Lesotho: Shaping a New Path Through Transitional Justice
Posted: 9 January, 2025 Filed under: Mary Izobo | Tags: accountability, African Union, African Union Transitional Justice Policy, capacity-building workshop, Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, contested elections, CSVR, cultural heritage, fragile governance, governance challenges, healing, holistic policy framework, justice, Kingdom in the Sky, mental health, military coups, political crises, political instability, psychosocial support, reconciliation, stability, under-resourced Leave a comment
Author: Mary Izobo
Advocacy Manager, Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation
Introduction
Lesotho, a small mountainous nation nestled in the heart of Southern Africa, stands at a pivotal moment as it charts its path toward stability and justice. Often described as the “Kingdom in the Sky” because of its breathtaking highland terrain, Lesotho’s journey is defined by its rich cultural heritage and the challenges of political instability.
Lost in Faith: The Growing Menace of Religious Fanaticism in Africa and the Need for Intervention
Posted: 7 June, 2024 Filed under: Murithi Antony | Tags: Africa, African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, Boko Haram, child sacrifice, ethical principles, fasting to the point of death, fundamental human rights, Good News International Church, human sacrifices, international human rights instruments, Mungiki movement, political instability, religion, religious fanaticism, religious freedom, right to religious freedom, terrorism, Yesu wa Tongaren Leave a comment
Author: Murithi Antony
LL.B candidate, University of Embu
Religious freedom is a cherished right we uphold,
But when it’s misused, the consequences unfold.
Ideologies that propagate self-harm and hate,
Demand constant vigilance before it’s too late!
Introduction
Religion is a system of faith and worship centered around a belief in a supreme being and a set of moral or ethical principles. It encompasses a way of life that provides hope, guidance, and even companionship to many individuals. Religion serves as a source of strength, comfort, and meaning, especially for individuals who seek to understand their place in the world and the purpose of their existence. Religion influences people’s thoughts, actions, and their relationships with others. Such characteristics of religion has made several believers to engage in extreme and controversial actions, including among others; human sacrifices, fasting to the point of death, and terrorism, believing that they will receive eternal rewards from their deity. Such is what is depicted as religious fanaticism, which must be regulated for the sake of sanity and protection of fundamental human rights in society. Upon this background, this article aims to analyse the status of religious freedom in Africa, the impact of the emergence of religious fanaticism, and advocate for intervention.
Forced marriage is a major concern for mental health of victims: Why are partners not doing enough? A case of Somalia
Posted: 15 August, 2023 Filed under: Bahja Hassan | Tags: CFM, child marriage, child mothering, economic gain, escaping poverty, forced marriage, fundamental rights of girls, gender equality, Girls Not Brides, health risks, Laws and policies, legal frameworks, mental health, mental healthcare, mental healthcare services, negative implications, ocial-cultural underpinning, political instability, poverty alleviation, right to education, rights to dignity, Somalia Leave a comment
Author: Bahja Hassan
Independent Somali Gender Analyst
Summary
This article points out why initiatives to address child and forced marriages in Somalia are inadequate at providing mental health services to survivors of child marriages. It proposes an urgent rethinking of current interventions and approaches to integrate mental healthcare services so that frontline workers are equipped with necessary skills to provide services to young mothers. It argues that failure to integrate mental healthcare services into programmes aimed at ending child and forced marriage would not provide any meaningful results. This is because child and forced marriage inevitably impact girls’ mental health so much as it violates their rights to dignity, education, and livelihoods.
AfricLaw 