United for the Protection of Human Rights (UPHR)

Background

UPHR is a coalition of groups with a human rights mandate, established by the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) in 2002. It operates in Port Loko and Kambia Districts as a community-based organisation (CBO).

UPHR works with the Port Loko District Council (PLDC), Search for Common Ground (SFCG), ALLAT, SiLNoRF, Green Scenery, UNDP, FGHR, the Government of Sierra Leone and Amplifier Change as partners in promoting respect for and protection of human dignity.

The organisation builds institutional capacity through seminars, workshops, symposiums, outreach, awareness-raising, support to victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and Ebola virus disease (EVD), local activism, advocacy, lobbying and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools. UPHR also works with sister organisations, networks, coalitions and consortiums to establish human rights clubs, survivors’ clubs and victims’ clubs in its districts of operation. With support from UNDP, FGHR and UNMEER, UPHR played a leading role in the fight against the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone.

Projects implemented (2013–2017)

- Micro-Capital Grant for Victims of SGBV (2013 to 2016) - Intensifying the Death and Sick alert in the fight against EVD and reaching the last line — Quick Impact Project (UNMEER / UNDP) - Northern Push Micro-Capital Grants - Improving access to justice for victims of SGBV/EVD (FGHR USA, 2014 to date) - Popularization of the VGGT project (ALLAT, 2016) - General Support Grants (Amplifier Change–UK, 2009 to 2017)

Past activities

- Community mobilisation and sensitisation with stakeholders in all eleven chiefdoms in Port Loko District - Capacity-building on leadership empowerment for youths and women - Dialogue sessions with state actors and local councils on transparency and accountability in the use of council budgets - Work with local councils to develop local development plans using Participatory Community Monitoring Activity (PCMA) tools - Collecting and sharing information on community preparedness for disease and future shocks - Awareness-raising, including radio programmes and jingles on PCMA, public funds and epidemic response - Community meetings on EVD and other future shocks in Port Loko District - Sensitisation and outreach on sanitation and hygiene - IEC materials and flyers for advocacy on community preparedness and the rights and dignity of EVD survivors - Capacity-building for CSO personnel and human rights defenders - Monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in detention centres - Partnership with organisations working for women, children, persons with disabilities and people living with HIV/AIDS - Counselling services for hard-hit communities and survivors

Staff and capacity

UPHR has nine volunteers and seven paid staff: Programme Coordinator, Programmes Officer, Women and Children Affairs Officer, Finance Officer, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Field Officer and security. The organisation has a seven-member executive board. Volunteers are trained in human rights, including domestic and sexual and gender-based violence and support to EVD survivors.

UPHR has its own building, used as an office, library and community meeting space. The library holds human rights manuals used by staff, volunteers and the public.

Team structure

- Programme Coordinator — coordinates activities, collates reports, carries out quarterly evaluation and reports to donors and partners. Currently Alieu Badara Kanu (HTC, B.Ed, MPA). - Admin/Finance Officer — financial transactions, disbursement, quarterly certification of receipts. Currently Tejan Ayoub Joaque. - Project and Field Monitoring Officers — respond to cases reported by chiefdom focal persons and coordinate emergency response. Currently Saidu Driko Kamara, Project Coordinator. - M&E Manager — routine monitoring and feedback to the coordinator. Currently Kolleh Yollah Bangura. - Chiefdom Focal Persons — work with the team so objectives are achieved at chiefdom level. - Policy Analyst — analysis of enacted, ratified and domesticated policy. Currently Lamin Kamara. - Women and Children Affairs Officer — Kadiatu Fofanah. - Outreach Officer — Mamatha Kamara.

Partnership with SiLNoRF

UPHR is a SiLNoRF network member in Port Loko. Joint work has included community consultative meetings, radio talk shows and staff training at Human Rights House in Port Loko.