Human Rights Programme

Human rights are fundamental freedoms and entitlements inherent to all individuals. A human rights-based approach emphasizes individual empowerment, participation in decision-making, and the accountability of duty-bearers. In Africa, the pursuit of human rights is challenged by historical legacies, conflicts, governance issues, and socio-economic disparities. However, significant progress has been made through advocacy, legal reforms, and community resilience.

Key Human Rights Issues in Africa

1) Civil and Political Rights: These rights, including freedom of speech, assembly, and association, are crucial for ensuring freedom and dignity.

Challenges: Censorship, suppression of the media, harassment of journalists and activists, electoral fraud, extrajudicial killings, and police brutality.

2) Gender Equality and Women’s Rights: Women in Africa face systemic barriers to equality, including gender-based violence, discrimination, and limited access to education and healthcare.

Challenges: High rates of gender-based violence (domestic violence, sexual harassment, FGM), underrepresentation in leadership roles, and barriers to girls’ education.
Examples: FGM remains prevalent despite legal bans; gender-based violence is a major concern in conflict zones like the DRC.

3) Children’s Rights: Children face violations such as child labour, trafficking, recruitment into armed conflict, and lack of access to education and healthcare.

Challenges: Child soldiers in conflicts (e.g., Central African Republic, South Sudan), child marriage, and forced labour.
Examples: Use of child soldiers by armed groups (e.g., DRC, Somalia); child marriage affects millions of girls (e.g., Niger, Chad, Mali).

4) Economic and Social Rights: These rights are essential for improving the quality of life and addressing poverty, inequality, and health crises.

Challenges: Poverty, unemployment, lack of access to clean water, healthcare, and education, and food insecurity exacerbated by climate change and conflicts.
Examples: HIV/AIDS epidemic in southern Africa; food insecurity in the Sahel region.

5) Refugee and Migrant Rights: Africa hosts millions of refugees, IDPs, and migrants due to conflicts, persecution, and environmental crises.

Challenges: Displacement, exploitation and abuse of refugees and migrants, and insufficient humanitarian aid.
Examples: Conflicts in Ethiopia, South Sudan, and the DRC have displaced millions; refugees face dire conditions in camps across East Africa.

Challenges to Human Rights in Africa

Weak Governance and Corruption: Erodes the rule of law and accountability.
Conflict and Insecurity: Displaces populations and exacerbates human rights violations.
Climate Change: Threatens livelihoods and exacerbates poverty.
Cultural Norms: Some traditional practices can conflict with international human rights standards.

Recommendations for the Way Forward

Invest in human rights education.
Strengthen enforcement of human rights laws.
Promote regional cooperation for peace and security.
Support inclusive economic policies.
Increase women’s participation in leadership and peace processes.
Address gender-based violence, child marriage, and economic inequalities.
Build frameworks to address displacement, water access, and environmental degradation as human rights issues.

What We Do

We amplify individuals’ voices, ensuring their participation in decisions that impact their lives. We collect, analyse, and disseminate information on human rights violations to:

Advance and safeguard human rights.
Influence policy and decision-making.
Create advocacy and campaign materials.
Assist in establishing grassroots networks.
Organize capacity-building activities.
Empower individuals to understand and assert their rights.
Support local organizations in campaigning on pertinent issues.
Foster relationships with journalists to promote positive narratives.
Collaborate with organizations outside the refugee and asylum sector.
Engage and mobilize broader community support.

Our Focus

We advocate for human rights related to access to services, emphasizing:

Dignity, respect, and freedom from abuse.
Access to essential services without discrimination.
Individual voice and participation in decision-making.
Empowerment to make informed choices.
Recognition and assertion of rights.
Access to decision-making processes.
Prioritizing those facing the greatest obstacles in asserting their rights.