Unpacking the Race to Zero Campaign and its Impact on the realisation of the right to development in Africa
Posted: 2 February, 2024 Filed under: Elim Shanko | Tags: African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights, climate challenges, climate justice, cyclones, decarbonisation strategy, devastating droughts, development goals, Disaster Risk Reduction reports, energy justice, energy-poor zones, GHG emissions, global crisis, Just Transition, over-consumers, Paris Agreement, Race to Zero Campaign, renewable sources, right to development, sustainable development, sustainable future Leave a comment
Author: Elim Shanko
Sustainable development consultant, RA Consulting
Introduction
The African continent, recently grappling with unprecedented climate challenges, finds itself at the forefront of a global crisis. From devastating droughts to intense cyclones, the impacts have been severe, costing lives and disrupting economies. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction reports that climate catastrophes cost Africa 12.3% of its GDP between 2015 and 2021. Shockingly, Africa’s 30 deadliest weather disasters have all occurred since 2022, attributing climate change as the primary cause. Thus, the Race to Zero (RtZ) campaign emerges as a key player in the pursuit of a sustainable future. This article critically examines the campaign’s structure and its implications for Africa’s unique challenges, questioning its alignment with principles of climate justice, energy justice, and a just transition and ultimately assessing its impact on the realisation of the right to development.
A year on: Thulani Maseko’s unforgiving legacy in The Kingdom of Eswatini
Posted: 22 January, 2024 Filed under: Lakshita Kanhiya | Tags: #JusticeForThulani, assassination, call for democracy, democratic reforms, Eswatini, human rights, monarchy, oppressive laws, police brutality, pursuit of justice, Tanele Maseko, Thulani Maseko, unchecked state violence Leave a comment
Author: Lakshita Kanhiya
Human Rights Advocate
Twelve months ago, within the silent confines of his home, Thulani Maseko, a valiant advocate for human rights in Eswatini, was mercilessly assassinated before his family’s eyes. His crime? Speaking truth to power and daring to challenge the oppressive laws and unchecked state violence in the Kingdom. Reflecting on this tragic event not only underscores the absence of accountability for Thulani’s murder but also emphasises the urgent call for democracy amid the persistent fear of assassination that lingers in the air. At the heart of Africa’s struggles lies the fractured relationship between democracy and human rights, where the rule of law should stand as an unwavering guardian. Thulani Maseko, through his advocacy, embodied the essence of these principles and in reflecting on his tragic demise, it becomes apparent that Eswatini is at a crossroads, grappling with the repercussions of his absence and the persistent suppression of dissent by an unyielding monarchy.
Falling short of expectations: Safe City Project and the unsolved murder in Mauritius
Posted: 4 December, 2023 Filed under: Lakshita Kanhiya | Tags: biometric data, CCTV camera surveillance systems, drug trafficking, facial recognition, false accusations, intelligent command system, Kistnen murder, Mauritius, national security, organised crime, Safe City images, Safe City project, Soopramanien Kistnen, terrorism, transparency, unavailable images, unsolved murder, violence 1 CommentAuthor: Lakshita Kanhiya
Human Rights Advocate
In a world full of violence, criminality, organised crime and drug trafficking, there is a legitimate quest for security. Mauritius, renowned for its picturesque beaches and vibrant cultural diversity, is not exempt from the challenges posed by national security. Much like many other countries, it grapples with the spectre of criminality, terrorism, and various public safety issues.[1] The evolution of technology in the digital age is fundamentally altering the way people engage with one another in society, and as society undergoes transformation, so do the tools, methodologies, and ideologies used to address these challenges.[2] Therefore, the inception of the Safe City project in Mauritius stemmed from the pressing demand for enhancing national security, particularly with a focus on preserving the country status as a secure destination for tourists, given that tourism plays a pivotal role in the Mauritian economy.[3] However, the project’s laudable objectives are overshadowed by the glaring human rights concerns, as exemplified by the Kistnen case, where the inadequacies of the system came to light.
Struggles and Triumphs: A close look at sexual and gender minority rights in Benin
Posted: 28 November, 2023 Filed under: Lakshita Kanhiya | Tags: Benin, bodily harm, discrimination, Freedom House Report, fundamental rights, gender minorities, harassment, human rights, national unity, non-discrimination, same-sex relations, sexual and gender minority rights, sexual assault, social stigma, violence, Working Group on Benin’s Universal Periodic Review Leave a commentAuthor: Lakshita Kanhiya
Human Rights Advocate
The Republic of Benin has long been considered a beacon of democracy in West Africa.[1] However, between 2016 to 2021, the country witnessed a concerning regression in human rights, as noted in the Freedom House Report of 2021.[2] Benin transitioned from a ‘free state’ to a ‘partly free state’ during this period, in terms of its democratic credentials. Despite this regression, Benin has taken significant strides in protecting the rights of sexual and gender minorities,[3] marking a notable contrast to its neighbouring countries namely Togo, Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria.
