DAY 2 of the African Court Coalition Stakeholders' Plateform_ Insights from the First Panel on: CSOs litigation initiatives: Leveraging synergies to strengthen strategic litigation and enhance engagement with the African Court including more commitments to address violations on the rights of women ⚖️ This first panel discussion, moderated by Ms. Esther Muigai, Programme Manager at PALU, tackled some of the most pressing issues facing the African Court and human rights advocacy today. Here are the key ideas raised by the panelists: Deborah Nyokabi, Program Officer at Equality Now opened with a powerful statement: “There is no true liberation without the inclusion of women.” She emphasized the importance of the Maputo Protocol, calling for the inclusion of any organization recognized by the AU, not just those with observer status at the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. She also raised an urgent concern: We are not litigating enough for women’s rights—urging more collaboration and filing of cases. Michael Gyan Nyarko, Deputy Executive Director, IHRDA discussed the need for direct access to the Court, highlighting the necessity of building synergy between organizations that have access to vital information and victims, and those with the expertise and resources to take cases to the Court within the necessary time frames. David Sigano, CEO of EALS addressed a critical challenge: How do we solve the issue of misimplementation? According to the 2022 report, only 20% of African Court decisions on merit are implemented. This, he stressed, remains a significant barrier to justice. Finally, Maxwell Kadiri, Senior Legal Counsel, OSJI spoke on sustainability for funding strategic litigation, from a donor perspective. He concluded with a call to action: “It’s time we stop just talking and start acting.” A powerful reminder that true change requires both commitment and action. Let’s continue pushing for progress and ensuring justice for all. ✊🏿⚖️ #ACCSTAKEHOLDERSPLATEFORM #HUMANRIGHTSINAFRICA

My latest blog – "Africa Human Rights Day - Overview and Profiles of 23 African NGOs." It highlights the significance of #AfricaHumanRightsDay and profiles NGOs working on human rights issues at the national, regional and pan-African levels. @AfricanNGOs