The Deadly Intersection of Climate Change and Insecurity Hits Women and Girls the Hardest
Posted: 9 October, 2024 Filed under: Mary Izobo | Tags: Africa, climate change, climate-related disasters, climate-smart agriculture, conflict, conflict-affected regions, displacement, droughts, eco-tourism, economic opportunities, economic vulnerability, education, gender inequalities, girls, healthcare, Horn of Africa, increased hunger, insecurity, natural resources, political stability, poverty, renewable energy, resources, socioeconomic equality, violence, women, Women and Girls Leave a comment
Author: Mary Izobo
International Human Rights Lawyer, Gender Equality Advocate and Governance Expert
Introduction
In today’s world, climate change is no longer just an environmental issue. It is a catalyst for conflict and insecurity. What is often overlooked is how this toxic mix impacts women and girls the hardest, especially in fragile and conflict-affected regions. When water sources dry up, droughts wipe out crops, and the land becomes infertile, competition for dwindling resources becomes violent. Women-led and gender-sensitive climate action in Africa is key to sustainable peace, political stability and greater socioeconomic equality.
From the Sahel to the Horn of Africa to Southern Africa, climate change fuels conflicts over natural resources like land, food and water, turning communities and countries against each other. In all of this chaos, women and girls bear the brunt. The effects of climate change and insecurity exacerbate existing gender inequalities, especially in countries facing economic and social inequalities, political instability and resource scarcity.
Internet Shutdowns in Sudan: From Authoritarian Tool to Weapon of War
Posted: 30 August, 2024 Filed under: Razan E H Ali | Tags: censor information, civil unrest, control, displacement, dissent, elections, electoral fraud, electronic communication services, freedom of expression and access to information on the Internet, human rights violations, humanitarian crisis, internet blackout, internet shutdowns, Model Law, national security, periods of conflict, political transition, refugees, Sudan, war-related information Leave a comment
Author: Razan E H Ali
LLM Candidate, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria
Introduction
Internet shutdown or blockage means the deliberate suspension or termination of internet and electronic communication services, making them inaccessible or practically inoperable for a particular group of people or geographic area, usually to control the flow of information.[1]
This exercise has been used by governments as a tool to suppress dissent, censor information, conceal serious infringements of individual rights, and evade accountability for human rights violations, especially during periods of conflict, civil unrest, and contested political transitions.[2]
Integrating gender-inclusive approaches in transitional justice processes in Africa
Posted: 26 February, 2024 Filed under: Mary Izobo | Tags: African countries, conflict-related sexual violence, displacement, diverse sexual orientations, empowerment, enforced disappearances, femicide, forced marriages, gender identities, gender norms, gender perspectives, gender-inclusive approaches, human rights violations, patriarchal systems, rights of women and girls, societal transformation, socio-economic discrimination, Transitional Justice, unconstitutional changes Leave a commentAuthor: Mary Izobo
International Human Rights Lawyer, Gender Equality Advocate and Governance Expert
During conflict, gender perspectives reveal the divergent impacts felt by all individuals –women, men, vulnerable and marginalised people, and those with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. As a result, transitional justice in African countries must not only acknowledge but also actively engage with these gendered realities, particularly focusing on the experiences of women and girls. In the pursuit of reconciliation and healing, it is crucial to recognize the unique impact of conflicts on women and girls, exacerbated by patriarchal systems. By embracing gender-inclusive approaches within transitional justice, we pave the path towards a fairer, more inclusive society for all.
War, global health and human rights: drawing inspiration from the Russia-Ukraine crisis
Posted: 22 March, 2022 Filed under: Abasiodiong Ubong Udoakpan | Tags: access to health, clean water, displacement, emergency interventions, food, health care, health infrastructure, human rights, mental health, physical health, psychological well-being, regional conflict, Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russian invasion, sanitation, threat to life, United Nations, war 1 Comment
Author: Abasiodiong Ubong Udoakpan
Data Protection Advisor, Researcher and a Human Rights Lawyer
Introduction
The first principle of health is life and war is a direct threat to life. For millions of people worldwide, avoiding and not only surviving war is the predominant objective in their daily existence. Sadly, the situation in Eastern Europe creates a global crisis for public health, therefore, ending the war would be a major step towards the promotion of the health and well-being of persons in this region. The challenge presented by this ongoing regional conflict also marks a crucial opportunity to prioritize human rights and public health concerns in ongoing foreign policy and diplomatic efforts by concerned nation-states. Ergo, this article seeks to explore the human rights threats that are associated with the Russia-Ukraine conflict especially as it relates to public health.
