Digital Commons Network^™

'Sira': Community-Driven African Filmmaking To Address Harmful Practices, Ousman Jarju, Jama Jack

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

This workshop will explore the use of film to raise awareness about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The workshop will begin by screening the film SIRA, which tells the story of a young girl who resists FGM and mobilizes her community to end the practice. SIRA is a film on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) that was produced by RebelVZN and STS Pictures, with support from UNFPA The Gambia. Following the screening, we will explore the first-hand experiences of young African filmmakers who are telling stories that depict the African narrative from a more nuanced angle, balancing the positive with the harmful …

Protecting Women Migrant Workers’ Rights In South Africa: The Need For A Gender-Responsive Framework, Annah Kahari

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

Whilst feminisation of migration plays a great role in enhancing the agency of women and improving their socio-economic status it exposes women migrants, to potential risks. Upon arrival in South Africa, women migrant workers suffer multiple layers of discrimination. Important to note is that women's migration pathways and experiences are distinct from those of men and predominantly involve greater exposure to multiple risks. Women migrants are at greater risk of exploitation and abuse, including trafficking, with a greater likelihood to work in less regulated and less visible sectors than men. Using an intersectionality approach, the paper examines the interconnectedness of …

African Feminist Theories And The Gendered Dimensions Of Climate Change In Africa, Manase Chiweshe

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

This paper analyses how African feminist theories can provide nuanced insights into the gendered dimensions of climate change across the continent. African feminist theories provide important insights into the everyday lived experiences of women within African spaces, allowing for a contextual analysis of the impacts of climate change. There has also been a growing recognition of the need to identify gender-differentiated impacts of climate change (Tuana 2013). The main argument is not only that climate change will be experienced by men and women differently but also that women will be more severely hurt by the impacts than men (MacGregor 2010). …

Settler (International) Law And Displaced Transnational Indigenous (African) Peoples In Canada: Presumed Equal But Obviously Separate, Veronica Fynn Bruey

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

Documenting and validating Indigenous Peoples collective experiences with colonial violence, land dispossession, forced displacement, systemic racism, and ongoing exclusion from the nation-building process is fundamental to the idealised Westphalian state such as Canada’s constitutional monarchy. The United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, 1951 make no mention of Indigenous Peoples prosecuted and forcibly displaced by slavery, systemic colonial violence, or neoliberal capitalism (vis-à-vis globalisation). Although the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), 2007 does not define an Indigenous person it stipulates their right to belong and determine their own identity. In Canada, indigeneity is …

Is Colonialism Episodal Or An Epoch? Understanding Africa’S Retrogressing Progression, Henrietta Oshokunofa

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

After the end of colonialism in Africa, there have been concerted efforts to decolonise Africa by mopping out the vestiges of exploitation, divide-and-rule system, oppression, and dehumanization, among others that characterised the period. Following its succession of an era that witnessed the mass migration of African descent from Africa to the Americas, colonialism was nothing short of the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade save for the natural resources exploitation that differentiated it. With post-colonialism being around for almost as long as colonialism, it is yet to demonstrate any significant development in the different sectors of their societies despite gaining independence peacefully through …

Exploring Gender Budgeting To Accelerate The Realisation Of Women’S Rights In Nigeria, Eno Ekpo

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

The proliferation of gender budgeting initiatives globally has yielded a progressive understanding of the distributive impacts of responsive gender budgeting to ensure that both women and men benefit equally from public resources for inclusive development. The incorporation of providing resources in international human rights frameworks recognises the relevance of resources to drive development policies and programmes aimed at rectifying gender imbalances that disproportionately affect women and mandates the adoption of gender budgeting as a necessary step by states to translate their commitments to realising women’s rights at domestic levels. The Maputo Protocol, a pioneering African human rights instrument with extensive …

Who Am I? A Qualitative Study Exploring Identities And Sense Of Belonging Of Black Migrant Women In South Africa, Eleana Velentza

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

Post-apartheid South Africa experienced a massive migration flow of African migrant women due to the accommodative Constitution of the Republic of South Africa that was promulgated in 1996. Diversity, multiculturalism, and ethnic and social heterogeneity have been some of the features and challenges of modern South Africa blending national and non-national elements. Nevertheless, black migrant women experience significant levels of xenophobia and multiple layers of discrimination because of “being a woman”, “being Black” and “being a migrant”. The perennial problem of xenophobia in South Africa towards Black Africans is complex and multifaceted; the institutional side of xenophobia circumvents other explanations …

Unraveling The Complexities Of The Coloniality Thought In Africa’S Post-Colonial Identity, Christophe Dongmo, Christophe Dongmo

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

In African history, modernity has endowed whiteness with ontological density far above blackness as identities. Since modern Western thinking is controversial, colonialty operates through radical lines that divide social reality into two realms, the realm of "this side of the line" and the realm of "the other side of the line.” For some, there are doubts about African’s ignorance, knowledge, and power. At the outset, the so-called age of reason, or enlightenment, as commonly referred in the West, coincided with slavery, slave trade, and colonisation.

