Part IV Communicating findings Lack of political will to address problem Inadequate accountability mechanisms obliging governments to prioritize problem Gap between commitments on paper and reality on the ground Lack of sufficient resources to address problem Available resources do not prioritize addressing problem Limited capacity of civil society to engage in accountability mechanisms 14.2.3. Case studies and stories Including case studies and personal stories in your report can be tremendously powerful, both for the person whose story it is and for the person reading it. These stories give effect to the principle of empowerment, recognizing that human rights monitoring activities should be about people, first and foremost. They also give a “human face” to the report’s analysis, helping readers to understand the impact of a particular situation on individual’s lives and to identify with their experiences. For this reason, finding ways to capture personal stories – in writing, pictures, audio or video – is critical. Try to include stories from a balanced and diverse group of people. If your report is about women’s rights, you will likely feature only or mostly women’s stories; but try to capture some of the diversity of women in your country – e.g. indigenous women, poor urban women, migrant women, women with disabilities, LGBTI women. Nevertheless, if confidential information is gathered from individuals or organizations, it should remain that way in your report. Changing or omitting names may be necessary. In line with a rightsbased approach, it is crucial to ensure you have the informed consent of any individuals whose stories you feature in your report. 14.2.4. Writing style There are some basic principles that should guide the report writing process, to ensure that the report can effectively communicate its key messages to its intended audiences for its intended purpose: • Write in clear, concise language • Be measured and avoid exaggeration; rely on fact rather than rhetoric • Quote directly from the evidence, especially the evidence of affected individuals or communities • Ensure sources are properly referenced or footnoted • Clearly distinguish when the report is recording the views of others and when the NHRI’s findings and conclusions are being expressed. Chapter 14: Drawing conclusions and making concrete recommendations | 141