Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly /

YEP Presentation
11 January 2011
hCa Premises
Question 1:
How to struck a balance
between
focus and inclusiveness?
In other words, how to create more profound output (research,
publication, training, monitoring, advocacy) without compromising
inclusiveness in thematic areas;
Question 1:

Sub-questions for Q1:

•How to produce more profound information?
•How to better communicate outputs (reports, policy briefs, etc.) with the
larger audience (journalists, social media, youth)?
•How to be more active beyond funded project schemes?
•How to balance funding >> organisation agenda relationship into
organisation agenda >> funding.
Question 2:

How to organise hCa’s

organisational/administrative
structure in anticipation of
expanding resources?
Question 2:

Sub-questions for Q2:

•Changing the residence,
•Re-thinking of the human resources,
•Re-thinking of job definitions,
•Prioritizing the organisational needs.
What is hCa? Network
HCA Armenia
A general description ADP-Zid Montenegro
AEC-HCA France
HCA Azerbaidjan
HCA Banja Luka
HCA Moldova
HCA Nagorno-Karabakh
HCA Turkey
HCA UK
IKV-PAX CHRISTI
Netherlands
ORC-HCA Tuzla
YHRM
YHRM Berlin

The Helsinki Citizens' Assembly defines an international network of citizens’

organizations dedicated to peace, democracy and human rights in Europe. Its
structure can best be described as a network of networks, as branch
organisations around Europe are loosely but friendly connected to each other.
What is hCa?
A general description

Different branches of hCa share the aims to;

– introduce the basic rights and freedoms accepted in

international agreements and outlined by universal
standards into daily life,
– to promote peaceful processes for the resolution of
problems through mutual understanding dialogue and
peace,
– to improve pluralist democratic bodies and civil
society initiatives,
– to ensure the supremacy of law and to defend an
economic system that promotes the well-being of
human life and the environment.
 What is hCa?
Story of “Helsinki” …

• Helsinki Accords (1975),

a diplomatic agreement
• Between 35 states
• For creating conditions
favorable to peace in
Europe
• The word "Helsinki" refers
to the historic significance
of this agreement.
 What is hCa?
Story of “Helsinki” …

• On the one hand Helsinki

Accords was a diplomatic
agreement between
states.
• Groundwork for the later
Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE)
 What is hCa?
Story of “Helsinki” …

• On the other hand, the civil

rights portion of the agreement
became a manifesto of the
dissident and liberal movement
• Basis for the works of the
International Helsinki Federation
and Human Rights Watch.
What is hCa?
Core values of hCa

Citizen as
the subject
is at the
heart!
…through
The aim is to nurturing
empower peace and
solidarity democracy in
daily life
among practices.
citizens …

power to
the people
What is hCa?
Founding hCa in Turkey

• Founded in 1993.
• War between Turkish army and PKK at
its peak.
• State of emergency regime on the
eastern part of the country
• A coercive regime to keep the rest of
the society uninformed and unaware of
what is going in the east.
• Little space for public debate on
democracy within the grey areas of
democracy, human rights and peace .
• The severity of violence left two
options; either with us or against us!

.
What is hCa?
The role of hCa in 90s political climate

• Founders are prominent intellectuals

• People from the leftist movement prior to 1980
military coup
• A safe haven for debating peace, democracy,
human rights.
• Holding dialogues between conflicting national
groups and helping both sides listen to the other.
What it is not Explanation Examples What it is

Does not work directly with • Human Rights Association:

It is not a grassroots But it works in direct
http://www.ihd.org.tr/english/
groups facing violations and contact with the local
organisation problems
• KAMER:
http://www.kamer.org.tr/eng/de grassroots
fault.asp
• LGBT organisations: Lambda, organisations.
Kaos GL

Does not take up on an • Greenpeace:

It is not a But it forms ad-hoc
http://www.greenpeace.org/turk
issue, carry it to the public alliances
campaigns/monitorin agenda and make advocacy
ey/tr/
• Nature Association:
g/advocacy on multiple levels. http://www.dogadernegi.org/
• Amnesty International Turkey:
organisation http://www.amnesty.org.tr/ai/

