The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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HuriTALK - The Human Rights Policy Network

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Developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Oslo Governance Centre, this virtual network facilitates dialogue, primarily among United Nations (UN) practitioners, on how to best integrate human rights into their work. Through the exchange of information, good practice, and lessons learned, HuriTALK's 1,200 members (as of February 2009) develop their knowledge on current and emerging human rights issues and build on their capacity to integrate human rights-based approaches (HRBA) in their work.
Communication Strategies

This UN-wide forum uses an interactive web platform to enable practitioners to:

  • pose questions and start discussions on substantive issues related to human rights in development work;
  • share comparative experience, case studies, and "good practice" in integrating human rights into development programmes;
  • discuss lessons learned and formulate strategies and policies rooted in experience;
  • develop guidance tools based on demand from fellow practitioners; and
  • share information on upcoming events, relevant training, and key publications through a "Monthly Resource Update".

 

One seminal tool for the HuriTALK network is a portal with resources on HRBA to development programming, which will house HuriTALK discussion archives, resources and tools, good practice and lessons learned, and expert referrals is currently in development. It will be launched in February 2009.

 

HuriTALK also hosts a number of e-discussions. For instance, a 2006 dialogue that focused on linking human rights and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which resulted in the HuriLINK portal and a "Primer: Human Rights and the MDGs - Making the Link [PDF]".  In 2007, HuriTALK hosted an e-discussion on "How to Strengthen Engagement with the International Human Rights Machinery?", which resulted in a web-based guide on the topic. In 2008, HuriTALK hosted an e-discussion on "Supporting National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI)". Over 60 contributions were received from different UN agencies, civil society organisations (CSOs), and experts from all regions of the world.

 

All tools and knowledge products mentioned are available here.

Development Issues

Rights.

Sources

HuriTALK website; and email from Emilie Filmer-Wilson to The Communication Initiative on February 9 2009.