The starting hypothesis for the inquiry is that decoloniality seeks to unmask, unveil, and reveal …

Sarah Bartman And Demystifying African Women History: Feminist Engagement And New Epistemologies From Africa, Babere Kerata Chacha

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

I was recently awarded a Sarah Bartman fellowhip by the University of Cape Town and in my inaugural lecture, I posed a critical question. How should we commemorate Sarah Bartmann legacy in history and culture in contemporary Africa? It is important to make our students to understand the history of sexism and oppression and the many barriers and biases that women have historically faced. Historical interpretation of, or representations of women as victims, projecting victimhood onto meta-historical narratives allows for imagining the trajectories of communities along a ‘zigzag’ historical timeline, wherein the present is portrayed as a juncture similar to …

Actionable Gender Mainstreaming: A Framework For Women’S Inclusion In Development Projects In Fragile And Conflict-Affected States, Susan Weaver

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

Identified as "key enablers" of development by the 2015 UN Women led “Global Review” on implementation of UNSCR 1325, the World Bank is uniquely poised to support the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda due to its focus on women’s inclusion and needs by mainstreaming gender in development projects. Due to limited investigation on how Bank financing promotes UNSCR 1325, this paper works to untangle if and how projects in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS) are gender mainstreamed (GM). By, analyzing Bank mainstreaming activity in project documentation of sixteen Sub-Saharan African countries from 1990-2014 via textual analysis and quantitative modeling, …

The Intersectionality Of Gender And Corruption In Africa, Qinyi Liu

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

Corruption has long been recognized as a significant obstacle to good governance, the protection of human rights, and sustainable development in Africa. While the literature on anti-corruption has flourished in recent decades, there remains a critical gap in understanding the gendered nature and impact of corruption in the African context. This article aims to address this gap by examining the intersectionality of gender and corruption in Africa. It explores the extent to which corruption affects women and men differently, taking into account the social, economic, and political factors that shape these disparities. The article highlights that despite the region's commitment …

Rights-Based Collaborative Approaches For Gender-Responsive Financial Inclusion In The Implementation Of The African Continental Free Trade Area (Afcfta) For Sustainable Development, Philip A. Olayoku, Kingsley Obi Omeihe, Gloria Mkushi, Uiy Lawani

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

At its 18th Ordinary Session in 2012, the African Union adopted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) among 54 Member States (approximately 1.3bn people), allowing free movement of people, goods and services and removing tariffs by up to 90% on goods over a 10 year period for the least developed countries. Designed to leverage collaborative policies, economize production, infrastructure development, information sharing and financial and market integration, if successful, AfCFTA will achieve a GDP of ca. US$3.4bn. In June 2022, the World Bank projected that women’s wages would rise by 11.2% due to industrial expansion. 53% of Africa’s population …

Positioning Public Services In A Rights-Based Economy, Ruth Getobai Nchagwa

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

COVID-19 pandemic has put spotlight on major injustices at the core of our current economic model which exposes many to shortages and risks and delivers extreme wealth for the few. War in Ukraine, political instability in Africa and increased foreign debts by governments in the global south have led to increased inflation which has put the poorest on the margins. Governments as primary duty bearers are crippled by reduced revenues and high rates of debt servicing which has negatively affected provision of public services . Public services are vital goods and services that provide a foundation for dignified and enriching …

Achieving Social Justice Through Social Economic Rights Litigation, Michael Gyan Nyarko, Svati Shah, Adrian Jjuuko, Kerigo Odada

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

Human rights defenders are increasingly using to seek social justice. However, opponents have always expressed some disquiet on the suitability of courts in the adjudication of socio-economic rights, which have been deemed as disputes involving the distribution of socio-economic goods and services and, therefore, a prerogative of the political arms of government. Courts and other (quasi)judicial institutions have been said not to have sufficient expertise, information, nor the democratic legitimacy to interfere in the decisions relating to the policy choices that have to be made in the fulfilment of socio-economic rights.

