Advocacy
ADVOCACY
What is Advocacy?
Advocacy is a major component of our work at GSKI USA. An “advocate”, simply defined, speaks or writes on behalf of an individual or a cause, defending or maintaining a position on an issue. At GSKI USA, we do this through various means, directly (through our various programs) and indirectly (by encouraging others to become their own best advocates).
Advocacy as a tool for “putting a problem on the agenda, providing a solution to that problem and building support for acting on both the problem and the solution”. This definition expresses an important idea: In a digital and networked age, advocacy is not just about influencing public policy, but also, and first of all, about influencing public opinion.
Advocacy is a social change process affecting attitudes, social relationships and power relations, which strengthens civil society and opens up democratic spaces. To fulfil its aspirations, advocacy requires coordination of efforts, strategic thinking, information sharing, communication, outreach, and mobilization. GSKI USA offers all of these.
Advocacy is essential to us to:
- influence public policy.
- share information collaboratively.
- frame issues clearly and attract attention.
- generate more effective political strategies.
- improve program effectiveness and impact.
- move beyond single NGOs to networks promoting the crucial interests of vulnerable children and youth.
- strengthen democratization and civil society.
- • develop and implement national and international awareness campaigns.
Current advocacy focus for GSKI USA
- Street children
Advocacy for street children
One of the aims of GSKI USA is to support and advocate for the rights of street-children around the globe. GSKI USA uses advocacy as an important route to engage communities, organizations, NGOs, governments, and other stakeholders in understanding their responsibilities in helping street children and youth attain rights outlined in the United Nations General Comment, and to promote sustainable change.
GSKI USA joins forces with governments, NGOs, policy makers, researchers, charities, and other stakeholders to build a world where street-connected children are treated equally; have the right to be heard; and have the right to life, survival and development according to Article #27 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children (CRC)
We yearn to change the world for street children by:
- Putting an end to the discrimination street-connected children face around the world on a daily basis.
- Amplifying street children’s voices so they can make their views known.
- Ensuring they have the same access to services, resources, , and opportunities that other children have.
We work to:
- create, support, grow, and seek funding for a connected global network.
- create shared learning and research initiatives.
- guide policy and influence decision makers.