The precise need varies from organization to organization. A large number of groups could benefit from training in investigating abuses of economic and social rights. Some groups require sophisticated training in forensic techniques, while others could benefit from basic training in establishing and checking facts. In particular, the phenomenon of informal repression requires the development of advanced research techniques. Some groups have already developed sophisticated approaches and training materials for fact-finding on this and other issues, and these could be usefully employed elsewhere.
Monitoring requires somewhat different skills and approaches.
This category includes monitoring demonstrations, elections, trials and media reporting. The potential uses of international human rights standards and mechanisms in the work of an organization depends on the susceptibility of the government to international pressure and the status of international law in the domestic legal system. Nevertheless there is a value to such training in all places. Of particular importance would be training in the application of international standards on economic and social rights. In many countries, however, there is such a lack of understanding about the potential uses of international standards and mechanisms that groups are not even aware of the value that training could have.