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IDEATION WORKSHOP REPORT

From 30 September to 1 October 2024, the GIZ African Union AWARE Project and RWI Regional Programme Nairobi in collaboration with the African Court Coalition organised an ideation workshop on strengthening litigation on women’s and girls’ rights in the African Human Rights system.

The workshop which was held in Arusha, Tanzania at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel was well attended by representatives of the African Union (AU) Human Rights organs that include the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) represented by Hon. Commissioner Janet R. Sallah-Njie (Vice-Chair and Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa); the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) represented by the Deputy Registrar, Mrs. Grace Wakio Kakai; and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) which was represented by the Technical Expert, Ms. Adiam Zemenfes Tsighe. Other participants included representatives from Civil Society Organisations particularly those focusing on the rights of women and girls in Africa, regional and continental lawyers’ associations, NHRIs, academic institutions and a representative from the UN-OHCHR East Africa Regional office.  

The main objective of the Workshop was to provide a platform for AU Human Rights Organs and key partners working on strategic litigation on women’s and girls’ rights to engage and explore opportunities for collaboration and action towards enhanced protection of these rights. The specific objectives were to:

  • Reflect on laws and practices that limit women and girls from enjoying their rights to the fullest in Africa;
  • Deliberate on the status and challenges of litigating on women’s and girls’ rights before the AU Human Rights Organs;
  • Explore opportunities for strengthening strategic litigation on women’s and girls’ rights before the AU Human Rights Organs;
  • Design strategies/actions aimed at increasing strategic litigation on women’s and girls’ rights in the African Human Rights System with an aim of improving the situation of the rights of women and girls in Africa; and
  • Curate strategies/actions aimed at increasing implementation of decisions, judgements and other directives related to women’s and girls’ rights in the African Human Rights System.

This ideation workshop emanated from a reflection on the current substantially law number of cases within the African Human Rights organs (the AFCHPR, the AfCHPR & the ACERWC) that specifically address violations to the rights of women and girls in Africa despite continuous rampant violations of such rights. The workshop also focused on the impact of decisions and strategies for monitoring implementation of decisions, judgements, and other directives of the AU Human Rights organs on women’s and girls’ rights. 

A two-day workshop concluded successfully with an action plan which will be made available in due course.

CLICK ON THIS LINK to access the programme booklet that contains the ideation workshop concept note and agenda.

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