Objectives and Values

OUR OBJECTIVES

EXTERNAL OBJECTIVES

1. To promote access to medicines through advocacy for enabling legislation at domestic and regional levels and community mobilization.

a) Challenge harmful legislation that impacts access to medicines in Uganda and regionally. Between 2012 and 2016 CEHURD will focus on the Anti-Counterfeiting Goods Bill, the Industrial Properties Bill and the Competition Bill in Uganda. Regionally CEHURD’s efforts will target the EAC Anti-Counterfeiting Goods Bill and the EAC Common market Protocol. In the future, we will identify other legislation as it arises.

b) Propose and advocate for needed policies, regulations, laws, and practices that expand access to medicines. Domestically CEHURD will work in the area of traditional knowledge and medicine; ethical practices in medical research including in clinical trials and also identify 1-2 opportunities to pursue. At the EAC level, CEHURD will work on the Protocol on the utilization and approximation of TRIPs flexibilities.

c) Strengthen regional and domestic civil society capacity to understand, appreciate and use intellectual property and trade policies to increase access to medicines. CEHURD will strengthen capacity through trainings, joint meetings and production of resource materials. Efforts will include broadening the coalition beyond health groups to include access to knowledge, food rights and trade organizations.

d) Initiate work in other IP related areas that also helps advance access to medicines. Particular efforts will focus on intellectual property legislation that promotes access to knowledge and agricultural inputs in Uganda and regionally

2. To strengthen the recognition, protection & fulfillment of health and human rights in Uganda and at regional level.

a. Work to ensure the justiciability of the national objectives in the constitution providing for the right to basic healthcare, with the ultimate aim of securing a constitutional amendment on the right to health.

b. To conduct research and litigation to challenge unconstitutional provisions in health and human rights-related legislation. For example, efforts will focus on the Public Health Act, Venereal Diseases Act, the Mental Treatment Act and any other legislation that may arise.

c. As a particular area of attention, CEHURD will promote the realization of reproductive and maternal health rights including ensuring access to youth-friendly reproductive health services. Approaches that will be utilized in working on these three areas include: litigation, training of judges, informal meetings between lawyers, direct advocacy and policy analysis.

d. Undertake work on other underlying determinants of the right to health. Between 2012 and 2016 CEHURD will work on underlying determinants of health including the right to a clean and healthy environment, water and sanitation, education, food, housing, etc .

e. Engage the community directly and through partner networks to ensure that people are able to demand for their rights.

3. To build the field and legacy of health and human rights in East Africa.

a. Create and foster dynamic and strategic partnerships (grassroots level, government, academia, National NGOs)
b. Undertaking research, monitoring and documentation
c. Developing internships, mentorships and exchange programs

4. To ensure policy change on intellectual property and human rights at national, regional and international levels.

Between 2012 and 2016 CEHURD will work towards ensuring that intellectual property does not affect human rights in the areas of access to medicines, access to knowledge and agriculture. This will be achieved through engaging policy makers and creating more awareness in the community on the likely impact of Intellectual Property on human rights.

INTERNAL OBJECTIVES

1. To strengthen the Institutional capacity of the organisation

a. Establish an effective accounting system; and other systems and structures as needed;
b. Ensure a strong and effective Board, with a diversity of expertise in administration.
c. Develop an effective human resources system and procedures (ToR, salaries, performance indicators).

2. Build and strengthen leadership at all levels of the organization.

a. Develop management capacity
b. Staff training and development (staff retention)

3. Promote the sustainability of the organization

a. Fundraising strategy and work plan, that reflects the mission and vision of the organization.
b. Fundraising training for staff
c. Acquire office premises which meet organizational needs, including training space.

OUR VALUES

Non-discrimination: We will not discriminate on the following basis race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, tribe, ethnic origin, marital status, disability, political affiliation or opinion, and social or economic standing.

Confidentiality: We are required to respect the privacy of our clients and do not divulge information of our clients to the public. We are to use the information for the purpose of solving their problems. Where we wish to make use of such information other than for our internal purposes, the consent of the client is required.

Professional ethics: We expect our staff to perform with integrity and the highest standards of professional responsibility. We expect all staff to work with integrity, to work as a team, to take initiative, to be creative, and to be well-organized and responsible and to meet the demands of our work. We will treat everyone with respect.

Accountability: We will realize our obligations and responsibilities set out in our mission, the projects we endeavour, and in the needs of our clients.

Transparency: We will demonstrate the funding that has been generously entrusted to us to fulfill our mission be used wisely, responsible, and most importantly information concerning all funding will be available to the public.

Empowerment: We aspire to treat the people with whom we work as social agents rather than as merely victims requiring a service. Our interventions should raise our clients’ knowledge, capacity, and confidence to stand up for themselves and to solve health rights violations using the appropriate and available mechanisms.