What we do
We directly cooperate with individuals, institutions, organisations, companies and networks to strengthen their capacities to advance the practical application of human rights. This means working to provide solutions and tools that our partners can use to deal with real human rights problems in every-day life. The support and advice we provide are based on thorough knowledge about international human rights standards and an in-depth understanding of the situation on the ground for standards to work in practice.
We cooperate with partners in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, and Europe covering more than 40 countries in the world. We work in close cooperation with our partners within the framework of programmes based on long-term commitments and the circumstances in each context.
Typically, our cooperation programmes and the support we provide include: advisory services; human rights education and training for professionals; research development; development of networks; exchanges of staff and visitorships; development of library and information resources; leadership and strategic development; development of educational and training material as well as other publications; and generally development of standards, regulations, systems and processes for enhanced compliance with international human rights standards.
A Systematic Approach
We see lasting human rights change as a long-term process, requiring a systematic and persistent approach built on trust and cooperation. The process itself characterised by respect for human rights.
We constructively engage with individuals, groups, institutions and organisations to maintain and strengthen abilities to define and achieve mutual human rights objectives. We work with human rights change in relation to individual knowledge, skills and attitudes as well as systems and structures.
We seek to assist to introduce sustainable working methods, procedures and tools for the promotion and protection of human rights.
We are an implementing partner contributing with expertise based on our added value in the given context.
The main donor for the Institute’s international programmes is Swedish Development Cooperation, but funding support is also provided by other institutions and organisations.
Background
Our international programme activities started in the early 1990s.
Since then, this area of our work has expanded considerably and we have to date had such cooperation on all continents.
We have also, due to the expansion of activities, established presences in countries and regions of operation to increase the effectiveness of the work. Today, we have such presences in Jakarta, (Indonesia); Phnom Penh (Cambodia); Amman, (Jordan); Istanbul (Turkey); Nairobi (Kenya); and Harare (Zimbabwe). Around 50 staff members are directly engaged in our international programmes.
Johannes Eile
Johannes Eile holds a Master of Laws from Lund University, with specialisation in public international law and human rights. He has been working for RWI since 2000 in various capacities at the Department of International Programmes. Johannes has experience of work in primarily Sub-Saharan African countries, but also from countries in the Middle East, Southern Caucasus and South/South East Asia. He has coordinated methodology development work concerning e.g. RBM and development of large scale programme proposals, programme interventions and tenders.