Part IV Communicating findings Chapter 16: Reporting, advocacy and follow up KEY QUESTIONS • Who should be involved in finalizing the report? • What other advocacy materials might accompany the report? • What other accountability mechanisms could be harnessed to advocate for the report’s implementation? INTRODUCTION The report is the most tangible output of your monitoring activity. However, publishing it is not the end of the process. The report should form the basis of ongoing advocacy aimed at ensuring the implementation of the report’s recommendations. For the most part, NHRIs do not have the power to enforce the recommendations they make. For this reason, it is crucial to leverage other accountability mechanisms, including judicial, political, administrative and social accountability mechanisms – at the national, regional and international levels – to build sustained pressure so that decision makers act on the report’s recommendations. That said, each of these audiences will need their own strategies and entry points for advocacy. This, in turn, impacts the way a report might be communicated and the type of follow up activities that will be effective. This chapter discusses these questions, considers who should be involved in finalizing a report and identifies additional advocacy materials and follow up activities that might be effective with different audiences. 16.1. FINALIZING AND PUBLISHING THE REPORT The report is a piece of “persuasive communication” with multiple purposes. Investigation It presents the evidence collected and the findings. Analysis It provides the underlying context and causes. Information It gives basic data to inform the community. Education It increases knowledge of human rights. Recommendation It makes the case for the recommendations. Empowerment It offers victims and their supporters a basis for advocacy and action Source: APF (2012), Manual on Conducting a National Inquiry into Systemic Patterns of Human Rights Violation Because of these various purposes, when finalizing your report, it is important to think about how to present findings and conclusions in a way that can influence your subsequent advocacy strategies. Chapter 16: Reporting, advocacy and follow up | 153