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Home > FORUT-nytt/Publikasjoner > FORUT Policy Document
FORUT Policy DocumentFORUT will contribute to social mobilisation of the poor and oppressed in their struggle for human rights, being instrumental in reforming society to be responsive to these rights and needs. Solidarity means putting respect above pity, struggling together with underprivileged groups. FORUT draws a clear line against gifts or alms, but wishes to participate in the mobilisation and activation of human resources. An important task is organising against unjust, repressive and exploitative structures. We are working for a higher economic standard for the poor, but also for securing their daily lives, increasing their freedom and integrity, strengthening their social rights and contributing to human development.
Community developmentJustification: The quality of a society can be measured by how well it meets the needs of its members, and especially by how it takes care of its poor. Communities all over the world have a wide variety of ways for dealing with poor and marginalised people, usually there are some mechanisms for alleviating their burden. However, traditional systems for dealing with this are under pressure and frequently inadequate when faced with a rapidly changing society. Modern public systems for poverty alleviation are often underresourced, inadequately designed or even non-existent. It is also a fact that many communities are bound to traditions that maintain inequality, poverty and exclusion. Furthermore, external circumstances are often overwhelming and dramatic, making it difficult for communities and individuals to adapt. Still it is necessary for the affected communities to adapt and develop the way they function internally as well as externally. FORUT sees its community development work in this context. We try to strengthen local community capacity to meet the essential needs of its members, especially the poor and the marginalised, so that the community as a whole functions on a higher level. Approaches:
Back to list of content Strengthening civil societyJustification: FORUT recognises the crucial role civil society has to play in order to safeguard human rights, social justice and sustainable development. Civil society comprises various non-governmental organisations, informal groups and coalitions. These will influence the public sector as well as the private for the development of society on a local, regional, national and international level. Formal and informal organisations and groups, working within communities, can be important vehicles for change and the empowerment of people. Civil society organisations, groups and social movements should be independent and democratic. FORUT believes that the role of civil society is to empower, protect and advocate the rights of deprived and marginalised people. FORUT will engage with civil society to promote human rights, peace, the prevention of alcohol and drug problems and development. FORUT will promote establishing, mobilising and strengthening civil society organisations. This can be done through direct intervention or through solidarity actions in collaboration with partner organisations. Approaches:
Children and youthJustification: Children and youth are capable of taking charge of their own lives. Given the chance, they can be their own spokespeople, driving force and problem-solvers. Child labour, undernourishment, abuse and regular slavery are concrete realities for millions of children all over the world. Childrens rights are often neglected, and their voices are seldom heard when decisions are made, even for issues directly influencing their lives. Children need backing to defend their own interests and rights. They are subject to adult society’s care or lack of it, and are often easy targets for various forms of exploitation. Children are particularly badly affected by poverty. Ignorance and lack of faith in one’s intrinsic value and potential may cripple the ability to find new solutions. If poverty and exploitation are to be brought to an end, a necessary condition is that these very children acquire the capacity to break the mechanisms that maintain the status quo. They are entitled to relevant education. Education that is poor or of little relevance, can be a contributing factor to children dropping out of school to become child workers or street children. In this respect all institutions in society should acknowledge their responsibility to foster childrens development. FORUT should play an advocacy role. Approaches:
Alcohol and drug useJustification: Most cultures around the world have some tradition for alcohol production and consumption that extend back in time. Many places these traditions are still alive, but today industrial production tends to provide most of the supply. Alcohol has become a commodity that is part of the globalisation process. Alcohol carries aspects of value to people around the globe, but such drinks are also a threat to human, social and economic development. Some cultures also have traditional use of other drugs, but the use of illegal substances is a growing problem in the global community. Women and children often carry the burden of alcohol abuse by men, such as: Domestic violence, broken families, neglected children, loss of family income due to sickness, disregard of work or money spent on booze. In situations of scarcity and meagre resources, alcohol and drugs contribute to maintaining poverty. Development of society is also impaired. People turn passive. Social problems, violence, traffic accidents and other harm put additional burdens on countries that struggle with poverty and inadequate health services. Alcohol and drugs are used to escape from problems and prevent people from developing their potential. Intoxicating substances will often have an oppressive effect for the user or the community depriving them of their freedom and development potential. Sometimes the oppression is intentional where alcohol is used to hold certain groups back from their rights, whereas at other times it is an unintended side effect of some people and companies striving for profit. The ill effects can arise from a single bout of drinking or from the long-term effects of alcohol or drug consumption. Health, social and economic effects are all prevalent. According to WHO and the World Bank, morbidity from alcohol, measured in years of life lost to disability, has a greater impact on health than even malnutrition or poor sanitation. The study puts alcohols global health impact on par with unsafe sex and above tobacco in terms of its contribution to the total number of years of life lost to death and disability. Intoxication creates irresponsible and destructive patterns of behaviour and contributes to increased spread of HIV/AIDS. Approaches: Based on the above FORUT will develop further a methodological approach to integrate alcohol and drug prevention in all FORUTs development activities and:
