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The RFLD Newsroom
Latest News · Analysis · Field Notes

Dispatches from the movement.

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 157 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
This Week: RFLD Equips 110 Women Leaders Across Francophone West Africa Women's Rights
May 18, 2026 Africa

This Week: RFLD Equips 110 Women Leaders Across Francophone West Africa

From May 19 to 23, 2026, the Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) will launch a significant regional initiative to enhance women’s political participation in Francophone West Africa, as part of the Afrofeminist Initiative for Human Rights Development. Despite improvements over the past two decades, women’s political involvement remains below parity goals outlined in various frameworks, leading to their marginalization in decision-making processes. The SEA-T program aims to initiate social transformation and citizen participation to address gender inequalities. Key stakeholders emphasize that women’s political participation is crucial for sustainable development and institutional accountability, ultimately leading to more inclusive policies and increased citizen trust in institutions.

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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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RFLD to Fund the ACHPR Study on a Specific Legal Framework for the Protection of Forcibly Displaced Persons in Africa Due to Climate Change Climate Justice
May 14, 2026 Africa

RFLD to Fund the ACHPR Study on a Specific Legal Framework for the Protection of Forcibly Displaced Persons in Africa Due to Climate Change

The Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) will finance a study by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) aimed at creating a specific legal framework for protecting individuals displaced by climate change in Africa. Funded through RFLD’s Afrofeminist Initiative and supported by Germany’s BMZ and GIZ, the study will address legal gaps and propose necessary modifications to the 1969 OAU Convention, including the recognition of “climate change refugees.” This initiative seeks to mitigate the suffering of the vulnerable and create effective legal mechanisms to support climate-displaced persons, reflecting the urgency of addressing climate-driven displacement on the continent.

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RFLD and Nalafem Women's Rights
May 12, 2026 Africa

RFLD and Nalafem

The Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) and Nalafem have signed a two-year Framework MoU to enhance feminist solidarity and advocacy across Africa. This partnership aims to bridge the linguistic divide and strengthen collaboration among women leaders, grassroots organizers, and policy makers to address shared challenges and mobilize resources effectively.

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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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Understanding regional early warning frameworks and human rights protection mechanisms Women's Rights
May 11, 2026 Africa

Understanding regional early warning frameworks and human rights protection mechanisms

The West Africa Civil Society Capacity Building Training took place from May 6-8, 2026, in Porto-Novo, Bénin, organized by CIVICUS and hosted by the Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD). This event gathered 30-40 civil society representatives from 15 ECOWAS member states to address the persistent gap between early warning data and effective advocacy. The training focused on understanding and utilizing frameworks from the African Union and ECOWAS to enhance human rights protection and civic space advocacy. Participants committed to forming a regional community of practice, emphasizing collaboration, evidence-based advocacy, and the development of early warning mechanisms for impactful responses.

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RFLD to Award US$582,000 in Regranting Capital to Twenty African Civil Society Organisations Human Rights
May 4, 2026 Africa

RFLD to Award US$582,000 in Regranting Capital to Twenty African Civil Society Organisations

The Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) will distribute US$582,000 in grants to twenty African civil society organizations through two key initiatives: NAFASI and AIHRDFWA. NAFASI focuses on digital civic space, while AIHRDFWA emphasizes human rights development in Francophone West Africa. The selection process will prioritize organizations’ alignment with strategic goals, operational capacity, and commitment to supporting women and vulnerable groups. RFLD aims to streamline funding flows from European donors directly to grassroots organizations, ensuring accountability and impactful action. This initiative reflects a shift towards localized, African-led development and enhances the resilience of civil society in challenging environments.

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RFLD Bulletin · May 2026 Human Rights
May 2, 2026 Africa

RFLD Bulletin · May 2026

The NAFASI Project, funded by Sida, aims to uphold Africa’s digital civic space from repression and related threats from January 2026 to December 2028. It is led by Magamba Network with partners like DefendDefenders and RFLD, focusing on policy reform and digital resilience. Concurrently, RFLD is orchestrating a major initiative in May 2026 to bolster women’s political participation in West Africa, supported by BMZ and GIZ. Beyond this, RFLD will engage at the 87th African Commission session to advocate for human rights defenders, emphasizing issues like gender-based violence and civic space protection in the region, while hosting a meeting on civic space early warning systems.

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