Does not implement • Civil Society Development

It is not a Centre:
But it does
technical trainings on
campaigns/monitorin management, organisational
http://www.stgm.org.tr/en implement trainings
• İstanbul Bilgi Univesity, NGO
g/advocacy or fund-raising issues Training and Research Centre: on collective...
http://stk.bilgi.edu.tr/
organisation
It is not a charity NGO Does not provide services or Deniz Feneri Association:
distribute material aid. http://www.denizfeneri.org.tr/en
glish.aspx
The Foundation for Human Rights
and Freedoms and Humanitarian
Relief:
http://www.ihh.org.tr/anasayfa/en/

It is not a closed think Does not do strictly policy Turkish Economic and Social But it does generate
oriented research and Studies Foundation:
tank related advocacy http://www.tesev.org.tr/
ideas through its
How does hCa operate?
Board of Directors:

• Sets the overall agenda.

• Important decisions are
brought to its attention.
• Does not have an
interventionist approach
on the implementation of
general activities.
How does hCa operate?
Secretariat

• 9 working staff: 3 full time, 6 part time.

• 1 general coordinator – part time
• 3 project officers – full time
• 2 project officers – part time
• 2 finance officers – part time
• 1 volunteer and organisations officer – part time
How does hCa operate?
Members
• hCa has 193 official members.
• Founding members are the
intellectual celebrities of
Turkey.
• No strong membership base.
• Yearly fee is requested every
year.
• hCa does not pay strong
attention to the formality of
membership relations.
How does hCa operate?
Funding

• All financial resource are received

from grant applications for the
implementation of proposed project
activities.
• The period for projects range most
of the time from 1 to 3 years.
• Case by case small grants are
common for one-time events or in
support of larger grants.
How does hCa operate?
Project cycle management

• Dependence on external
projects for funding
• All staff responsible
from all phases of PCM
• PCM is a bureaucratic
burden
• Thematic constraints
• Competitive
How does hCa operate?
Volunteers

• There is a pooling of
volunteers from which
help is asked on an ad-hoc
basis.
• Recently started a flexible
internship scheme
• Job description usually
loosely defined
What does hCa do?
Topography of hCa Activities
S ubje c t are a To pic

Human rig hts and Freedom of expression

c itize ns hip Right to assembly
Justice system
Tactical innovation in human rights
Freedom from torture and ill treatment
Rights of women
Refugee rights

De mo c ratizatio n and Citizen participation

s o c ie ty Local governance

Rig hts o f mino ritie s Right to native language

and multic ulturalis m Rights of Roman people
Discrimination
Religion and secularism
Minority rights

Civic appro ac he s in Solidarity with Bosnia (1993)

c o nflic t are as Kurdish-Turkish conflict
Turkey – Armenia
Youth
Balkans and Caucasus
What does hCa do?
Topography of hCa Activities

Type o f ac tivitie s Le ve l o f us e

Symposiums/conferences:
*****
Panels:
*****
Roundtables:
*****
Working meetings:
*****
Summer schools:
*****
Publication
***
Report/research:
**
Training/coaching:
**
Advocacy/loby:
*
What does hCa do?
Periodization of hCa Activity:
 
1990’s and early 2000s
–Series of roundtables, panels, working meetings, summer
schools were held and books published
–Political climate of severe pressure. HCA role as a safe haven
deemed very important.
–Lively civil dialogue between intellectuals and activists from
amongst different groups.
–Advocacy and training activities were existent but minimal.
Reports mostly prepared as editorial work.
–HCA staff as a catalyst for finding the right agenda and the
right people, consistent with the role of hCa within given
political climate.
What does hCa do?
Periodization of hCa Activity:

A sample of projects and activities from the period;

– Peace Initiative for Kurdish Question: Conference / book,

1992
– Democracy Report: Report / 1993
– Attention! Our Rights: Guide book on rights / 1993
– Where does Europe End?: Symposium / book, Ankara, 1993
– State-Religion Relationship in Turkey: Living Together:
Symposium / book, 1994
– Refugees in the Year for Tolerance: Symposium on
Expectations from Non-governmental Organizations, 1996
What does hCa do?
Periodization of hCa Activity:
A sample of projects and activities from the period;

