This is a great opportunity to share with everyone about how the New Tactics in Human rights has inspired me. Since my involvement in this project, I am more motivated and confident to participate in human rights work around the world. Thus, having the privilege to meet other human rights practitioners directly and online has increased my knowledge and commitment in this field.

To illustrate, after my participation in some of the conferences organized and sponsored by the New Tactics in human rights, I became very much involved in human rights work in Sierra Leone. This led me to work for the UN baked war crimes tribunal commonly known as the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Since then, my desire to promote human rights around Africa has increased tremendously.

I am particularly intrigued by meeting practitioners from different back grounds. For example when I discovered that  I was engaged in dialogue with Lawyers, social workers, students and others, I felt that it was a great opportunity to learn from other point of views and experiences.

The online dialogue on Peace and Reconciliation Process was particularly interesting to me. This has giving me the opportunity to explore other methods of addressing conflict and also help communities in the rebuilding process.  As a result of how much this Project has increased my interest in this field; I am currently taking a minor in Political Science with a concentration in Conflict resolution and major in psychology which will help me advocate and provide support for victims of human rights violations. Sometimes, I go online to read comments from others and try to evaluate whether a particular tactic can be used in my country.

Interestingly, there is a tactic from the African Regional workshop from a participant from Ghana that I found particularly fascinating, the tactic of raising awareness on the disadvantages of female genital mutilation. This tactic enables women to go through other aspects of the ceremony without harming the physical body. This is a tactic I will particularly like to introduce in my country gradually with the help of other practitioners to eliminate the practice of female genital mutilation. This is one of the benefits I gathered from participating in the New Tactics in human rights and I still hope for more.

I appreciate interacting with every participant and I wish to continue to benefit from your unique experiences and valuable human rights tactics you share.

Thank you

Neneh Binta Barrie