A quest for better protection: Sudanese women today
Posted: 11 November, 2021 Filed under: Dunia Mekonnen Tegegn | Tags: (VAWG), African Protocol on Women’s Rights, arbitrarily arrest, CEDAW, child custody, child marriage, conflict areas, displacement, divorce, human rights, immoral behavior, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Islamic fundamentalists, Jebril Ibrahim, knee length skirts, lack of protection, marriage, Muslim Personal Law, Political commitment, public disgrace, Public Order Police Officers, sexual abuse, sharia law, social media, Sudan, tribal and militia violence, Violence Against Women Act, Violence against Women and Girls, wearing trousers, women rights violations Leave a comment
Author: Dunia Mekonnen Tegegn
Human Rights Lawyer and Gender equality advocate
Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) is regarded as a prevalent and critical hindering factor for human development and peace-building in Sudan. Prior to the revolution, Sudanese women used to face a daily risk of being arbitrarily arrested in public or private places for “indecent or immoral behavior or dress.” Public Order Police Officers in Sudan had the power to decide what is decent and what is not. In most cases women are arrested for wearing trousers or knee length skirts.[1] Though in 2019, the transitional Sudanese government rescinded the public order laws that governed women’s presence in public spaces, resulting in arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment, Sudan still needs to change other aspects of the public order regime that has a discriminatory effect on women.
Sudan is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Though the Sudanese government approved the ratification of CEDAW and the African Protocol on Women’s Rights following years of demands from Sudanese women, the ratification of CEDAW came with reservations on the articles number 2, 16 and 1/29, which is a clear violation of the rule that prevents reservations that defeat the essential elements and goals of human rights covenants.
Making the right to vote of IDPs a reality: Lessons from Ethiopia
Posted: 8 July, 2021 Filed under: Enguday Meskele Ashine, Omotunde Enigbokan | Tags: African Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons, displacement, EHRC, election monitoring, elections, Electoral Proclamation, Ethiopia, Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), IDP, IDPs, Kampala Convention, legislation, national election, National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), political rights, right to political participation, the right to vote 2 Comments
Authors: Enguday Meskele Ashine & Omotunde Enigbokan
Ethiopia held its national election on 21 June 2021. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) participated in the national election by casting their votes at their place of displacement for their respective constituency of origin through absentee ballot procedure. In certain areas, the government of Ethiopia took special measures such as providing logistic and security safeguard in order to enable IDPs to cast their vote.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) played a pivotal role in ensuring that IDPs participated in the national election, through engaging civic societies that advocated for the voting rights of IDPs. Furthermore, the EHRC prepared the Human Rights Agenda for Election 2021. This Agenda ‘calls upon political parties to address human rights protection of vulnerable groups including IDPs in their manifesto.’ In addition, the Commission advocated for electoral participation of IDPs by disseminating explanatory materials on IDPs and election, by conducting election monitoring focusing on IDPs’ participation in the national election and by conducting stakeholder’s discussions highlighting the significance of IDPs’ inclusion in the national election.’
COVID-19, Darfur’s food security crisis and IDPs: From ruins to ruins
Posted: 4 August, 2020 Filed under: Gursimran Kaur Bakshi | Tags: chemical attacks, children, conflict, COVID-19, crimes against humanity, Darfur, displacement, famine, Human Rights Watch, human tragedy, IDPs, internally displaced persons, International Criminal Court, Kampala Convention, Land of Killing, London Declaration, Omar Al-Bashir, pandemic, State-Sponsored Terrorist(SST), Sudan, war 1 Comment
Author: Gursimran Kaur Bakshi
Student, National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi, India
Background
Darfur, a region in the west of Sudan is known as a ‘Land of Killing’. Since 2003, more than 300 000 people have been killed, and over 2.7 million have been forcibly displaced as a result of a genocide that has left the legacy of displacement and destitution. The war was initiated by the government-backed armed groups known as ‘Janjaweed’ militants in 2003, who have been accused of systematic and widespread atrocities, such as murdering and torturing of the civilian population, including raping their women and intentionally burning their villages.
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