On Friday, 28 September 2013, we concluded the second session of the "Effective Advocacy in UN Processes" co-learning workshop organized by UNA-Finland in partnership with UNA-Tanzania and WFUNA in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
The training saw the participation of the UNAs of the East African Community: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda; CSOs, journalists and representatives of the local goverment. The program aims at building strong advocacy networks on sustainable development, especially in relation to climate change, indigenous peoples issues and human rights.
Participants discussed some of the pressing matters rural communities in the region are facing today while adapting to the effects of climate change. Land grabbing and other challenges indigenous peoples find themselves to grapple with, especially the Masai community in EAC, were discussed alongwith gender and LGBTI rights and views shared amongst participants. Additionally, we had the opportunity to learn about Participatory Video (PV) with Gareth Benest from InsightShare who introduced some PV tools and concepts to participants.
The workshop was an invaluable opportunity to build the capacity of United Nations Associations in the region and to strenghten our collective work around the Post 2015 processes, the UN Human Rights Council and Treaty Bodies, and the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples in September 2014.
