8. Worksheet: How to lobby

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Augustine Newman
6 years ago
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1 8. THE BASICS Informing and persuading those with power or influence to protect and promote human rights involves a number of techniques. You may decide you need to use membership action, the influence of third parties and media publicity, or you might simply have a chat with the foreign minister over a coffee. In the long-term, success also depends on the following important steps outlined in this worksheet. THE STEPS STEP 1 Specify objectives The overall objective of a lobbying programme is to ensure that protecting and promoting human rights becomes a key component of the government s international relations (and relevant domestic policy). Depending on how far this objective is from being achieved, you need to set other shorter term objectives based on your analysis of the current situation. These objectives could be: Developing public debate about foreign policy and human rights Developing contact with elected representatives and political parties on international human rights issues Establishing an annual independent review of government action on human rights Access to, and good working relationships with, key officials in the human rights unit of the foreign affairs ministry Access to and influence with the minister of foreign affairs, president and/or prime minister Getting the foreign affairs ministry to take up and act on each case you bring to its attention TOOLS TO HELP YOU DEFEND AND PROMOTE FREE EXPRESSION IFEX.ORG PAGE 1 of 10

2 Taking the lead on a particular country/human rights issue in international organisations Whatever your objectives, make your progress towards achieving them measurable so that you can evaluate your strategy and work. Sample Strategy Objective Question: Whom do you need to convince to take action? Answer: Parliament (a majority of members) Question: Who or what is likely to convince them? Answer: Party policy, the issue being defined as one of individual conscience and personal responsibility, community attitudes, respected organisations, religious leaders, individual judges, lawyers organisations, international concern/pressure. Question: What is the timing? Answer: Parliament is scheduled to vote on a bill concerning freedom of expression in six weeks time. Possible Strategy Either ask political parties to commit to freedom of expression or request a vote based on individual conscience. Identify those members of parliament for and against and those most likely to change their mind. Focus action on those most likely to change their position. Get individual groups to write to and meet with targeted individual members of parliament. PAGE 2 of 10 IFEX.ORG TOOLS TO HELP YOU DEFEND AND PROMOTE FREE EXPRESSION

3 WRITE DOWN YOUR LOBBYING OBJECTIVES STEP 2 Involve your members Governments are generally responsive to pressure from the community. You must therefore develop a strategy to involve your members or supporters and provide them with the resources to act. Organise letter writing on selected issues to targeted members of the government or elected representatives. Make sure your members seek meetings with their elected representatives to convey concern as constituents. Target influential representatives and members of the government. Hold campaigning events such as public meetings and protests in the constituency/home area of elected representatives. Ask members to write to the media. Involve the membership in public protests inside or outside important government meetings. TOOLS TO HELP YOU DEFEND AND PROMOTE FREE EXPRESSION IFEX.ORG PAGE 3 of 10

4 WRITE DOWN SOME IDEAS ON HOW YOU LL INVOLVE YOUR MEMBERS. STEP 3 Lobby officials Visiting the office of a decision-maker is often a good way to establish contact and put across your message. Contact the office by sending a formal letter requesting an appointment. The people who will make up the delegation should sign the letter. Be sure to confirm the appointment by phone, check the address, time and directions to the venue. If you do not receive a reply to the letter, telephone or visit the office to request an appointment once more, or use contacts who may help you gain access to the official. 6 STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL LOBBYING VISIT 1. Plan your delegation carefully. The more constituencies your delegation represents, the better you will be able to put across all the facts and opinions necessary to influence the decision maker. PAGE 4 of 10 IFEX.ORG TOOLS TO HELP YOU DEFEND AND PROMOTE FREE EXPRESSION

5 2. Delegate different tasks to each member of the team and appoint a leader who will introduce everyone and guide the meeting. Leader/role Member/Role Member/Role Member/Role Member/Role TOOLS TO HELP YOU DEFEND AND PROMOTE FREE EXPRESSION IFEX.ORG PAGE 5 of 10

6 3. Plan the arguments you want to put across and practise saying them. Think of questions or counter-arguments you will face and plan how you will respond. Argument Counter-argument PAGE 6 of 10 IFEX.ORG TOOLS TO HELP YOU DEFEND AND PROMOTE FREE EXPRESSION

7 Argument TOOLS TO HELP YOU DEFEND AND PROMOTE FREE EXPRESSION IFEX.ORG PAGE 7 of 10

8 Counter-argument Argument PAGE 8 of 10 IFEX.ORG TOOLS TO HELP YOU DEFEND AND PROMOTE FREE EXPRESSION

9 Counter-argument TOOLS TO HELP YOU DEFEND AND PROMOTE FREE EXPRESSION IFEX.ORG PAGE 9 of 10

10 4. Say specifically what you would like the decision-maker to do (e.g. adopt new legislation, ask a question in parliament, change a policy, speak to the Cabinet, etc.). Request to decision-maker Request to decision-maker Request to decision-maker 5. Leave behind a statement and a pack of material that summarises your arguments. Include your contact details. 6. Use the time well. Often the meeting is used up with introductions and other issues, and the delegation gets distracted from making its point. PAGE 10 of 10 IFEX.ORG TOOLS TO HELP YOU DEFEND AND PROMOTE FREE EXPRESSION

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