MEANING OF ADVOCACY
Advocacy it involves wide range of activities concerning government and non-governmental organization as well as preserve groups that entail mass sensitization of people who are vulnerable to social injustice.
It’s the process of influencing policies, legislation and decision to create favorable climate / condition for the vulnerable groups. it involve wide range of activities that concern government and non government organization to sensitize people who are vulnerable to social injustice.
Adv- stand
It involve influencing policies that are geared towards improving plight of marginalize who face social injustice due to inequality.
Advocacy= process
Advocate- person
Importance / significance
It help in quest for the right and freedom of vulnerable group in society such as children , women, disabled and poor. They try to advocate for realization of freedom of expression , association , access to resources for those who have been deprived.
- It gives people the power to decide for theme selves and to give solution to the social injustice they face.
- It allows protection of minority groups against exploitation and poverty. This group includes children, women and the sick.
- It protects these through affirmative action , abolition to the child labour equal access to the medical science to the sick and implementation of programmes that increase capacity of disabled people in decision making.
- It promotes equitable access to distribution of resource through welfare program e.g. Subsidized education.
- It helps in checking and controlling corruption.
- It provides solidarity and competition for resources by minority group.
- It forms the basis for the establishment and implementation of law that govern the plight of minority.
- Environmental conservation
- Challenges defective laws that and policies e.g. Media bill etc.
- It’s a mode through which awareness is enhanced as well as campaign conducted on the issue which are for the numbering of the community.
Aims of advocacy
To eradicate social injustice
Advocacy can be done / undertaken through;
- Personal representation
- Proposal waiting
- Political representation
- Civil education
- Mass awareness.
- Public protest.
Types of advocacy / modes of advocacy
1. Self advocacy
It’s where individuals who feel denied/ deprived of social injustice. This advocacy is always carried out by well informed individuals.
2. Child advocacy
Its concerned with advocating the plight of children in the form of protest against child labour , access to education , child battering , sexual harassment , child trafficking , corporal punishment , access to health std, better nutrition etc.
3. Youth advocacy
It involves promotion of youth friendliness and awareness programme by involving youth in policy making and participatory developments.
4. Social justice advocacy
It involves advocating for social justice for all the group of people of society in achieving social development. It takes form of equal employment opportunity , equal payment by similar qualification and equal access to resources / equitable distribution of resources , social welfare etc. this type entails provision of a level plain field as a result ensuring no single individual is discriminated against race , ethnicity gender and education etc.
5. Consumer protection and advocacy
evidence promotion of just prices for goods and services and prevent exploitation of consumers by manufacturers and middlemen. They also advocate for quality production.
6. Animal right
This involves protection of animals against poaching or overworking of animals like camel or cows.
7. Abortion right
This occurs when expectant mother is in danger. This may force abortion to be done.
8. Environmentally advocacy
Involves cleaning and planting of trees
9. Community practice and social advocacy
10. Education reform advocacy
This provide accessibility to education to all people especially children
11. Community and social work advocacy
LOBBYING
Lobbying is the concentrated effort designed for some result especially from influential people such as politicians and law makers.
The function of lobbyists is to achieve implementation of advocacy issued by elected by seeking to influence policies that are needed by the minority groups.
Lobbying is thus deliberate attempt to influence political decision through makers such as politicians , provincial administration on behalf of another person , organization or groups .
Lobbyist are employed by the government in public relation department to develop various methods and strategies e.g. designing of lobbying companies so as to ensure vulnerable groups get access are informed and implement their needs.
Types of lobbying
1. Direct lobbying
This is where the organization is changed with the plight of minority group such as children, women, disabled, the poor to influence registration for their clients. It is where an organization pressures the government to implement the policies that will improve plight of client.
3. Grassroots lobbying
his done at community level by a gifted community members and is directed to the general public with an aim of influencing policy implemented by the government. It expresses the concern of local people on the injustice they face.
Advocacy issue in society
Its concern with improving standard of vulnerable groups, this includes:
Protect against;
- Rape
- Oppression by leaders
- Drug abuse
- Discrimination
- Social injustice
- Promote political right
- Promote child right
- Protect against domestic violence
- Promote equal access to education
- Protection of the disabled
- Gender inequality
- Unequal distribution
- Lack of access to information.
Factors influencing the process of advocacy
The process and failure of advocacy issues depends on the following factors;
1. Cooperation
It depends on cooperation between minority groups the lobbyists and the legislature. When these groups cooperate and discuss their satisfaction on policies affecting them. Chances of implementation are high by government agency. This will help to achieve plight of vulnerable group.
2. Communication channel
Appropriate channel of communication and understandable to the client, undesirable language, technology
3. Leadership structure
The management of advocacy process should be flexible , transparent , competent and credible leader to promote success.
4. Government policy
Advocacy process relies on satisfaction tribulation in the constitution i.e. Advocacy rally may be denied by administration if it threatens national security.
5. Time duration
Advocacy is not a day work or short term process but long term process that need more time allocation.
6. availability of resources
Advocacy needs sufficient financial resource material and human resource for greater success.
7. Membership characteristic
Advocacy should be trusted and adopted by the client.
Aim of advocacy
Is to empower people to improve their living standard
Role of advocacy in social development of Kenya;
- To promote social justice.
- To promote equality
- Promote equity
- Promote environmental conservation
- Discourage discrimination
- Promote social development
- Promote observation of human rights.
- Discourage corruption
- Promote unity
- Encourage partnership and networking.
REVISION QUESTION
- Explain the meaning of advocacy
- Discuss the importance of advocacy in the society
- Discuss the role of advocacy in social change
