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Conversations on human rights. A Centre for Human Rights podcast series. Hosted by Victoria Amaechi.
Episodes
Tuesday May 07, 2019
Tuesday May 07, 2019
In conversation with Ms Perpetua Senkoro
The false beliefs surrounding persons with albinism have led to discrimination and their persecution, something Ms Perpetua Senkoro (Advocacy and Human Rights Officer, Under the Same Sun) strives to change. While albinism can affect any living thing, many have a limited understanding of the condition. During the discussion with Ms Senkoro she explains the importance of awareness raising and how it impacts the protection of persons with albinism.
In the episode we cover what albinism is, its day-to-day implications such as challenging those affected to access the environment around them, and why persons with albinism are included within disability groups and protections. While persons with albinism may not looked disabled, they suffer from many recognised disabilities as well as additional challenges stemming from harmful practices – including being hunted for their body parts. The many misconceptions and beliefs surrounding persons with albinism are demystified by Ms Senkoro, who explores the link between witchcraft and the false beliefs surrounding persons with albinism.
We then move to consider what protections have been put in place by governments and regional instruments and what has been done to challenge the beliefs within the African context. The difficulty surrounding community protection when the communities themselves hold harmful beliefs towards persons with albinism is explored. Through the discussion the pivotal role of awareness raising in challenging the negative perceptions held amongst both rural, urban, educated and non-educated communities becomes clear.
This conversation was recorded on Thursday 14 March 2019.
Music: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chinoCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc
Tuesday Apr 16, 2019
Tuesday Apr 16, 2019
In conversation with Prof Rashida Manjoo
Has violence against women reached a state of emergency? This is exactly what Professor Rashida Manjoo (University of Cape Town, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women) considers in the conversation on violence against women. Exploring how violence against women manifests in both public and private spaces, with a particular emphasis on domestic violence, Prof Manjoo draws on her years of legal experience and her Special Rapporteur work to advocate for a holistic understanding of violence against women.
Starting the conversation, Prof Manjoo explains what is meant by violence against women to demonstrate its broad scope and the physical, psychological, sexual and economic forms it takes. While sexual violence against women in conflict is an ongoing problem, the privileging and focus on it as if it is something new and unrelated to other forms of violence against women is challenged by Prof Manjoo. Through examining the continuum of violence and the problems with public/private dichotomy when dealing with violence against women, the link between the everyday reality of women in non-conflict situations to that of conflict related violence becomes clear.
The conversation then turns to the global prevalence of domestic violence and the different treatment by the authorities of violence in domestic situations to that of similar violence in public spaces. We discuss the pervasive patterns enabling domestic violence, the socialisation factors and lack of accountability. The importance of normative frameworks in addressing the violence is highlighted, but it cannot be the only method used. In bringing the conversation to a close, we focus on the problems of mainstreaming and the need for specificity and a contextual understanding by service providers of the individual, structural and institutional barriers preventing women seeking assistance and removing themselves from domestic violence situations.
This conversation was recorded on Wednesday 27 March 2019.
Music: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chinoCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc
Monday Apr 01, 2019
Monday Apr 01, 2019
In conversation with Mr Berry Nibogora
One of the more contentious matters before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, has been, and continues to be centred around sexuality. Many within Africa try to keep the discussion in the private sphere, yet, Mr Berry Nibogora (Law and Human Rights Programme Manager, African Men for Sexual Health & Rights (AMSHer)) sheds light onto how civil society's engagement with the African Commission is challenging this view, increasing recognition and protection of human rights from LGBTIQ+ communities.
The journey of engaging the African Commission has been long, with a mix of success and setbacks. In our discussion we delve into the multipronged approach of advocacy strategies adopted, including why taking cognisance of the individual Commissioner and their particular reasoning for opposition or support is key. The role played by the NGO Forum, and side events, has increased, helping with awareness raising. The link between sexuality matters and the June 2018 Executive Council Decision 1015 is considered, helping contextualise that the impetus goes beyond African Commission’s recognition of an NGO promoting the rights of lesbians and is instead a threat to the African human rights system as a whole.
Despite the ongoing challenge to promote sexuality matters, we touch on a few of the successes before the African Commission, including Resolution 275, explaining how they were achieved and what role CSOs played.
This conversation was recorded on Friday 1 March 2019.
Music: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chino Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc
Monday Apr 01, 2019
Monday Apr 01, 2019
In conversation with Prof Frans Viljoen
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights are key mechanisms within the regional human rights system. However, the African Union’s Executive Council’s June 2018 Decision 1015 raises concerns that the African Commission is being undermined, weakening the protection of human rights.
Looking at this moment of crisis, Professor Frans Viljoen (Director, Centre for Human Rights) provides an insight into the motivations behind the Executive Council’s decision; from the contention surrounding the African Commission’s granting of observer status to the Coalition of African Lesbians, to the historical tension between the AU’s policy organs and the African Commission. During the discussion the push and pull between the African Commission and the State Parties is contextualised, the assertion of state sovereignty explained, as well as how the replacement of the AU Assembly by the Executive Council in terms of receiving the African Commission’s report change the dynamic. We consider to what extent the autonomy and independence of the African Commission is threatened by Decision 1015 and what incorporating the African Commission as an AU institution could mean for the protection of human rights.
Given Decision 1015’s challenge against the African Commission’s interpretative mandate, the discussion explores the relationship between the Commission and the Court and the potential implications of the decision. Prof Viljoen highlights how the debate surrounding the Commission’s mandate and role can be used to bring out the utility and role of the Commission, alerting states to the benefits it offers and to prevent limitations on the African human rights system.
This conversation was recorded on Wednesday 27 February 2019.
Music: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chino Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc
Monday Apr 01, 2019
Monday Apr 01, 2019
In conversation with Prof Makau Mutua
The fight for the protection of human rights is a global phenomenon, yet the claim to universality of the current human rights system is sometimes questioned.
Professor Makau Mutua (SUNY Distinguished Professor, University at Buffalo, School of Law) is known for his critical analysis of the human rights movement. In this episode we explore, with him, his critique and whether the African human rights system can complement the global to ensure that human rights remain relevant across the continent.
The discussion covers to what extent he considers there is true universality of human rights and its corpus; how the origins and philosophical ideology of the human rights movement have shaped the prioritisation of political and civil rights over cultural, social and economic rights; and the underlying aim of human rights – to shape a particular type of society. Prof Mutua explains his scepticism over the ability of the current human rights ideology to incorporate culture – that being the articulation of a peoples’ wisdom – and address issues of powerlessness. Finally, the discussion focuses on the African human rights system, where the conversation turns to whether the regional system legitimises the UN human rights system or provides an opportunity for a more culturally relevant regional system, and why change from the ground up is key to the future of human rights within Africa.
By applying a critical analysis, Prof Mutua encourages listeners to consider the weaknesses in the current international and regional systems and to find ways to improve and retain the relevancy of human rights.
This conversation was recorded on Thursday 14 February 2019.
Music: Inner Peace by Mike Chino https://soundcloud.com/mike-chino Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/0nI6qJeqFcc