Advocates for the (quasi)judicial enforcement of socio-economic rights have, …

Advancing Access To Justice In Sub- Saharan Africa And Latin America: Innovative Strategies And Methods., Adaobi Egboka

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

Access to justice in sub-Saharan Africa is a priority for many stakeholders who aim to support communities that have been impacted by Africa's history of colonization. Ensuring access to justice for all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic background or cultural heritage, is essential for upholding human rights, promoting social cohesion, and supporting sustainable development throughout the continent. NGOs and other justice actors have actively provided access to justice in many countries but have relied on donor funding for their services. However, donor funding is decreasing in many regions, and governments are increasingly closing civic spaces, making it challenging for NGOs …

Challenges Of Using Human Rights To Foster A More Just African Continental Free Trade Area, Brenda Kombo

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

Skepticism towards free trade is often rooted in the perception that its proponents tend to pursue it at the expense of many of the very people whose lives it is meant to improve. Critiques often leveraged against free trade include its uneven distribution of gains among winners and losers, its undemocratic nature, and its prioritization of trade liberalization over other social values such as human rights. However, Article 3(e) of the Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provides that it seeks “promote and attain sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development, gender equality and structural transformation”. Seemingly portending a …

African Females: The Quest For “Sisterhood” And Equality In The Workplace, Dina Smit

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

Women have been marginalized in both developing and developed countries for ages, and evidence points to the fact that despite movements to ensure gender equality in all spheres of employment, women are still underrepresented in leadership positions in Africa, as a developing country and the USA, as a developed country. The best State, known for gender equality is New Mexico, where 46,1% of top management positions are held by females, but in 2021, throughout the rest of the USA, women still only hold 31,7% of top executive positions. The position in South Africa, is similar in that women, who represent …

Social Transformation And Africa’S Regressive Policies And Laws On Lgbtqi+ Rights, Nwabisa Sigaba

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

Most struggles for LGBTQI+ rights play out at the national level. However, the question of sexual and gender minorities’ rights periodically appears as a point of friction in international relations as well. This paper will first analyse the question of international efforts to defend LGBTQI+ rights in countries of the Global South, with a particular focus on Western countries’ endeavours in Africa. Combining policy analysis, critique and recommendations, it asks how and when international actors should and should not intervene. Furthermore, African countries have considerably different ways in which gender and sexuality are constructed, with postcolonial and neo-colonial relations, anti-racist …

Collisions At The Intersection: Intersectionality Of Labor Trafficking, Trauma, And The 'Resource Curse' Phenomena Within The Cobalt Mining Industry In The Democratic Republic Of The Congo, Patrick L. Kerr

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

First proposed in the early 1990s, the “resource curse” phenomenon describes situations in which countries/regions that are resource-abundant- e.g., metals, minerals- are economically outperformed by countries that are resource-deficient. The resource curse concept also commonly refers to situations in which resource-rich developing regions/countries suffer rather than flourish because of exploitative, extractive industries perpetrated by resource-deficient countries. Rooted in colonialism, this phenomenon has been identified across industries in several African nations. Cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a prominent example. Although DRC’s cobalt deposits were discovered in 1914, the past decade has introduced a new surge …

Transforming Gender Norms In Rural Mali By Opening Spaces For Action, Kelly Bohrer, Anna Taft, François Chauvet, Kessia Kouriba, Hawa Yalcouyé, Moussa Tembine

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

Communities in the Tommoguiné Region of Mali are actively pursuing development despite economic challenges, insecurity, and isolation from many opportunities. Historically, the marginalization of women and girls has held back some of these efforts and denied certain rights to some of the population. Currently, a transformation of norms surrounding women’s roles in public life and of practices harmful to women and girls is taking place, inspired by a Women’s Literacy, Leadership, and Enterprise program generated through a transnational collaboration between local communities, a Malian linguistic association, and The Tandana Foundation, a Dayton-based non-profit organization. Instead of reinscribing colonial dynamics, this …

Advancing Gender Justice In The Green Transition: Addressing The Impacts Of Climate Change And Environmental Exploitation On Women And Children's Rights In Sub-Saharan Africa, Victor Onyilor Achem

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

The lack of access to clean cooking solutions and reliance on unsustainable biomass has resulted in environmental degradation, which disproportionately affects women and children. However, 75% of Nigeria’s population relies on solid fuel for their household cooking. Women are often tasked with collecting firewood and water, resulting in a significant burden on their time and exposing them to violence and injury.

