African Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮 𝗪𝗛𝗥𝗗? 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗪𝗛𝗥𝗗 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻! Join us in Accra, Ghana from the 28th to the 30th of November 2024 for the 2024 Africa Women Human Rights Defenders Convention! This hybrid event, both in-person and virtual, unites WHRDs from across Africa and beyond. It is a powerful space to share experiences, celebrate achievements, and strategize for a brighter future. Applications for 𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗙-𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗗 and 𝗩𝗜𝗥𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗟 participation are NOW OPEN! 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲: 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲, 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀. The application deadline is 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. Do not miss out! This year's theme, "𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗲 - 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀, 𝗥𝗲𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀," reflects the incredible strength and transformative power of WHRDs across Africa and beyond. The convention will be a platform to celebrate your collective voice and advance a future where your work shapes the very systems that impact our societies. This is your chance to be part of a movement for transformative change! Apply today! For more information and to apply, visit https://lnkd.in/dKtZ7Z-i or 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗤𝗥 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱. #SafeguardingWHRDs #AWHRDC2024 #Resurgence #BeyondResilience Ford Foundation William and Flora Hewlett Foundation National Endowment for Democracy Mama Cash Wallace Global Fund Global Fund for Women Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism Urgent Action Fund-Africa Funders for LGBTQ Issues UN Women African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) The Fund for Women and Girls Black Feminist Fund Mary Lawlor FRIDA | The Young Feminist Fund Equality Fund Equality Now Fòs Feminista Feminists In Kenya (FIK) Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network Women for Women's Human Rights (WWHR) AfricanDefenders (Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network) Amnesty International Human Rights Foundation American Bar Association Women Human Rights Defenders Hub - The Kenya Hub FEMNET - African Women's Development and Communication Network National Alliance of Women Human Rights Defenders (NAWHRD) Justice Funds Disability Rights Fund Restless Development Open Society Foundations Society of Gender Professionals Alletha Muzorewa CAMFED - Campaign for Female Education Patrick Chandiga Justine Emma Kalea Centre de Documentation et de Formation sur les Droits de l'Homme (CDFDH) Coalition for Peace and Gender Champions Gina Romero

#𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: The High Court has granted bail to Namatai K., along with Robson Chere and Samuel Gwenzi on the following conditions; 1. To deposit USD150 equivalent in ZiG.  2. ⁠To report every last Friday of the month. 3. ⁠Not to interfere with state witnesses. 4. ⁠To reside at given residential addresses.

The African Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders sends a hearty Congratulations to South Africa’s first woman Chief Justice, Chief Justice Mandisa Maya who commences her term this month! #SafeguardingWHRDs #WomenDefenders #Congratulations

The call for applications to cover the African Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders Africa WHRD Convention 2024 (AWHRDC) as a blogger is now closed. We received an overwhelming response from passionate individuals across the continent, and we thank everyone who applied. We are currently reviewing applications and will be in touch with selected bloggers in course. Stay tuned for updates on the incredible lineup of speakers, panelists, and workshops at this year's AWHRDC! Remember, application and registration for the convention can be found here: https://lnkd.in/d2JfXPEY #SafeguardingWHDRs #WHRDs #AWHRDC2024 #WomenDefenders

Today, we celebrate International Youth Day under the theme "From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development". Young women human rights defenders and digital rights activists across Africa are harnessing technology to drive positive change. These young leaders use digital platforms to amplify marginalized voices, promote human rights, and challenge the status quo. Let us support and enable these young change-makers. Together, we can create a world where every young person has the opportunity to thrive. Núria Edna Lidiya Mekonen Esther Bonyonga Keiso Mohloboli Love Thole Tapela Banda Marie-lyse HOUNKPATIN Nancy Barisoa #InternationalYouthDay #YouthDigitalPathways #WomenHumanRightsDefenders #DigitalRights #Africa #Enablement

