THE WOMEN’S LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTE

The WLHRI’s mission is ”to foster respect for women’s human rights, leadership and empowerment through the delivery of transformational and cutting edge training and capacity-building programs to clients and target groups, particularly women”.

The Ark is thus developing the WLHRI Program into a full-fledged Women's Leadership capacity-building Institute running programs on full time basis for women, advocates, development workers, and trainers.

Although its primary target is women, any one interested in the Institute’s mission and direction is welcome to participate. In time, the Institute will seek accreditation to award Certificates and Diplomas to persons trained under its Programs.

So far The Women’s Law and Human Rights Institute has run 15 one week courses targeting young women at tertiary and post tertiary levels since March 2000.

The courses are aimed at transferring concepts based knowledge on women’s leadership, human rights, gender, empowerment, policy and parliamentary processes, etc, and to build the skills of the trainees on advocacy and lobbying, personal and career development among others.

Trainees, who become alumnae of the Institute, go back to their communities, institutions and workplaces and bring change in attitudes and practices that undermine women’s advancement and human rights, as well as contribute their knowledge to the development of their communities.

Many actively offer themselves and participate in leadership at local and organizational levels. Some are going into politics.

Alumnae also have the benefit of networking with colleague alumnae at the Institute’s Annual National Conferences and events, sharing information on higher educational and career opportunities through the alumnae listserve.

There are also opportunities to participate in advocacy, debates and dialogues on current critical gender and social development issues, as alums are linked to other coalitions and networks’ sites.