Karl Jays is supporting Amref Health Africa in developing a culturally sensitive and practical Human Rights Monitoring Manual tailored for community leaders and grassroots actors in South Sudan. This initiative is part of UNFPA's COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) and aims to strengthen local capacity to monitor, report, and respond to human rights violations, particularly those affecting access to health services and incidents of gender-based violence (GBV).
The manual is designed to equip traditional leaders, youth representatives, women's groups, and religious figures with the tools and knowledge to act as first responders and human rights advocates. Key components include:
Karl Jays is applying a participatory and inclusive approach, combining desk reviews, key informant interviews (KIIs), and focus group discussions (FGDs). Draft materials are being validated with low-literacy audiences to ensure usability and cultural relevance. The final manual will include practical tools, case studies, and facilitation techniques suitable for Training of Trainers (ToTs) working in multilingual and resource-constrained settings.
In a context marked by conflict, displacement, and systemic GBV, empowering community leaders with rights-based knowledge and tools is essential. This assignment contributes to building a more accountable, responsive, and inclusive society where survivors are supported, violations are documented, and justice is pursued.