The National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Somali/Somaliland (NCHRD-SS) is a national organization incorporated in the Somalia/Somaliland as a trust. Its mission is to strengthen the capacity of human rights defenders (HRDs) to work effectively in the country and to reduce their vulnerability to the risk of persecution including advocating for a favorable legal and policy environment in Somalia/Somaliland. Established in August 2015, NCHRD-SS is the only national organization that works primarily for the protection of HRDs.
NCHRD-SS is managed by firmly committed and capable professionals including staff and include a team of regional representatives.
Vision:
A safe and conducive working environment for human rights defenders.
Mission
To be the leading human rights organization in Somalia/Somaliland that addresses human rights defenders’ needs and challenges through protection, capacity building, and advocacy.
Values
- Respect for human rights
NCHRD-SS shall fully respect the human rights, dignity and worth of all persons and shall act with understanding, tolerance, and sensitivity and respect for diversity and without discrimination of any kind.
- Integrity
NCHRD-SS shall maintain the highest standards of honesty, fairness and incorruptibility.
- Accountability
The NCHRD-SS will undertake all its activities and obligations, and disclose the results in a transparent manner, and accept responsibility for them.
- Confidentiality of information
The NCHRD-SS will not at any time disclose any confidential information collected from its members and clients without prior consent.
- Impartiality and non-discrimination
NCHRD-SS will treat all people and groups equally without discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex or gender, language, social origin or any other characteristic.
- Respect for the rule of law
NCHRD-SS shall conduct all its programmers and activities with full knowledge and respect for the relevant just laws.
- Passion
At NCHRD-SS we are passionate about and fully committed to making a real difference in the safety of HRDs and their ability to carry out their work for the benefit of all Somali/Somaliland citizens.
- Non-violence
NCHRD-SS shall not employ or endorse any violent means to carry out human rights or other work.
- Professionalism
NCHRD-SS shall carry out its work according to the highest standards of professionalism, and shall endeavor to develop the ability of its members and clients to work according to equally high standards.
NCHRD-SS Management Structure
The Board of Steering Committee consists of fifteen (15) members who in two additional to professional pathway record have great passion for human rights as elder and negotiates Somali/Somaliland governments.
The Advisory Council is made up of volunteer HRDs selected by HRD networks in the region at each of the eighteen geographical regions of Somalia/Somaliland: Banadir, South Central, thematic areas of concern to the NCHRD-SS namely Indigenous Communities, Women Human Rights Defenders, people with physical disabilities, minority groups, journalists and Lawyers. The mandate of the advisory council is reviewed at the annual General Assembly.
The National Secretariat is headed by a National Coordinator of the NCHRD-SS who is supported by program staff and other support staff engaged on full time or part time basis (volunteers or interns).
The NCHRD-SS programs are implemented by programs staff that include, Protection Officer, Advocacy Officer, and Capacity-Building Officer. The team is supported by Finance and Adminstration Officer and interns, research fellows and volunteers. The Secretariat implements activities in line with the approved action plan.
Relevancy of the Organizational Structure
The line of accountability basing on the structure stated below is quite clear. That is, it flows above from the general assembly to the steering committee (board) to the secretariat level with advice from the advisory council. The work of the secretariat is supervised by the steering committee which reports annually to the general assembly. The progress and financial reports are some of the documents with the steering committee and general assembly will review periodically. Therefore, transparency is also guaranteed in that way. The secretariat is headed by the National Coordinator supported by program and administrative staff as shown in the organization below.