This study adopts a mixed-method approach, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the impact of climate change and unsustainable energy use on women's rights in Nigeria. The research reveals that the gendered impact …

New People, New Livelihoods After Tugwi Mukosi Dam Construction: A Case Of Chingwizi Area In Mwenezi District In Masvingo Province Of Zimbabwe, Cephas Mandirahwe

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

Using Cernea’s Impoverishment, Risk, and Reconstruction Model, the study examined the livelihoods of the Chingwizi residents of Mwenezi District in the aftermath of relocations from Masvingo District. According to this model, development-induced relocations culminate into landlessness, joblessness, loneliness, property, and social disarticulation. In recent years Zimbabwe has embarked on dam construction and other development projects which have displaced local populations. One such development was the construction of Tugwi Mukosi Dam which was perceived by the government to generate economic growth for the whole nation and Masvingo Province in particular. This is also an endogenous strategy by the government of Zimbabwe …

African Right To Identity As A Right To Development: A Media Right Agenda, Olunifesi Adekunle Suraj, Gift Oluwatosin Olalusi, Olawale Olaleye

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

The Right to Development is still a highly contested concept in academic and political circles. However, it is evident that irrespective of the divide of the debate, all known declarations including the United Nations, the UN Millennium Declaration, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights among others are yet to have a lasting impact on the liberation and the overall development of Africa and African descent. Hence, in order to find solutions around the right to development from the African perspective, this paper aims to reconcile the divergent views on the right to development and propose a …

The Right To Development In Transboundary Water Context: The Case Of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd), Halifet Ayemohammed Yusuf

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is Africa's largest hydroelectric developmental project, which has been under construction for the past decade in Ethiopia. With the potential to generate over 6000 megawatts of power, this dam has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life in Ethiopia and other countries in the region. It also presents a significant opportunity for regional cooperation and development in the Nile basin. However, this project has been fraught with tension between Ethiopia and its neighbors as it affects their access to water resources. Another important reason is the distribution of the Nile water share …

Plus Ça Change, Plus C'Est La Même Chose: The Ongoing Decolonisation’S Mechanic Inside The Franc Zone, Gerard Kamga

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

My purpose in this paper is to provide insights into the mechanics behind the statuquo ante prevailing within the franc zone even though most African countries in general and former French colonies in particular obtained their “independence” from France in the early 1960s following decades of colonisation. Such statuquo is rendered by the formula “plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose” loosely translated as the more it changes the more it remains the same. In the upcoming developments, l will portray the extent to which French colonialism in Africa has never stopped and was simply merged with the current …

Gender And Rights: Global Contestations, Susan Weaver, Satang Nabaneh

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

The anti-gender movement, which develops discourse and actions in opposition to the concept of gender, gender equality and gender studies, is increasingly apparent and effective globally. Moral entrepreneurs, such as religious and community leaders and the media, deploy counter-mobilization and conservative rhetoric that aims to undo progress made in the legal, political, economic and social realms. This anti-gender movement is also transnational, evidenced in the growth of right-wing populism and authoritarianism in different parts of the world specifically linked to attacks on feminism, women’s human rights, and minorities. The recent U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health …

Interesting Times: Returning To Blended Activism In A Culture Of Impunity, Eugene R. Sensenig

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

Presentation

Documenting Human Rights Violations: An Analysis Of Press Reporting On The Mexican Disappearance Crisis, Maria Terra, Yolanda Burckhardt

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

The global pandemic has transformed many structures, including the way in which human rights academics and practitioners carry out their work. This project is an example of human rights research using methods that can be applied remotely from any part of the world, and even replicated in other contexts or experiences.

The initiative is one of the projects from the Observatory on Disappearances and Impunity in Mexico led by Barbara Frey (University of Minnesota), Leigh Payne (Oxford University), and Karina Ansolabehere (UNAM-México), focused on the enforced disappearances crisis occurring in Mexico. The work included an extensive database created by coding …

Does Human Rights Derogation Limit Covid-19 Infections?, Brian K. Gran, Reema Sen

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

The purpose of this project is to model and understand socio-legal responses to the spread of COVID-19—in particular, emergency measures that derogate from states’ human rights commitments. Derogation of human rights in response to COVID-19 is unprecedented, according to some experts (Scheinin 2020). This project investigates whether combinations of conditions, such as moderate human rights derogation in combination with strong health infrastructures, reduce degrees of virus transmission and promote prevention. Its preliminary findings indicate that suspension of some rights appears crucial to limiting COVID-19 infections, but suspension of many rights has limited impacts, raising questions for practices of human rights …

A Case Study Of Pregnant Migrants In Detention, Abby Wheatley, Samantha Nabaty

Biennial Conference: The Social Practice of Human Rights

No abstract provided.