Training “Introduction to public advocacy” held in Tuzla

After the training held in East Sarajevo, the University of Business Engineering and Management and the Association for Democratic Initiatives held a one-day training in Tuzla on March 11, 2022, titled “Introduction to Public Advocacy”.

The training was attended by representatives of CAHR network, as well as representatives of academia and civil society organizations who need advocacy skills in their work and activities in order to improve the current human rights situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Advocacy is an inexhaustible topic and advocacy itself provides various opportunities, tools and activities that citizens, but also representatives of civil society organizations and academia can use and thus fight for their rights and change their local communities. Therefore, during the training, in accordance with the agenda, the participants discussed the concept of public advocacy, advocacy activities they can implement in their everyday life and work, as well as the types and principles of advocacy. Through group work, participants also defined problems and goals using the SMART method which helped participants to further focus their future work and activities, discussed advocacy tactics, advocacy plan and developed advocacy messages in accordance with the specific objectives set out in the advocacy plan developed within the CAHR project.

Through group work and discussion, it was emphasized that it is important, in the advocacy process, to have partners, individuals/institutions who will be allies during the advocacy process. If individuals, organizations and academia act together (jointly within projects or coalitions/networks) then there is greater strength and credibility of public advocacy. Working in groups was an opportunity for participants to share their experiences, meet representatives of civil society organizations and academia from Tuzla, Zenica, Srebrenik, Gračanica, Gradačac, Maglaj, Živinice and other cities in Tuzla and Zenica-Doboj Canton. Therefore, networking and group work during the training resulted in agreed future collaborations and joint actions and activities of representatives of civil society organizations and the academia.

Next week, a training will be held in Banja Luka, the third of five planned trainings that will be held within the project “Contribution of the academic community to the protection of human rights in BiH – CAHR“, supported by the European Union.