On October 15th, 2024, KELIN joined other civil society organizations (CSOs) at a key session during the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) meeting in Banjul, Gambia. The convening, organized by the Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA), focused on exploring legal strategies to safeguard the rights of sexual and gender minorities—specifically Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression (SOGIE) rights—within Africa’s regional human rights mechanisms.
The discussion comes at a critical time when sexual rights across Africa are under increasing threat, with rising homophobia and greater risks to human rights defenders.
The African human rights mechanisms comprise of bodies that monitor the implementation of regional African human rights law. Some of these mechanisms include the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights (AFCHPR), the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice and the East African Court of Justice (EACJ).
“The strategies for litigating SOGIE rights are part of a broader strategy to curb the threat against sexual rights. What happens in court is just as important as what happens outside of court.” – Ms. Sibongile Ndashe, Executive Director, the Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA) highlighted
The CSOs discussed several key approaches to protecting sexual and gender minorities. These included monitoring and countering opposition movements, building partnerships with other litigants to advance sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), using research-based evidence, drawing lessons from the success of Resolution 275, and seeking Advisory Opinions from the AFCHPR.
KELIN remains dedicated to the promotion of gender equality, including protection of the rights of sexual and gender minorities.
“The strategies discussed here are vital for strengthening the ACHPR’s role as a regional accountability mechanism for African Union member states,” said Elsie Milimu, Program Officer at KELIN.
To contribute to the discussions on this forum, follow KELIN on our website and social media platforms
Website: www.kelinkenya.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kelinkenya
Twitter(X): @KELINKenya.
For more information please contact,
Elsie Milimu,
Program Officer- SRHR, Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network on HIV/AIDS(KELIN),
Email: elsiemilimu@kelinkenya.org