For more information see FORUTs Alcohol, Drugs and Development Strategy Back to list of content Humanitarian assistanceJustification: If disaster or emergency situations occur in areas where FORUT is operational, we have an obligation to provide relief assistance. FORUT’s approach will in these instances be participatory and geared towards releasing inherent resources among those affected, with own contribution, responsibility, autonomy and respect as guiding principles. FORUT’s efforts must as soon as possible turn towards rehabilitation, reconstruction and development. Our role in traditional, delivery-oriented relief should be kept to a minimum. Approaches:
Refugees and asylum seekers in NorwayJustification: The unjust distribution of the worlds resources results in war, bondage and political, economical and social suppression, especially in countries in the South. Global inequality, internal conflicts and war are the main reasons for people fleeing their native countries to seek refuge in Norway and other countries. The life of refugees and asylum seekers is distinguished by insecurity and fear related to the situation in the country they left as well as to the possibilities for staying in Norway. The sense of loneliness and being a stranger may lead to further uncertainty, frustration and psychological imbalance. FORUTs engagement as the operator of government reception centres for asylum seekers is based on the conception that refugees and asylum seekers are entitled to and in need of a predictable, safe, meaningful and qualifying life while living in a reception centre. FORUT will contribute to meeting these requirements. The reception centres are run according to government directions and the policy and principles incorporated in FORUTs values and humanitarian basis. FORUT maintains that all humans have a strong instinct of self-preservation enabling them to care for themselves. Refugees and asylum seekers must not be turned into or regarded as dependent, helpless individuals. FORUT regards them as resourceful people to be treated with respect. Working with them implies that refugees and asylum seekers should be active participants, taking responsibility for making life meaningful while staying at the centre. FORUTs role is to release each persons resources in a process to make life as normal as possible, through information, motivation and organisation. Approaches:
Information and awareness work - development educationJustification: The objective for FORUT’s information and awareness work (development education) is to enhance people’s awareness of poverty and injustice in order to create involvement in and support for FORUT’s solidarity work. Development education is important to trigger change, but also to create acceptance of change. Development education will contribute knowledge and insight about the global challenges we are facing, creating social commitment. Through development education, FORUT wishes to influence the Norwegian public opinion on development assistance and relevant global issues. Another important issue is to influence public opinion on asylum seekers and other minority groups, in order to facilitate their integration in the Norwegian society. Awareness work must start at an early age, and kindergartens and schools are FORUT’s main targets in development education. Approaches:
Peace and reconciliation Justification: FORUT’s basis in the IOGT movement implies that working for peace is part of the ideological platform and organisational identity. With FORUT’s long experience from conflict-torn areas, we recognise the acute need for peace and reconciliation work. At the same time, we also acknowledge the complexity and depth of such conflicts and the limitations in our capacity to make noticeable impact. FORUT will work to involve competent resource persons if the situation allows for it. FORUT’s general approach will be to support meetings and dialogue between people on opposite sides of the conflict lines, to develop a peace and reconciliation culture within our own organisation and to encourage development of the same within our partner organisations. FORUT’s specific approach will be to organise interventions that explicitly aim to reduce conflict levels and to train in locally based conflict resolution. Approaches:
PRINCIPLES Partnership All activities should be guided by the principle of upholding the human dignity of the people and groups who are partners in the process.
Mobilising local resources A guiding principle in development activities is one of mobilising local resources, as opposed to a service delivery model. We believe there is a potential for development everywhere. FORUT wants to be a starting motor, strengthening people’s faith in their own power and capabilities. We want to do this in respect of local knowledge.
Sustainability FORUT will only initiate new interventions and projects after a thorough analysis of the prospects for sustainability. We will be clear about what kind of sustainability should be achieved, and by which deadlines. In this analysis it is necessary to distinguish between the different types and aspects of sustainability:
Gender awareness and sensitivity In many cultures and societies there is an imbalance in power sharing and responsibilities between men and women. Women often lack access to decision-making processes, opportunities and resources. The workload within a family is in many cases unevenly distributed. Girls and boys may not be given the same opportunities and are treated unequally. For the reasons listed above, it is of vital importance that all development initiatives are designed and executed in such a way that discriminating inequalities between the sexes are reduced and not reinforced. FORUT’s work should, accordingly, reflect sound gender awareness and be sensitive to gender-related issues that can obstruct or damage the development process. FORUT will integrate the concern for women in most activities. This implies for example that for each intervention or project the consequences for women will have to be assessed. The assessment will be used to adjust the approach of the intervention. Back to list of content Human rights FORUT’s vision is a world in peace and without poverty, where all are secured human rights and social justice. We adhere to the idea of human rights as being universal, inalienable and indivisible, founded on the belief that all human beings have a right to human dignity. In this sense the value of human dignity is the basis for all of FORUTs work. We view the fulfillment of human rights both as a prerequisite for attaining peace and social justice, and as a final goal in itself. FORUT supports and works according to the principles of international conventions and legal frameworks on human rights. In addition to the Human Rights Convention of 1948 these conventions are for example the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, the UN Declaration on the Right to Development and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. These serve to legitimize our work as well as providing us with tools for empowering people. Through information and advocacy we will support civil society in general and vulnerable groups in particular in voicing their demands for human rights.
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