In July, I had the great privilege to travel to Luanda, Angola and participate in the Academic Visit of the new UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, Gina Romero, and the African Commission Chairperson and Focal Point on Human Rights Defenders Rémy Ngoy Lumbu, on “Freedom of Association and Peaceful Assembly, Closure of Civic Space and Reprisals against Human Rights Defenders in Angola”, hosted by Kutakesa, Mosaiko and the Syndicate of Angolan Journalists. I also participated in a Situational and Risk Assessment Workshop with Angolan Women Human Rights Defenders hosted by African Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders and Kutakesa. During these critical meetings, participants raised their concerns regarding restrictions to civic space from incoming restrictive legislation including the National Security Bill and the NGO Bill. Existing criminal provisions such as Article 333 of the Penal Code criminalising insulting the state are also being used to arrest and prosecute human rights defenders and journalists. Women defenders raised the added threats they face, including sexual and gender-based violence, harassment and discrimination. It was an inspiring week spent with a delegation of prominent human rights defenders from across the continent, committed to making the regional human rights system work for Angola and its neighbouring countries. Thank you to Kutakesa, Mosaiko, African Initiative of Women Human Rights Defenders and partners for being such wonderful hosts and inspirational movement builders.

This is what happens when a state hates its own people! Cannot begin to comperehend what they have all been through. #FreeNamatai

𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: The following content contains graphic descriptions of torture and violence that may be distressing to some readers. Our trial monitor on the ground witnessed the trial held today during which Namatai K. through her lawyers recounted the following; Namatai was kicked and shoved to enter via a carousel that ordinarily carries luggage into the domestic terminal at Robert Mugabe International Airport. She and others were detained in an excluded poorly lit room at the domestic terminal of the airport. She was forced into a dark room where each individual was held in solitary confinement and was #tortured by around 12 men. The trauma of being interrogated by all men and no woman is unimaginable. The dark room where she was being tortured also had a huge pit that had pieces of metal and drums. The torturers boasted that no one knew where Namatai was and they could do anything with her and her fellow defenders and no one would ever know. The torture inflicted upon her is beyond comprehension: being hit with open hands, clenched fists, wooden planks, and iron bars. An iron bar was shoved into her mouth. A booted foot was also attempted to be shoved in her mouth. To add to the inhumanity, she would be made to sit down and water would be poured on her body. The ordeal reached a new level of horror when she witnessed the brutal torture of Robson Chere and was brought into the torture chamber to see his motionless body in a pool of water. She was forced to endure the unimaginable #trauma of believing she had witnessed the killing of a fellow #HRD. The physical and psychological torture and threats she experienced are a gross violation of #HumanRights. The torturers, with a chilling disregard for humanity, recorded the torture with their mobile phones. This ordeal lasted for hours at the airport. Throughout this horrific ordeal, Namatai was denied access to her lawyers, her mobile phones, and a laptop were forcibly seized from her without any legal justification. After being held incommunicado at the airport, she was transferred to Harare Central Police Station. It was only upon arrival at Harare Central Police that she was allowed to consult her lawyers. However, even the relative safety of Harare Central Police Station did not provide respite. She was placed in a cell accessible to males. A man identifying himself as Muroyiwa from the Police Internal Security Intelligence entered her cell under the pretence of checking on her health and safety. Namatai’s refusal to engage with him further compounded her trauma. These are the harrowing experiences of a Woman Human Rights Defender, a woman who has dedicated her life to protecting the rights of others. This is a reminder of the dangers faced by those who dare to speak truth to power. We demand justice for Namatai Kwekweza and all victims of such heinous crimes. #ReleaseNamatai #SafeguardingWHRDs #JusticeForNamatai

I have just learnt of the arrest of my comrades Samuel Gwenzi , Namatai K. and Robson Chere by the Harare Regime. I condemn the continued arbitrary detention of citizens by the regime out their paranoia and fear of losing power . #FreeGwenzi #FreeNamatai #FreeRobo

As Human Rights Defenders we strongly condone this 🤨. We are deprived freedom of expression, once you oppose the ideology of the state you're seen as a threat. Thank God she was located, Itai Dzamara never came back, this is very worrisome 😭. Amnesty International Amnesty International Zimbabwe #youth4integrity #respecthumanrights #HRD