Lives at stake: Religion, death penalty, and the rights of sexual and gender minorities in Africa
Posted: 21 November, 2023 Filed under: Lakshita Kanhiya | Tags: Africa, Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023, capital punishment, death penalty, discrimination, harassment, human rights, ICCPR, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, international human rights law, moral values, religion, religious missionaries, same-sex consensual relations, sexual and gender minority rights, societal stigma, torture, violence 1 CommentAuthor: Lakshita Kanhiya
Human Rights Advocate
The African continent presents a complex landscape for the protection of human rights, where various issues intersect, including capital punishment, sexual and gender minority rights, and the influence of religion. One of the most alarming and dire challenges in this regard is the imposition of the death penalty on sexual and gender minorities,[1] a practice that fundamentally contradicts human rights principles, including the right to life and the prohibition of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.[2]
Men are Human Too: Challenging Existing Perceptions and Definitions of Masculinities
Posted: 30 October, 2023 Filed under: Athini Magodla | Tags: crime levels, Fatherhood, Fatherlessness, gender equality, gender liberation, gender norms, identity, Masculinities, Men, mental health, quality of life, suicide, violence, youth 1 Comment
Author: Athini Magodla
Gender Programme Fellow, Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR).
Although June was Men’s Mental Health Month, noticeably, very few people know about it. This speaks volumes and shows the general disregard by society, of the issues that men face. There are limited platforms for men to engage their mental health experiences as a result of fear that holding space for men negates feminism.
The South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) emphasises that suicide is one of the leading causes of death globally and the mortality rate amongst men is considerably higher compared to women. The death of local South African male celebrities such as Riky Rick, Patrick Shai and Jabu Christopher shone the spotlight on the prevalence of suicide amongst men, which sparked up debates on Twitter. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) reported that South African men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women – depression, anxiety and trauma are some of the contributing factors that lead men to suicide.
The opposite sex for the intersex person; assumption of binary in Kenya’s Constitution
Posted: 13 October, 2023 Filed under: Esther-Blessing Nasimiyu | Tags: binary assumption, Constitution of Kenya, equality, inclusion, intersex, intersex persons, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, non-discrimination, opposite sex, protection of minorities, right to marry, same-sex marriages, sexual minorities 1 Comment
Author: Esther-Blessing Nasimiyu
Student, Kabarak Law School
The 2010 Constitution of Kenya is notable for recognising the family system through the provision of the right to marry in article 45(2).[1] For ease of reference, article 45(2) provides that every adult has the right to marry a person of the opposite sex, based on the free consent of parties. The sub-article’s phrasing breeds a significant complication due to the insertion of the term ‘opposite sex’. This is a blatant disregard of the existence of Kenyan adults who cannot conform to either gender due to being intersex.
Ethical Considerations of Artificial Intelligence (AIEd) in the Academic Context: Balancing Innovation and Responsibility
Posted: 28 September, 2023 Filed under: Lewis Morara | Tags: Academic Context, AI, AI Act, AI Bill of Rights, AI in Education, AI Regulation Policy Paper, AIEd, Algorithmic Recommendation Management Provisions, Artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, ethical implications, intelligent tutoring systems, ITS, narrow AI, OpenAI Leave a comment
Author: Lewis Morara
Lawyer, Allamano & Associates
2022 was a significant year for the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI).[1] The emergence of ChatGPT marked the end of the year. In the early weeks of 2023, Microsoft expressed interest in investing $10 billion in OpenAI, Chat GPT’s parent company.[2] This investment aimed to expedite the widespread adoption of AI in various industries.[3] It entailed integrating Chat GPT into everyday tools like Microsoft Suite.[4] This aligns with projections indicating that the global AI market’s revenue will grow at a rate of 19.6% annually, reaching $500 billion this year.[5] As AI becomes increasingly prevalent, there is a corresponding emphasis on regulatory measures. The events of 2022, including the EU’s adoption of the AI Act in December[6], the United States’ AI Bill of Rights in October[7], the UK’s AI Regulation Policy Paper in July[8], and China’s enforcement of the Algorithmic Recommendation Management Provisions in March, have set a robust precedent for the future.[9]
Women’s month: A time of reflection
Posted: 29 August, 2023 Filed under: Tsholofelo Nakedi | Tags: apartheid system, brutal killings, celebration of women, discrimination against women, femicide, gender equality, health and safety of women, imbokodo, injustice, Laws and policies, passbook, racial segregation, safe spaces for women and girls, sexual offences, South Africa, violence against women, Women’s Month 1 Comment
Author: Tsholofelo Nakedi
Community Advocacy Specialist
Throughout history, women have played a significant role in fighting injustices, with most of that role often downplayed by historians. Hence it is exciting to be part of a country like South Africa that has dedicated the month of August to celebrating women. Women’s Month marks the strength and resilience of women and their contribution to society. In addition, Women’s Month is an opportunity for South Africans to pay tribute to the generations of women also called imbokodo – the rock whose struggles laid the foundations for progress in empowering women and achieving gender equality. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on women’s and children’s experiences.
The Maputo Protocol: Abolitionist or tolerative approach to polygamy, in the light of Ethiopia’s reservation?
Posted: 21 August, 2023 Filed under: Meron Eshetu Birhanu | Tags: Article 650, Criminal Code, cultural norms, Ethiopia, human rights, imprisonment, lack of legal protection, Maputo Protocol, Maputo Protocol Ratification Proclamation, monogamy, polygamous marriage, polygamy, polygamy belt, religious laws, religious norms, Revised Family Code, social norms, traditional practices, women’s rights 1 Comment
Author: Meron Eshetu Birhanu
Technical Assistant, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)
Despite growing modernity and advocacy for women’s rights, polygamy remains a common practice embraced by social, cultural, and religious norms[1] in most parts of Africa, including Ethiopia. The highest proportion of polygamy in Africa is found in the so-called ‘polygamy belt’, which spans from Senegal in West Africa to Tanzania in East Africa.[2] According to the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey, 11 percent of married women in Ethiopia are in polygamous relationships, of which 9 percent have one co-wife and 2 percent have two or more co-wives.[3]
AfricLaw 