The Advocacy Initiative 4th Knowledge Exchange Forum A legitimacy test? National and European perspectives on participation Hugh Frazer NUI (Maynooth) & EU Network of Independent Experts on Social Inclusion

Purpose of Presentation Explore why is participation important for your advocacy work? Why social justice activists should involve people who experience the issues in their advocacy Not going to talk about: How: different participation strategies you can use Why the Irish government is curtailing opportunities for participation in public policy making

My experience of participation Combat Poverty Agency working for change: an “intermediary” advocacy agency combined 5 things: analysis and evidence empowerment and mobilisation of those affected demonstration projects with participation at heart greater public awareness political engagement European Social Inclusion Policies 2001-2013 Encouragement of Member States to involve civil society and to listen those experiencing poverty Support for EU networks advocating change EU Meetings of People Experiencing Poverty Child poverty Recommendation & involvement of children

Advocacy is about getting heard It is about persuading policy makers and opinion formers to: listen to you take you seriously engage in a dialogue with you about what changes are needed and how they can be achieved and implemented

Advocacy is about raising awareness and winning the arguments Greater public and political awareness of the issue and what needs to be done about it , why and by whom Raising awareness Providing evidence of the need for change Debunking myths Challenging “There is no alternative” (e.g. Plan B) Countering arguments of opponents Showing change will be better than status quo Intellectual/academic argument Asserting people’s rights Challenging stereotypes and prejudices that hinder change Appealing to people’s humanity and sense of fairness and solidarity Emotional/moral argument Benefit to the society/economy of making the change v cost to society of doing nothing Benefit to individuals of making the change v cost of doing nothing Social, equality & anti-discrimination policies are an investment not a cost Economic argument What is the political benefit of addressing issue? What is the political cost of not addressing the issue? How will the legitimacy of our democratic system be enhanced by the change? Political argument

KEY MESSAGE Enhancing the participation of those affected by the changes you are advocating for will greatly increase your chances of: - getting heard - winning the arguments for change - getting changes implemented and sustained

Why participation? Greater credibility More politcal clout Better (policy) arguments Greater emotional impact Empowers people and asserts their rights Enhances democracy

Greater credibility Participation gives your organisation credibility and legitimacy to speak out on the issue as: it enriches your organisation’s knowledge & allows you to credibly claim to be the voice of those affected it transforms your organisation into an expression of citizens needs and concerns it ensures that you are constantly aware of the reality on the ground and thus can sustain a long-term advocacy it enables you to answer the questions: How many people do you speak for? How do you know that this is what people want? What right have you to speak on behalf of those affected? Why should I listen to you when we know better?

More political clout Participation gives you more political clout because: it demonstrates your ability to mobilise people to press for changes e.g. lobbying, demonstrating, protesting, voting it makes you more difficult to ignore gives you more power greater ability to disrupt/embarrass thus it gives you greater leverage and influence with the political system

Better (policy) arguments First hand experience of issues necessary as well as data and analysis gives you feed back on impact of existing policies leads to better understanding of issues leads to policy solutions rooted in reality Without participation policy solutions are often good in theory but weak in practice Quantitative and legalistic arguments are stronger if combined with qualitative and experience based arguments

Greater emotional impact Participation leads to personal testimonies which can: make abstract arguments come alive and immediate illustrate academic and legalistic arguments demonstrate personal costs of maintaining status quo engage the media mobilise public opinion Policy makers are human

Empowers people & asserts their rights At the heart of most social justice advocacy is the goal of empowerment supporting people to participate in advocacy organisations is an important step to build self-confidence & self-esteem Participating as an equal in the society where you live & having a say in the policies that affect you is a fundamental right “nothing about us without us” Participation of those affected by an issue forces policy makers to meet and engage with them this is key to breaking stigmatising perceptions they may hold about them and which often block policy changes

Enhances democracy Meaningful participation in advocacy organisations: enriches & legitimises (participative) democracy fosters democratic debate & dialogue helps to redress power inequalities in society helps to build a more inclusive & fairer society

Participation gives you LEGITIMACY Leverage & learning Empowerment & equality Galvanises & governance Information & ideas Transparency & togetherness Impact & insights Mandate & mobilisation Accountability & authenticity Clout & credibility Yes! & yes!