HONDURAS: Advocacy in Public Policy

Summary: This case study is part of compilation by Save the Children UK of lessons learnt in contributing to a national rights-based legal and policy framework for children. Similar reports for Bulgaria and Egypt will be made available on the CRIN website in the coming months.

Save the Children UK’s programme in Central American and the Caribbean, created in 1974, has contributed to a national child rights framework, leading to dramatic changes for children and young people. The programme closed in March 2007, and its legacy continues through Save the Children’s partners through out the region.

This is a record of lessons learnt, challenges identified and recommendations made from Save the Children’s experiences over the last five years for all those involved in child rights and development work.

Advocacy in public policy in Honduras
The programme was carried out on two levels: actions on specific issues related to our thematic programmes (child labour, juvenile justice, commercial sexual exploitation, emergencies); and general lobbying for public policies that benefit children.

The programme carried out lobbying activities, research, awareness raising and network-building. A major aim was to facilitate at the highest levels of government the drawing up, approval and implementation of legislation and public policies designed to protect children.

Lessons learnt

• Political advocacy requires a strong knowledge base and a well-defined plan of action.
• You need a convincing analysis of the problem you are seeking to address; this should include comparisons of alternative approaches, feasibility studies, and cost benefit analysis.
• Identify key actors, or those who will be targets or allies of your lobbying efforts.
• Map relevant power structures so that you will lobby the people who hold the decision making power.
• Direct lobbying should be reinforced with a media campaign
• Involve children gives advocacy credibility , in part because it recognises children as protagonists with rights and demands, rather than passive beneficiaries.

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