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Latest News · Analysis · Field Notes

Human Rights

Reporting, analysis and field notes from a pan-African feminist network — across women's rights, SRHR, civic space, climate justice, peace and security.

All Women's Rights 367 Human Rights 156 PUBLICATIONS ET ARTICLES 118 Harmful Practices 66 PEACE AND SECURITY 57 Climate Justice 53 Economic Justice 50 Benin 18 Articles RFLGD 11 Justice Économique 10 Niger 10 Togo 10 Sénégal 10 Mali 10 Burkina Faso 9 GUINEE 9 Côte d'Ivoire 8 Non classifié(e) 8 RFLD’s Strategic Plan 6 MGF 3 Charity 3 Blog 2 DEVELOPMENT 2 Inspiration 2 Science 1
Join us online l West Africa Feminist Data Summit 2026 opens today Human Rights
July 28, 2026 Africa

Join us online l West Africa Feminist Data Summit 2026 opens today

The West Africa Feminist Data Summit 2026 begins today in Porto-Novo, Benin, and offers online access via live Zoom broadcasts for those unable to attend in person. Scheduled from July 28 to 30, at 09:00 GMT+1, participants can join using Webinar ID 899 5188 8920, with no separate registration needed. The summit will gather around one hundred delegates to create a Regional Feminist Data Agenda, establish a cross-border encrypted data collective, and enhance funding for grassroots initiatives, aligned with three resolutions from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. English and French will be the working languages.

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Advocacy Nexus, Bénin, du 13 au 15 juillet 2026 : l’Afrique de l’Ouest francophone renforce la résilience numérique de ses défenseuses Human Rights
July 17, 2026 Africa

Advocacy Nexus, Bénin, du 13 au 15 juillet 2026 : l’Afrique de l’Ouest francophone renforce la résilience numérique de ses défenseuses

Le Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) a organisé à Porto-Novo, du 13 au 15 juillet 2026, une formation de trois jours intitulée « Advocacy Nexus ». Trente défenseuses des droits des femmes, issues de plusieurs pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest, ont participé à des ateliers axés sur le plaidoyer numérique, la sécurité et la création de coalitions transnationales. Cette initiative vise à renforcer les capacités de la société civile en proposant une formation pratique aux outils de plaidoyer, à la sécurité numérique et à la gestion de crise, en s’appuyant sur des cadres juridiques tels que le Protocole de Maputo. Ce programme, qui s’inscrit dans le cadre de l’Initiative afroféministe pour le développement des droits humains, met l’accent sur un engagement continu, afin que les participantes puissent mettre en pratique leurs compétences et leurs connaissances pour soutenir efficacement leurs communautés.

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Magamba Network, DefendDefenders and RFLD Launch 𝐍𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐢 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚’𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 Human Rights
July 3, 2026 Africa

Magamba Network, DefendDefenders and RFLD Launch 𝐍𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐢 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚’𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞

Magamba Network has launched Nafasi, a three-year initiative aimed at enhancing online spaces for young Africans across Sub-Saharan Africa. Collaborating with partners like DefendDefenders and RFLD, and supported by Sida, Nafasi focuses on empowering young activists and communities amid shrinking digital civic spaces due to misinformation, unequal internet access, and technology misuse. The initiative operates on three pillars: advocating for stronger data protection, enhancing digital skills to combat misinformation, and uniting youth-led digital hubs into a cohesive network. Ultimately, Nafasi seeks to promote digital democracy, resilience, and independent African digital platforms, vital for Africa’s future.

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The Dakar WHRDs roundtable, in the words of African media — 30 articles · 6 countries · 3 languages Human Rights
June 19, 2026 Africa

The Dakar WHRDs roundtable, in the words of African media — 30 articles · 6 countries · 3 languages

On June 16, 2026, the Women Leaders Network for Development (RFLD) held a high-level Afrofeminist consultation in Dakar focused on protecting Women Human Rights Defenders in West Africa, under the theme of solidarity and engagement. Key figures included Special Rapporteur Hon. Prof. Remy Ngoy Lumbu and representatives from Sweden and Germany. Following the event, it garnered significant media attention, with approximately 30 articles published across 28 outlets in six countries, including Senegal, Nigeria, and Morocco, in multiple languages. The initiative highlighted the urgent need for stronger protections amid shrinking civic space for women defenders.

