After six years of dedicated effort and collaboration, RWI’s Regional Africa Programme (RAP) 2017-2024 is drawing to a close. Since its inception in April 2017, the Programme has been committed to advancing access to justice for all and promoting the implementation of human rights commitments across Africa. Now, as we reflect on its accomplishments, we celebrate the transformative impact it has had on the region.
Empowering Change Through Strategic Collaboration: RAP embraced a dual strategy, focusing on cooperation with key regional actors and direct engagement with bodies of the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs). This approach fostered strong partnerships and alliances, enabling the Programme to influence policy, strengthen institutions, and catalyse positive shifts in the human rights landscape.
The key regional actors included: Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI); Coalition for an Effective African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Court Coalition/ACC); African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF); East Africa Law Society (EALS); Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU); Equality Now/SOAWR (Solidarity for African Women’s Rights Coalition); and the Academic Network. The Academic Network is composed of the following universities: School of Law at the Kenyatta University; Faculty of Law at the University of Nigeria-Nsukka Campus; Faculty of Law at the University of Zimbabwe; College of Business, Peace, Leadership, and Governance at the African University; Gender, Health, and Justice Research Unit at the University of Cape Town; Faculty of Law at the Stellenbosch University; Centre for Human Rights at the Addis Ababa University; and Faculty of Law at the British University of Egypt.
Key Achievements:
- Strengthened Capacities for Influencing Implementation of Human Rights Commitments: Academic institutions, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) have demonstrated their increased capacity and ability to influence the implementation of human rights commitments on the African continent. They have achieved this by building relationships with regional human rights institutions such as the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR), East African Court of Justice (EACJ), ECOWAS Community Court of Justice (ECCJ), the East African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO), among others. These efforts have played a crucial role in popularizing regional human rights institutions, making communities and individuals within countries more aware of the mandates and functions of these institutions.
- Increased access to regional courts: The Programme has facilitated greater opportunities for individuals and groups with human rights concerns to bring their cases to regional courts. This improvement is the result of collaborative efforts between National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and regional courts. Lawyers have been equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge on how to effectively litigate cases before these courts.
- Enhanced Knowledge and Awareness: The Programme has significantly raised awareness about the available means and mechanisms for advancing human rights and accessing justice. This awareness has been fostered through the efforts of CSOs and NHRIs, who have conducted capacity-building activities and developed educational materials such as guides for practitioners. These materials clarify the rules and procedures of regional courts, thereby improving access to justice for those seeking it.
- Alignment of National Legislation and Policies with International Standards on Policing: The Programme, through APCOF, has played a crucial role in promoting human rights complaints policing standards within the East African Community (EAC). The adoption of indicators that can be used to measure compliance with the Common Standards for Policing in the EAC reflects a regional commitment to align national policies with human rights obligations. This approach contributes to the harmonization of policing standards in the region as it moves towards greater integration.
- Enhanced Cooperation: CSOs and NHRIs have significantly improved their cooperation with both regional and national human rights institutions. This collaboration is evident through the support provided to regional human rights institutions, particularly the courts, to enhance their capacity to make impactful decisions that promote access to justice and human rights. Furthermore, these organisations have offered pro bono services for cases brought before the AfCHPR and EACJ, trained over 750 lawyers on litigating before regional courts, and supported members in filing cases at these courts.
- Improved Interaction and Usability through Online Resources: Through the Programme, the EACJ website has been revamped to offer improved online accessibility and user interaction, while NANHRI and EALS have developed online platforms to support easy access to resources form the regional and subregional human rights bodies. Additionally, the Programme has seconded a researcher to the AfCHPR and EACJ, facilitating various key functions, including updating law reports, publishing a digest of human rights-related cases, and creating a researchers’ manual.
- Collaborative Research Initiatives: Through the Academic Network, three collaborative and policy-oriented research projects have been undertaken. These initiatives have made substantial contributions to improving access to justice and the implementation of human rights commitments in Africa. To facilitate this research, the Academic Network initiated annual calls for papers which have engaged more than fifty researchers in the region, promoting a robust culture of research and knowledge exchange. The collection of chapters from these initiatives has been compiled and published at the Pretoria University Law Press, an open-access publisher based at the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Two books, titled “Implementing Regional Human Rights Standards in East and West Africa: Challenges and Remedies” and “Human Rights Adjudication in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities within the African Union and Sub-Regional Human Rights Systems,” are readily accessible. Additionally, a third book focusing on “Women’s Rights, Gender Inequality, and Intersectional Vulnerabilities: Exploring Substantive Transformative Equality in the African Regional and Sub-Regional Human Rights Systems 20 years after the adoption of the Maputo Protocol” is slated for publication soon.
- Mentorship for Early Career Researchers: The Programme has provided mentorship opportunities for more than thirty early career human rights researchers. These emerging scholars have had the benefit of being guided by senior researchers, benefiting from their experience and expertise.
Closing Ceremony and Launch of Success Story Booklet: As RAP comes to a close, stakeholders will gather for a closing ceremony on 17-18 April 2024. During this event, a Success Story Booklet highlighting the programme’s impact will be launched. The booklet serves as a testament to the remarkable achievements and enduring legacy of RAP, capturing its contributions to research, academic development, gender equality, access to justice, and human rights implementation.
Join Us in Celebrating Success: We invite you to join us in celebrating the success of RWI’s Regional Africa Programme. The virtual launch of the Success Story Booklet will be live-streamed on the online platforms of our esteemed partners, including ACC, NANHRI, EALS, and PALU.
As we bid farewell to RWI’s Regional Africa Programme 2017-2024, we do so with deep gratitude and pride for the profound impact it has had on advancing human rights in Africa. While the current programme may be ending, its legacy of empowerment, collaboration, and positive change will endure, shaping the future of justice and equality across the continent. Thank you to all partners, stakeholders, and supporters who have been instrumental in making RAP a resounding success.
We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) for their generous funding support, which made it possible to realise the objectives of RWI’s Regional Africa Programme.
Prepared by: Gilford Kimathi, Programme Officer