– Freedom of Expression: panels series / conference / a

policy framework report, 1998
– Freedom of Association in Turkey: series of panels /
conference / a policy framework report, 2000-2001
– Political Criteria in the EU Process: international roundtable
meeting, İstanbul, 2003
– Civic Approaches towards Conflict and Youth Participation:
international summer school, Çanakkale, 1997
– Civil Approaches towards Conflicts for a World with Peace,
international summer school, Çanakkale, 2000
What does hCa do?
Periodization of hCa Activity:

In 2000s:
– Turkey in a process of transition to liberal democracy.
– In a political climate where public debate on issues of
basic rights and freedoms is relatively open, free, and
diverse.
– Mushrooming of NGOs on a diversity of themes, localities
and organisational structures.
– hCa has been orienting its focus into more issue based
agendas
– This new leaning in thematic focus not accompanied with
new working methods. Still, advocacy/training activities
and thematic expertise are limited.
What does hCa do?
Periodization of hCa Activity:
A sample of projects and activities from the period;

• Human Rights Education: training, in partnership with Sabanci

University and Amnesty International, İstanbul, 2002-2003.
• Guideline Information for NGOs: Booklet Set, 2003
• Language Rights during EU Process: international panels /
roundtable meeting / documentary / book / İstanbul, 2003.
• New Tactics in Human Rights: international symposium / working
meetings / cross trainings/ report / inventory book, 2003-2004
• Woman's Handbook: Our Rights in the Laws: conference / book,
2006
• Gamats Gamats – Yavaş Yavaş International Summer School for
Youth from Armenia and Turkey: summer school, 2006
What does hCa do?
Periodization of hCa Activity:
A sample of projects and activities from the period;

• Roma in Turkey: We Are Here!: series of local panels / training / capacity

building / conference / book, 2008
• Strategic Mapping of Torture in Turkey: trainings / interactive web-tool /
innovation / network analysis / conference / book, 2008
• Refugee Advocacy and Support Program: legal aid / training / advocacy /
report, 2005 – today.
• Practices of Secularism in Daily Life: roundtable meetings / international
panel / report, 2009-2010
• Black Sea Peace-building Network: roundtable meetings, 2009-2010
• Mapping Discrimination in Turkey; field-work / roundtable meetings /
tool development / innovation / network analysis, 2009-2010
Q1. How to struck a balance between
inclusiveness and focus?
Activities: Does hCa use If not, does hCa Discuss on how to
it? want to use it? improve.
Arts Ocassionally to It wants to use it
support main more then Q1
events occassionally.
Capacity building Yes, but not in Wants to improve a Q1
the sense of little more.
technical
assistance
Policy advocacy Not to the level Wants to improve. Q1
we aspire
Community No No
organising /
campaigning
Direct services RASP does it hCa main office
does not.
Q1. How to struck a balance between
inclusiveness and focus?
Activities: Does hCa use If not, does hCa Discuss on
it? want to use it? improvement.
Documentation, No Yes Q1
monitoring, reporting
Learning, training and Yes Wants to imrpove. Q1
events/activities
Litigation RASP Yes Q1
New media and Yes Yes Not employing it in its
technology communications. hCa is
engaged with
developing an
innovative methodology
in human rights that
uses new technology.

Research and Yes Wants to improve. Q1

publication
Question 1: How to struck a balance
between focus and inclusiveness?

•How to produce more profound information on field of activity?

•How to be more active beyond funded project schemes?
•How to balance funding >> organisation agenda relationship into
organisation agenda >> funding.
•How to better communicate outputs (reports, policy briefs, etc.)
with the larger audience (journalists, social media, youth)?
Q2. How to organise hCa’s
organisational/administrative structure?

• It is anticipated that in • It is also anticipated

March 2001, Medicine
Sans Frontier will be
included into hCa’s
organisational structure
bringing in its own
share of financial and
human resources.
that a mix of big and
small scale project
grants will be awarded
during spring 2011,
increasing financial
resources.
Question 2: How to organise hCa’s organisational /
administrative structure in anticipation of
expanding resources?

Sub-questions for Q2:

•Changing the residence,
•Re-thinking of the human resources,
•Re-thinking of job definitions,
•Prioritizing the organisational needs.
Thanks…