WHAT WE DO

COUNTRY PROGRAMMES

Impunity Watch is currently running two country programmes: in Guatemala and Burundi. In each country, we work in partnership with national civil society organisations that have a long record in combating impunity, with projects coordinated by local IW representatives and supported by Netherlands-based staff.
 
IW country programmes feature an initial four-year project cycle, which involves a comprehensive approach and an integrated set of activities, including research into the causes of impunity for crimes, consultative formulation of policy proposals in relation to those factors, strategic advocacy of such proposals and monitoring over time of progress towards achieving truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-repetition (TJRNR). Cross-cutting these, IW undertakes exchange, capacity-building and outreach activities, with the aim of empowering civil society to combat impunity, encouraging state and non-state actors to work together and increasing awareness and prioritisation of impunity-related issues.

Throughout, additional initiatives are encouraged, such as further research in focus areas and engagement in relevant campaigns and movements, as well as involvement in IW's other progammes, particularly Perspectives.

Year One: Programme Set-Up & Data-Gathering
The cycle begins with the identification of partner organisations and establishment of a working framework with them. Together, IW and these partners plan their comprehensive research work, adapting IW's specially developed methodology for establishing the real obstacles to overcoming impunity in particular states. Data-gathering begins this year, with support, guidance and training provided by IW as needs require.
 
Year Two: Data-Analysis, Policy Consultation & Publication
In the project's second year, data-gathering is concluded, its analysis leading to the drafting of the Baseline Country Report. This draft is circulated among a wide range of state and non-state actors with a stake in, or influence on, processes for combating impunity, including justice operators, victims, human rights activists, international development workers and diplomats. Discussion forums provide for an exchange of views on the implications of the research findings, leading to the tabling of a number of policy recommendations. These are published at the end of the year, along with the full research report.

Year Three: Advocacy & Monitoring
In this phase, targeted strategies are designed and implemented by IW and its partners to advocate for implementation of their research-based policy proposals. These include local and international approaches, and allow for modification as further feedback is received from  stakeholder groups. Training in specific lobbying techniques is also provided to partners. Parallel to this, a system is developed by which IW's partners can regularly monitor the advance or deterioration of the accountability processes in question, featuring a specially designed methodology and benchmarks, and supported by training schemes for monitors.

Year Four: Monitoring & Sustainability
The monitoring programme is designed to be long-running, producing findings every two years. Their first publication, due to take place in year four of the project, is to be accompanied by policy and outreach initiatives and followed by a hand-over of the programme to one or more of IW's partner organisations. Overall, careful preparations are made throughout the four-year cycle to ensure the  long-term sustainability of the IW approach, and, to this end, final steps shall be taken at its conclusion to ensure support continues to be provided to the civil society sector to produce research-based policy recommendations on overcoming impunity that are truly taken on board.