LocationsAmplifying and supporting women's rights defenders in Africa: phase II of training of trainers launched in Lusaka
June 26, 2023
Lusaka, 21 June 2023 – In an effort to advance the cause of women's rights groups and Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) initiated Phase II of the Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop. Held from 6 to 7 June in Lusaka, Zambia, as part of the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme (SIARP), the workshop aimed at equipping regional partners and civil society organizations (CSOs) with advanced tools and strategies to effectively promote and protect the work of women's rights groups, CSOs and Human Rights defenders (HRDs).
During the workshop, participants discussed the roles of each regional actor and CSOs in drafting and reviewing laws and policies to promote and protect the work of Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs). The workshop also covered critical components such as WHRDs' role in advancing women's rights and opportunities for collaboration with state actors and other service providers.
Africa presents a particularly challenging landscape for WHRDs, as they often lack adequate legal protection and face various threats to their safety and advocacy. The recent rise of gender-based violence through online harassment has exacerbated the risks they face. Despite notable progress in addressing these barriers, the implementation of institutional frameworks remains slow and inconsistent, hindering efforts to combat violence against women and girls.
Speaking on these challenges, Cleopatra Phiri-Hurungo, OIC-Regional Gender Advisor and Team Leader, emphasized the need to address these obstacles by developing and enacting laws and policies that actively promote and protect the invaluable work of WHRDs.
There should also be a commitment to properly implement the laws and policies to ensure effective protection mechanisms are in place for human rights defenders.Cleopatra Phiri-Hurungo - OIC-Regional Gender Advisor and Team Leader
Underscoring the significance of building upon the achievements of WHRDs in Africa, the training highlighted the exceptional contributions made by remarkable individuals, such as Albertina Sisulu, a revered anti-apartheid activist from South Africa, Jeanne Gervais, a founding member of the Pan African Women's Organisation and anti-colonial activist who participated in the historic Women's March on Grand-Bassam in 1949 in Cote d'Ivoire, and Rebecca Mulira, an esteemed anti-colonial activist from Uganda.
The in-person training followed an online workshop from 18 to 19 May 2023. Both sessions were guided by the Facilitator's Training Manual, a comprehensive guide designed to aid relevant stakeholders in understanding the process of adopting laws that safeguard the work of women's rights groups, CSOs, and human rights defenders. Implemented within the overarching framework of the SIARP, these training initiatives and accompanying manual strive to enhance the capacity of regional partners and CSOs in influencing member states to draft, review, and effectively implement laws and policies that promote and safeguard the rights of human rights defenders.
About UNDP
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at https://www.undp.org/ or follow us @undpafrica on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
For more information, contact: Housam Silim, Gender and Communications Analyst, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa - housam.silim@undp.org
