Our Actions
Côte d'Ivoire
PRODEF - Promotion and Protection of Human Rights Defenders
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
In this context, Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) are particularly exposed. In addition to the exacerbated politicization in Côte d'Ivoire, the Ivorian people very often link human rights issues to political propaganda according to their interests, in order to benefit some and discredit others.
Thus, HRDs are victims of threats and intimidation, especially journalists and LGBTI rights defenders. Also, associations protecting women's rights are a particularly vulnerable category of HRDs, who are often a privileged target because of the sexist prejudices and gender-based violence that prevail in Côte d'Ivoire.
Today, NGOs and associations have succeeded in bringing together a good number of these HRDs, who work and organize themselves within such structures.
Faced with this problematic situation, Côte d'Ivoire has adopted a Law n°2014-388 of 20 June 2014 on the promotion and protection of human rights defenders.
Thus, how to guarantee and ensure effective protection for human rights defenders in Côte d'Ivoire?
This protection is achieved through the promotion of the 2014 law. Therefore it is a matter of strengthening the capacity and protection of human rights NGOs and in particular human rights defenders, including lawyers and journalists (men and women) as well as defenders of LGBTI people.
OBJECTIVES
- To provide legal aid to human rights defenders who are victims of human rights violations.
- Enable local NGOs to have a better knowledge of their field of intervention, their limits as well as their rights.
- Raise awareness of the general public and the authorities in the defense of human rights.
- Ensure collaboration between local human rights NGOs for a better intervention strategy.
- Train local NGOs and associations to defend vulnerable people
ACTIONS IN 2017
In order to strengthen the capacity and protection of human rights NGOs and in particular human rights defenders, the project is implementing 6 actions:
- Awareness-raising workshops for actors involved in the protection of human rights defenders, in particular judicial police officers, magistrates, lawyers, etc.
- Training workshop for human rights defenders on international mechanisms and instruments for their protection and to defend and protect vulnerable people
- Networking of HRDs and development of a contingency plan
- Establishment of an alert and denunciation system for cases of human rights violations against human rights defenders.
- Free legal assistance to human rights defenders who are victims of violations
- Direct financial support to local organizations ($30,000)
The project will be carried out over a period of 18 months during which the activities will be carried out in close collaboration between ASF France and its partner AFJCI.
The project will cover 10 regions, namely Abidjan, Guiglo, Man, San-Pedro, Korhogo, Bouaké, Bondoukou, Boundiali, Abengourou and Daloa.
EXPECTED RESULTS
- All human rights NGOs operating in AFJCI's coverage area have a better knowledge of their rights, scope of intervention and work in synergy to ensure effective protection of human rights defenders.
- The right to protection of human rights defenders is known to the actors intervening in the field (magistrates, lawyers, judicial police officers, administrations ...).
- Human rights defenders benefit from the protection of the competent authorities through the application of the law of 20 June 2014 on the protection and promotion of human rights defenders.
- The rights and mechanisms for the protection of human rights are known to organizations working in the field, as well as stakeholders in the protection of human rights (journalists, LGBTI defenders, lawyers, vulnerable men and women).
- Human rights defenders who are victims of violations benefit from legal assistance.
- HRDs benefit from protection by the competent authorities.
FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL PARTNERS
Association of Women Lawyers of Côte d'Ivoire (AFJCI), Bar Association of Côte d'Ivoire, Avocats Sans Frontières Côte d'Ivoire.
With the material support of the Allen & Overy law firm.
With the financial support of USAID and the "Un monde pour tous" Foundation.
Presentation of the PRODEF project on TF1
As part of our PRODEF project in Côte d'Ivoire, our field coordination team Mrs. Kouao Affoué ANO TOURE and Mrs. Rogatienne DEGROU BONI were invited to the program Matin Bonheur on RTI 1 in order to explain the actions of ASF France in Côte d'Ivoire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JRPgOUyI4Y&feature=youtu.be
