Human Rights Support Mechanism (HRSM)

The Human Rights Support Mechanism (HRSM) was a multi-year, USAID-funded leader with association cooperative agreement implemented by the PROGRESS consortium led by Freedom House in partnership with the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI), Pact, Search for Common Ground, and Internews from 2017 to 2023.

The PROGRESS consortium aimed to

1. Improve the enabling environment for preventing and addressing human rights violations and abuses;
2. Implement effective response actions to mitigate the impact of human rights violations and abuses;
3. Implement effective remedies to human rights violations and abuses;
4. Identify effective approaches for protecting human rights; and
5. Implement rapid response activities in urgent or unforeseen crises.

Through the HRSM mechanism, ABA ROLI implemented 20 programs centered at improving human rights conditions, supporting access to justice, strengthening civil society organizations, and responding to urgent needs that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PROGRESS consortium implemented a robust learning agenda, with research and analytical products produced by all partners through Associate Awards, as well as through the Leader Award.

Research and Learning by the Leader Award 

As a part of the Learning Agenda focused on identifying and disseminating effective approaches for protection of human rights in both non-permissive and increasingly oppressive environments, ABA ROLI, in collaboration with Freedom House, conducted a five-country case study on National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) and their interactions with civil society organizations (CSOs) in pursuing justice in cases of human rights violation and produced a synthesis report along with country specific case studies. The study explores how interactions with an NHRI or CSO change the way individuals move through their justice pathways and whether individual trust affects justice journeys. The study also documents stakeholder views on actionable strategies that NHRIs and CSOs could take to strengthen the ability of the NHRI to pursue justice in face of human rights violations. The study features findings from literature review, online surveys, and locally led case studies from Armenia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, and The Gambia.

Each study addressed the following three questions:

1. How does interaction with an NHRI or CSO change the way individuals move through their justice pathway?
2. Are there different points in an individual’s justice journey that show where trust in state is increased or decreased?
3. What actionable strategies can NHRIs or CSOs take to strengthen the ability of NHRIs to seek justice for individuals who experience rights violations?

The research team included in-country researchers: Arsen Aslanyan (Armenia Case Study), Awa J. Peters (The Gambia Case Study), and Kounkine Agustin Some (Benin, Niger, and Burkina Faso Case Studies).

The five countries where the NHRI studies took place.

Synthesis Report

The synthesis report provides a summary of all five case studies and provides a comparative analysis across the countries.

Read the synthesis report here.

First Case Study: Armenia

The study in Armenia was completed using literature review, 18 key informant interviews, and 13,039 online survey responses, and a stakeholder workshop.

Read the Armenia country summary here.

Second Case Study: Benin

The study in Benin was completed using literature review, 14 key informant interviews, and 12,739 online survey responses.

Read the Benin country summary here. 

Third Case Study: Burkina Faso

The study in Burkina Faso was completed using literature review, 25 key informant interviews, 15,683 online survey responses, and a stakeholder workshop.

Read the Burkina Faso country summary here. 

Fourth Case Study: Niger

The study in Niger was completed using literature review, 24 key informant interviews, and 13,840 online survey responses.

Read the Niger country summary here. 

Fifth Case Study: The Gambia

The study in The Gambia was completed using literature review, 26 key informant interviews, and 3,176 online survey responses, and a stakeholder workshop.

Read The Gambia country summary here. 

These studies were made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the American Bar Association (ABA). The contents are the responsibility of PROGRESS and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

The materials contained in the studies herein represent the opinions of the authors and editors and should not be construed to be those of either the American Bar Association (ABA) or the ABA Rule of Law Initiative unless adopted pursuant to the bylaws of the Association. Nothing contained herein is to be considered as the rendering of legal advice for specific cases, and readers are responsible for obtaining such advice from their own legal counsel. These materials and any forms and agreements herein are intended for educational and informational purposes only.