To strengthen HRD’s capacity in monitoring and reporting violations on freedom of opinion and expression during the 2018 Rwandan legislative electoral process:
On the 12th and 13th July 2018. STRADH organized two days training of HRD Executive board members of STRADH and partner organizations on information and communication tools. It aimed to strengthen the capacity of HRDs to use their freedom of opinion, expression and advocacy to contribute to respect for human rights and democratic principles.
The participants came from 8 organizations: 19 participants including 15 men and 4 women.
The training focused on the following topics:
- The concept of surveillance and counter surveillance on communications tools including telephones, emails, homes, bars and cabarets, ceremonies such as weddings, schedules, etc.
- People involved in surveillance such as co-workers, guards, cleaners, messengers, servants, etc.
HRDs were reminded that they must always be aware of this risk and think about protecting themselves or developing strategies to manage the risks associated with surveillance.
The training provided tools or tips for counter-surveillance. Thus the participants acquired knowledge on:
- The protection of computers by putting well developed passwords for machines, computer systems and documents;
- The use of security features such as document caching, electronic search history and deletion of sensitive documents.
All the participants followed this training with great interest because it touched their sensitive point which is security for them and for their documents.
After reviewing these communication and security elements, STRADH asked the HRDs to identify the obstacles to which they are currently exposed. A review of the completed files showed that human rights defenders do not feel reassured.