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ACHPR, Sweden and Germany Convene at the RFLD Dakar Office on the Protection of Women Human Rights Defenders in West Africa Human Rights
June 16, 2026 Africa

ACHPR, Sweden and Germany Convene at the RFLD Dakar Office on the Protection of Women Human Rights Defenders in West Africa

The Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) hosted a high-level consultation in Dakar on June 16, 2026, emphasizing the protection of Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) in West Africa. Key participants included institutional representatives from Sweden, Germany, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). The gathering highlighted the importance of collaborative action among state actors, civil society, and continental mechanisms to address the discrepancies between existing human rights frameworks and their actual implementation. The discussion focused on ongoing challenges faced by WHRDs, particularly amidst regional political tensions, while underscoring the need for sustained support and recognition of their vital work.

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The Public Good Infrastructure of Feminist Africa Human Rights
June 13, 2026 Africa

The Public Good Infrastructure of Feminist Africa

The DƆNÙESÈ Data Center from RFLD provides twelve open tools, including policy hubs and legislative trackers, along with gender-disaggregated datasets, designed as public resources for African civil society. It is bilingual, free of charge, and accessible continent-wide. The Data Center supports RFLD’s policy hubs and helps inform the program design for its 670 member organizations, enabling them to anchor their local advocacy efforts in continental evidence. It is open to all—organizations, researchers, journalists, and advocates—without the need for registration, fees, or API keys.

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Today we celebrate Africa Day — and we invite you to explore DƆNÙESÈ. Human Rights
May 25, 2026 Africa

Today we celebrate Africa Day — and we invite you to explore DƆNÙESÈ.

On May 25th, Africa Day, RFLD invites partners to explore the DƆNÙESÈ Data Center, offering twelve open tools designed for African civil society. Named after a West African term for shared knowledge, this public infrastructure aims to bridge the gap in accessing rigorous data that is often paywalled or inaccessible. RFLD identified that while vital data exists, it remains poorly documented and dominated by proprietary platforms. The tools serve various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, journalists, and policymakers, supporting advocacy on issues like women’s rights, health, and climate through bilingual and freely accessible resources.

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Afrofeminist Call for Articles · RFLD Africa Regional Office · Accra, Ghana Human Rights
May 23, 2026 Africa

Afrofeminist Call for Articles · RFLD Africa Regional Office · Accra, Ghana

The Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) is inviting submissions for articles exploring the role of afrofeminist civil society in implementing human rights in Africa. This call is open to activists, academics, and journalists, with a submission deadline of June 25, 2026. Selected articles will receive a $500 honorarium. Topics should engage African feminist epistemologies and address issues like marginalized women’s rights, climate justice, and civic space. Contributions can be in English, French, Portuguese, or African languages, promoting inclusion. The announcement of selected works will occur on July 25, 2026, followed by publication in August or September.

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Accra, 12–14 June 2026: Decolonizing Data — Download the full package Human Rights
May 16, 2026 Africa

Accra, 12–14 June 2026: Decolonizing Data — Download the full package

RFLD is excited to announce the West Africa Feminist Data Summit 2026, taking place in Accra, Ghana, from June 12 to 14, 2026. The event will gather around 100 feminist activists, data journalists, and women rights defenders to explore the theme “Decolonizing Data: Architecting feminist digital futures in West Africa.” The Summit aims to advance three key resolutions from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights related to environmental information, data access for human rights, and protection against digital violence. Attendees will engage in discussions across eight thematic tracks, making it a significant gathering for coordinated advocacy in the region.

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ACHPR 87th Ordinary Session : RFLD & WACSI Joint Oral Statement under the Observer Status of the Women Leaders Network for Development (RFLD) Human Rights
May 12, 2026 Africa

ACHPR 87th Ordinary Session : RFLD & WACSI Joint Oral Statement under the Observer Status of the Women Leaders Network for Development (RFLD)

From May 11 to 20, 2026, the Women Leaders Network for Development (RFLD) and the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) advocated for civic space, human rights accountability, and Pan-African cooperation at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. They highlighted the deterioration of civic space in Africa due to democratic backsliding, digital repression, and increasing restrictions on freedoms. Furthermore, they stressed the need for accountability in implementing human rights judgments, the intersection of climate injustice and rights violations, and emphasized gender-sensitive strategies to support women and marginalized communities. RFLD and WACSI called for collaboration to protect civic freedoms as essential for democratic stability and development.

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