mechanisms for communication and information dissemination within the core structures set up to develop and implement the plan. Second, there should be effective media and public dissemination strategies going beyond the core structures to reinforce the message of the plan, to target audiences and to spread awareness among the general public. 10.4.1 Communication among core agencies and organizations In setting up links between government agencies, political organizations, NGOs, security authorities, community organizations, national human rights institutions and others as part of the development stage of the plan, the coordinating committee needs to ensure that there are clear and effective means of communicating relevant information. This also requires a dual approach. One aspect is to ensure that the committee has effective means pf communicating with those involved in the plan process. The other is to ensure that the participating organizations have internal communication channels so that information is disseminated to all relevant staff. The coordinating committee should have an information disseminating capacity that goes beyond the mere generation of letters and memoranda. To assume its primary responsibility of communicating with agencies and organizations participating in the plan’s development and implementation, the committee should be able to produce leaflets, brochures and regular newsletters and to provide seminars and workshops for relevant personnel. The committee’s secretariat should preferably include staff who have media skills. In addition, the committee should have the capacity to provide training programmes that serve to disseminate awareness of the plan. With regard to the internal communication channels of participating agencies and organizations, there should be a coordinated effort to ensure that each of them is able to disseminate information effectively to its staff. This is particularly important in the case of large organizations such as security agencies and those involved in the health and education systems. The secretariat should have the capacity to provide some assistance, for example by conducting train-the-trainer seminars for key personnel of relevant agencies. While the secretariat should be able to respond to requests for assistance, it should do so on the basis that training in human rights is part of the core business of the agencies concerned. In this way, the costs of training and information dissemination will be borne by these agencies as part of their normal programmes, thus ensuring that human rights training is carried forward effectively into the future. 10.4.2 A media strategy The coordinating committee will set up channels and mechanisms of communication as part of the process of development and implementation of the plan as it affects the core agencies and organizations. Beyond this, the committee should have a media strategy to assist in the effective dissemination of the national action plan and in the marshalling of support. The media strategy should enhance but not replace the basic channels of communication. An effective media programme can greatly expand the possibilities for promoting awareness of the plan by disseminating information widely and in a cost-effective manner. Having specialist media personnel on the secretariat to implement the plan’s media programme will enhance the quality of the “in-house” information dissemination programme and ensure more cost-effective use of print and 89