Outcomes of effect measurement Health Rights of Women Assessment Instrument

The Health Rights of Women Assessment Instrument (HeRWAI) is a strategic tool to enhance lobbying activities of organisations for better implementation of women’s health rights. In order to see the effects of the use of the tool since its publication in 2006, Aim for human rights undertook an effect measurement among over 20 users across the world.

Cover of HeRWAI tool

HeRWAI tool
HeRWAI is a manual that helps organisations to systematically analyse the actual effects of policies on the enjoyment of women's right to health. Such an analysis provides organisations with strong arguments to lobby their governments for concrete actions to improve the situation. HeRWAI offers a step-by-step method with questions, examples and suggestions on where to find information. To introduce this method, Aim for human rights organises introduction trainings. In various countries, local trainers have been trained. These trainers can help organisations that want to work with HeRWAI get started. The tool is availaible in English, Spanish, Indonesian and Russian.

Objectives of effect measurement
This effect measurement is undertaken for three reasons:

to measure the overall effect of the use of the instrument;
to promote active learning within Aim for human rights for the development and use of other instruments;
to contribute to recommendations for the improvement of HeRWAI itself to tailor the instrument and its implementation further to needs of users.

Some outcomes

Since its introduction in 2006, approximately 320 persons of 127 organisations have been trained on what HeRWAI is.
Going through the HeRWAI process has helped organisations to advocate for and realise real change on the policy level for better implementation of women’s health rights.
Examples of outcomes of HeRWAI processes: Women in Nepal gained access to free health care services for prolapsed uterus. In Kenya a discriminatory policy for maternal leave was addressed and is now equally available for all women nd no longer requires forfeiting their right to annual leave.
Respondents almost unanimously say that HeRWAI can strengthen the capacity of an organisation to implement a rights based approach. HeRWAI clarifies the linkages between international human rights standards and an organisation’s work and it increases awareness on how policies should adhere to human rights standards. This is a key effect of the tool.
The process requires a time investment and resources, but most of all strategic use. Hence until now, 20 analyses were finished in 12 different countries. Seven HeRWAI analyses have led to actual change on the policy level directly, with an initiative for a law or amendments to the policy and laws. Six analyses resulted in actual change or a new initiative for a policy.
It is experienced as a new methodology that can strengthen the capacity of an organisation to implement a rights based approach. Being a new methodology it is an eye-opener for those organisations that go through the process or use parts of the process.
In addition when a training does not lead to a full HeRWAI analysis, the training still has beneficial side effects for organisations, such as an increased understanding about human rights and the human rights based approach.
Users find the tool user-friendly, with a clear structure and easily adaptable. It has been used to develop other tools and workshops about the Right to Health
Stimulating local ownership with translations, local trainers, local adaptations of the tool and a flexible approach will further promote the rights-based approach and ultimately realisation of women’s health rights.

Some quotes from HeRWAI users
“The training was also relevant to show the linkages between national policies and international human rights instrument with regard to women’s health and rights.”

“The HeRWAI process focuses our advocacy efforts, it provides a system to follow.”

“We now use the HeRWAI guide as a reference book. It helps you ask the right questions concerning your advocacy’”

Full report
The complete report “Effect measurement report HeRWAI 2009. Health Rights of Women Assessment Instrument, an eye opener for the rights based approach” discusses in detail the development of the roll out process of HeRWAI, the actual effects of the process and the achieved effects on women’s health rights.

Aim for human rights would like to thanks all HeRWAI users that contributed to the effect measurement.