SAHR addresses International Bar Association (IBA) Tokyo Conference on Human Rights
Empowering Change Makers: A Path to Gender Justice and Human Rights
At the recent International Bar Association Conference in Tokyo, I had the opportunity to address the critical issue of gender justice and human rights. The work in this field is undeniably challenging, often draining, and at times, painfully tragic. We operate in a context marked by political instability, armed conflict, shrinking civic space, reprisals, and pervasive harmful social norms, among other obstacles.In the realm of gender justice, we face constant battles against harmful attitudes from justice actors. Police stations and first response units are under-resourced, and there's a significant lack of qualified and trained personnel to handle gender-based violence (GBV) cases. Court processes are complex and lengthy, often re-traumatizing victims. The legal system itself can make it nearly impossible for some victims to obtain remedy.Civil society organizations play a crucial role in helping survivors access justice. However, this pursuit of justice often comes with a high risk of collateral harm to both survivors and those supporting them. This paradoxical reality of justice work underscores the need for a new approach.
The Indispensable Role of Individual Change Makers
Individual change makers in civil society are an invaluable resource in this fight. They work tirelessly to influence policy at all levels, advocate for law implementation and enforcement, promote gender equality, hold perpetrators accountable, and provide essential support to survivors. Their work in data collection and analysis is crucial for understanding the root causes, prevalence, and impact of gender-based violence.To support these change makers, we've piloted the Gender Justice Accelerator Program. This initiative aims to reach individuals who are targeting strategic and low-threshold access barriers in the justice system.
Success Stories from the Gender Justice Accelerator Program
Two notable examples from our program illustrate its potential:
In Argentina, human rights lawyers identified the lack of access to trauma-informed psychologists as a critical bottleneck in sexual and gender-based violence cases. They're now advocating for policy changes to provide victims with free access to gender-competent, trauma-informed psychologists.
In Bungoma County, Kenya, where GBV rates are alarmingly high, our fellows established a network of 30 paralegals across nine sub-counties. They're working to strengthen coordination among service providers and improve case documentation, which is crucial for local government understanding and response.
The Way Forward
Our work at SAHR is focused on investing in visionary change makers who can identify and address strategic barriers to justice. These individuals, with their on-the-ground experience and practical approach, are crucial in challenging communities to adopt team-based, problem-solving approaches to GBV. To realize the ideals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we must empower these civil society leaders. Their work is indispensable in promoting inclusive and equitable societies where all individuals can participate in decision-making processes around access to justice.Our aim now is to expand and scale the accelerator program, targeting an intersectional range of civil society actors.
This expansion will ensure that our strategies to end gender-based violence are inclusive and responsive to the diverse experiences of victims and survivors.As we move forward, collaboration and solidarity within the ecosystem are crucial.
By bringing attention to these important conversations and developing practical, community-based solutions, we can address some of the most pressing human rights issues facing our world today.
