challenges facing civil society in the region and civil society organizations’ role in disseminating a culture of human rights through lobbying and advocacy campaigns.. Participants and trainers shared their expertise and experience in regards to advocacy and media tools, as well as networking and support structures to promote their campaigns internationally.
Several prominent trainers took part in the program, including Hania Aswad, the director of Oxfam Egypt; Chaima Bouhlel, the president of Al-Bawsala, a Tunisian NGO; Mohammed Ben Hamida, who works with parliamentary observatory project in Tunisia; Ayman Bardawil, a media development consultant; Yara Jalajel, a researcher for the Arab Regional Advocacy Program at CIHRS; Tarek Lamouchi, an advocacy campaign trainer; and Moroccan journalist Karima Nadir.
During the program, CIHRS fostered a participatory learning environment to give participants space to exchange ideas and expertise; empowering them with the knowledge and tools required to confront the daunting challenges they face in advocating for human rights in their home countries.
The Human Rights Education Program is a vital CIHRS program; supporting civil society activists and building the capacities of independent human rights organizations since 1993.
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